Emergency Plumbing: What to Do Before the Plumber Arrives

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It's 11 PM on a Tuesday. You hear water gushing from somewhere in the basement. Or maybe your kitchen sink suddenly won't stop overflowing. Perhaps a pipe burst behind the wall and water is spreading across the hardwood floor. If you're a homeowner in Philadelphia — especially in one of the city's older row homes or Main Line colonials — a plumbing emergency isn't a matter of if, it's when.

What you do in the first 15 minutes can mean the difference between a manageable repair and thousands of dollars in water damage. Here's exactly what to do while you wait for a licensed plumber to arrive.

Step 1: Shut Off the Water

This is the single most important thing you can do. Every second water continues to flow is more damage to your home. There are two levels of shutoff to know about:

• Local shutoff valves: Most fixtures (toilets, sinks, washing machines) have individual shutoff valves located directly behind or beneath the fixture. Turn the valve clockwise until it stops. For a toilet that won't stop running or a supply line that burst under the sink, this is usually the fastest fix.
• Main water shutoff: If you can't find the local valve, the leak is in a pipe (not a fixture), or water is gushing too fast to isolate — shut off the main water supply to the entire house. In most Philadelphia homes, the main shutoff is in the basement near the front wall where the water line enters from the street. It's typically a gate valve (round handle) or ball valve (lever handle). Turn it clockwise or perpendicular to the pipe to close it.

Step 2: Turn Off the Water Heater

If you've shut off the main water supply, turn off your water heater as well. Running a water heater without an incoming water supply can cause overheating and damage the tank. For a gas water heater, turn the gas valve to "pilot" or "off." For an electric water heater, flip the breaker in your electrical panel.

Step 3: Open Faucets to Drain the System

After shutting off the main water valve, open the lowest faucet in your home (typically a basement utility sink or first-floor faucet) plus an outdoor hose bib if accessible. This drains any remaining water from the pipes and reduces pressure on the leak point. It won't stop an active flood, but it accelerates how quickly the remaining water clears out of the system.

Step 4: Contain the Water

While the system drains, focus on minimizing damage from water that's already escaped:

• Use towels, buckets, and mops to absorb and redirect standing water away from valuable items, electronics, and wood flooring.
• Move furniture and belongings off wet floors or away from the affected area. Even a few inches of elevation (on blocks or shelving) can save upholstered furniture.
• If water is near electrical outlets or your breaker panel, do not step in standing water. Shut off power to the affected area from the main panel first.
• Document everything with photos and video for insurance purposes before you clean up.

Step 5: Identify What's Happening (If Safe)

Gathering information before calling the plumber helps us respond faster. Take note of:

• Where is the water coming from? (Ceiling, wall, floor, specific fixture)
• Is it clean water, gray water (slightly dirty), or sewage?
• How fast is the water flowing — drip, steady stream, or gushing?
• Did anything trigger it? (Running a specific appliance, flushing, temperature change)
• Is the water hot or cold?

This information helps our technicians arrive with the right equipment and a head start on diagnosis.

Common Plumbing Emergencies in Philadelphia Homes

Our service area — from the historic row homes of South Philly and Old City to the larger properties along the Main Line and throughout Delaware County — comes with its own set of common emergencies:

Burst Pipes

Philadelphia winters regularly drop below freezing, and older homes with inadequate insulation are especially vulnerable. Pipes in exterior walls, unheated basements, and crawl spaces are the usual culprits. If you notice a pipe has burst, shut off the main water immediately and call for emergency service.

Sewer Backups

Philadelphia's aging sewer infrastructure, combined with tree roots in older neighborhoods like Chestnut Hill, Germantown, and Narberth, means sewer backups are a reality. Warning signs include gurgling drains, slow drainage in multiple fixtures simultaneously, and sewage odors. If sewage is backing up into your home, avoid contact with the water — it poses serious health risks — and call a plumber immediately.

Water Heater Failures

A leaking water heater can release 40–80 gallons of water into your basement in short order. If you see water pooling around the base of your water heater, shut off the gas or electricity to the unit and close the cold water inlet valve at the top of the tank.

Overflowing Toilets

Remove the tank lid and push the flapper valve down to stop water from entering the bowl. Then turn the shutoff valve behind the toilet clockwise. If the overflow is from a clog, do not flush again — this will only add more water to the problem.

What NOT to Do During a Plumbing Emergency

• Don't use chemical drain cleaners on a clogged or backed-up drain. They rarely work on serious clogs and can damage older pipes — especially the cast iron and galvanized steel common in Philadelphia homes built before 1970.
• Don't attempt pipe repairs with tape or putty as a permanent fix. Temporary patches can fail without warning and often make the eventual professional repair more complicated.
• Don't ignore a "small" leak. What looks like a minor drip can indicate a much larger problem behind the wall. Water follows gravity and can travel far from the actual source before becoming visible.
• Don't wait until morning. Water damage compounds by the hour. Mold can begin developing within 24–48 hours in Philadelphia's humid climate. If it's an active leak, call for emergency service right away.

Why Response Time Matters

At GenServ Pro, we offer true 24/7 emergency plumbing service across Philadelphia, the Main Line, and Delaware County. When you call, you reach a real person — not a voicemail — and our licensed technicians are dispatched quickly because we understand that every minute counts. We arrive equipped to handle the most common emergencies on the first visit, from burst pipe repairs and sewer line clearing to water heater replacements.

With a 4.9-star rating and PA HIC License # PA 056854, you can trust that the work will be done right the first time — even at 2 AM.