Call an emergency plumber immediately for any uncontrolled water (a burst pipe or a leak you can't stop at a valve), sewage backing up into the home, the smell of gas near a water heater, or a total loss of water. A single slow drain, a dripping faucet, or a running toilet you can valve off can safely wait for a scheduled visit — shut off the local valve and book.
- Uncontrolled water, sewage backup, or a gas smell = emergency. Call now.
- If a shut-off valve can contain the problem, it can usually wait for a booked appointment.
- Sewage carries real health risks — never wait it out or handle cleanup bare-handed.
- Gas water heater smells rotten eggs? Leave, then call the gas utility and a plumber from outside.
- When in doubt, call anyway — a 24-hour line costs nothing to ask.
Which plumbing problems are true emergencies?
- Burst pipe or uncontrollable leak — water you can't stop at a fixture valve or the main.
- Sewage backing up into tubs, showers, or floor drains — a health hazard, not just a mess.
- Gas smell near a water heater — leave the house, call the gas utility from outside, then a plumber.
- No water to the entire home when neighbors have service.
- A water heater leaking from the tank body — tanks fail suddenly, and 40–50 gallons is a flood in waiting.
All of these get a live answer on our 24-hour emergency line — nights, weekends, and holidays included.
What can safely wait for a scheduled visit?
If a valve can contain the problem, the clock stops. A running toilet with its supply valve closed, a dripping faucet, one slow (not blocked) drain, low pressure at a single fixture, or a garbage disposal that hums but won't spin — all of these are same-week bookings, not 2 AM calls. Shut the local valve, put a bucket under the drip, and schedule a visit.
One caveat: a "small" problem that keeps recurring is data. A drain that clogs every few months or a faucet that never stays fixed usually points at a bigger cause worth diagnosing properly — our guide on why drains keep clogging explains the pattern.
What should I do while I wait for the plumber?
- Shut off the nearest valve — fixture first, main if needed. (Here's how to find and close each one.)
- Kill electricity to affected rooms at the breaker if water is near outlets or appliances.
- Move valuables up and out; get towels or a wet-vac on standing water.
- For sewage: keep people and pets away, and don't run ANY water — every flush and load adds to the backup.
- Photograph everything for insurance before cleanup.
Does an emergency visit cost more?
Yes — after-hours emergency visits carry a $195 emergency service fee, and we tell you that plainly when you call, before anyone is dispatched. Beyond that fee, the pricing works exactly the way it does during business hours: we diagnose first and quote the full price before any work begins, and you approve it before we start. Ask any company before they dispatch — reputable plumbers will tell you plainly how after-hours service works. What actually drives plumbing prices — access, parts, scope — is covered in our repair cost guide.
About this guide
From the Good News Plumbing & Drain Inc. team — family-owned and serving the San Gabriel Valley since 2001. California C-36 License #906746 (verify it at cslb.ca.gov), bonded & insured, and backed by our satisfaction guarantee. Guidance reflects the plumbing we repair and install across the Valley every week. Last reviewed July 16, 2026.
Sources & standards
Common questions
Sewage is coming up my shower drain. How urgent is this? +
Very — it means the main sewer line is blocked and every drop of wastewater in the house has nowhere to go but back inside. Stop using all water immediately and call a 24-hour plumber. Sewage exposure is a genuine health risk.
My water heater is leaking. Emergency or not? +
It depends where. A drip at a fitting or the temperature-and-pressure relief valve is urgent but containable — close the cold inlet valve on top of the tank. Water seeping from the tank body itself means the tank has failed and can let go at any time: shut off the water and gas/power and call now.
Do you really answer at night and on holidays? +
Yes. Good News Plumbing & Drain has run a 24-hour emergency line for San Gabriel Valley homeowners since 2001. A real person answers, and we tell you honestly whether it can wait for morning — sometimes the good news is that it can.
