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🔧 Emergency Plumber · All 5 boroughs
Need an emergency plumber in NYC? Get matched with a local pro
A burst pipe, a backed-up main or a leaking water heater can’t wait for Monday. Here’s what to do in the next ten minutes, what to ask before anyone starts work, and a free way to get connected with an independent local plumbing company.
- Free to use — no obligation
- Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, Bronx, Staten Island
- You choose whether to hire anyone
Heads-up: we’re a referral service, not the company that does the work. We pass your request to independent local providers.
What to do right now
- Find the main shut-off and close it. Turn the handle clockwise, or turn a lever a quarter turn so it sits across the pipe.
- For one fixture, close the small valve under the sink or behind the toilet.
- If the water heater is leaking, turn off its water supply. Set a gas heater’s control to “pilot” or “off”, or switch off an electric heater at the breaker.
- If drains are backing up, stop using all water in the home. Every flush or rinse adds to the backup.
- In an apartment building, call the super right away. Building pipes and risers are usually the building’s job.
- Catch drips with buckets and towels, and photograph the damage.
⚠️ Safety first
- If you smell gas, leave right away and call 911 from outside. Gas emergency lines: Con Edison 1-800-752-6633; National Grid (Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island) 1-718-643-4050.
- Don’t use chemical drain cleaners on a fully blocked line that a plumber will open. The chemicals can splash back on you.
- Keep away from water near electrical outlets or the panel.
Common causes
- Frozen and burst pipes during cold snaps
- Old galvanized or corroded supply lines
- Tree roots or grease in the sewer line
- Water-heater tank failure
- Failed toilet, sink or washing-machine supply hoses
- Sump pump failure in heavy rain
What to ask before you hire
- Are you, or the company you work for, a NYC Licensed Master Plumber? NYC’s Department of Buildings licenses plumbing contractors, and you can check a license on its site.
- Do you charge a trip or diagnostic fee? Will you give me a written price before you start?
- Is gas-line work included, or is that a separate visit?
- Will this job need a DOB permit, and who files it?
- What warranty do you give on parts and labor?
Emergency Plumber by borough
Jump to: Brooklyn · Queens · Manhattan · Bronx · Staten Island
Emergency Plumber in Brooklyn
Older Brooklyn row houses and brownstones often still have galvanized or cast-iron pipes and long sewer laterals out to the street. Root intrusion and main-line clogs come up a lot.
Get matched with a Brooklyn pro →Emergency Plumber in Queens
In Queens homes the house trap and main sewer line are the homeowner’s responsibility, and basement drains are the first place a backup shows. Ask the plumber whether they can camera-inspect the line.
Get matched with a Queens pro →Emergency Plumber in Manhattan
In Manhattan apartments most pipes behind the walls belong to the building. Your super or managing agent usually has to bring in the building’s licensed plumber. A referral helps most for owner-occupied townhouses and work inside your own unit.
Get matched with a Manhattan pro →Emergency Plumber in Bronx
Prewar Bronx buildings with steam heat also have aging risers and drain stacks. If water is coming from above or below your unit, tell the building in writing. If you have no water, you can report it through 311.
Get matched with a Bronx pro →Emergency Plumber in Staten Island
Many Staten Island homes are detached, with their own water heater, sump pump and sewer line. A homeowner here often deals with the whole system, from the meter to the street.
Get matched with a Staten Island pro →Questions
Can I call a plumber for a gas leak?
Not first. If you smell gas, leave and call 911 or your gas utility from outside. A licensed plumber does the repair after the utility has made it safe.
What if I rent?
Most plumbing in a rental is the landlord’s job. Tell the landlord or super right away, and use 311 if a no-water problem isn’t fixed.
How do I check if a plumber is licensed in NYC?
Use the NYC Department of Buildings license search. Plumbing work in NYC is done by or under a Licensed Master Plumber.
Do you send the plumber yourselves?
No. We’re a free referral service. We pass your request to an independent local company, and you agree on price and work with them directly.
How this works
- Tell us what’s wrong: the form takes about a minute.
- We pass your request to an independent local company that handles this kind of job in your area.
- They contact you to talk through the problem and the price. You decide whether to hire them.
The referral is free. We may be paid by the provider or a referral network. We don’t check or guarantee licenses, insurance, prices or quality. Please verify any company before you hire it. More on how it works.