Emergency Plumber in Winston-Salem, NC

Which problems can't wait

• Water spraying or pouring from a pipe, fitting or appliance hose
• Wastewater rising in a tub, shower or floor drain
• A water heater tank leaking from its body
• Water reaching ceilings, light fixtures or the electrical panel
• Losing all water to the house with no notice from the utility

A dripping faucet, a toilet that keeps refilling, or a single sluggish sink is a nuisance rather than an emergency. Those can usually be booked for a normal weekday visit, which tends to cost less.

Gas odor comes first

If you smell rotten eggs, don't flip switches, light anything or use a phone indoors. Get everyone out, then call 911 or Piedmont Natural Gas at 800-752-7504 from a safe distance outside. Once the utility has made the line safe, a plumber can repair or replace the gas piping.

Steps while you wait

1. Close the main shutoff. It is usually where the supply line enters the house, often in the crawl space, basement or garage. Turn it clockwise until it stops.
2. Kill power to wet circuits, but only if you can reach the breaker panel without standing in water.
3. Hold off on drains during a backup. Running a washer or flushing pushes more water toward the clog.
4. Move valuables and photograph the damage for the plumber and your insurer.

Old valves in older neighborhoods

Roughly 43% of Winston-Salem homes were built before 1980, and historic districts such as West End date largely from 1887 to 1930. In houses that age, a main valve nobody has touched in years may refuse to turn or break when forced. Locate yours and try it on a calm day so you know it works before a pipe lets go.

When the problem may be the utility's

Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Utilities runs the public water mains and sewer lines that serve the city. If water is surfacing in the street, or neighbors on your block have the same backup, contact the utility first. Trouble inside your walls or under your floors is a job for a plumber.

About the call

You'll be connected with an independent local plumber who works in Winston-Salem. Tell them what failed and whether the water is off. Night and weekend visits often carry a higher service fee, so ask how the visit is priced before anyone heads out. Arrival time depends on the hour and how busy plumbers are, and no particular time can be promised.