When a pipe bursts or a drain backs up, most homeowners have the same handful of questions — and they need answers fast. Below are the emergency plumbing questions we hear most often from Fort Worth, Arlington, and DFW homeowners, along with straight answers from our team. Ernie's Plumbing answers emergency calls 24/7, but knowing what to do in the first few minutes can keep a bad situation from getting worse.
What counts as a plumbing emergency?
A plumbing emergency is any problem that threatens your home, health, or safety if it isn't fixed right away. That includes burst or actively leaking pipes, a sewage backup coming up through tubs or floor drains, a complete loss of water, an overflowing toilet you can't stop, a water heater leaking heavily, or the smell of gas anywhere in the home. If water is actively causing damage — or you've lost water entirely — don't wait for business hours. Call a licensed plumber right away.
How fast can Ernie's Plumbing respond in Fort Worth?
We answer emergency calls 24 hours a day, 7 days a week across Fort Worth, Arlington, and the wider DFW Metroplex. Because our crews are local and we never use subcontractors, we can usually be on site the same day — and often within a couple of hours for true emergencies, depending on your location and current call volume. When you call, tell us exactly what's happening so we arrive with the right equipment.
What should I do first during a plumbing emergency?
Shut off the water first — it's always step one. For a localized problem like an overflowing toilet or a leaking supply line, turn the small shutoff valve behind the toilet or under the sink clockwise until it stops. For a burst pipe or a major leak, go straight to your main shutoff valve and close it completely. Once the water is off, open the lowest faucet in the house to drain the remaining water and relieve pressure. If water is anywhere near electrical outlets or your panel, cut power to that area. Then call us.
Where is my main water shutoff valve?
In most Fort Worth homes, the main shutoff is near the water meter — usually in the front yard close to the curb, or inside the garage on newer builds. It's either a lever-style ball valve you turn a quarter turn, or a round wheel you turn clockwise until it stops. The single best thing you can do today is find yours and test it, so you're not searching for it while water pours across the floor.
Is a slow drip or small leak an emergency?
A slow drip isn't a middle-of-the-night emergency, but it isn't something to ignore either. Small leaks waste water, feed mold, and quietly damage cabinets, drywall, and flooring. In North Texas, our expansive clay soil means a hidden leak can even undermine a foundation over time. Schedule a repair promptly — and if the leak is behind a wall, under the slab, or clearly getting worse, treat it as urgent.
Do you charge more for after-hours or weekend emergency calls?
We provide upfront pricing before any work begins, so you always approve the cost first — no surprise charges after the fact. After-hours and weekend visits are quoted transparently, so you know exactly what a nights-and-weekends emergency response will cost before we start.
What areas do you cover for emergency plumbing?
Ernie's Plumbing serves Arlington, Fort Worth, and more than 20 cities across the DFW Metroplex — including Grapevine, Southlake, Hurst, Euless, Bedford, North Richland Hills, Mansfield, Keller, Irving, and Grand Prairie. Not sure whether you're in our service area? Call and we'll confirm right away.
How can I prevent plumbing emergencies?
Most emergencies are preventable. Know where your main shutoff is, insulate pipes in attics, garages, and exterior walls before winter, never pour grease down the drain, and deal with slow drains and small leaks before they escalate. An annual plumbing inspection catches worn water heaters, corroded supply lines, and developing leaks long before they turn into a 2 a.m. flood.
Still have a question — or dealing with an emergency right now? Call Ernie's Plumbing any time, day or night. We're here 24/7.