Not Everything Is an Emergency
We answer emergency calls 24/7, 365 days a year. But not every plumbing problem needs a midnight service call. Knowing the difference saves you the after-hours surcharge and saves us from leaving another customer waiting.
Here’s a straightforward breakdown.
Call Immediately — This Is an Emergency
Water actively flooding your home
A burst pipe, broken supply line, or failed water heater dumping water onto your floor. Shut off your main water supply and call us. Every minute counts.
Sewer backup into your home
Sewage coming up through floor drains, tubs, or toilets. This is a health hazard. Stop using all water fixtures and call immediately.
Gas line leak
If you smell rotten eggs (the odorant added to natural gas), get everyone out of the house, don’t flip any switches or use phones inside, and call us from outside. If the smell is strong, call 911 first.
Complete loss of water in freezing weather
No water from any faucet during a freeze means your pipes are frozen. This is time-critical — the longer they stay frozen, the more likely they burst.
Water heater failure in below-freezing temperatures
No hot water during a Big Bear winter is more than an inconvenience — it can affect the health and safety of everyone in the home, especially families with young children or elderly residents.
Can Wait Until Morning
A dripping faucet
Annoying, wastes water, but not urgent. Turn off the fixture’s shutoff valve if the drip is heavy. Schedule a repair during business hours.
A slow drain
One slow drain is a developing clog, not an emergency. It won’t get dramatically worse overnight. Schedule a drain cleaning during business hours.
A running toilet
A toilet that runs continuously wastes water but doesn’t cause damage. Jiggle the handle, or lift the tank lid and push the flapper down. Call us during regular hours.
Low water pressure
Unless it happened suddenly and completely, low pressure is a diagnostic issue, not an emergency. It’s often caused by a partially closed valve, a failing pressure regulator, or mineral buildup.
What to Do While You Wait
- Know where your main water shutoff is. If you don’t know, find it now — before you need it.
- Shut off water to the affected area if possible. Individual fixture shutoffs are under sinks and behind toilets.
- Move valuables and electronics away from standing water.
- Take photos of any damage for insurance purposes.
- Don’t attempt major repairs yourself. Tightening a visible connection is fine. Cutting into walls or pipes is not.
Emergency Plumbing Costs
Our emergency service call starts at $149 for the first hour, including diagnosis. After-hours calls (nights, weekends, holidays) carry a $75 surcharge. We quote the full repair cost before starting any work.
We’d rather you call and ask “is this an emergency?” than wait and have a small problem become a big one. Call (909) 555-0147 anytime.