24 Hour Emergency Plumbing

In most plumbing emergencies, you need to turn your water off right away to prevent flooding or further damage to your home. In the midst of an emergency, it’s usually best to shut off the water to your entire house. In the Austin area, most homes’ main shutoff valves are located outside near your water meter. You should find it past the meter on the house side, usually in a box just below ground level. Once you locate the valve handle, simple turn it clockwise until it stops. It’s important that this valve is either in the full on or full off position. It is not designed to be left partially open. See the above video for more detailed instructions with visuals.

If you have a leak that is less urgent, you may be able to turn your water off at the fixture rather than losing water supply to your entire house. For your sink, you can usually see two chrome or plastic stop valves under your sink at the back of the cabinet. You will need to turn off both valves to stop water supply to your sink. Toilets have just a single stop valve, which is usually located on the wall right behind the toilet.

After you’ve shut off your water at the main valve, there will still be water in the pipes. To prevent this water from further damaging your home, you need to release it to the outside. Walk around the exterior of your home and turn on any spigots or water hoses until the water flow stops. If you notice a clog or backup during this process, you can try to release it with a plunger. However, it is very important that you do not under any circumstances put chemicals down your drains. Harsh chemicals can cause extensive damage to your plumbing system. It is best to wait for your plumber so they can diagnose the problem and help provide you with a solution.

If you are able to, it’s important to assess the situation before you call us. Carefully observe the problem area and look for any potential water sources. You should also feel walls or floors to check if they feel warm or wet. The more information you can provide to us, the better we can be prepared to service your problem.

People often forget to call their plumber in the height of an emergency. It’s important to give us a call right away to minimize the damage to your home. We can also walk you through what you need to do and assess whether or not your household is in danger. This is especially important when it comes to gas leaks, which can cause an explosion if not cared for properly.

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