Burst pipes, backups, leaking tanks and frozen lines
24/7 emergency plumber in York, PA
A plumbing emergency is water you can't control, sewage coming into the house, or a problem that's about to cause one: a pipe spraying, a ceiling sagging with water, a basement drain overflowing, a water heater tank leaking. The first step is always the same.
Stop the water at the closest valve or the main, then call (717) 297-8733 and say it's an emergency at the start of the call. We answer emergency plumbing calls 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
What counts as a plumbing emergency?
Call right away, and say it's urgent at the start of the call, for any of these:
| Situation | Why it can't wait | What to do first |
|---|---|---|
| A pipe is spraying or has burst | Water damage spreads through floors and ceilings within minutes | Shut the main valve |
| Water is coming through a ceiling or light fixture | Ceiling collapse and electrical hazard | Shut the main and that circuit's breaker; stay out from under a sagging ceiling |
| Sewage is backing up through a floor drain, tub or toilet | Health hazard, and it gets worse every time water is used | Stop all water use in the house |
| The water heater tank is leaking | The tank won't stop leaking, and can fail completely | Close the cold valve on top of the heater, turn off its gas or breaker |
| No water in freezing weather | A frozen line is about to split | Open the faucet it feeds; never use an open flame |
| The sump pump failed during heavy rain | Water will keep rising | Cut power at the breaker from a dry spot; move belongings up |
| You smell gas | Fire and explosion risk | Leave the house, then call 911 or your gas utility from outside |
| The main shutoff won't close | Nothing else can stop the water | Call the water company to close the curb stop |
Plumbing problems that can wait for a scheduled visit
These are worth fixing soon but rarely need an emergency visit:
- One slow or clogged drain, if other fixtures in the house work
- A running toilet, once you've closed the valve behind it
- A dripping faucet or a leak under a sink that stops when you close the fixture's shutoff
- Low hot water, or a water heater that's out but not leaking
- A small leak you've isolated by closing a nearby valve
If you can stop the water with a valve and the house is otherwise usable, a scheduled visit will usually cost less than an after-hours one.
Main water shutoff valves in York's older houses
This is the York-specific detail that turns small leaks into big ones. About half of York City's homes were built before 1940, and many older houses in the surrounding townships still have their original main shutoff: a multi-turn gate valve or stop valve on a galvanized or lead service line. Valves like that sit untouched for years, then seize, leak at the stem, or break off when someone finally turns them in an emergency.
Three things are worth doing before you ever need them:
- Find your main shutoff now and make sure everyone in the house knows where it is.
- Test it once a year by closing it slowly and reopening it. If it won't turn, or leaks at the stem afterward, have it replaced.
- Replace an old gate valve with a quarter-turn ball valve. It closes completely with a quarter turn and rarely seizes. It's a small job, and it's often done at the same time as other plumbing work.
If you're a York Water customer and your main valve fails in an emergency, the water company can close the curb stop near the street. Keep their number with your plumber's.
What happens when you call our 24/7 emergency plumbers
- On the phone, we ask what's happening, whether the water is stopped, and whether anything electrical or gas-related is involved. We'll tell you what to do while you wait.
- We tell you how soon a plumber can get there, based on the call and what else is happening at the time.
- On arrival, the plumber makes the situation safe first: stopping the water, clearing a backed-up line enough for the house to drain, or isolating a failed water heater.
- The plumber finds the cause and explains whether a permanent repair can be done now or needs a follow-up visit, such as a sewer line repair after a backup has been cleared.
- You approve the price before the repair is done.
- The repair is tested, and you get notes for your insurer describing what failed.
How much does an emergency plumber cost in York, PA?
An emergency plumber costs more than a scheduled visit, mainly because of the time of the call, and the rest depends on what has to be done on the spot and how hard the pipe is to reach.
- Time of the call. Nights, weekends and holidays usually cost more than regular hours.
- What has to be done right away. Stopping a leak and capping a line is less work than a full repair on the spot.
- Access. Pipes inside finished walls and ceilings, under slabs, or in crawlspaces take longer.
- Parts. A water heater or sump pump replacement depends on what's available for an emergency install.
- Pipe condition. Repairs on corroded galvanized or cast iron often mean replacing more than the failed spot.
- Follow-up work. Some emergencies are made safe first and fully repaired at a scheduled visit.
Water damage cleanup and drying is separate from the plumbing. If a lot of water got into walls or floors, call your insurer and a water mitigation company as well.
How to prevent a plumbing emergency
- Know where the main shutoff is, test it yearly, and replace it if it's an old gate valve.
- Replace rubber washing machine hoses with braided stainless ones, and braided supply lines every 10 years or so.
- Flush the water heater yearly, and replace a tank that's past 10 to 12 years old before it leaks.
- Insulate pipes in outside walls and crawlspaces before winter, and shut off outdoor faucets.
- Test the sump pump each spring and fall.
- Keep wipes and grease out of the drains.
Emergency calls are one part of the plumbing services we provide in York, PA. For the problems behind most emergencies, see frozen and burst pipe repair and water heater repair and replacement.
Emergency plumbing FAQs for York homes and businesses
What counts as a plumbing emergency?
Water you can't stop, sewage backing up into the house, no water during freezing weather, a leaking water heater tank, and any gas smell. A dripping faucet, a single slow drain, or a running toilet are worth fixing soon, but they can wait for a scheduled visit.
Is an emergency plumbing visit more expensive?
Usually, when it's outside normal working hours. Ask about the emergency or after-hours service charge on the phone before the visit is confirmed. If you've stopped the water and the damage isn't spreading, waiting for a regular appointment can save money.
I can't find my main shutoff valve. What should I do?
Check where the water line comes through the basement or crawlspace wall facing the street, usually near the meter. In some older rowhomes it's under the front steps or in a front corner behind stored items. If you're a York Water customer and can't find or close it, the water company can shut the curb stop at the street.
Should I call my insurance company first?
Stop the water first, then call a plumber, then call your insurer. Take photos and video of the damage before cleanup, and keep the plumber's invoice describing the cause. Many policies require you to take reasonable steps to limit damage.
Can I keep using the water heater after shutting the main?
Turn it off if the water will be off for more than a short time: set a gas heater to pilot or off, or switch off an electric heater's breaker. An electric element can burn out if the tank drains while it's powered.
Plumbing Pros
Need an emergency plumber in York right now?
Shut the main valve, then call (717) 297-8733 and tell us it's an emergency, what's happening, and whether the water is stopped.
Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week