Emergency plumber in Virginia
Virginia plumbing ranges from Northern Virginia's suburbs and older Arlington and Alexandria homes to Richmond, Hampton Roads' low-lying coast and rural homes on wells.
Coverage in Virginia
Covered ZIP codes
491
Cities and towns
337
Most-covered
Richmond, Alexandria, Norfolk
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 Virginia
Virginia has hot, humid summers and cool winters, colder in the mountains. Hampton Roads faces hurricanes, nor'easters and tidal flooding, and heavy thunderstorms affect the whole state.
- Winter
- Hard freezes catch pipes in crawl spaces and exterior walls, especially in the Shenandoah Valley and mountains.
- Hurricane season
- Tidal flooding and heavy rain in Hampton Roads overload drainage and sewers.
Emergency risks specific to Virginia
Tidal flooding
When: Hurricanes and nor'easters. What fails: Low-lying Norfolk and Virginia Beach homes flood and drains back up. What to do: Consider a backwater valve and elevate equipment in flood-prone homes.
Crawl-space freeze
When: Hard freezes. What fails: Pipes in vented crawl spaces split. What to do: Close vents in winter and insulate exposed lines.
Arlington and Alexandria have many mid-century and older homes with original iron drain lines, while outer Northern Virginia suburbs are mostly newer. Richmond has historic neighborhoods with old plumbing, and Southside and the Shenandoah Valley are largely on private water and septic.
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 491 ZIP codes in Virginia. If no participating plumber serves your ZIP, you're told so. The plumber sets the price and arrival time; no arrival time is guaranteed.
Virginia's Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR) licenses plumbers as individual tradesmen (journeyman and master) through the Board for Contractors. Plumbing businesses also need a contractor license with the plumbing (PLB) specialty, backed by a master plumber.
Emergency plumbing in Virginia: questions
What license should a Virginia plumber have?
A DPOR tradesman license (journeyman or master), and the business should hold a contractor license with the plumbing specialty.
How do I protect my Norfolk home from tidal flooding?
A backwater valve helps prevent sewer backups, and elevating the water heater limits flood damage.
How do I check an emergency plumber's license in Virginia?
Virginia's Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR) licenses plumbers as individual tradesmen (journeyman and master) through the Board for Contractors. Plumbing businesses also need a contractor license with the plumbing (PLB) specialty, backed by a master plumber.
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.