Emergency Plumber in Marble Falls, TX

When to Call an Emergency Plumber

Not every plumbing problem is an emergency, but when a true emergency occurs, the difference between calling immediately and waiting can be thousands of dollars in additional damage. Here is a guide to recognizing genuine plumbing emergencies and knowing what to do in each situation.

Burst or Leaking Pipes Causing Flooding

A burst pipe is one of the most destructive plumbing emergencies a homeowner can face. Water from a burst pipe can flood a room in minutes, saturating flooring, walls, and personal property. The damage compounds quickly, within 24 hours, wet drywall begins to develop mold, and wet wood framing begins to swell and warp.

If a pipe bursts in your home, the first and most important step is to shut off the main water supply immediately. The main shutoff valve is typically located near the water meter at the street or at the point where the main supply line enters the house. Turning off the main supply stops the flow of water and limits the total damage. Then call us at (325) 248-1800.

While waiting for us to arrive, begin removing standing water with towels, mops, and wet vacuums. The faster you remove the water, the less damage it causes. Move furniture and personal property out of the affected area if possible. Document the damage with photos for your insurance claim.

Gas Leaks

A gas leak is a life-safety emergency that must be treated with the utmost seriousness. Natural gas and propane are both highly flammable, and a gas leak can cause an explosion or fire with devastating consequences. Carbon monoxide, a colorless, odorless byproduct of incomplete combustion, is also a serious risk with gas appliance problems.

If you smell gas inside your home, the distinctive sulfur or rotten egg smell of mercaptan, the odorant added to natural gas and propane, leave the building immediately. Do not operate any switches, appliances, or your phone inside the building. Once outside and away from the building, call your gas utility’s emergency line and then call us at (325) 248-1800. Do not re-enter the building until the gas company has cleared it.

Sewer Backups

A sewer backup, sewage backing up into your home through floor drains, toilets, or the lowest fixtures in the house, is both a plumbing emergency and a health hazard. Raw sewage contains harmful bacteria and pathogens that pose a serious health risk to anyone who comes into contact with it.

If sewage is backing up into your home, stop using all water-using fixtures immediately. Every flush of a toilet, every sink drain, and every shower adds more water to the backed-up system and increases the amount of sewage that enters your home. Call us immediately at (325) 248-1800. We will clear the main line blockage and advise on cleanup and disinfection.

Water Heater Failure

A water heater that is leaking from the tank, not from a fitting or valve, but from the tank itself, is a plumbing emergency. A tank that has failed structurally can release its entire contents, 40-80 gallons of water, rapidly, causing significant flooding. Turn off the cold water supply to the water heater (the valve on the cold water inlet pipe at the top of the heater) and turn off the gas or electricity to the heater. Then call us at (325) 248-1800.

Plumbing Emergencies Specific to the Highland Lakes

Freeze Events

The Highland Lakes region experiences occasional hard freezes, temperatures below 20°F, that can freeze and burst pipes in uninsulated exterior walls, attics, and crawl spaces. These events are infrequent but can be severe, as happened during the February 2021 winter storm that caused widespread pipe failures throughout Texas.

During a freeze event, the most vulnerable pipes are those in uninsulated exterior walls, in the attic, in crawl spaces, and in outdoor locations. If temperatures are forecast to drop below 20°F, we recommend letting faucets drip slowly to keep water moving through the pipes, opening cabinet doors under sinks on exterior walls to allow warm air to reach the pipes, and disconnecting garden hoses from outdoor faucets.

If a pipe freezes, do not try to thaw it with an open flame. Use a hair dryer, heat tape, or warm towels to gently warm the pipe. If the pipe has already burst, shut off the main water supply and call us immediately.

Slab Leak Emergencies

A slab leak that is releasing water rapidly, indicated by a sudden spike in water pressure loss, the sound of rushing water under the floor, or water appearing at the surface of the floor, is a plumbing emergency. Shut off the main water supply to stop the flow of water into the leak and call us at (325) 248-1800. We will respond as quickly as possible to locate and repair the leak.

Emergency Plumbing Service Throughout the Highland Lakes

Knockout Plumbing Services provides emergency plumbing service throughout the Highland Lakes region, including Marble Falls, Kingsland, Burnet, Horseshoe Bay, Llano, Granite Shoals, Meadowlakes, Spicewood, Bertram, and surrounding communities. We are a licensed plumbing company (RMP #45640) with over 17 years of experience in the Highland Lakes. When a plumbing emergency strikes, call (325) 248-1800, we will respond as quickly as possible and fix it right.