Emergency Plumbing
What to Do in the First Five Minutes
If water is spreading or something smells wrong, work through these steps in order before you do anything else:
- Shut off the water. Close the main shut-off valve (see below). That stops most flooding right away.
- Turn off power near the water. If water is close to outlets, a furnace or a water heater, switch off that circuit at the breaker panel. Never stand in water to do it.
- Turn off the water heater. On a gas unit, set the control knob to "Pilot" or "Off." On an electric unit, flip its breaker.
- Open a faucet at the lowest point in the house. This drains the pressure left in the lines and slows the leak.
- Take photos before you clean up. Your insurance company will want them.
- Call us at (478) 780-3030. Tell us what happened and what you've shut off. That helps us bring the right parts.
How it works
- 1
Call or book online
Tell us what is going on. A licensed plumber calls you back fast.
- 2
We find the cause
Camera and diagnostic tools show what is really wrong. No diagnostic fee.
- 3
Upfront price
You approve the price before any work starts. No surprises.
- 4
Fixed and tested
We test the repair before we leave and clean up after ourselves.
Where to Find Your Main Water Shut-Off
It's worth finding this valve before you need it. In most Westminster homes it's in one of these places:
- Basement homes (common around Legacy Ridge and Standley Lake): on the wall that faces the street, close to where the water line comes through the foundation, often near the water meter.
- Crawl space and slab homes: in a utility closet, near the water heater, or in the garage on the street side.
- Curb stop: a valve in a small box near the sidewalk or property line. It usually takes a curb key, and in many areas the city controls it, so use it only in a real emergency.
Newer homes usually have a lever handle. A quarter turn closes it. Older homes often have a round gate valve that turns clockwise several times. If it won't move, don't force it. An old gate valve can snap. Call us and we'll walk you through it.
Answers
Emergency Plumbing FAQs
What counts as a plumbing emergency?
Call right away for water you can't stop, a smell of gas, sewage coming up into a tub, shower or floor drain, no water at all in the house, or a leaking water heater. A dripping faucet or a slow drain can usually wait for a regular appointment. If you're not sure, call and ask, and we'll tell you honestly whether it can wait. Our plumbing emergency guide goes into more detail.
A pipe just burst. What do I do?
Shut off the main water first, then the power to anything wet. Open the lowest faucet to drain the lines. Move valuables and electronics out of the water, and start drying with towels or a wet vac. Then call us for burst pipe repair. In Westminster most burst pipes happen January through March, when a warm afternoon turns into a hard overnight freeze.
My pipes are frozen but nothing has burst. What now?
Keep the faucet on that line open so water can flow once it thaws. Warm the pipe slowly with a hair dryer or space heater, and open cabinet doors under sinks on outside walls. Never use an open flame. If you can't find the frozen spot, or it doesn't thaw within an hour, call us for frozen pipe repair before it splits.
I smell gas. Should I call a plumber?
Get everyone out of the house first. Don't flip light switches, use the phone inside, or start a car in an attached garage. Once you're outside, call Xcel Energy's gas emergency line or 911. After the utility makes the area safe, we can find and fix the leak with gas line repair.
My water heater is leaking. Is it about to fail?
A leak at the bottom of the tank usually means the tank is done. Shut off the cold water supply valve on top of the heater and turn off the gas or power to it. A leak from a fitting or the relief valve can often be repaired. Our guide on what to do when your water heater is leaking covers the next steps, or call for water heater repair.
Sewage is backing up into a drain. What should I do?
Stop using water everywhere in the house right away. That means no flushing, showers, dishwasher or laundry, because every drop you use ends up at the lowest drain. Keep kids and pets away from the water, because it carries bacteria. Backups in older Westminster homes are often caused by roots or a sagging clay line, and we can find the cause with a camera before any digging. See sewer line repair.
My sump pump stopped and the basement is filling. Can it wait?
No. First check that the pump is plugged in and the breaker hasn't tripped, then check whether the float is stuck. If it still won't run, move what you can off the basement floor and call us for sump pump repair.
Can I wait until morning?
If you can fully stop the water at the shut-off valve, and nobody needs that water overnight, waiting is usually fine. If you can't stop the water, smell gas, or have sewage backing up, don't wait.
Do emergency visits cost more?
Sometimes, depending on the time and the job. Either way, we give you the price before we start. Read more in does an emergency plumber cost more.
How fast can you get here?
We're based in Westminster and offer same-day emergency service 7 days a week: Monday to Friday 7 am to 6 pm, Saturday and Sunday 9 am to 6 pm. Call (478) 780-3030 and we'll give you a real arrival time.
What should I document for insurance?
Take photos and video of the water, the damaged area and the failed pipe or fixture before cleanup. Write down when you found it and what you shut off. Keep the damaged part if we replace it, and keep our invoice. Most adjusters ask for all of these.
Get Help Now
Burst pipe, gas smell, sewer backup or a failed water heater: call Westminster Plumbing at (478) 780-3030. We're licensed and local, we offer same-day emergency service, and we tell you the price before we start. For a full list of urgent services, see our emergency plumber page.