Emergency Plumbing Help in Gardena, CA

First 5 minutes: what to do in a plumbing emergency

Short answer: in a Gardena plumbing emergency, protect people first, shut off the water at the house valve, keep water away from electrical outlets and panels, then call for help. Gas smell? Leave the home first and call from outside.

1. Safety first. If water is near outlets, a panel or appliances, stay out of the wet area. If you smell gas, leave the building, don't switch lights on or off, and call 911 or SoCalGas at 1-800-427-2200 from outside.
2. Shut off the water. Most Gardena houses have a main shutoff valve where the water line enters the home, often near a front hose bib. Turn it clockwise until it stops. For a single fixture, use the small valve under the sink or behind the toilet.
3. Turn off the water heater if the house water is off for a long time or the heater itself is leaking. Set a gas unit to "pilot" or "off"; switch off the breaker for an electric unit.
4. Stop using drains if sewage is backing up. Every flush or load of laundry adds to the overflow.
5. Document it. Take photos or a short video before cleanup. It helps the provider and any insurance claim.
6. Call and describe what you see: where the water is, whether it's clean or sewage, and whether the main is off.

Is it your plumbing or the utility's?

Some emergencies aren't a plumber's job at all. In Gardena, drinking water comes from Golden State Water Company. Water gushing in the street, at the meter box or from a fire hydrant is usually on the utility side. Contact Golden State Water for those. The meter, meter box and the utility's pipe up to the service connection belong to the utility; the piping on your side generally belongs to the property owner. Our guide on who is responsible for the water line in Gardena explains the split.

Sewage overflowing from a manhole or the street sewer should be reported to the City of Gardena rather than a private plumber. A backup inside your home, or one that comes from your own cleanout, usually starts in the private sewer lateral. See sewer line repair in Gardena.

Common plumbing emergencies in Gardena homes

• Main water line break. Water bubbling up in the yard, a sudden loss of pressure, or the meter spinning fast. Start with main water line break: what to do first.
• Burst or leaking pipe inside the house. Water through a ceiling, wall or cabinet. Shut the main and keep the area clear of electricity. See burst pipe repair.
• Slab leak. Warm spots on the floor, the sound of running water or damp flooring with everything off. Many Gardena homes sit on concrete slabs, so supply pipes often run under the floor. See slab leak detection and repair.
• Sewage backup. Wastewater coming up in a tub, shower or floor drain, often when a toilet is flushed.
• Leaking or failed water heater. Water pooling around the tank, a dripping relief valve or no hot water. See water heater leaks and replacement.
• No water at any tap. Check for a utility outage first. Our guide no water in the house in Gardena walks through it.

What happens when you call

Your call is answered or routed through our referral network. You may be asked a few short questions, such as your location and what is happening, so you can be matched with a suitable provider. Your call is then connected with an independent local provider, who discusses timing, the visit and pricing directly with you.

You can call at any hour. Night, weekend and holiday availability can vary by provider. Emergency and after-hours visits are often priced differently from scheduled work, so ask about any after-hours or trip charge before you agree to a visit.

Questions to ask an emergency plumber

• What is your company name, your direct number and your California contractor license number? You can check a license with the Contractors State License Board.
• Is there an after-hours charge or a minimum fee, and what does it include?
• Will tonight's visit be a temporary fix, a permanent repair or a diagnosis only?
• Will the permanent repair need a permit or inspection?
• Can you put the scope and price in writing before work starts?

While you wait

• Move furniture, rugs and boxes away from the water.
• Mop or wet-vac standing clean water if it is safe to do so. Keep children and pets away from sewage.
• Open windows to help drying, and don't use chemical drain cleaners on a backed-up line.
• Find your main shutoff and cleanout so the provider can reach them quickly.