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Charlotte metro · NC & SC

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SteadWell Plumbing
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Leaking pipe temporarily wrapped in plastic

Emergency plumbing

Emergency plumbing

Call Now

If water is actively leaking and you can't stop it, shut off the main water valve first, then call a plumber. For a sewage backup, stop running water in the house until the line is cleared.

Call (833) 753-0180Request service online

At a glance

  • Common sign

    Water spraying or pouring from a pipe, fitting or water heater

  • First step

    Stop the water

Do this first: emergency plumbing

If water is moving, close the main shutoff first. It's usually in the crawl space, garage or near the water heater.

Call right away if: water spraying or pouring from a pipe or fitting; sewage backing up into tubs, showers or floor drains; a water heater leaking from the tank or relief valve.

Call 24/7: (833) 753-0180

Most plumbing emergencies get worse by the minute, not the hour. Water under a floor or behind drywall spreads fast, and a sewer backup won't clear itself.

Call and a licensed local plumber will walk you through stopping the water while help is on the way. Say what you see — where the water is coming from, whether it's clean or sewage — so the right truck and parts come the first time.

Emergency Plumbing at a glance

What it is
If water is actively leaking and you can't stop it, shut off the main water valve first, then call a plumber.
Service category
Emergency plumbing

Signs you need plumbing emergency help

  • Water spraying or pouring from a pipe, fitting or water heater
  • Sewage coming up through a floor drain, tub or lowest toilet
  • Water coming through a ceiling or light fixture
  • No water to the whole house
  • A toilet overflowing that won't stop when you lift the flapper
  • Gas smell near a gas water heater (leave the house and call the gas utility first)

Pick what's happening

Burst or split pipe

Do now

  • Close the main shutoff; if it won't turn, the water utility can shut off at the meter.
  • Turn off breakers for any circuit where water is reaching outlets or fixtures.
  • Open a faucet at the lowest point of the house to drain pressure.

Avoid

  • Don't stand in water near outlets or appliances that are still powered.
  • Don't turn the water back on to 'test' the pipe.

Call: Immediately: any pipe spraying or pouring water.

Full step-by-step guide
Pipe frozen but not leaking yet

Do now

  • Open the faucet it feeds so melting water has somewhere to go.
  • Warm the section with a hair dryer or space heater kept at a safe distance.
  • Know where the main shutoff is before it thaws.

Avoid

  • Never use an open flame or torch on a pipe.
  • Don't leave a heater running unattended in a crawl space.

Call: If you can't reach the frozen section, or it cracks as it thaws.

Full step-by-step guide
Sewage backing up

Do now

  • Stop using every sink, toilet, washer and dishwasher in the house.
  • Keep people and pets away from the water; it carries bacteria.
  • If there's an accessible sewer cleanout, note where it is for the plumber.

Avoid

  • Don't pour chemical drain cleaner into a sewer backup.
  • Don't keep flushing to 'push it through'.

Call: Right away: sewage in a tub, shower or floor drain means the main line is blocked.

Full step-by-step guide
Water heater leaking

Do now

  • Turn off the power at the breaker (electric) or set the gas valve to off or pilot.
  • Close the cold-water valve on the pipe entering the top of the tank.
  • Move stored items away from the tank.

Avoid

  • Don't touch the relief valve or drain while the water is still hot.
  • If you smell gas, leave the house and call the gas utility first.

Call: When water is pooling from the tank itself or the relief valve keeps discharging.

Full step-by-step guide
Toilet overflowing

Do now

  • Lift the tank lid and push the flapper closed.
  • Turn the valve behind the toilet clockwise until it stops.
  • Soak up water before it reaches flooring seams.

Avoid

  • Don't flush again to check whether it cleared.

Call: If more than one fixture is backing up, or the toilet overflows again after plunging.

Full step-by-step guide

The visit

What a emergency plumbing visit involves

  1. 1

    Stop the water

    You get talked through closing the main shutoff or the fixture valve while the plumber is en route.

  2. 2

    Find the source

    On site, the plumber confirms where the water is coming from — not just where it shows up.

  3. 3

    Make it safe, then fix it

    The plumber stops the leak or clears the backup first. If a permanent repair needs parts or a permit, you'll get a temporary fix and a written plan.

  4. 4

    Document it

    You get photos and notes on what failed. Useful if you're filing an insurance claim.

What affects the cost of emergency plumbing

  • Time of day — after-hours visits typically cost more than scheduled visits
  • Access: a pipe inside a finished wall or slab takes longer than one in a crawl space
  • Whether the fix is permanent on the first visit or needs a return trip
  • Pipe material and age (galvanized and polybutylene often need more than a patch)

Before you call

Emergency Plumbing: what's safe to try yourself

Safe to do yourself

  • •Close the main shutoff (usually where the line enters the house, or at the meter by the street)
  • •Turn off power or gas to the water heater if it's the source
  • •Move valuables and photograph the damage for insurance

Stop and call a plumber if

  • •Don't use electrical outlets or switches near standing water
  • •Don't keep flushing or running water during a sewage backup
  • •Don't use chemical drain openers on a backed-up main line

Check emergency plumbing coverage near you

Use your location or ZIP code to see whether emergency plumbing is covered where you are, and the nearest service area.

Location is only used to find the service area nearest you. It stays on your device and isn't stored.

Emergency Plumbing: common questions

Who do I call for a burst pipe?

Shut off the main water valve, then call a licensed plumber. If water reached electrical fixtures, turn off that circuit at the breaker. Call your insurer after the leak is stopped.

How quickly should a plumbing leak be repaired?

An active leak should be stopped immediately and repaired the same day where possible. Even a slow drip inside a wall can cause mold within 24–48 hours.

Is a sewage backup an emergency?

Yes. Sewage carries bacteria and will keep rising if water is used upstairs. Stop using water in the house and call a plumber to clear the main line.

What counts as a plumbing emergency?

Any leak you can't stop, sewage coming up a drain, no water to the house, water near electrical fixtures, or a gas smell near a water heater. Slow drains, running toilets and dripping faucets can usually wait for a scheduled visit.

How do I shut off water to my whole house?

Close the main shutoff valve where the water line enters the house — usually in the crawl space, basement, garage or near the water heater — by turning a round handle clockwise or a lever a quarter turn. If you can't find it, the curb valve in the meter box also stops the water.

Should I call my water utility or a plumber for a leak?

Call a plumber for leaks on your side of the meter — inside the house or in the yard between the meter and the house. Call the water utility if water is coming from the meter box, the street or the sidewalk.

Will homeowners insurance cover a burst pipe?

Most policies cover sudden, accidental water damage from a burst pipe but not gradual leaks or wear. Photograph the damage before cleanup and keep the plumber's written description of what failed; the pipe repair itself is often not covered even when the water damage is.

Service area

Emergency Plumbing across the Charlotte metro

Related

Services often paired with emergency plumbing

Water dripping from a chrome faucet

Leak Detection

Plumbers find hidden leaks by isolating sections of plumbing and testing them, then pinpointing the spot with acoustic listening, thermal imaging and moisture meters — so only a small, targeted opening is needed for the repair..

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Drain Cleaning

A plumber clears a clogged drain with a drain cable (snake) sized to the pipe, and uses a camera or hydro jetting when a clog keeps coming back.

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Water Heater Repair

Most no-hot-water problems come from a failed heating element or thermostat (electric) or a thermocouple, igniter or gas-valve issue (gas), and are repairable.

Learn more

Guides

Reading on plumbing emergency

Get help with a plumbing emergency

Common sign: water spraying or pouring from a pipe, fitting or water heater.

Call (833) 753-0180Request service
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