If water is pouring or spraying where it shouldn't, or you smell gas, or sewage is coming up through a drain, you have a plumbing emergency, and it can't wait for morning. A slow drip, a running toilet, or one slow drain usually can.
The rest of this page sorts the common problems into three groups: call now, shut off and call, and safe to wait. Read it once while things are calm. It's a lot harder to read at 1 AM with a wet floor.
What if I smell gas?
This one comes first because it matters most.
If you smell gas, the rotten-egg smell that utilities add on purpose, leave the house right away. Take everyone with you, pets included. Do this before anything else, even before calling a plumber.
- Do not flip light switches or plug or unplug anything.
- Do not use a lighter, a match, or a phone inside the house.
- Once you're outside and away from the house, call 911 and your gas utility. Your gas bill shows who that is. In much of the Valley, it's Southwest Gas.
- Do not try to find the leak or turn any valves yourself.
Gas leaks belong to the fire department and the gas utility first. Once they say the house is safe, a licensed plumber can look at the appliance or gas line that caused it. Never do gas repairs yourself.
Which problems need a call right now?
Call right away, any hour, for these:
- A burst pipe, or water spraying or pouring out.
- Sewage coming up through a tub, shower, or floor drain.
- A toilet overflowing that won't stop.
- A main water line break, or water bubbling up in the yard or through the floor.
- A water heater that is actively leaking.
If you're not sure which group your problem belongs in, call anyway. You'll get a straight answer on whether it can wait.
What can safely wait until morning?
Some problems are annoying but not urgent. Once you've closed any supply valve that helps, these can usually wait:
- A dripping faucet or a toilet that runs.
- One slow drain, when nothing is backing up.
- A small leak under a sink, once the valve under the sink is closed.
- No hot water in warm weather, when there's no water on the floor.
You can book these for the next day. Brian McQuistion Plumbing & Drain has no after-hours, weekend, or holiday surcharge, so waiting doesn't save you a fee and calling late doesn't add one. The choice comes down to what's safe and what you can live with overnight, not what's cheaper.
Where is my main shutoff, and how do I use it?
Your house should have a main water shutoff, and where it lives changes from house to house. The City of Phoenix says that for most houses it's at the front of the home, near a hose bib, on the pipe coming out of the ground, and that some older houses have it at the rear of the property. Other cities and homes can differ. Some homes also have a shutoff at the water meter box. That one belongs to the water provider, so leave it to them. If you can't find yours, your provider can tell you what the setup is in your area.
Once you find it, look at the handle. A round wheel turns clockwise to close. A lever handle closes with a quarter turn, so the handle ends up crosswise to the pipe. Test it now, on a calm day, so you know it turns. A valve that has sat untouched for years can be stuck, and you want to learn that before the emergency, not during it.
Two common emergencies: a leaking heater and a sewage backup
Is a leaking water heater an emergency?
An actively leaking water heater is a call-now problem, for three reasons. The water can be hot enough to burn. The heater runs on gas or electricity. And a steady leak can flood a garage or hallway fast.
Do this much, and stop there:
- Stay clear of the water pooling around the heater. Never step into standing water near the heater, an outlet, or the electrical panel.
- If you can reach the cold water valve on the pipe going into the heater without stepping in water, close it. Or use your main shutoff.
- Leave the power and the gas alone. Turning those off is a job for a plumber, an electrician, or the utility, not for you.
- Call a licensed plumber.
A slow weep at a fitting is different from a tank that's pouring. Both need a plumber. But once the cold water valve is closed and the floor is dry, a slow weep can be booked for the next day.
Is sewage backing up an emergency?
Yes. Sewage in a tub, shower, or floor drain means the line is blocked somewhere, and more water going down only pushes more up.
Stop using every sink, toilet, shower, and washer in the house. Keep children and pets out of the area. Do not touch the backup with bare hands, and don't try to clean it up before a plumber has found the cause. Call a licensed plumber.
What do I do while I wait for a plumber?
People first, then water, then belongings.
- Get everyone out of the house if you smell gas, and out of any room with sparking or water near outlets, cords, or the panel. If water is near anything electrical, stay out of the room and call a licensed electrician or your electric utility.
- Shut off the water only if you can reach the shutoff without stepping in water. If you can't, stay back and call.
- Move furniture, rugs, and electronics out of the wet area.
- Take photos of the damage before you clean up.
- Keep the phone nearby and the path to the door clear.
When to call a licensed plumber
Call when water won't stop, when sewage is coming up, when a heater is leaking, or when you're just not sure. A licensed plumber can tell you on the phone whether it can wait. Our line is answered 24/7, usually by a real person. You get the price and approve it before any work starts. If a big repair is a strain on the budget, ask about financing options.
For smaller problems, see our plumbing repair page. For emergency services, see our emergency plumber page. Still not sure which group yours is in? Call now, and we'll sort it out with you.
Common Questions
It varies by house, so find yours before you need it. The City of Phoenix says that for most houses it is at the front of the home near a hose bib, though some older houses have it at the rear. A round handle turns clockwise to close, and a lever handle closes with a quarter turn.
Yes, treat it as one. Stop using water in the house, keep people and pets away from the backup, and call a licensed plumber.
No. Brian McQuistion Plumbing & Drain has no after-hours, weekend, or holiday surcharge.
If you smell gas, see sparking, or see water near outlets or the panel, get everyone out of that area first. Only if you can reach the water shutoff without standing in water, close it. Then move belongings out of the wet area and take photos of the damage.
Leave the house right away. From outside, call 911 and your gas utility. Do not flip switches, use a lighter, or try to find the leak yourself.
