Emergency Plumbing in McKinney, TX: What to Do First

What counts as a plumbing emergency

Not every plumbing problem needs someone tonight, and knowing the difference can save you money and stress. As a rule of thumb, it is an emergency when water, sewage or gas is escaping and you cannot stop it, or when the problem threatens your safety or the structure of your home.

These usually need prompt attention:

• Water you cannot stop from a burst or split pipe, a failed supply line, or a water heater that is pouring water. See burst pipe: what to do.
• Sewage coming back up into tubs, showers or floor drains, especially in more than one fixture. That points to a main line blockage, covered in sewer line problems.
• A gas smell near a gas water heater or anywhere in the house. This is a gas emergency first and a plumbing issue second.
• No water at all in freezing weather, which can mean a frozen pipe that may split when it thaws.
• Water near electrical panels, outlets or appliances.
• A water heater leaking from the tank itself, as opposed to a dripping valve. See water heater leaking from the bottom.

These can usually wait for a normal appointment, as long as you can manage the water:

• A single slow or clogged drain when other fixtures still work
• A dripping faucet or a toilet that keeps running
• A leak you can isolate by closing the fixture's own shutoff valve
• Lukewarm water from the heater with no leak

The first ten minutes

1. Stop the water. Close the main shutoff valve for the house. In many McKinney homes it is in the garage, near where the water line enters the foundation, or in a utility area. If the leak is from a single toilet, sink or appliance, you may be able to close the small valve behind or under it instead. Our guide on how to shut off your water walks through finding it.
2. Make electricity safe. If water is near outlets, cords or appliances, stay out of standing water. Only switch off circuits at the breaker panel if you can reach the panel without standing in water. If you cannot, keep clear and wait.
3. Turn off the water heater if you have shut off the main for more than a short time or the heater itself is leaking. On a gas heater, set the control to "pilot" or "off". On an electric heater, switch off its breaker.
4. Open a faucet at the lowest point in the house to drain pressure from the pipes, and open a cold tap upstairs if you have one.
5. Move valuables and contain the water with towels, buckets and a wet vacuum if you have one.
6. Take photos and short videos of the leak and any damage before you clean up. Your insurer will likely ask for them.

Is it your pipe or the city's?

This matters, because it decides who fixes it and who pays. According to the City of McKinney's meters and leaks page, the city repairs leaks on its side of the water meter, and the customer is responsible for everything after the meter. The city owns the meter and the valve between the meter and the street, and only city staff may operate that valve.

If the leak is inside your home, in your yard between the meter and the house, or under your slab, it is on your side and you will need a licensed plumber.

Calling a plumber in an emergency

When you contact a plumber about an urgent problem, you will get a faster and more accurate answer if you can tell them:

• What is leaking or backing up, and where
• Whether you have been able to shut the water off
• Whether it is a gas or electric water heater, if that is involved
• Roughly how old the home is
• Whether the problem is in one fixture or several

Ask about their availability and how they price after-hours visits before they come out. Many plumbers charge more outside normal working hours, and some charge a trip fee. It is reasonable to ask for the price of the diagnosis separately from the repair.

In Texas, plumbing work has to be done by, or under the supervision of, a plumber licensed by the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners. You can check a license on the TSBPE consumer information page. Master plumber license numbers start with "M".

Stopping the problem from coming back

Once the immediate problem is fixed, it is worth a short conversation with the plumber about the cause:

• Frozen pipes: The February 2021 winter storm showed how vulnerable exposed pipes in garages, attics and exterior walls are in North Texas. Ask which pipes are at risk and whether insulation or relocating them makes sense.
• Failed supply lines: Braided lines to toilets, faucets and washing machines wear out. If one failed, the others may be the same age.
• Main line backups: If a sewer backup was caused by roots or a sag in the line, a camera inspection can show whether it will happen again. See sewer line repair.
• Water heater failures: A heater that leaked from the tank will need replacing, which in McKinney requires a permit. See water heater replacement.

Insurance and documentation

Homeowner policies differ a lot in what they cover. Typically, sudden and accidental water damage is treated differently from damage caused by a slow leak or lack of maintenance. Keep your photos, save receipts for anything you buy to dry the house out, and ask the plumber for a written description of the cause. If your water bill spikes because of a leak on your side of the meter, the City of McKinney offers a leak credit in some cases. The meters and leaks page says it requires usage at least three times normal, a bill over $150 and proof of repair within 60 days.