Emergency Plumber in Atlanta
Do these things before you call anyone. They take a few minutes and they decide how much damage there is by the time help arrives.
If clean water is pouring out
- Shut the main water valve. In older intown houses it is often in the crawlspace or basement where the supply line comes through the front foundation wall. A newer house may have it in a garage, utility room or under the kitchen sink.
- If you cannot find or turn it, the city meter box near the street has a valve too. It may need a meter key; do not force a corroded one.
- Turn off the water heater (gas to pilot, or the breaker for electric) if the leak is anywhere near it or the house will be without water for a while.
- Open a downstairs tap to drain what is left in the pipes and take pressure off the break.
- Turn off power to any circuit where water is reaching outlets or fixtures, if you can do so without standing in water.
- Photograph everything before you mop. Your insurer will ask.
If sewage is coming up
- Stop using water anywhere in the house. No flushing, no laundry, no dishwasher. Every drop you send down comes back up at the lowest drain.
- Keep children and pets away from it. Sewage is a health hazard, not just a mess.
- Check whether neighbours have the same problem, or whether a manhole in the street is overflowing. If so, it points at the public main: report it to ATL311 inside the city, or to DeKalb or Fulton County outside it.
- If it is just your house, find the outdoor cleanout and see whether the cap is on. A plumber will want to know where it is.
Then call. The company will ask what you have already done, which is why doing it first saves time.
Freezes are the Atlanta emergency
Atlanta does not freeze often, which is exactly why it catches houses out. Around Christmas 2022 the temperature reached 8°F on Christmas Eve morning and stayed below freezing for days, and burst pipes flooded apartments, offices and houses across the metro. Older houses on raised foundations with ventilated crawlspaces are the most exposed, because the supply pipes run through cold air under the floor. The frozen pipes guide covers what to do before and during a hard freeze.
What an emergency call costs
After-hours, weekend and holiday visits are usually priced above a normal daytime call, through a higher call-out fee, a higher hourly rate, or both. The company should tell you how it charges before anyone arrives. If the water is off and the damage is contained, it is reasonable to ask whether the repair can wait until morning at the normal rate.
Once the water is off, call. If you cannot reach anyone, send the details and the plumbing company will pick it up as soon as it can.
Common questions
Will someone come within the hour?
We will not promise that, because we do not control it. The plumbing company sets its own after-hours cover and will tell you honestly what is possible when you call.
My water is off and nothing is leaking now. Is it still an emergency?
Probably not. With the water off and the damage contained, a daytime visit is usually cheaper. Leave the water off until the pipe is repaired.
Other plumbing help in Atlanta
- Plumber in Atlanta, GA
- Sewer Line Repair in Atlanta
- Drain Cleaning in Atlanta
- Water Heater Replacement in Atlanta
- Leak Detection and Repiping in Atlanta
Also serving
Emergency Plumbing is available beyond Atlanta, across Kirkwood & East Atlanta , Decatur , Brookhaven and Sandy Springs .
Get help with emergency plumbing
Say what is happening and a local plumbing company will call you back within one business day. Phones answered Mon–Sat, 7am–7pm. Night cover is set by the plumber. Or call (470) 243-2699. If water is still coming in or sewage is coming up, call instead.