Emergency Plumber in Raleigh, NC

Contain it before you call

1. Shut off the water. The main valve is usually on the wall where the supply pipe comes into the house, in a crawl space, garage or utility room. Turn it clockwise until it stops. Some homes also have a shutoff on the cold line above the water heater.
2. Keep away from wet electrics. If water is reaching outlets, an electric water heater or the breaker panel, switch off the affected circuits only if you can reach the panel while standing somewhere dry.
3. Stop using the drains if sewage is coming up. Every flush or load of laundry adds to the backup.
4. Take pictures of the source and the damage. They help the plumber plan and help with any insurance claim.

Is this an emergency, or can it wait?

It's urgent if water is actively damaging floors, walls or ceilings, if wastewater is backing into the house, if a water heater tank is leaking, or if you have no water and no idea why. A running toilet, a drip under a sink you can shut off at the stop valve, or one slow drain can generally wait for a weekday appointment. When in doubt, call and describe it.

When to call the City instead

Not every problem is on your side. The City of Raleigh maintains water lines up to the property line, and the stretch from there to the house belongs to the owner. For a sewer backup, an overflow or a water leak, Raleigh Water asks residents to call Customer Care at 919-996-3245 and press 2; the same number handles emergencies after business hours. If water is bubbling up in the street or several homes on your block are affected, start there. If the trouble is inside the house or between the property line and your foundation, that's plumber work.

Older pipes, stuck valves

Raleigh's housing is fairly young overall, with a median year built of 1997, but about 23% of homes date from before 1980. In older in-town areas such as Oakwood, Five Points and Boylan Heights, original shutoff valves may not have been turned in decades and can seize or snap. It's worth finding and test-turning yours on an ordinary day, before you need it.

Gas smell

Don't use switches or phones inside. Leave, then call 911 or Enbridge Gas North Carolina, the area's gas utility (formerly PSNC), from outdoors. A plumber can help with gas piping once the utility says it's safe.

What to expect on the call

You'll reach an independent local plumber who serves Raleigh. Have your address ready and say whether the water is off. After-hours visits usually carry a higher service charge, so ask how it's priced before anyone is dispatched. How fast someone can come depends on the hour and demand, and we can't guarantee a time.