Emergency plumber in Missouri
Missouri plumbing covers older brick homes in St. Louis and Kansas City, Ozark homes on wells and septic, river flooding and swings between hard freezes and humid heat.
Coverage in Missouri
Covered ZIP codes
379
Cities and towns
262
Most-covered
Kansas City, Saint Louis, Springfield
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 Missouri
Missouri has cold winters with ice storms and hot, humid summers with severe storms. Heavy rain floods the Missouri and Mississippi rivers and smaller streams.
- Winter
- Ice storms and cold snaps freeze pipes in older brick homes and crawl spaces.
- Spring storms
- Heavy rain overloads older sewers and floods basements in St. Louis and Kansas City.
Emergency risks specific to Missouri
Basement sewer backups
When: Heavy rain on combined sewers. What fails: Sewage backs up into basements in older parts of St. Louis and Kansas City. What to do: Install a backwater valve and keep floor drains clear.
Ozark septic and well issues
When: Heavy rain on karst terrain. What fails: Thin soils and limestone affect septic drainage and well water. What to do: Test wells regularly and have septic systems inspected.
St. Louis and Kansas City have large numbers of pre-1950 brick homes, typically with full basements, clay laterals running to the street and steel water piping inside. Suburbs are typically post-war, and Ozark homes often rely on drilled wells in limestone.
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 379 ZIP codes in Missouri. If no participating plumber serves your ZIP, you're told so. The plumber sets the price and arrival time; no arrival time is guaranteed.
Missouri has no statewide plumbing license. Plumbers are licensed locally, including by Kansas City, the City of St. Louis, St. Louis County, Springfield and Columbia, and many smaller towns have no license requirement. A plumber working in several jurisdictions needs credentials in each.
Emergency plumbing in Missouri: questions
Is there a Missouri state plumbing license?
No. Licensing is local, so ask which city or county license the plumber holds.
Why does my St. Louis basement flood in heavy rain?
Older parts of the city have combined sewers that can back up during storms. A backwater valve and a clear floor drain help.
How do I check an emergency plumber's license in Missouri?
Missouri has no statewide plumbing license. Plumbers are licensed locally, including by Kansas City, the City of St. Louis, St. Louis County, Springfield and Columbia, and many smaller towns have no license requirement. A plumber working in several jurisdictions needs credentials in each.
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.