Emergency Plumber in Fontana, CA

What happens when you call

The number on this page connects you with an independent plumber who serves Fontana. Expect a few quick questions: the address, what failed, whether water or sewage is still flowing, and whether you have managed to shut the water off. Ask how after-hours rates work before anyone is sent out. When the plumber arrives, the first job is to stop the damage, then find the cause and explain the choices. Arrival depends on the hour and the plumber's schedule, so no time is promised.

What shapes the cost

• When it happens. Nights, weekends and holidays usually carry a higher rate.
• What failed. A blown supply hose is a short visit; a water heater or a sewer lateral is a bigger one.
• How hard it is to reach. Slab, wall and buried-line repairs take more labor.
• Permits. City of Fontana Building & Safety, (909) 350-7640, handles permits and inspections, applied for online through Build Fontana or at the counter.

Fontana's utility patchwork

Fontana has five water providers, each serving a defined area: Fontana Water Company (the main one), Cucamonga Valley Water District, West Valley Water District, Marygold Mutual Water Company and Crawford Canyon Mutual Water Company. The City suggests calling Fontana Water Company first if you are unsure who serves your address. Fontana Water Company also tells customers not to use the angle stop or the meter valve to shut off water, because those are company property; use the gate valve on your own line instead.

Sewer is billed by the City of Fontana, with wastewater treated by the Inland Empire Utilities Agency. City Sewer Service is at (909) 350-7670. Under the municipal code, buildings within 200 feet of a public sewer must connect at the owner's expense, so most homes have a private lateral running to a City main. A backup in one house usually means that lateral or a drain inside the home. The median Fontana home was built in 1989, which puts many water heaters and supply lines in the age range where failures pick up.

Before the plumber arrives

• Close your house gate valve and open a low faucet to drain pressure
• Turn off the water heater's gas or power if it is leaking
• Stop running water if drains are backing up
• Clear a path to the heater, cleanout and shutoff
• Move valuables and electronics away from water