Emergency Plumbing Repair Costs
Updated February 20, 2026
Emergency plumbing rates are brutal -- $150-$300 just to show up, before any work starts. Nights, weekends, and holidays add 50-100% to normal rates. A burst pipe at 2 AM on a Sunday is the most expensive plumbing scenario possible. Knowing what to expect, what you can handle yourself in the moment, and how to prevent emergencies saves serious money.
Overview
Emergency plumbing rates are brutal -- $150-$300 just to show up, before any work starts. Nights, weekends, and holidays add 50-100% to normal rates. A burst pipe at 2 AM on a Sunday is the most expensive plumbing scenario possible. Knowing what to expect, what you can handle yourself in the moment, and how to prevent emergencies saves serious money.
Cost Breakdown
Pro Tips
- The main water shutoff is your $500 savings tool. Find it today, label it, and make sure everyone in the household knows where it is.
- Keep 2-3 SharkBite push-fit caps ($5-$8 each) in your emergency toolkit. They cap a burst pipe in seconds without tools.
- Not every plumbing problem is an emergency. If you can shut off the water and wait until business hours, you save 50-100% on the repair.
- Ask your plumber now (during non-emergency times) what their emergency rates are. Having a plumber you trust saves panicked Googling at midnight.
Mistakes to Avoid
- Calling for emergency service when the problem can safely wait until morning.
- Not knowing where the main shutoff is, letting water run while frantically searching for it.
- Hiring the first plumber who answers at 2 AM without asking about rates. Emergency rates vary widely.
- Ignoring small problems (slow drips, running toilets, stiff valves) that eventually become emergencies.
When to Call a Pro
True emergencies that can't wait: active gas leak (call gas company first, then plumber), burst pipe you can't stop with a shutoff, sewer backup into living space, no water to the entire house. Everything else can usually wait for normal business hours.
Bottom Line
Emergency plumbing costs 2-3x normal rates. The best strategy is prevention (annual maintenance) and preparedness (know your shutoffs, have basic tools). When an emergency hits, shut off the water first, assess whether it can wait until business hours, and only call for emergency service when it truly can't wait.