What counts as a plumbing emergency?
It's an emergency when water or sewage is going where it shouldn't and the nearest valve won't stop it.
- A burst pipe or broken supply line
- Water coming through a ceiling or wall
- Sewage backing up into a tub or shower
- A water heater leaking from the tank
- No water at all, especially in a freeze
A drip, a running toilet you can shut off at the wall, or one slow drain can wait for a regular appointment.
What to do before we get there
Shut off the water
Close the main shutoff, then open a tub or outside faucet so the water left in the pipes drains there instead of out the break. For a leak at one sink or toilet, the small valve under it is enough.
Keep water away from electricity
Switch off circuits near the water at the breaker panel, but only if you can reach it without standing in water. If you can't, stay out of the room.
Shut off the water heater if needed
Do it if the tank is leaking or you've drained the lines. Steps for each type are below.
Take photos, then clean up
Photograph the damage for your insurance company, then get rugs and furniture out of the water.
Where your main water shutoff usually is
In Bonham and the other towns we serve, the house shutoff is usually where the water line comes in: in the garage near the water heater, by a hose faucet on an outside wall, or in a small box in the ground between the house and the meter. The valve in the meter box works too, though it may take a meter key.
Out in the county, the meter often sits by the road. Look for a second valve where the line comes out of the ground at the house, and if there isn't one, it's worth adding. On a private well, switch off the well pump breaker, then close the valve on the house side of the pressure tank.
Find your shutoff now and make sure it turns. Valves that sit for years can stick.
How to shut off a water heater safely
Shut off the fuel or power first, then close the cold water valve on the pipe into the top of the tank. Leave the draining to us, since that water can scald for hours.
Electric
Switch off the water heater's breaker at the panel, usually a double breaker. The heating elements burn out fast if they heat a tank that isn't full.
Natural gas
Turn the gas control knob to OFF by hand, never with pliers or force, or give the valve on the gas pipe a quarter turn so the handle sits crosswise to the pipe. If water reached the burner, don't relight it until it's been checked.
Propane
The controls work like natural gas. Propane is heavier than air and pools low, so if you smell it, get outside and call your supplier.
Reaching us in an emergency
We take emergency calls nights and weekends. Call 903-000-0000.
After-hours visits cost more than daytime ones, and we'll give you the price and a realistic arrival time before we head your way.
When you call, tell us your town or road, what's happening, if the water is off, and if you're on a well or septic. For anything that can wait, use our contact page.
Emergency plumbing questions
What should I do if sewage backs up into the house?
Stop using water everywhere in the house, because anything that goes down a drain comes back up at the lowest one.
In town, it's usually a main line clog that drain cleaning clears, and sometimes a broken sewer line. On septic, it may be the line to the tank or a full tank that needs a septic company. We'll tell you straight which it is.
What if no water comes out of any faucet?
Call your water provider first, because a break on their side cuts off everyone nearby.
If the neighbors have water, check your main valve. In a freeze it's most likely a frozen pipe; otherwise a broken yard line can drop the pressure to nothing, which is water line repair work. On a well, the pump may be the cause, and that takes a licensed pump installer.
Is a leaking water heater an emergency?
Yes, if water is coming from the tank itself. A leaking tank can't be repaired, so shut it off with the steps above and call.
A drip at a fitting on top can often be fixed. Water from the relief valve pipe means too much heat or pressure, or a worn valve, so have it checked soon. More on water heater repair.
