Emergency Plumber in Riverside, CA

Is this an emergency?

These situations usually justify a same-day or after-hours visit:

• Water spraying from a supply pipe, or a ceiling that is sagging and dripping
• Toilets or tubs backing up with wastewater, especially in more than one room
• A water heater dripping from the tank shell rather than a fitting
• Warm spots on a slab floor along with the sound of running water when every fixture is off
• No water anywhere in the house

A dripping faucet, a slow sink or a toilet that keeps refilling can normally be booked for a regular weekday.

Steps to take right now

1. Close the main valve. Most Riverside homes are built on a slab, so the house shutoff is commonly on an outside wall or near where the line comes up from the ground, often on the side facing the street. Turn a round handle clockwise or a lever a quarter turn.
2. Keep clear of wet outlets and cords. Switch off breakers only if you can reach the panel without standing in water.
3. Relieve the lines. Open a faucet at the lowest point of the house so remaining water drains out.
4. Turn off the water heater. Set a gas unit to "vacation" or "pilot," or switch off the breaker for an electric one.
5. Photograph everything. Pictures help the plumber and any insurance claim.

If you smell gas

Do not flip switches, start a car in an attached garage, or use a phone inside. Leave the house first, then call 911 and SoCalGas at 1-800-427-2200 from somewhere safe. A plumber can repair gas piping after the utility clears the home.

Utility problem or plumbing problem?

Riverside Public Utilities owns the water service connection up to and through the meter. Piping past the meter, including everything inside the house, belongs to the customer. Water rising in the street or at the meter box is RPU's to handle at (951) 782-0330. Southeast Riverside and a small part of the city get water from Western Municipal or Eastern Municipal Water District instead, so check the provider on your bill. For a city sewer main issue, Public Works takes calls at (951) 826-5311.

What happens when you call

Your call goes to an independent plumber serving Riverside. Say whether the water is shut off and what you are seeing. Nights, weekends and holidays usually cost more, so ask how the visit is billed. Arrival time depends on the hour and demand, and none is guaranteed.