Emergency plumber in Denver: what to do in the first ten minutes

Who should you call first in a Denver plumbing emergency?

Not every emergency starts with a plumber. Some start with a utility or with 911. These are the official numbers published by each agency:

Numbers apply to Denver Water and City and County of Denver customers. If you live in a suburb with a different water or sewer provider, use the emergency number printed on your utility bill.

A pipe burst or water is spreading: what do you do?

1. Close the main shutoff valve. Denver Water says that in most single-family homes it sits in the basement or crawl space, on a wall facing the street. Turn a round wheel handle clockwise until it stops, or turn a lever handle a quarter turn so it sits across the pipe. Everyone in the household should know where it is before an emergency.
2. Stay out of standing water if outlets or appliances could be wet. Xcel Energy's flood safety advice says never to walk through a flooded area until the electricity is disconnected, and not to enter a basement that already has water on the floor if water could reach outlets. If water may reach the main electrical panel or meter, contact Xcel so it can shut off service.
3. Open a faucet on the lowest floor to drain the remaining water out of the lines once the main is closed.
4. Turn off the water heater. For a gas unit, set the control to pilot or off; for an electric unit, switch off its breaker if you can reach the panel safely.
5. Photograph the damage before you move anything, for your insurer.

Once the water is off, you have time to compare quotes. Our emergency plumbing cost guide lists typical after-hours rates and the questions to ask before anyone drives out.

You smell gas near the water heater or boiler: what now?

Leave first, call second. Xcel Energy tells customers who suspect a leak to leave the home or business immediately and call 800-895-2999 or 911. Xcel's safety guidance also says not to operate light switches or garage door openers and not to use a phone inside the house; call from a neighbor's home or another safe spot. Do not try to find the leak yourself and do not relight a pilot until the utility or a qualified technician says it is safe.

If your basement flooded and gas appliances sat in the water, Xcel advises having gas service disconnected and not turning it back on yourself. Appliances whose controls were under water often need replacing, because corroded controls can cause gas leaks. Our boiler repair guide covers carbon monoxide alarms and safety checks.

A pipe is frozen: how do you thaw it safely?

• Find the frozen section. It is usually on an exterior wall, in a crawl space or in an attached garage.
• Shut off or test the main valve first, so water does not gush out when the ice melts and reveals a crack. Denver Water recommends this before thawing.
• Thaw slowly with a hair dryer. Denver Water says slower is better, because pipes warmed too fast may break, and that a blow torch is not appropriate.
• Open the faucet the pipe feeds so melting water has somewhere to go.
• Call a plumber if you cannot reach the frozen area, the pipe is already split, or the line stays frozen.

To keep it from happening again, Denver Water suggests opening cabinet doors under sinks on outside walls, keeping an attached garage closed, letting a slow drip run from the faucet farthest from where water enters the house, and keeping the thermostat above 65 degrees if you will be away for several days. Our frozen pipe prevention guide goes further.

Sewage is backing up: is it your line or the city's?

Stop using water in the house so you do not add to the backup. Then call Denver Wastewater Management at (303) 446-3400. According to the city's FAQ, a crew is sent out; if the blockage is in the city sewer, city staff clear it and arrange any needed cleanup. If the problem is in your private service line, the city will tell you, and hiring a plumber to clear and repair it is the owner's responsibility. Our sewer line repair page explains what happens next.

What should you tell the plumber you call?

Give your address and cross street, what failed, whether the water or gas is off, and how long it has been leaking. Ask for the plumber's name and Colorado license number and check it in the state license lookup while you wait. Inside Denver, the company should also hold a Denver contractor license.

This website is an information guide, not an emergency service. We cannot send anyone to your home and email replies are not immediate.