A plumbing emergency is any problem that is flooding your home, endangering anyone or cannot safely wait for a regular appointment: a burst pipe, a sewage backup, a water heater leaking onto the floor, or any smell of gas. Act in this order. Gas smell first: get everyone out. For a leak, close the main water valve, keep water clear of electricity, then phone. Through Lankershim Plumbing, a local plumber is dispatched to you around Burbank, Glendale, Sherman Oaks and the Valley, and a written price is sent to you before any work begins on the job.
What qualifies as a plumbing emergency?
A plumbing emergency is anything that is causing active damage, threatening health or safety, or leaves you without a vital service. That includes a burst or fast-leaking pipe, raw sewage rising from a floor drain or a toilet, a leaking water heater, no water at all, and any gas smell. A slow drip, a running toilet or a single clogged sink can almost always wait for a normal visit.
A quick test: is water, sewage or gas doing damage right now, or will it by tomorrow? If yes, treat it as urgent. If you can stop it with a shutoff valve and live with the fixture off until morning, it is usually not.
Common true emergencies in Valley homes:
- A supply line that has split in a wall, crawl space or under a slab
- A water heater tank leaking steadily, or a relief valve discharging nonstop
- A main sewer line that backs up into the lowest fixture at home
- A broken valve that will not shut off a fixture
- Water running through a ceiling light fixture
What should I do in the first ten minutes?
Stop the source, stay safe, then call. For water, close the main valve, typically on the street-facing side of the house, in the meter box or on a wall by the water heater. Opening the lowest faucet drains the line. Move valuables out of the way, put towels down and take photos for any insurance claim. For gas, leave the building before doing anything else.
If water is near outlets, a panel or a light fixture, do not touch electrical gear while standing in water. Flip the breaker only when you can reach it with dry hands. If you cannot, call 911.
Gas has one rule. Walk out, and only then phone SoCalGas (1-800-427-2200) once outside, and add 911 where danger exists. No switches, no phone use indoors, no hunting for the leak. A plumber can repair gas piping later, but nobody should be inside while gas is present.
What do I do about hot water and scalding?
If a water heater is leaking, turn off its gas valve or power and shut the cold water supply valve at the top. Gas heaters have a control knob; electric ones have a breaker. Never touch scalding water or a hot relief-valve discharge pipe. The tank may be hot, and water near an electric heater is dangerous. The steps are in emergency water heater repair.
What is the non-emergency phone number for the City of Burbank?
Use 911 only for danger to life or property. For non-emergency water issues in Burbank, Burbank Water and Power lists (818) 238-3700 on weekdays between 7:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., and (818) 238-3778 for after hours, weekends and holidays. For police non-emergency lines and other city services, check the City of Burbank website, since we could not confirm a number we would stand behind.
BWP also lists ONEBurbank at (818) 238-3113 on its home page. Call the after-hours line if water is leaking in the street or at the meter. You are responsible for stopping and fixing a leak that sits past the meter.
Can you call 911 for plumbing issues?
Call 911 when a plumbing problem puts people in danger: a gas smell with a risk of fire or explosion, water pouring through a ceiling with live electrical fixtures, someone injured, or flooding that threatens the building. Otherwise you want a plumber, not the dispatcher. For gas, SoCalGas asks that you get out first and then ring 1-800-427-2200, or 911 if you must, from somewhere safe.
What are common plumbing issues?
The calls plumbers see most are clogged drains, leaking or running toilets, dripping faucets and water heaters that stop heating or leak. In Valley houses from the 1940s through the 1960s, add corroded galvanized supply lines, cracked cast iron drains and clay sewer lines invaded by roots.
For a closer look at each, see fixing a leaking pipe, clearing a clogged drain and what to do with a burst pipe.
How to choose a reliable plumber when it cannot wait?
Under pressure, do three checks: get the California contractor license number, get the price before the plumber starts, and ask what arrival and diagnosis cost. While you wait, look up that license through CSLB. Do not hand over a large deposit or sign an open-ended form. CSLB says down payments should not exceed 10 percent or $1,000, whichever is less.
Be careful of anyone who arrives unasked after a storm, who quotes a big number on the phone without seeing the problem, or who insists on cash. A reliable plumber explains what failed, shows you the old part and puts the price in writing. After the emergency, if you want to compare, read our guide to choosing a plumber.
How much does an emergency call cost, and is there a 24-hour plumber?
Emergency calls usually cost more than daytime visits because they come with an after-hours rate or dispatch fee. We found no official figure for Burbank, so request the full price, trip charge and first hour included, before anyone is dispatched. Many people search for a 24-hour or 24/7 plumber. Availability varies by business and day, so confirm that someone can really come now and when.
For more on cost, read what plumbers charge and our guide to service call fees.
What is the 135 rule in plumbing?
No plumbing code rule carrying that name turned up in official sources, and it does not appear in what the Bureau of Labor Statistics or CSLB publish for consumers. It may be a local rule of thumb, a figure for a particular product or a misheard phrase. If a plumber cites it, ask which code section or manufacturer instruction it comes from.
When you call, say whether appliances such as a water heater or washer are involved. We are serving Burbank and the Valley, so the plumber who comes is local to your area.
Questions people ask
What does a water leak repair usually cost?
The answer turns on the leak's location, the access and the parts needed. A visible drip at an under-sink shutoff is a short job. When water hides in a wall or under a slab, expect detection, opening up and patching. A plumber should give a written price once they find the source. Read about leak repair costs.
Is 911 ever the right call for plumbing?
Yes, when people are in danger: a gas smell, water near live electricity, or a flood that threatens the structure. For an ordinary burst pipe with no risk of electrocution, close the main water valve and call a plumber. For gas, exit first and then contact SoCalGas (1-800-427-2200), or dial 911 if people are at risk.
How much does an emergency plumbing call cost?
More than a daytime visit, usually because of an after-hours rate, a dispatch fee or both. No official Burbank figure exists, so ask before the plumber leaves. Request the trip charge, the hourly rate after the first hour and whether parts are extra. A fair business tells you the numbers at the start.
Must I be present for an emergency visit?
Yes, someone needs to open the door and point out the main shutoff and the trouble spot. If you are away, send an adult you trust to receive the plumber, after settling the approved work and price by phone. The CSLB license lookup works before arrival too.
How should emergency plumbing cost compare to a regular visit?
It will run higher because of the hour and the speed, but the premium should be explained and written down before work begins. If the plumber will not put the rate in writing, stop. Remember that you can often shut off a fixture and wait for a weekday for problems that are not flooding or gas.
References
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