You've called an emergency plumber and help is on the way. What you do next can make the service call easier and, in some situations, help reduce additional damage to your home.
You don't need to diagnose the plumbing problem or attempt a temporary repair. Instead, focus on limiting additional damage, documenting what happened, protecting belongings when possible, and preparing the space so the plumber can get to work when they arrive.
Here's how to use that time effectively.
If water is actively leaking and you haven't already stopped it, shut off the water before doing anything else. For a problem involving one fixture, use its individual shutoff valve if you can safely reach it. For a larger leak, you may need to shut off your home's main water supply.
Don't force a stuck valve or enter an unsafe area to reach one. If you can't safely stop the water, let the emergency plumber know that water is still flowing.
If water is leaking into a room and the area is safe to enter, move nearby belongings out of its path.
Start with items that are easily damaged, such as electronics, rugs, furniture, boxes, documents, and anything stored directly on the floor. For a small drip, a bucket or container may help catch water while you wait.
Don't worry about saving belongings if reaching them would require walking through sewage, standing water near electrical equipment, or another unsafe area.
The goal isn't to clean everything up before the plumber arrives. It's simply to prevent avoidable damage when you can.
Before moving or drying anything, take a few photos or a short video of the affected area if it's safe to do so.
Try to capture where the water first appeared, how far it spread, the affected fixture or plumbing component, and any visible damage. If water is dripping through a ceiling or appearing somewhere away from the suspected source, document that too.
By the time the plumber arrives, the problem may look different. A leak can slow, water can drain away, or you may have already moved items and dried part of the area. Photos give the plumber a better picture of what was happening earlier.
They can also provide a useful record of the condition of your property before cleanup and repairs begin.
Once you've made the initial call, resist the temptation to turn the wait into a DIY repair session.
Removing a P-trap, opening a water heater panel, disconnecting a supply line, or taking apart a fixture can introduce new leaks or make the original problem harder to evaluate.
Temporary fixes can cause problems too. Avoid applying adhesives, sealants, or improvised patches to plumbing components unless a professional has specifically instructed you to do so.
Leaving the system as intact as possible allows the plumber to see the problem in context and determine what actually needs to be repaired.
One of the most useful things you can do before the plumber arrives has nothing to do with repairing the plumbing: clear the work area.
If the problem is beneath a kitchen or bathroom sink, remove cleaning products, toiletries, trash cans, and other items from the cabinet. For a water heater problem, move stored belongings away from the unit. If plumbing equipment is located in a garage or utility room, create enough space for the plumber to reach it and bring in tools.
You don't need to remove permanent fixtures or move anything unusually heavy. Just clear ordinary clutter that could slow down access.
If you know where your home's main water shutoff, water heater, or sewer cleanout is located, make sure those areas are accessible.
You don't need to operate equipment you're unfamiliar with. Simply knowing where these components are can save time if the plumber needs access to them.
If you're not sure where something is located, don't start opening walls, digging around the yard, or dismantling equipment to find it. The plumber can help locate the appropriate component when they arrive.
Instead of trying to determine the cause yourself, think about what happened immediately before you noticed the problem.
A few details can provide useful context. Maybe the washing machine had just drained when water appeared in a nearby bathtub. Perhaps you heard a banging sound before noticing water on the floor. Maybe a fixture had been draining slowly for several days before the current problem developed.
Write down the approximate time you first noticed the issue and anything unusual that happened beforehand. If the condition changes while you're waiting, note that as well.
This gives the plumber a sequence of events to work from without requiring you to diagnose the problem yourself.
Without repeatedly testing the plumbing, take note of what you already know about the problem.
Is it limited to one sink? Did water appear in more than one bathroom? Is a toilet involved? Did you notice a problem only when a particular appliance was running?
That information can help distinguish an isolated fixture problem from something affecting a larger part of the plumbing system.
Avoid repeatedly flushing toilets, running faucets, or operating appliances just to gather more information. If using a fixture has already made the problem worse, leave it alone.
Emergency plumbing repairs can involve standing water, open cabinets, tools, equipment, and technicians moving in and out of the home.
Keep children away from the affected area and secure pets before the plumber arrives. This is especially important if the technician will need to leave exterior doors or gates open while carrying equipment.
If wastewater is present, keep everyone who doesn't need to be in the area away from it.
A few simple preparations can prevent unnecessary delays when the plumber arrives.
At night, turn on exterior lights so your address and entrance are easy to see. Unlock any gate the plumber will need to pass through and move vehicles if they're blocking a driveway, garage, utility area, or other necessary access point.
If you live in a gated community or building with controlled access, have any gate code, parking instructions, or entry information ready.
If the plumbing problem is in an attic, garage, utility closet, or other less obvious location, be prepared to take the plumber directly to it.
If leaking water has reached outlets, appliances, light fixtures, electrical panels, or exposed wiring, don't enter the affected area simply to prepare it for the plumber.
Don't unplug wet equipment, touch electrical devices while standing in water, or cross standing water to reach a breaker panel.
The Electrical Safety Foundation International's guidance on water and electrical hazards explains why electrical equipment exposed to water should be treated carefully and evaluated by a qualified professional.
In a situation involving an immediate electrical hazard, the appropriate electrical or emergency service may also need to be contacted.
Your safety takes priority over preparing the workspace.
A suspected gas leak requires a different response from an ordinary plumbing leak.
If you smell gas near a gas-fired water heater or another gas appliance, leave the building and contact your gas utility or appropriate emergency authority from a safe location. Don't remain inside preparing the area for the plumber, and don't attempt to locate the source yourself.
Once the immediate gas hazard has been addressed, the appropriate professional can determine what repairs are needed.
An emergency service call can move quickly, so it can help to think about what you want to know before the plumber begins the repair.
Depending on the situation, you may want to ask:
What caused the problem?
Is the issue isolated, or does another part of the plumbing need attention?
What repair is recommended?
Is there any remaining water damage you should monitor?
Can the problem happen again?
Is there maintenance or another repair that could reduce the chance of recurrence?
You don't need a long list. A few relevant questions can help you understand what happened and what, if anything, you should do afterward.
Once an emergency plumber is on the way, your job isn't to solve the plumbing problem yourself. Use the time to limit additional damage, protect belongings when it's safe, document the condition of the area, clear access to the plumbing, secure pets, and make note of what happened.
Those preparations give the plumber a clearer workspace and useful context when they arrive without risking additional damage from an improvised repair.
Our team can identify the source of the problem, explain the recommended repair, and help get your plumbing system back in working order.