Plumbing questions, answered
Short, specific answers written for people dealing with a problem right now — the answer comes first, the explanation after. Questions are grouped by the system or situation they belong to.
If water is moving through your home at this moment, start with the emergency plumbing action guide.
Plumbing emergencies
What counts as an emergency, when after-hours service is justified, and what to do while help is on the way.
What qualifies as a plumbing emergency?
A plumbing emergency is any failure causing active property damage, a health hazard, or loss of usable water — such as a burst pipe, sewage backup, uncontrolled leak, gas smell near a water heater, or no water at all.
Should I shut off my water during a plumbing emergency?
Yes, whenever water is escaping and you cannot isolate it at the fixture. Closing the main shutoff is the fastest way to limit damage, and it does not interfere with a plumber's diagnosis.
How do I find an emergency plumber?
Describe the problem and your location, then contact providers who actually dispatch after hours in your area. Before work starts, confirm the diagnostic fee, the after-hours rate, license status, and whether the fee applies to the repair.
Can a plumber come at night?
Many independent plumbing businesses offer after-hours dispatch, though availability varies by provider and area. Night and weekend work is commonly billed at a higher rate than a scheduled daytime visit.
Service page: Emergency Plumber
Burst pipes
Immediate actions after a supply line fails, and who handles the repair and the resulting water damage.
What should I do if a pipe bursts?
Shut off the main water valve immediately, cut power to any wet area at the breaker, open a low faucet to drain the lines, then document the damage and request an emergency plumbing professional.
Who should I call for a burst pipe?
Call a licensed plumbing professional for the pipe itself. If water has soaked flooring, drywall, or ceilings, a water damage restoration company usually handles drying, and your insurer should be notified early.
Who should I call for a major water leak?
Call a licensed plumbing professional for the leak, the water utility if the water is at or before the meter, a restoration company if materials are saturated, and your insurer to open a claim early.
Service page: Burst Pipe Repair
Slab leaks
Recognizing a leak under a concrete slab — common in South Florida homes — and how urgent it is.
What are the signs of a slab leak?
The most common signs are a warm spot on the floor, the sound of running water with all fixtures off, an unexplained rise in the water bill, damp or buckling flooring, a musty smell, and reduced hot-water pressure.
Is a slab leak an emergency?
A slab leak is urgent but usually not a same-minute emergency. It rarely floods a home instantly, yet it wastes water continuously, can erode soil under the foundation, and drives mold — so it should be evaluated within days.
Service page: Slab Leak Detection
Sewer and drain backups
Why waste comes back into the home, what it indicates about the main line, and the health risks involved.
What should I do if my sewer backs up?
Stop using all water immediately, keep people and pets out of the affected area, avoid drain chemicals, report it to your sewer utility, and request a plumbing professional with camera and drain-clearing equipment.
Why is sewage coming up through my shower?
Because the shower drain is one of the lowest openings in the drain system. When the main sewer line is blocked, wastewater has nowhere to go and surfaces at the lowest fixture first.
Service page: Sewer Backup
Water heaters
Leaks, shutoff steps and loss of hot water — including when a unit should be replaced instead of repaired.
Why is my water heater leaking?
Leaks come from the supply connections, the temperature and pressure relief valve, the drain valve, or the tank itself. Fittings and valves are usually repairable; a tank leaking from its body means the unit needs replacement.
Should I turn off a leaking water heater?
Yes. Close the cold water inlet valve at the top of the unit and turn off its power at the breaker or set the gas valve to off. That stops the water supply feeding the leak and prevents the unit from heating improperly.
Service page: Water Heater Repair
Hidden leaks and water pressure
Tracing water that appears where it should not, and diagnosing pressure loss across the house.
Why is water coming through my ceiling?
Water through a ceiling comes from a plumbing line or fixture above, an air conditioning condensate backup, or roof and flashing failure. The timing tells you which: rain points to the roof, AC runtime points to condensate, fixture use points to plumbing.
What causes low water pressure?
At one fixture, it's usually a clogged aerator or a worn cartridge. Across the whole property, the common causes are a partially closed valve, a failing pressure-reducing valve, corroded galvanized piping, or a leak in the service line.
Service page: Leak Detection