What counts as a plumbing emergency
If water’s coming where it shouldn’t be — out of a wall, up through a floor drain, or out from under a water heater — that’s an emergency. The faster you get the main shut-off closed and a plumber on the way, the less damage you’ll be living with later.
We treat the following as same-night calls: active leaks you can’t stop with the fixture valve, no hot water in a household with kids or seniors, sewage backups, gas smells (after you’ve called the gas company), and broken pipes — copper, PEX, or PVC. If you’re unsure, just call. We’ll tell you over the phone whether it can wait until morning.
Step-by-step: what to do before we arrive
Find your home’s main water shut-off and close it. In most Orange County homes it’s near the front hose bib, in a garage, or at the meter on the curb. If your water heater is leaking, close the cold inlet valve at the top of the tank.
If it’s a gas leak, leave the home and call the gas utility first. Don’t flip switches or use a phone inside.
If it’s a sewer or drain backup, stop running water — no flushing, no laundry, no dishwasher. Move anything off the floor that water might reach.
Then call us at (949) 278-7332. The faster we’re on the way, the smaller the cleanup.
How a Boothney emergency call actually goes
We answer fast and ask the right questions: what’s leaking, where, since when, and what kind of building. We dispatch the closest licensed plumber to your area, and we tell you the truthful arrival window — not a hopeful one.
On site, the tech finds the source, stabilizes the situation, and shows you what’s going on before quoting. You get a fixed price for the emergency repair. If a permanent fix needs more time or different parts, we patch the immediate problem and schedule a return visit.
Pricing for after-hours plumbing calls
We don’t play games with after-hours pricing. There’s a fair emergency rate that covers nights, holidays, and Sundays. The tech tells you the price up front, in writing, before any work starts. If the job turns out smaller than expected, we say so and adjust.
The Orange County problems we see most often
In older homes — Yorba Linda, Orange, Fullerton, Brea — we get a lot of failing galvanized lines and pinhole copper leaks. In coastal homes — San Clemente, Laguna Niguel, Huntington Beach — corrosion and salt-air-related fitting failures are common. In newer Irvine and Mission Viejo builds, it’s usually a fixture or supply-line failure rather than the main lines.
Whatever it is, we’ve seen it before. We don’t guess.
When it’s time to call us
- Active leak you can’t stop at the fixture
- No water or no hot water in the home
- Sewage or wastewater backing up into the house
- Smell of gas (after calling the gas company)
- Frozen, burst, or cracked pipe
- Water heater leaking from the tank itself
If you live in Orange County and you’re reading this, you’re already in our service area. Emergency Plumbing in Mission Viejo · Emergency Plumbing in Yorba Linda · Emergency Plumbing in Lake Forest · Emergency Plumbing in Laguna Niguel · Emergency Plumbing in Costa Mesa.
Common questions about emergency plumbing
Do you really answer 24/7?
We answer urgent calls every day, including nights, weekends, and holidays. Same-day routing for true emergencies.
How fast can a plumber get here?
Most after-hours calls in Orange County are on-site within 60–90 minutes, depending on where you are and traffic.
How much does an emergency call cost?
There’s a fair emergency rate quoted before any work begins. We don’t do surprises.
Should I shut the water off myself?
Yes — if you can do it safely. Find the main shut-off near the front of the home or at the meter.
Do you handle commercial plumbing emergencies?
Yes. Restaurants, retail, offices, and multi-unit buildings — we cover all of it.
