Emergency plumbers in Baltimore, MD

If water is spreading, shut off your main water valve first, then call. An emergency plumber can usually stop the damage the same day; after-hours visits typically cost more than a scheduled call, so ask about the call-out fee before the contractor drives out.

What counts as a plumbing emergency?

Call right away for anything that is causing damage now or puts health at risk:

• A burst or split pipe, including pipes that froze overnight
• A leak you can't stop with a fixture shut-off valve
• Sewage backing up into a basement floor drain, tub or toilet
• No water to the whole house
• A water heater leaking from the tank itself
• The smell of gas near a water heater, boiler or gas line — leave the building and call BGE or 911 first

A dripping faucet, a slow drain or a running toilet can usually wait for a regular appointment, which is normally cheaper.

What to do while you wait for the plumber

1. Shut off the water. In most Baltimore rowhomes the main shut-off is in the basement on the front wall, where the service line comes in from the street. In newer houses look near the water heater or in a utility closet.
2. Turn off the water heater if the leak is near it or you've shut off the main: switch off the power to an electric unit, or set a gas unit to “pilot”.
3. Stop using water if sewage is backing up. Every flush and every load of laundry adds to it.
4. Keep people and pets away from sewage and standing water near outlets or appliances.
5. Don't pour drain chemicals into a backed-up line. They make the job more dangerous for the plumber and rarely clear a main line.
6. Take photos for your insurer before cleanup starts.

How much does an emergency plumber cost in Baltimore?

After-hours, weekend and holiday calls cost more than daytime appointments. Angi reports that emergency plumbers in Baltimore typically charge 1.5 to 3 times a standard rate, and HomeGuide puts after-hours labor at roughly $125 to $170 per hour. The final bill depends on the problem, parts and how long the repair takes.

Before the contractor drives out, ask three things: the call-out or trip fee, the hourly or flat rate after that, and whether the fee is credited toward the repair. See our Baltimore plumber cost guide for more.

Is it the city's problem or a plumber's?

If the water is off on your whole block, or water is bubbling up through the street or sidewalk, the problem is probably a city water main. In Baltimore City call 311; Baltimore City DPW also handles water service for most of Baltimore County. A plumber can't repair a public main.

Leaks and blockages on your side of the property line — the service line into the house, the pipes inside, and the sewer lateral out to the street connection — are generally the owner's responsibility, and that's what a plumber fixes.

Frozen and burst pipes in Baltimore winters

Baltimore's freeze calls spike in January and February. If a pipe has split, shut off the main before it thaws, because that's when it floods. If it's frozen but intact, open the faucet it feeds and warm the pipe gently, never with an open flame. See frozen and burst pipe repair for step-by-step help and prevention.

How to get emergency plumbing in Baltimore

1. Call 443-863-5471. Tell us what's happening and where you are. Calls are answered 24/7.
2. We connect you. You're put through to a licensed, independent local plumber who handles this kind of job in your area.
3. Get a clear quote. The plumber explains the problem and the price before any work starts.
4. You decide. Approve the work, and the plumber completes it with any permit your city or county requires.

Plumbers in Baltimore Today is a free referral service; we don't perform plumbing work ourselves. How it works.