Call 911 first if anyone is in immediate danger, such as when you smell gas, see fire or smoke, notice sparking near water or someone is hurt. For a leak, overflow or backup with no immediate danger to people, a plumber is usually the right first call.
Many plumbing problems feel urgent, but they are not all the same kind of emergency. Knowing who to call first helps keep everyone safe and gets the right help moving. For problems with the plumbing itself, our emergency plumbing service in the Bronx is available 24/7, including nights, Sundays and holidays.
When 911 Comes First
A gas smell is not a plumbing call to make from inside the building. Con Edison’s gas leak guidance says to leave the area right away and call 911 or Con Edison once you are safe. Do not use light switches, matches or other things that could spark.
Water and electricity are another danger. If water is near a panel, outlets or appliances and you see sparks, smoke or burning, get people away and call 911. Do not walk through standing water to reach a switch or a valve.
Call 911 as well if someone is injured, if a ceiling looks like it may collapse under the weight of water or if anyone is trapped.
When a Plumber Is the Right Call
Most water emergencies are plumbing problems without an immediate threat to life. Examples include a pipe leaking or spraying water, a toilet or sink that keeps overflowing, wastewater backing up into a tub or floor drain, or a leaking water heater.
In these cases, the first steps are usually to stop using the fixture, close a shutoff valve if you know where it is and can reach it safely, and keep people away from wet areas. Then call a plumber to find the cause and make a repair.
When the Building or the City May Be Involved
Some problems start outside your unit or your property. In an apartment, a leak from above or a building-wide water outage is usually something to report to your super or building management first, since they control access and main shutoffs.
Problems in the street, such as water bubbling up from the pavement, flooding on the road or a sewer backup tied to the city sewer, can be reported to New York City through 311. A plumber can still help with what is happening inside your property.
After the Immediate Danger Has Passed
Once the fire department, the utility or building staff has made the area safe, the plumbing problem itself still needs attention. A leaking pipe, damaged fixture or backed-up drain will not fix itself, and waiting can let water spread further.
If you have a plumbing emergency in the Bronx and no one is in danger, call (929) 209-6183. Describe what you are seeing, and we will talk through the next step.
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