What qualifies as a plumbing emergency?
Short answer
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.
Last updated
Emergency — call now
- Burst or spraying pipe
- Sewage indoors
- Water reaching electrical systems
- Water heater venting steam or a gas smell
- No water in the property
Urgent — same or next day
- A slow but steady hidden leak
- No hot water
- One toilet in a single-bathroom home
- A slab leak just identified
Can be scheduled
- A dripping faucet
- One slow drain
- A running toilet
- Fixture replacement
Related questions
Is a clogged drain an emergency?
Only if it is backing wastewater into living space or affecting multiple fixtures at once.
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