Emergency plumber in Maine
Maine plumbing is cold-climate plumbing: long winters, deep frost, private wells and septic systems, and seasonal homes that need careful winterizing.
Coverage in Maine
Covered ZIP codes
59
Cities and towns
59
Most-covered
Berwick, Eliot, Kittery
What to do before the plumber arrives
- Close the main water shutoff, or the fixture's own valve if the leak is at one fixture.
- Keep away from water near outlets or panels; switch off power at the breaker only if you can reach it from a dry floor.
- If sewage is backing up, stop using every sink, toilet and appliance.
- Smell gas? Leave the building first, then call 911 and your gas utility from outside.
Step by step: what to do when a pipe bursts and finding your main water shutoff.
When plumbing emergencies happen in Maine
Maine has long, cold winters with heavy snow, especially inland and in the north, and short, mild summers. Coastal storms and nor'easters bring rain, wind and outages.
- Winter
- Frozen supply lines, frozen well lines and heating system failures are the main emergencies, especially in older homes.
- Spring
- Snowmelt raises groundwater, floods basements and tests sump pumps and septic systems.
Emergency risks specific to Maine
Frozen pipes in seasonal homes
When: Long cold winters. What fails: Unheated or poorly winterized camps and cottages freeze. What to do: Drain and winterize seasonal homes, or keep heat on with a temperature alarm.
Well and septic issues
When: Spring thaw and high groundwater. What fails: Septic systems back up and well water quality changes. What to do: Test well water regularly and have the septic tank pumped on schedule.
Many Maine homes are older wood-frame houses with basements or stone foundations, and private wells and septic systems are the norm outside the larger towns. Seasonal camps and cottages are common.
How an emergency call works
SteadWell is a free referral service, not a plumbing company. Calls to (833) 753-0180 are routed to independent, licensed plumbers who serve the caller's ZIP code; our coverage list includes 59 ZIP codes in Maine. If no participating plumber serves your ZIP, you're told so. The plumber sets the price and arrival time; no arrival time is guaranteed.
Maine's Plumbers' Examining Board, within the Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation, licenses journeyman and master plumbers. Plumbing permits and inspections are handled by municipal plumbing inspectors. SteadWell's current call coverage in Maine is limited to southern York County towns near the New Hampshire line.
Emergency plumbing in Maine: questions
How do I winterize a seasonal home in Maine?
Shut off the water, drain all lines and fixtures, add plumbing antifreeze to traps, and drain the water heater, or keep heat on with a remote temperature alarm.
Where does SteadWell take calls in Maine?
Currently in southern York County towns near the New Hampshire border. Coverage elsewhere in Maine is not yet available.
How do I check an emergency plumber's license in Maine?
Maine's Plumbers' Examining Board, within the Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation, licenses journeyman and master plumbers. Plumbing permits and inspections are handled by municipal plumbing inspectors. SteadWell's current call coverage in Maine is limited to southern York County towns near the New Hampshire line.
What does an emergency plumber cost?
National cost guides put emergency labor around $125 an hour on average, with trip fees commonly $100 to $350 and night, weekend or holiday rates 1.5 to 3 times normal. Ask for the price before work starts.