What counts as a plumbing emergency?
A plumbing emergency is anything that is damaging your home right now, threatens your health, or leaves you without water or heat. If you can't stop it with a valve, it is an emergency. If you can stop it and live without that fixture until morning, it usually isn't.
| Call now | Can usually wait for a daytime visit |
|---|---|
| Burst or split pipe, water you can't shut off | A dripping faucet or slow-running toilet |
| Sewage coming up through a floor drain or tub | One slow sink when the others drain fine |
| No heat in winter with people or pipes at risk | Low pressure at a single fixture |
| Gas smell near a water heater or boiler | A water heater that's lukewarm but working |
| Water heater leaking from the tank itself | Noisy pipes with no leak |
| Sump pump failed during a storm | Planned upgrades and replacements |
Still not sure? Call and describe it. Telling you to wait until morning, when it's safe to, is part of the job. Our guide to what counts as a plumbing emergency goes deeper.
What happens when you call
You talk to a person, not a voicemail tree. We ask what's leaking, where, and whether the water is off. Then we tell you three things before anyone drives over: the trip fee, who is coming, and roughly when.
While the plumber is on the way, we stay on the phone long enough to help you make it safe: closing the main, shutting the water heater to "vacation" or off, and moving valuables out of the water's path. Most of the damage in a burst-pipe call happens in the first hour, so this part matters more than how fast the van drives.
On site, the plumber finds the cause, shows you what failed, and gives you a written price for the fix. Emergency repairs are about stopping the damage and getting you back to working water. If a bigger project is needed later, such as repiping or a water heater replacement, we quote it separately so you can decide in daylight.
Common emergency calls in Clifton
Burst and split pipes
Winter freezes split pipes in unheated spaces: crawlspaces in the older homes near the Passaic, garage ceilings, and exterior walls on corner rooms. Galvanized pipe that's already thin from rust can fail without freezing at all. Read about burst pipe repair.
Sewage backups
A backup from the floor drain means the main sewer line is blocked or the city line is surcharged after a storm. We open the line from your cleanout and camera it to see if it's roots, a belly, or a broken pipe. More on sewer line repair and drain cleaning.
Water heater failures
A tank that's leaking from the bottom is finished. It won't seal itself, and it can let go all at once. We shut it down safely and, if you want, replace it the same day with the permit pulled. See water heater repair and replacement.
No heat
A boiler that won't fire on a freezing night is an emergency for the house as much as the people in it, because pipes in outside walls can freeze within hours. We handle steam, hot-water and combi boilers. See boiler repair.
Flooded basement during a storm
If your sump pump quits mid-storm, minutes count. We replace pumps, add battery backups and fix discharge lines that freeze or clog. See sump pump repair.
Our hours, honestly stated
We answer 24 hours a day from Sunday through Friday, nights and holidays included. We are closed on Saturdays. If you reach voicemail on a Saturday, leave your address and the problem. We call back Saturday night or early Sunday, and if it can't wait that long we'll tell you plainly so you can make another plan.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an emergency plumber cost in Clifton?
An emergency visit has two parts: a trip fee that covers getting a licensed plumber to your door and diagnosing the problem, and the repair itself. We quote the trip fee on the phone before dispatching and the repair in writing before starting. Typical North Jersey repair ranges are in our emergency plumber cost guide.
Do you really answer at night?
We answer 24 hours a day Sunday through Friday, including late nights and holidays. The only day we're closed is Saturday, and Saturday messages get a call back Saturday night or Sunday morning.
What should I do while I wait for the plumber?
Shut the main water valve, turn the water heater off or to vacation mode, open a low faucet to relieve pressure, and keep everyone away from water near outlets or the electrical panel. Our shut-off guide shows where the valve usually is in Clifton homes.
Will you fix it the same night?
Most emergency repairs like pipe breaks, failed valves, drain and sewer blockages, and many boiler failures are fixed on the first visit because the van is stocked for them. Larger work such as a full sewer replacement is made safe first and scheduled with a written quote.
Do you handle gas leaks?
If you smell gas, get everyone out and call the gas utility or 911 from outside first. After the utility makes it safe, we repair gas piping and appliance connections and pull the required permit. We are licensed for gas work under NJ Master Plumber License #13345.
Is a running toilet an emergency?
Usually not. Turn the small valve behind the toilet clockwise to stop it, and book a daytime visit. If the toilet is overflowing and the valve won't close, shut the main and call.
Do you serve towns outside Clifton for emergencies?
Yes. We cover Passaic, Nutley, Lyndhurst, Wallington, Garfield and Belleville from Main Avenue, plus every Clifton neighborhood. See the full service area.