Plumbing Emergency? Here’s Exactly What to Do Before the Plumber Arrives

A burst pipe or a leak you can’t stop is stressful, and every minute counts — water damage can run several dollars a minute once it starts spreading. The good news: a few simple steps can dramatically limit the damage before a plumber gets there. Here’s exactly what to do, in order. When you’re ready, call our 24/7 emergency plumber line at (415) 738-1450 and we’ll walk you through it live.

Step-by-Step: What to Do Right Now

1. Shut off the water at the main. This is the single most important move. In most Peninsula homes the main shutoff is where the water line enters the house — in the garage, a basement, or on an exterior wall near the front. Turn the valve clockwise (a lever-style valve turns a quarter-turn). If you can’t find it, there’s a curb stop at the water meter near the street, but that usually needs a meter key. Find and test your main valve today, before you ever need it.
2. Shut off the water heater. Once the main water is off, turn the water heater to “pilot” (gas) or switch it off at the breaker (electric). With no incoming cold water, a heater left on can overheat and be damaged, and this protects the tank until we arrive.
3. For a single fixture, use the local shutoff. If the problem is just one toilet, sink, or appliance, you may not need to kill water to the whole house. Look for the small shutoff valve on the wall or floor behind the fixture and turn it clockwise. That isolates the problem while keeping water on everywhere else.
4. If you smell gas, leave and call from outside. A rotten-egg smell, hissing, or a suspected gas leak is a life-safety emergency. Don’t flip switches or light anything — get everyone out of the house, then call your gas utility and us from a safe distance outside.
5. Move valuables and document for insurance. Lift rugs, electronics, and furniture out of standing water, and lay down towels to slow the spread. Then take photos and video of the damage before you clean up — your insurer will want that record.
6. Call a 24/7 plumber. Phone (415) 738-1450. A licensed GB Plumbing tech answers around the clock, will guide you over the phone, and heads your way immediately. If the trouble is a hidden leak behind a wall or under a slab, we bring electronic leak detection to pinpoint it without tearing up your home.

What Counts as a Plumbing Emergency?

Not every drip needs a midnight call, but these do — because they cause active damage or make your home unsafe:

• A burst or actively leaking pipe you can’t stop
• A sewage backup coming up through drains or toilets
• No water at all to the home
• A water heater leaking or dumping water
• An overflowing toilet or fixture you can’t control
• Any gas smell near a gas appliance

If water is spreading or you smell gas, treat it as an emergency, shut things off, and call. A slow drip under a sink can usually wait for a scheduled visit.

We Answer, Day or Night — Across the Peninsula

GB Plumbing is based in Burlingame, so we reach most Peninsula homes quickly. Whether you need an emergency plumber in Burlingame, an emergency plumber in San Mateo, or service in the surrounding cities, a real licensed plumber picks up 24/7 — no answering service in between. We’ll stabilize the situation, then fix the root cause with upfront pricing.