Emergency Plumbing Services
Not every plumbing failure is an emergency. Anything actively releasing water, any sewage indoors, any gas smell, and any total loss of water justify an after-hours call. No hot water, a single slow drain, and a running toilet you have isolated do not. Each service page below states its real urgency alongside its cost.
Each of these pages covers what the failure looks like, what causes it, what a plumber actually does on arrival, what it costs nationally, and what you should do before they get there. Where a problem is commonly treated as more urgent than it is, the page says so, because the after-hours premium runs 50 to 100 percent and a large share of emergency calls are for problems that could safely have waited.
National cost ranges at a glance
Baseline estimates before regional adjustment. Any state page re-prices these for local labour costs. These are editorial estimates for orientation, not quotes.
| Service | Typical range | Emergency? |
|---|---|---|
| Burst pipe repair | $400 to $1,700 | Yes |
| Frozen pipes | $250 to $700 | Yes |
| Water heater repair | $180 to $3,200 | Yes |
| Sewer backup | $300 to $900 | Yes |
| Drain cleaning | $150 to $900 | Yes |
| Slab leak repair | $1,200 to $4,500 | Yes |
| Leak detection | $350 to $800 | Yes |
| Sewer line repair | $1,500 to $15,000 | Usually scheduled |
| Water line repair | $900 to $8,000 | Yes |
| Toilet repair | $150 to $450 | Yes |
| Sump pump repair | $250 to $1,200 | Yes |
| Gas line repair | $250 to $900 | Yes |
| Tankless service | $150 to $800 | Usually scheduled |
| Repiping | $4,000 to $15,000 | Usually scheduled |
| Fixture repair | $150 to $500 | Usually scheduled |
| Commercial plumbing | $200 to $400 | Yes |
Water supply emergencies
- Emergency Burst Pipe RepairA burst pipe releases water continuously until the supply is shut off. Emergency repair covers isolation, pipe section replacement, and pressure testing.
- Frozen Pipe Thawing and RepairProfessional thawing of frozen supply lines, plus inspection and repair of any sections that split while frozen.
- Main Water Line RepairRepair and replacement of the buried water service line between the meter and the house, including trenchless replacement options.
- Emergency Sump Pump RepairRepair and replacement of failed sump pumps, including battery backup installation for homes that flood during power outages.
- Emergency Gas Line RepairEmergency repair of leaking gas lines and connections serving water heaters, furnaces, and appliances, performed by licensed technicians.
- Whole-House RepipingReplacement of a home's supply piping where the existing system has reached end of life, using PEX or copper.
Drain and sewer emergencies
- Emergency Sewer Backup ServiceEmergency clearing of blocked sewer lines and main line backups, including camera inspection to identify the underlying cause.
- Emergency Drain CleaningClearing of blocked sinks, tubs, showers, and toilets, including cable work and hydro jetting for stubborn or recurring blockages.
- Sewer Line Repair and ReplacementRepair, lining, or replacement of damaged sewer laterals, including trenchless options that avoid excavating the yard.
Water heater services
- Emergency Water Heater Repair and ReplacementDiagnosis and repair of water heater failures, including leaking tanks, no hot water, pressure relief discharge, and emergency replacement.
- Tankless Water Heater ServiceDiagnosis, descaling, and repair of tankless water heaters, including error code troubleshooting and flow sensor issues.
Fixture repairs
- Emergency Toilet RepairRepair of overflowing, leaking, or non-functioning toilets, including wax ring replacement, valve repair, and clearing blockages.
- Emergency Fixture Repair and InstallationRepair and replacement of faucets, shutoff valves, supply lines, garbage disposals, and other fixtures, including failed connections that leak.
Leak detection
- Slab Leak Detection and RepairLocation and repair of water lines leaking beneath a concrete foundation, using acoustic and thermal detection to minimize concrete work.
- Emergency Leak DetectionNon-invasive location of hidden water leaks behind walls, under floors, and beneath slabs using acoustic, thermal, and pressure testing equipment.
Commercial plumbing
Cost guides
- Burst Pipe Repair CostWhat burst pipe repair costs by location and pipe type, plus the water damage costs that usually exceed the plumbing.
- Water Heater Replacement CostWhat tank and tankless water heater replacement costs, including the code upgrades that appear on the invoice unexpectedly.
- Drain Cleaning CostWhat drain and sewer clearing costs by method and location, and when jetting is worth the premium over cabling.