Plumbing questions, answered

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 itself, the water utility if the water is surfacing at or before the meter, a restoration company if materials are already saturated, and your insurer to open a claim early. This applies to plumbing-driven leaks — for water coming from the roof during or after a storm, start with a roofer instead.

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

HVAC emergencies

Diagnosing a non-cooling AC system and knowing what to check before calling for repair.

• Why is my AC not cooling?

  The most common causes are a dirty air filter or frozen evaporator coil, a dirty outdoor condenser, low refrigerant from a leak, or a failed compressor or capacitor. Start with the filter and outdoor unit before calling for repair.

Electrical hazards

Sparking outlets and repeated breaker trips are safety issues, not nuisances — what to do and why.

• What should I do if an outlet is sparking?

  Stop using the outlet immediately, unplug anything connected to it, and turn off the breaker that controls it. If you see smoke, smell burning, or the outlet is hot to the touch, cut power at the main panel and call 911 if there's any sign of fire.

• Why does my breaker keep tripping?

  A breaker trips repeatedly because of a circuit overload, a short circuit, or a ground fault — and each of these is the breaker doing its job to prevent overheating or fire. Repeated tripping on the same circuit needs an electrician's diagnosis, not just resetting it.

Water and roof damage

The first hours after water intrusion or a roof leak, and who handles the repair versus the drying.

• What should I do immediately after water damage?

  Stop the water source if it's safe to do so, cut power to affected areas, remove standing water and wet items, and begin drying within 24-48 hours to limit mold growth, which the EPA identifies as the key window before mold can take hold.

• Who should I call for a roof leak?

  Call a licensed roofing contractor to find and repair the source at the roof itself — flashing, shingles, tile, vents, or valleys. This is different from a plumbing or condensate-driven ceiling leak; if the water only appears during or after rain, the roof is the right place to start.

Home access and security

Garage door springs, house lockouts, and termite swarms — what's a same-day fix versus a genuine safety hazard.

• What should I do if my garage door spring breaks?

  Stop using the garage door, don't try to open it manually or with the opener, and keep people and vehicles clear. Torsion and extension springs are under extreme tension and should only be replaced by a trained technician.

• What should I do if I'm locked out of my house?

  Check for another unlocked entry point first, then contact a trusted family member or neighbor with a spare key, your landlord or property manager if you rent, or a licensed locksmith who can perform non-destructive entry.

• Is a termite swarm an emergency?

  A termite swarm itself isn't a same-hour emergency, but it's a strong sign of an active, established colony nearby and should be treated as urgent — get a licensed pest control inspection within days, since termites cause damage that worsens the longer it goes untreated.