Emergency Plumber in Cincinnati: What to Do Before Anyone Arrives
Burst pipe: close the main water shutoff now, usually in the basement where the water line comes through the front wall by the meter, and open the lowest faucet. Sewage coming up a drain: stop all water use and stay out of standing water near anything electrical. Then call.
The first ten minutes, by emergency
A pipe has burst or split
Close the main shutoff, turning clockwise. If it is a gate valve that has not moved in years and will not turn, do not lean on it; open the lowest faucet in the house and an upstairs one to drain the pressure. Shut off power to any circuit where water is reaching outlets or fixtures, if you can reach the panel without standing in water. Move what you can out of the way and photograph the damage.
Sewage is coming up a floor drain or toilet
Stop all water use upstairs. Keep people and pets out. Photograph it and note the time. If it is happening during or after rain, report it to MSD within 48 hours, because the public sewer may be the cause and that changes who pays.
The water heater is leaking
Close the cold water valve on top of the tank. For a gas heater, turn the gas control to off or pilot; for electric, switch off its breaker. A small drip from the relief valve pipe is a different problem from water coming out of the tank itself, and the second one means the tank has reached the end.
You smell gas
Leave the house, then call the gas utility from outside. Do not switch lights or appliances on or off. This is not a plumbing call until the utility has been.
Frozen pipes in a January cold snap
Cincinnati's normal January low is about 23°F, and cold snaps take nights into single digits or below zero. The pipes that freeze are predictable: along outside walls, in crawlspaces, under kitchen sinks on exterior walls, over unheated garages, and at hose spigots that were not shut off and drained in autumn.
If a tap gives a trickle or nothing on a cold morning, the pipe is frozen but may not have split yet. Leave the tap open, open the cabinet doors, and warm the pipe gently with a hair dryer or space heater kept clear of anything flammable. Never use a torch or open flame. If you cannot find the frozen section, or water appears anywhere as it thaws, close the main shutoff and call.
Pipe frozen and you cannot find where, or it split as it thawed? Close the main and call; a local plumbing company can talk you through what to do while you wait.
What an emergency call costs, honestly
After-hours, weekend and holiday calls cost more than daytime ones, often with a higher service charge or hourly rate. That is normal and not a reason to avoid calling when water is coming in. It is a reason to ask on the phone what the after-hours charge is before someone sets out, and to ask whether the job can be made safe tonight and finished in normal hours. Many burst pipes can be capped in the evening and repaired properly the next day at the daytime rate.
Who answers, and how fast
Calls to this number go to one local plumbing company. Their response time depends on their schedule and on what else is happening in the city: on the night of a big storm, half the basements on a street can back up at once. They will tell you honestly whether they can come and roughly when. If they cannot, you will know quickly rather than waiting on a promise.
Before the next emergency
- Find the main shutoff now and check it turns. Tag it.
- Shut and drain outside spigots in autumn, or fit frost-free ones.
- Know whether your homeowner policy covers sewer backup; it is often a separate rider.
- Note the age on the water heater label; tank heaters commonly last around 10 to 12 years.
- If your basement has backed up during storms before, read about MSD's Prevention Program.
Common questions
Where is the main water shutoff in a Cincinnati house?
Usually in the basement, on the front wall where the water service enters, close to the meter. In houses without a basement it may be in a crawlspace, a utility closet, or at the curb box, which is normally turned by Water Works.
Should I leave taps dripping in a cold snap?
On pipes that have frozen before, or that run along outside walls, a slow drip helps on the coldest nights, and opening the cabinet doors under exterior-wall sinks lets warm air reach the pipe.
Is a sewer backup an emergency?
It is a health hazard and should be treated as urgent. Stop using water, keep people out, and if it is rain-related, report it to MSD within 48 hours.
Does homeowner insurance cover a burst pipe?
Most policies cover sudden water damage from a burst pipe, but may exclude damage if a house was left unheated. Read your policy and call your insurer early.
Can a plumber come out on Christmas Day?
Some local companies run holiday on-call, at a higher rate. The company that takes your call will say whether they can and what it costs.
Are you an emergency plumbing company?
No. Cincy Plumbing Pros is an advertising and referral service; your call is passed to an independent local plumbing company, which sets its own hours, response times and prices. We hold no plumbing licence.
Also in Cincinnati
- Plumber in Cincinnati, OH
- Basement Sewer Backup Plumbing in Cincinnati
- Drain Cleaning in Cincinnati
- Sewer Line Repair in Cincinnati
- Sump Pump Repair and Replacement in Cincinnati
Also serving
Emergency Plumbing is available beyond Cincinnati, across Norwood , Cheviot & Green Township , Delhi Township and Anderson Township .
Ask about emergency plumbing
Say what is happening and where, and a local plumbing company will call you back. Answered Mon–Sat, 8am–6pm · after hours, the company's on-call rota applies Or call (513) 986-8088. If water is coming in right now, calling is quicker.