Locally owned plumbing in Elyria, Ohio, since 2012

Plumbing Repair & Service Homes and small businesses in Elyria and nearby Lorain County communities

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(440) 740-3345

Mon–Fri 8:00 am–11:30 pm
Sat–Sun 7:00 am–10:00 pm

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Emergency Plumbing: Burst Pipes, Backups and No Hot Water

What to do in the first minutes, what not to do, and how to reach us when water is going where it should not.

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Call (440) 740-3345

When we answer the phone
Mon–Fri 8:00 am – 11:30 pm
Sat–Sun 7:00 am – 10:00 pm

Outside these hours, shut off the water using the steps below, then send the short form at the bottom of this page or call as soon as we open.

The First 5 Minutes

  1. Shut off the main water valve

    It is where the water line comes into the basement, next to the meter. The diagram below shows where to look.

  2. Open the lowest faucets

    A basement sink or the laundry tub drains what is left in the pipes and takes the pressure off the leak.

  3. Turn off the water heater

    Gas control to OFF, or the breaker for an electric heater. A heater left on with no water coming in can be damaged.

  4. Photograph the damage

    Before you clean up: the water, the ceiling or wall it came through, and anything it soaked. Your insurer will ask.

  5. Call us

    Tell us what happened and what you have shut off. If water is near outlets or the electric panel, stay out of it and switch off the power only from a dry spot.

Common Emergencies: What to Do and What Not to Do

Plumbing emergencies at a glance
Emergency What to do now What not to do What we do on arrival
Burst or split pipe Shut the main valve, open the lowest faucets, move things out of the water Do not touch outlets or appliances standing in water; do not thaw a pipe with a flame Find and repair the break, check the rest of that run, turn the water back on and test
Sewage backing up at a floor drain Stop all water use in the house; keep people and pets away from the water Do not flush, shower or run the washer; do not pour in drain chemicals Clear the main line, find the cause with a camera, and tell you what the line needs
Leaking water heater Turn the gas control to OFF or switch off the breaker; close the cold inlet valve Do not touch the relief valve or the hot pipes Find the leak; repair the valve or fitting, or plan a replacement if the tank has failed
No hot water Check the breaker (electric) or whether the pilot is out (gas) Do not relight anything if you smell gas: leave and call the gas utility from outside Test the burner or elements and controls, and repair the part that failed
Overflowing toilet Close the valve behind the toilet, or lift the tank lid and press the flapper down Do not flush again to "see if it clears" Clear the clog with a toilet auger, and check the main line if other drains are slow too
Frozen pipe, no water at a faucet Open that faucet and warm the area gently with a hair dryer or a space heater kept at a safe distance Never use a torch or an open flame on a pipe Thaw the pipe safely and check it for splits before the water goes back on

Smell gas? That is not a plumbing call first. Leave the house, do not switch anything on or off, and call your gas utility from outside.

Frozen and Burst Pipes in Northeast Ohio Winters

Most burst pipes here happen during January cold snaps, when temperatures drop into the single digits or below zero for a few days. The pipes that freeze are the ones the furnace does not reach: in exterior walls behind kitchen sinks, in unheated crawl spaces and garages, in rooms over a garage, and outdoor faucets that are not frost-free. Ice splits the pipe, but nothing leaks until it thaws, so the flood often starts a day or two after the coldest night.

  • Keep the heat at 55°F or higher, even when you are away.
  • On the coldest nights, open the cabinet doors under sinks on outside walls and let a pencil-thin stream run from those faucets.
  • Disconnect garden hoses in the fall, and shut off and drain outdoor faucets that are not frost-free.
  • Insulate pipes in crawl spaces and garages, and seal drafts where pipes pass through outside walls.

Where Is My Main Shutoff?

Find it now, before you need it. In a typical Elyria basement house the valves are in these places:

Where the water shutoff valves are in a typical basement house Cross-section of a house with a basement. The water line runs from the city main under the street, past the curb stop valve near the sidewalk, through the front foundation wall into the basement. Right inside the wall it rises through the main shutoff valve, the water meter and a second valve, then runs along the basement ceiling to the water heater, which has its own valve on the cold pipe at the top, and up to a sink on the first floor, which has small valves of its own. Street Basement City main Water heater 1 2 3 4 5 6 cold water hot water
Drawing, not to scale. The water line usually comes into the basement on the side of the house that faces the street.
  1. Main shutoff valve: on the water line right where it comes in, before the meter. A round wheel handle turns clockwise, often several turns; a lever handle closes with a quarter turn, until it sits across the pipe.
  2. Water meter: with everything off, a moving dial means water is still escaping somewhere.
  3. Valve after the meter: many houses have a second valve here. Either one shuts off the house.
  4. Water heater cold inlet: closes off the water heater alone.
  5. Curb stop: the city's valve under a small cap near the sidewalk or in the tree lawn. It needs a long key and is operated by the water department or a plumber.
  6. Fixture stops: the small valves under sinks and behind toilets shut off that fixture only.

Insurance, After-Hours Calls and Other Questions

What should I record for my insurance claim?

Take photos and a short video of the water and the damage before you clean up, then of each damaged item. Keep the failed part if you can (a split section of pipe, a burst hose), write down when you found the problem, and call your insurer early: most policies expect you to stop the damage from spreading. Our invoice describes what failed and what we repaired.

Do you charge more for a call in the evening or on a weekend?

Ask us on the phone. We explain what the visit costs before anyone comes out, and you get an honest quote for the repair before the work starts. We are open until 11:30 pm on weekdays and until 10:00 pm on weekends.

What if the main valve will not close?

Do not force an old valve with a wrench: the stem can snap and make the leak worse. Call us, and call the city water department, which can shut the curb stop near the street. Meanwhile, open the lowest faucets to drain the pressure and move what you can out of the water's way.

Can I use water after I shut off the main?

Only what is already in the pipes, and it will run out quickly. Leave the main off until the leak is repaired. If you shut off the water heater too, it is safe to leave it off until we get there.

Send a Short Emergency Request

If you cannot call right now, send this form. A phone call is still the fastest way to reach us while water is spreading.

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Related Pages

Water still running? Call first.

A phone call is the fastest way to reach us. Shut off the main valve, then call and tell us what is happening.

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