What Counts as a Plumbing Emergency?

A real plumbing emergency is causing damage right now, or it has left you without water or heat. Think a burst pipe, a leak you can’t stop, no heat in cold weather, sewage backing up, or a gas smell. A dripping tap or a slow sink is annoying, although it can almost always wait for a normal visit.

Knowing the difference saves you money, since call-outs at night cost more. It also helps you make a clear choice at 11pm instead of panicking. There’s no fixed, universal list, though. The same problem can be more or less urgent, depending on your home, the time of year, and whether you have a backup like a spare bathroom or another way to heat water.

Definitely an emergency

• Burst or badly leaking pipe — active water damage, get it stopped immediately. See our guide on what to do if a pipe bursts.
• No heating or hot water in winter — especially with children, elderly residents, or anyone vulnerable in the property.
• Sewage backing up — a health hazard that needs urgent attention, not something to leave overnight.
• Gas smell — leave the property, call the National Gas Emergency Service (0800 111 999) from outside, then arrange a Gas Safe engineer once it’s declared safe.
• Total loss of water supply — no water at all, rather than reduced pressure.

Usually NOT an emergency (but still worth booking soon)

• A dripping tap
• A slow-draining sink or bath
• A toilet that flushes slowly
• Slightly reduced water pressure
• A boiler making an odd noise but still working

These are all worth fixing soon. Some, like a dripping tap, waste real money over time. But they don’t need a 9pm call-out. A normal visit in the next day or two is the sensible, cheaper choice.

The grey area: use your judgement

Some cases sit in between. A blocked toilet is urgent if it’s your only one, although less so if you have a spare. A leak that’s slow but steady is worse than one that’s stopped dripping. If you’re not sure, tell us what’s happening when you get in touch. We’d rather talk it through than have you panic, or leave something serious too long.

How genuine emergencies are actually priced

Most plumbers, us included, charge more for a late-night call than a booked day visit. That’s the cost of getting an engineer out fast, at night or on a weekend. Think about this before you assume everything is urgent. A dripping tap booked as a normal visit costs less than the same job called in at 10pm. Book emergency plumbing direct if you need us out of hours, and we’ll confirm the rate first. We’re always upfront about the cost before we turn up, so you’re never caught out.

A simple way to decide

Ask yourself two things. Is the problem getting worse the longer it goes on, like water damage, no heat in the cold, or a health risk? And can you manage without it until tomorrow? If both answers point to no wait, it’s a real emergency. If either points the other way, it can wait for a normal visit, since that’s often easier to book at a time that suits you.

What to do while you decide

1. If there’s active water flow, turn off your stop tap regardless of how urgent you think it is — it costs nothing to be cautious.
2. Take photos of the problem for reference (useful for insurance too, and for describing the issue to us).
3. Get in touch describing what’s happening — we’ll tell you honestly whether it needs a same-day visit or can be booked in normally.

Getting help in Norwich

We cover emergency plumbing across Norwich and the area nearby, from homes in Attleborough to villages around Wymondham and homes near Dereham. We are Gas Safe registered. We’ll always give you a straight answer about how urgent your case is. Get in touch and tell us what’s going on.