Plumbing emergencies

The first action in almost every plumbing emergency is the same: close the main shutoff. It's usually where the supply line enters the house, near the water heater, in a basement or crawlspace, or at a curb box near the street. If you have not located and tested yours, do it today — not while standing in water.

For a water heater emergency, shut the cold inlet valve on top of the tank and cut the power or gas to the unit before anything else. For a sewage backup, stop using every fixture in the house immediately, including toilets and the washing machine; every gallon you send down makes the backup worse.

Emergency pricing is real and mostly legitimate — you're paying for a tech to leave their house at midnight. What isn't legitimate is using that moment to sell you a whole-home project. Authorize the stabilization work only. Put in writing that you're approving the emergency repair and nothing else, then get competitive bids on the larger fix once the water has stopped.

Document everything while it's happening. Photos and video of standing water, the source, and the damage, plus the timestamped invoice, are what an insurance adjuster will ask for. Water damage and freezing is one of the most common homeowners claims — the Insurance Information Institute puts it at around one in 60 insured homes per year, averaging roughly $13,954 per claim over 2018–2022.

How to choose

Find and test your main shutoff now

Turn it fully off and back on once a year. Old valves seize. Discovering that during a burst pipe is the worst possible time.

Stop using water during a sewage backup

Every flush and every load of laundry pushes more sewage into the house. This is the single most useful thing you can do before the truck arrives.

Authorize stabilization only

Write "approved: emergency stabilization only" on the work authorization. It's your strongest protection against a midnight upsell.

Photograph before cleanup

Adjusters need to see the damage in place. Take wide shots and close shots, and keep every receipt including for fans, towels, and hotel nights.

Call your insurer early, before you commit to restoration

Many carriers have preferred restoration networks and notice requirements. Calling first can change what's covered.