Some plumbing problems can wait. A slow drip. A weak flush. Even a noisy pipe can usually hold off until regular business hours. But not all issues are that patient.
Some plumbing issues don’t just get worse overnight – they cause damage while you sleep. Or while you’re out. Or while you’re still trying to figure out whether it’s worth calling a plumber after hours.
At Cornwell Plumbing, we’ve seen what happens when people wait too long to deal with an emergency plumbing situation. And it’s never cheaper, easier, or cleaner the next morning. If you’re ever unsure about whether to call a plumber Brownsburg IN after hours, here are the plumbing emergencies you should never ignore.
1. A Pipe Just Burst? That’s not a “wait and see” situation
You hear a pop. Then water. A lot of water.
Freezing temperatures or old pipes usually cause burst pipes, but they don’t exactly show up with a warning sign. One second, your house is dry. Next, it’s soaked.
Why it needs a plumber now: Water moves fast. Once it’s out of the pipe, it’s in the walls, the floors, the insulation – and it stays there. That turns into mold, wood rot, and ruined drywall real quick. You require someone who knows how to shut things down and fix the break right.
What you should do: Shut off your home’s main water valve, then call an emergency plumber right away. Don’t wait for the drywall to bubble and the ceiling to sag.
2. Sewage Coming Back Up? That’s Not Something You Wait On
Should you perceive waste bubbles forming in your tub or sink, or detect some dreadful smell near drains, it is not only a nuisance but also raw sewage making its way inside your abode.
You do not mop it and forget it. That water carries a multitude of bacteria and other harmful things, and once in your house, it can spread very easily.
Why you need a plumber now: A backup like this usually means there’s a bigger problem in the main sewer line, maybe it’s blocked, maybe it’s damaged. Either way, you’re not clearing it with a plunger. And, it might also have to face the consequences of getting blocked with waste and flooding your bathroom.
DO it immediately: Immediately stop all water usage in the house: no flushing; no running of dishwasher; no doing the laundry. Call in a plumber to trace and clear the blockage before things get worse.
3. Water Heater Leaking or Acting Up? Don’t Wait for It to Rupture
No hot water is annoying. But a leaking water heater is something else entirely. If the tank gives out, it can flood the surrounding area with 40–80 gallons of water, and it’ll keep refilling until it’s shut off.
Why it needs a plumber now: A leak today could be a full tank blowout tomorrow. Dangerous if leak-damaged near wires or overheating.
To Do: Shut down the heater’s power and water, and call a plumber for an evaluation of the unit ASAP. Don’t risk flooding the garage, utility room, or worse – your whole basement.
4. Overflowing Toilet? If It Doesn’t Stop, Don’t Wait
Onetime jam? Sure, it happens. But otherwise, just go grab that plunger and get over it. However, if it occurs: overflowing, won’t stop running, keeps gulping again and again, it’s probably a more serious problem in the plumbing inside your home.
Why it necessitates calling a plumber right now: It’s unpleasant to have an overflowing toilet, but there’s a chance that a bigger blockage causes that water to come up in other areas of your house as well. Sewage backing up would certainly mean a real emergency.
What to do instead: Turn the valve located at the back of the toilet to close it to stop the leak and call for your plumber.
Do not risk another flush. Do not wait to see if it clears. That’s how people end up with sewage in the tub.
5. Suddenly No Water? That’s a Sign of Something Big
The mainline supplying your property is probably ruptured, frozen, or broken, since your sinks, faucets, and toilets have stopped working, and all the other houses on your street are waterless.
The reason for needing a plumber desperately: A pipe having no water would most likely have gone out in its full glory, and that failure could very well be flooding gallons in your walls or yard while you’re happily contemplating.
What you should do: Check your shut-off valve and your neighbors. If it’s not a city-wide issue, it’s probably your plumbing. Call a plumbing services provider to check it out before you’re dealing with hidden water damage too.
6. Water Near Outlets or Electrical Panels? Stop What You’re Doing
Even a small leak near an outlet or breaker box is a big deal. Water and electricity are a dangerous combo, one that doesn’t give second chances.
Why it needs a plumber now: It’s not just about stopping the leak. It’s about keeping you and your family safe. Electrical shock or fire risk is serious, and it doesn’t take much water to create a problem.
This is, of course, if you can turn off the water in safety to that part of the house. Then call an emergency plumber. And if you see sparks, smell burning, or feel warmth near an outlet, call an electrician too.
Emergencies Don’t Keep Office Hours. Neither Do We.
When water’s pouring out of a busted pipe or sewage is backing up into your tub, the last thing you want is to be told, “Call back during business hours.”
That’s not how we work.
We at Cornwell Plumbing pick up the phone-willingly and gladly-after-hours, late into the night, without complaints on a weekend, and in rude interruptions to special occasions at all times! Cuz in times of emergencies, you want a technician who could arrive immediately.
If it feels like an emergency, it most probably is. Call us. We’ve got you.