When to Call an Emergency Plumber

Plumbing trouble loves bad timing: a Sunday night, a holiday weekend, the morning of a family visit. When water is on the floor at midnight you have to decide fast whether this is a call-now situation or a call-in-the-morning one. This guide gives you a quick way to sort it, tells you who else to call (some problems are not a plumber's job), and lists what to do while you wait.

Call Right Away

These cause damage or danger while you wait, so waiting costs more than calling.

A burst pipe or water you cannot stop

A supply line can move hundreds of gallons into a house in an hour. Close the main shutoff first. Then call. Our guide to stopping a burst pipe until the plumber arrives walks through it. If the shutoff will not close, or the water is coming from the meter box or the street, call the Gwinnett County Department of Water Resources 24 hour line at 678-376-7000.

Sewage coming up in the house

If sewage is backing up through a tub, shower, floor drain or toilet, treat it as a health hazard: keep children and pets out, stop using water, and call. If your neighbors are affected too, the county sewer main may be the problem, and the same county line (678-376-7000) handles that. See what to do when a sewer backs up.

The smell of gas

This is not a plumber's first call. Leave the house, do not touch any switch, and call your gas utility from outside. City of Lawrenceville gas customers call the city's gas department (770-963-3332, check your bill) and most other Gwinnett customers call Atlanta Gas Light at 877-427-4321. Call 911 if the smell is strong. Details in what to do if you smell gas.

A water heater that is leaking from the tank

If water is pooling around the tank, close the cold water valve on top, switch off the power or gas, and call. A tank leak from the body usually means replacement, not repair. See what to do when a water heater is leaking.

Water coming through a ceiling

Close the main, stay out from under a sagging ceiling, and switch off power to that area if you can reach the panel without standing in water.

No water at all

First ask a neighbor if they have water. If they do not, it may be a county outage or a main break, which is the utility's job. If only you are out, check the main shutoff, and look for signs of a leak or a frozen line.

Call Within the Day

• A toilet that overflows and cannot be used, in a one-bathroom house
• A significant leak that you have slowed with the main valve but not fixed
• A water heater with no hot water in cold weather, especially with children or older relatives at home
• A slow drain that is getting worse, or one that has backed up more than once

Can Wait for Normal Hours

• A single slow drain or a clog in one sink
• A dripping faucet
• A running toilet
• Low pressure at one fixture
• A water heater that works but is on the weak side

These are not causing damage at the moment, so a scheduled visit is usually fine. Place a bucket or towel and keep an eye on it.

What to Do While You Wait

1. Close the main if water is escaping.
2. Cut power to wet areas if you can reach the panel without standing in water.
3. Open the lowest faucet to relieve the pressure.
4. Move belongings and lift rugs, and use towels or a wet vacuum.
5. Take photos for your insurance company.
6. Write down what you see, so you can tell the plumber exactly what is happening.

Georgia humidity helps mold grow fast in wet drywall and carpet. Start drying the area with fans as soon as the water is under control.

DIY: What Is Reasonable and What Is Not

Closing valves, mopping, moving things and using a plunger on a toilet are all reasonable. Soldering, cutting into walls, working on a gas line or opening an electrical panel in wet conditions are not. A patch that holds for an hour can fail while you sleep, and a repair that goes wrong can leave your insurer asking questions.

What to Ask When the Plumber Calls Back

• When can you be here, and what will it take if you cannot make it tonight?
• What is the price, and what does it include? Ask before work starts.
• Does the price change after hours or on a weekend?
• What is your Georgia license number? (Check it on the state's online licensee search. See verifying a plumber's license.)

We cannot promise an arrival time, since an independent plumber decides it. We can promise that the phone line is answered around the clock, every day, including holidays.

Calling From Around Gwinnett

Call (770) 285-5619. We take your details and connect you with an independent local plumber who handles emergencies in Lawrenceville and nearby areas, including Snellville, Suwanee, Duluth, Dacula, Grayson, Lilburn and Buford. The plumber does the work and gives you the price. For more, see what is a plumbing emergency, emergency plumber costs in Lawrenceville and emergency plumber services.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I call an emergency plumber instead of waiting?

Call right away for a burst pipe or water you cannot stop, sewage backing up indoors, a water heater leaking from the tank, water coming through a ceiling, or no water at all. For the smell of gas, leave the house and call your gas utility from outside first.

Who do I call if the water is coming from the meter box or street?

Call the Gwinnett County Department of Water Resources 24 hour line at 678-376-7000. The meter box and the water main belong to the county.

What can safely wait until normal business hours?

A single slow drain, a dripping faucet, a running toilet, low pressure at one fixture, and a water heater that works but is weak. None is causing active damage, so a scheduled visit is fine.

What should I ask an emergency plumber before they start?

Ask when they can arrive, the price and what it includes, whether it changes after hours or on weekends, and their Georgia license number. Ask for the price before work starts.

Is the phone line answered on holidays?

Yes, the phone line is answered 24/7, every day. We connect you with an independent local plumber, and the plumber tells you when they can come.