It's 11 PM and water is coming out from under your bathroom cabinet. Is this a call-right-now emergency, or can it wait until morning? Knowing the difference can save you hundreds of dollars in after-hours fees — or prevent thousands of dollars in water damage.
Here's our practical guide to making that call.
Call Right Now: True Plumbing Emergencies
These situations require immediate attention, regardless of the time:
🚨 Burst or ruptured pipe
A burst pipe can release dozens of gallons per minute. If you can't shut off the water supply to the affected area (or the whole house), this is a genuine emergency. Turn off the main shutoff valve immediately and call us.
🚨 Water heater failure with flooding
A failed water heater that's actively leaking onto the floor — especially if it's near electrical panels or is soaking into the subfloor — needs immediate attention. Turn off the gas or electricity to the unit first, then the water supply.
🚨 Sewage backing up into the house
If sewage is coming up through a floor drain, toilet, or tub — especially in multiple fixtures simultaneously — your main sewer line is blocked. This is a health hazard and should not wait.
🚨 Gas smell near plumbing fixtures
If you smell gas near your water heater, furnace, or any gas line, evacuate the building immediately, don't use any switches or flames, and call your gas company AND a plumber. Do not try to find the leak yourself.
🚨 No water in the entire house
If you have no water at all and your neighbors do, you have a main water line failure. In winter, this may also mean a frozen or burst pipe. Call immediately.
Wait Until Morning: Non-Emergencies
These are real problems that need fixing — but they don't require a 2 AM call:
- A slow or clogged drain — as long as it's not backing up sewage or completely blocked, this can wait.
- A running toilet — annoying and wasteful, but not damaging.
- A dripping faucet — wastes water over time, but is not an emergency.
- Low water pressure in one fixture — often a clogged aerator or showerhead, which you may be able to clean yourself.
- A small, contained leak that you've stopped by turning off the supply valve under the sink.
What to Do While You Wait
Whether you're calling now or waiting until morning, these steps can limit damage:
- Shut off the water at the fixture's supply valve or at the main if needed.
- Turn off the water heater if the main supply is shut off (to prevent the tank from heating dry).
- Contain the water with towels, buckets, or a shop vac.
- Document the damage with photos — important for insurance claims.
- Don't use electricity near standing water.
Hydro Plumbing Emergency Line
We answer emergency calls 24/7. When you call after hours, you get a real member of our team — not a voicemail or answering service. We'll diagnose the situation over the phone and dispatch a plumber if needed.
"We'd rather you call and find out it can wait than not call and wake up to water damage. There's no charge for a quick phone consult."
— Hydro Plumbing Team, Tigard, OR
📞 Call our 24/7 emergency line: (971) 241-2628
Learn about our emergency plumbing service →