Emergency Plumber in Atlanta, GA

Is it an emergency or a morning call?

Some problems get worse by the minute. Others can sit overnight with a valve closed. A rough way to sort them:

What to do while you wait for help

1. Find the main shutoff. In Atlanta homes it is often in a basement, crawl space, garage wall or near the water heater. Turn it clockwise until it stops.
2. Stay out of standing water near power. Switch off breakers for wet areas only if the panel is somewhere dry.
3. Stop using the drains. If sewage is backing up, every flush or load of laundry adds to the mess.
4. Take photos. They help the plumber plan and can support an insurance claim.

Gas odor comes first

Leave the house without using switches, lighters or a phone indoors. From a safe distance, call 911 and Atlanta Gas Light at 877.427.4321. Georgia homeowners buy gas from a marketer, but Atlanta Gas Light owns the pipes and meters and is the company that responds to leaks. A plumber can repair house gas piping after the area is declared safe.

City problem or house problem?

The City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management (DWM) runs the public water and sewer system. Main breaks and sewer spills are reported to ATL 311 at 404-546-0311. DWM is responsible for the service line from the main up to the water meter, and the homeowner is responsible from the meter to the house. A leak on your side of the meter, or anything inside the home, is a job for a plumber.

Older shutoffs in intown homes

Roughly 42.7% of Atlanta's homes were built before 1980, many of them in older bungalow neighborhoods. Main valves in houses that age can be stiff or frozen in place. Testing yours on a quiet day, and having it replaced if it fights you, saves time when something actually breaks.

What to expect on the call

You will be connected with an independent local plumber who serves Atlanta. Say what is leaking, whether the main is closed and where you are. Ask how after-hours work is billed before the visit is set. How soon someone can come depends on the time of day and demand, so no arrival time is promised.