Emergency Plumbing Help in Dallas–Fort Worth

Some plumbing problems can be scheduled for next week. Others are actively soaking drywall, flooring, and everything stored in a cabinet. If water is spreading or sewage is coming up through a drain, the first job is stopping the flow and the second is getting a plumber to the property.

Use this page to figure out what to shut off right now, then call or send a request with your address and a short description of what you are seeing.

Symptoms and problems

• • Water spraying or pouring from a pipe, wall, or ceiling
• • Sewage backing up into a tub, shower, or floor drain
• • A toilet overflowing that will not stop after the flush
• • A water heater leaking heavily from the tank or connections
• • No water at all in the house with no known utility outage
• • The smell of gas near a water heater or gas appliance

Common causes

• • A failed supply line, corroded fitting, or split pipe
• • A blocked main sewer line that has nowhere left to drain
• • A water heater tank that has rusted through
• • Freeze damage after a hard North Texas cold snap
• • Ground movement or an older pipe finally giving out

Typical solutions

• • Shut off water at the fixture stop valve, or at the main shutoff near the meter or where the line enters the house
• • Turn off power or gas to a leaking water heater before touching it
• • Stop using every drain and fixture if sewage is backing up
• • Move belongings out of standing water and open cabinet doors to slow damage
• • Get a plumber on the way while you contain the mess

When to get professional help

Anything involving a main line, a gas appliance, sewage, or water you cannot shut off should go to a plumber immediately rather than a temporary patch.

FAQs

Where is my main water shutoff?

In most Dallas–Fort Worth homes it is either a valve where the supply line enters the house, often near an exterior hose bib, or at the meter box near the street. A meter key or a pair of pliers usually turns the valve at the box.

Should I keep flushing if the toilet is backing up?

No. Additional flushes add more water to a line that already has nowhere to go. Stop using all drains until the blockage is cleared.

What should I have ready when I call?

Your address, what you are seeing, whether you were able to shut the water off, and whether the problem affects one fixture or the whole house.