Emergencies ยท Act in Order
Emergency Plumbing Checklist
The first five minutes, in the right order, for the plumbing emergencies that cannot wait for morning.
Step 1: Shut Off the Water
Find the main shutoff: often near the meter, in a crawlspace access, or where the line enters the house. Turn it closed, then open a low faucet to drain pressure from the system. For a single-fixture leak, the fixture's own valve under the sink or behind the toilet may be enough, but the main is the certain answer when water is spreading.
Step 2: Protect People and Power
Keep clear of wet outlets, cords, and breaker panels; water and electricity negotiate badly. If a water heater is involved, its fuel and power are handled dry-handed only, or left for us. Move children and pets out of wet areas, especially where sewage is involved.
Step 3: Contain What You Can
Towels, buckets, and a mop will not fix anything, but they decide whether the floor survives the hour. Move stored items, rugs, and anything cardboard off wet floors. Photograph where the water appeared first; that location is diagnostic gold when we arrive.
Step 4: Sewage Rules
For backups, stop running water anywhere in the house: every flush and drain feeds the backup. Keep people and pets clear of affected areas, ventilate if you can do it without spreading water, and treat everything the sewage touched as contaminated until it is cleaned properly.
Step 5: Call, and Say the Right Things
Call (615) 583-1836 at any hour. Say what is happening, where the water or sewage is, whether your main is shut, and your neighborhood. That thirty-second report lets us arrive with the right equipment and talk you through anything left to do while you wait.
Brands We Service
Moen Delta Kohler American Standard Rheem Bradford White Rinnai A. O. Smith Grohe TOTO
Frequently Asked Questions
What phone number do I call in an emergency?
(615) 583-1830, any hour. The emergency line runs 24/7 for the problems on this page.
Where is my main shutoff most likely to be?
Near the water meter by the street, where the line enters the house, or in the crawlspace near the front wall are the common spots in Old Hickory homes. Finding it on a calm day is the best preparation there is.
Should I open faucets after shutting the main off?
Yes, one low faucet. It drains pressure and standing water from the lines, which slows any remaining drip from the break.
The water is near my breaker panel. What do I do?
Stay clear of the panel and the wet area around it, shut the water off if you can reach the valve dry, and tell us exactly that on the call. Do not touch electrical equipment standing in water.
Do emergency visits cost more?
Emergency handling outside regular hours is explained fully on the call before anyone is dispatched, so the cost picture is clear in advance.
Plumbing trouble in Old Hickory? Call today.
Tell us the symptom and we will talk you through the shutoff first. Then we diagnose the problem, show you what we found, and give you a written price before any work starts.