What to Do During Plumbing Emergencies

When a pipe bursts and water starts spreading through your house, the first five minutes matter most. Here's exactly what to do: find your main water shut-off valve, turn off your water heater, move anything valuable away from the water, and call a plumber. We'll walk you through each step and explain why it matters.

Some leaks announce themselves with water pooling on the floor. Others hide inside walls or under floors for months, quietly causing damage you won't see until it's serious. Learn what signs to watch for, how to check your water meter to confirm a leak, and when it's time to call someone who can find where the water is actually coming from.

Chemical drain cleaners promise quick fixes but often create bigger problems, especially in older Birmingham pipes. Learn which clogs you can handle yourself with a plunger or drain snake, and which ones need professional equipment. We'll also explain what causes recurring clogs and how to actually fix the underlying problem.

Not every water heater problem requires emergency service, but some definitely do. If you smell gas or see water pooling around the tank, that's urgent. If you just have no hot water on a cold morning, that's frustrating but usually not dangerous. Here's how to tell the difference and what to do in each situation.

Birmingham doesn't get extended freezes often, but when temperatures drop below freezing for several days, pipes can freeze—especially in crawl spaces, attics, and exterior walls. Learn which pipes are most vulnerable in Alabama homes, what you can do to prevent freezing before it happens, and how to safely thaw pipes if they do freeze.

When your main sewer line starts to fail, you'll usually get warning signs before sewage actually backs up into your house. Toilets that gurgle when you run the washing machine, drains that are slow throughout the house, or water backing up in the shower when you flush—these all point to the same problem. Here's what's likely happening and what we typically recommend.

You don't need a plumber's full toolkit, but having a few essential tools on hand can help you handle small problems and buy time during bigger emergencies. We'll recommend specific tools that are worth having, show you how to use them safely, and explain which situations you should definitely leave to professionals.

Gas leaks are genuinely dangerous and require immediate action. If you smell that distinctive rotten-egg odor near your gas water heater or gas lines, don't try to find the source. Don't flip light switches or do anything that could create a spark. Here's exactly what to do to keep your family safe, and why you always need a licensed professional for gas line work.

It's 11 PM and something's wrong with your plumbing. Do you call now or wait until morning? Some problems cause more damage every hour you wait—those need immediate attention. Others are inconvenient but not urgent. We'll help you understand which is which, so you can make the right call for your situation.