Plumbing emergency
What to do in a plumbing emergency
A burst pipe, a sewer backing up, a water heater letting go. Call the shop now, then do the four steps below while you wait.
(402) 895-1212Shop hours: weekdaysWeekdaysAfter hours, call (402) 895-1212. A live answering service takes your message and alerts our on-call plumber if it is an emergency.
- Smell gas? Leave the house and call 911 from outside.
- Water near outlets or the panel? Stay out of it.
Send an urgent request
It reaches the shop marked urgent, ahead of everything else.
Plumbing emergency
The first five minutes
What you do before a plumber arrives decides how much water damage you end up with. Do these four things, in this order.
- 1
Shut off the main water valve
It is usually where the water line comes into the house, often on a basement wall near the water meter. Turn it clockwise until it stops. If it is a lever, turn it so it crosses the pipe.
- 2
Turn off the water heater
For gas, turn the gas control to Pilot or Off. For electric, switch off its breaker. A heater with no water coming in should not keep heating.
- 3
Drain what is left
Open a faucet on the lowest floor, or an outside spigot, so the water still in the pipes runs out there instead of through the leak.
- 4
Call the shop
Call (402) 895-1212. Tell us what happened and what you shut off, and take a few photos for your insurance.
Reaching the shop
Water coming in right now? Shut off the main water valve first, then call (402) 895-1212.
The shop hours are with the phone number on this page. Save (402) 895-1212 in your phone now, so it is there when you need it.
If water is near electrical outlets or panels, stay out of the water and call your electric utility. If you smell gas, leave the house and call your gas utility or 911 from outside.
Emergency questions
Where is my main water shutoff?
In most Omaha area homes it is in the basement or utility room, on the wall where the water line enters, close to the water meter. Find it before you need it, and make sure it turns.
My water heater is leaking. What do I do?
Close the cold water valve on top of the heater, turn the gas control to Pilot or Off (or switch off the breaker for electric), and call. Keep people and pets away from hot water.
Sewage is coming up through a floor drain. What now?
Stop running water anywhere in the house: no flushing, laundry or dishwasher. Keep everyone away from the water and call. A backup usually means a blockage in the main line.
I smell gas. Should I call a plumber?
Leave the house first. Do not use switches, phones or anything that could spark inside. Call your gas utility or 911 from outside. Call a plumber for the repair once it is safe.