Some plumbing problems cannot wait for a convenient appointment. A burst pipe, a sewage backup, a water heater leaking steadily or a supply line failing under a sink can damage floors, drywall and belongings quickly. When you call us about an urgent plumbing problem, our first job is to help you limit the damage, and our second is to find and fix the cause.
The most important step is knowing where your main water shutoff is. In most homes it is near where the water line enters, often in a basement, utility room, crawlspace or garage. Turn it clockwise to close it. Individual fixtures have their own shutoffs under sinks and behind toilets. If you are unsure, call us at (970) 447-1519 and we can walk you through finding it while we arrange a visit.
Cold is a frequent cause in the Fort Collins area. A sudden cold snap after a mild stretch can freeze exposed lines in garages, crawlspaces and exterior walls, and the real damage often shows up when the pipe thaws and starts leaking. Frost-free hose bibs help, but a hose left attached can still trap water and crack the line behind the wall. If a pipe is frozen but not yet burst, keep the faucet slightly open and let us advise on safe thawing; do not use an open flame.
Sewage backups are the other common emergency. If water or waste is coming up through a floor drain, tub or toilet, stop using water in the house and keep people and pets out of the affected area. Our team inspects the main line, finds the blockage or break and explains what needs to happen next. If sewage has reached finished floors, you may also want to contact your insurer and a cleanup service.
After the immediate danger is controlled, we diagnose the root problem rather than patching and leaving. If a pipe burst because of age or freezing, we check the neighboring runs. If a heater failed, we explain whether it is repairable. Where the scope is larger than the initial fix, we put it in writing and let you decide.
It also helps to prepare before trouble starts. Find your main shutoff and make sure it turns easily, since valves that have not moved in years can stick or break when you need them. Locate the individual shutoffs under sinks and behind toilets. Disconnect hoses from outdoor spigots before the first freeze, and open cabinet doors on exterior walls during extreme cold so warm air reaches the pipes. Keep our number, (970) 447-1519, somewhere you can find it quickly, because the first few minutes of a leak matter most.
If you smell gas, leave the building and call your gas utility or emergency services before you call us. For active flooding, shut the water off first if it is safe to reach the valve, then call. We take urgent plumbing calls and will tell you what we can do when we speak.
Technician insight
Many burst pipes in this area do not show up until the thaw. A line that froze overnight starts leaking when temperatures climb, often when no one is watching. Pipes in unheated garages, exterior walls and crawlspaces are the usual suspects, and a hose left on a spigot is another frequent cause. Finding your main shutoff before the first hard freeze saves a lot of trouble.
Emergency Plumbing Services We Offer
✓Burst Pipe Repair
Stopping the leak, repairing the failed section and checking nearby lines.
✓Frozen Pipe Response
Safe thawing guidance and repair of pipes that have split from freezing.
✓Sewage Backup Response
Finding and clearing the cause of waste coming up through drains.
✓Main Water Shutoff Help
Locating, testing and replacing main and fixture shutoff valves that stick or leak.
✓Failed Water Heater or Supply Line
Dealing with leaking tanks, braided connectors and failed supply lines.
How it works
- 1
Call and stop the water
We talk you through shutting off the water and limiting damage while we work out the plan.
- 2
Find the failure
We locate the source of the leak or backup and check how far the problem extends.
- 3
Stabilize and explain
We make the repair that stops the damage, then explain what else, if anything, needs attention.
- 4
Confirm and follow up
We test the repair, discuss next steps and put any further work in writing.
Pricing
Cost depends on what failed, how accessible it is, whether we can stop the problem with a repair or need to replace a section or fixture, and the time involved. We explain the scope as soon as we have seen the problem and confirm it with you before we proceed.