Plumbing Emergencies in Strasburg: What to Do Before We Arrive

How Long It Takes Us to Reach Strasburg

Strasburg is near the edge of the area we serve, and we will not pretend otherwise. We work regularly in Dover, Beach City, Bolivar, Brewster and Mineral City, but in an emergency there is still travel time involved. When you call, we will tell you plainly when we can arrive so you can decide what to do. For non-urgent work, calling ahead to confirm scheduling is the best approach.

The First Five Minutes

What you do right away decides how much water ends up on the floor. Walk through this list now, while nothing is wrong, so you know where everything is.

• Find the main shutoff. In village homes it is usually where the water line enters the basement or crawl space. On a well, the breaker for the pump is just as important.
• Turn the water off, then open a faucet on the lowest level to drain pressure from the lines.
• Shut off the water heater: gas valve to off or pilot, or the breaker for an electric unit.
• If water is near outlets or the electrical panel, stay out and shut off power at the main if you can do so safely.
• Move furniture, rugs and boxes; start soaking up water with towels or a wet vacuum.
• Take photos and video before cleaning up, for insurance.

Specific Emergencies and How to Handle Them

Each emergency has its own first move.

Leaking water heater

Close the cold water valve on top of the tank and turn off the fuel or power. Attach a hose to the drain valve and run it to a floor drain if the leak is heavy. Our water heater service covers repair and replacement.

Frozen or burst pipe

Shut off the water before the ice thaws, because that is when the split starts spraying. Never use an open flame to thaw a pipe.

Sewer backup

Stop using every fixture in the house, since anything you run can come up through the lowest drain. Keep people and pets away from the water.

Sump pump failure

Check the breaker and the float. If the pump is dead and water is rising, a rented or borrowed pump can buy time. See our sump pump page for replacement options.

After the Water Is Stopped

Once we arrive, we contain the leak, make the repair or a safe temporary fix, and inspect for related damage. We offer plumbing damage inspections and insurance assistance, so we can document what happened and what was done. If the repair calls for a larger project, you get a free estimate before we go further.

Everyday Plumbing in Strasburg

Not every call is an emergency. We also replace water heaters, clear drains, repair toilets and faucets, service wells and pressure tanks on rural properties, install softeners for hard water and run gas lines for appliances. Small businesses near the interstate get the same service and free estimates.

Prevention, Membership and Booking

Most emergencies start as small problems. Our maintenance agreement costs $189 per year or $378 for three years and includes an annual inspection, priority service, emergency support, 10% off labor and materials and no service-charge minimums. It renews automatically and transfers with the house. Call 330-875-8003 weekdays 7:30 AM to 5:00 PM or Saturday 8:00 AM to noon.