An emergency plumber in Jacksonville handles the problems that can't wait: burst or split pipes, sewage backing up into the house, a water heater dumping water, no water at all, or a suspected gas leak. Call (833) 819-1044 any time, day or night, and a local plumber who works your side of town is dispatched to stop the damage first and make the repair.
What counts as a plumbing emergency
If water is going somewhere it shouldn't and you can't stop it, or if wastewater or gas is involved, treat it as an emergency. Other problems are urgent but can often wait a few hours for a daytime visit if you can shut off the water to that fixture.
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- A burst, split or spraying pipe
- Sewage backing up into tubs, showers or floor drains
- Water coming through a ceiling or wall
- A leaking water heater you can't shut off
- No water to the whole house
- Gas smell or hissing near a gas line
Usually can wait for daytime
- One clogged toilet when you have another
- A dripping faucet
- A slow sink or tub drain
- A running toilet you can shut off
- Low hot water but no leak
- A noisy water heater
Burst pipes & major leaks
Most homes in Jacksonville have copper, CPVC, PEX or older galvanized supply lines, and some built from the late 1970s to the mid 1990s still have gray polybutylene pipe, which is known for failing without warning. Any of them can split from age, pressure spikes or, on the rare nights when Northeast Florida drops below freezing, from frozen exposed pipe in an attic, garage or outdoor hose bib.
When a pipe bursts, the first job is stopping the water. A plumber shuts off the supply, finds the failed section, and makes a permanent repair or a safe temporary one so you have water again while a bigger fix is planned. If the leak is somewhere you can't see, like under the slab, leak detection pinpoints it before anyone starts cutting.
Sewage backups
Sewage coming up through the lowest drain in the house, usually a shower, tub or floor drain, means the main line is blocked or broken somewhere between the house and the street or septic tank. Stop using water right away. Every flush, shower or load of laundry adds to what's coming back up.
A plumber clears the main line with a cable machine or a water jet, then can run a camera to see why it happened. In Jacksonville the usual causes are tree roots in older cast iron or clay pipe, grease and wipes, a sag in the line or, in homes on septic, a full tank or failing drain field. See drain and sewer services for the follow-up repairs.
No hot water or a gas smell: safety steps
A water heater that suddenly stops working is miserable but rarely dangerous. A water heater that's leaking from the tank, or a gas smell anywhere in the house, is different.
If you smell gas: don't switch lights or appliances on or off, don't use a lighter, and leave the house with everyone in it. From outside, call your gas utility's emergency line or 911. Once the utility has made it safe, a plumber can find and repair the leak in the gas line.
For a leaking water heater, turn off the cold water valve on top of the tank, then cut the power at the breaker for an electric unit or turn the gas control to off for a gas unit. Water heater emergencies are covered in more detail on our water heater repair page.
Response across North & South Jacksonville
Jacksonville is the largest city by area in the lower 48 states, and the St. Johns River splits it in two. Crossing town at rush hour can take an hour on its own, which is why calls are matched with a plumber already working your side of the river. You'll get an arrival estimate on the call, before anyone is sent, so you know what to expect.
Emergency service covers North Jacksonville neighborhoods like Riverside, Springfield, Arlington, the Westside, Northside and up into Nassau County, and South Jacksonville from San Marco and Mandarin to Southside, the Beaches, Ponte Vedra, Orange Park and Fleming Island.
What to do before the plumber arrives
- Shut off the water. The main valve is usually where the line enters the house, often on an outside wall or in the garage. The JEA or city meter box near the street also has a shutoff, though you may need a meter key to turn it.
- Turn off the water heater if the leak involves hot water or the tank itself.
- Kill power to wet areas. If water is near outlets or appliances, switch off those breakers, but only if you can reach the panel without standing in water.
- Move valuables out of the way. If water keeps collecting in a low garage or crawlspace, a sump pump helps long term.
- Soak up water with towels to limit damage to floors and drywall.
- Take photos of the damage for your insurance claim before cleanup starts.
- Stop using drains if sewage is involved, including toilets, sinks, the dishwasher and the washer.
What affects the cost of an emergency call
- Time of the call. After-hours, weekend and holiday visits usually cost more than a scheduled weekday appointment.
- What failed. A single split fitting is a smaller job than a collapsed sewer line or a failed water heater.
- Access. Pipes under a slab, behind tile or in a tight attic take longer to reach.
- Temporary vs permanent fix. Sometimes the smart move tonight is a safe temporary repair, with the full repair scheduled later.
Ask for the price when the plumber has diagnosed the problem, and approve it before work starts.
Emergency plumbers across Jacksonville
Emergency plumber FAQ
Is there really a 24 hour emergency plumber in Jacksonville?
Yes. Calls to (833) 819-1044 are answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including holidays, and emergency plumbers are dispatched across North and South Jacksonville.
How fast can an emergency plumber get to me?
It depends on your location, the time and current demand. You'll be given an arrival estimate on the call before a plumber is dispatched.
Where is my main water shut-off valve?
In most Jacksonville homes it's where the water line enters the house, often on an outside wall near the hose bib, in the garage or near the water heater. There's also a valve at the meter box near the street, which may need a meter key.
Does homeowners insurance cover burst pipes?
Many policies cover sudden water damage from a burst pipe but not the pipe repair itself or damage from a slow, long-term leak. Check your policy, take photos and call your insurer early.
Is a clogged toilet an emergency?
Usually not if you have another working toilet. It becomes an emergency if it's your only toilet, if it keeps overflowing, or if other drains are backing up too, which points to the main sewer line.
Should I call a plumber or the gas company if I smell gas?
Leave the house first, then call your gas utility's emergency number or 911 from outside. After the utility makes it safe, a plumber can repair the leaking gas line or connection.