When water is spreading across the floor, every minute counts. What you do before the plumber gets there decides how much gets wet, how much gets ruined and how big the cleanup is.
This checklist covers four common plumbing emergencies: burst pipes, leaking water heaters, sewer backups and gas smells. Save it now, so you aren't searching for it later.
Step One: Know Your Shutoffs Before You Need Them
The most useful thing you can do takes five minutes, and you do it on a calm day.
| Shutoff | Where to look in most Clovis homes | What it stops |
|---|---|---|
| Main water shutoff | Near the front hose bib, or where the water line enters the house | All water to the house |
| Water heater cold valve | On the cold water pipe at the top of the tank | Water into the heater |
| Fixture valves | Under sinks and behind toilets | Water to one fixture |
| Electrical panel | Garage or side of the house | Power to wet areas and electric water heaters |
Test the main valve once a year. Old valves can stick. If yours won't turn, don't force it. A plumber can replace it before you need it.
Burst Pipe or Major Leak
Water still spreading? Call Clovis Rooters at (559) 418-4780, 24/7. Arrival time depends on where you are in Clovis, traffic and the jobs already underway. You'll get a realistic time when you call. For hidden or slow leaks, see our leak detection service.
Leaking Water Heater
If water is dripping from a fitting or the relief valve pipe, it may be a repair. If it's coming from the tank itself, it usually means replacement. Learn more on our water heater repair and replacement page.
Sewer Backup
If several drains are backing up, the blockage is likely in your main sewer line. In Clovis, homeowners are responsible for that line all the way to the city main. Read Who Owns the Sewer Line? or see our sewer line repair service.
Gas Smell
PG&E's guidance is to "leave the area now and call 9-1-1." Then:
Once the area is safe and the leak is found, a plumber can repair or replace the line. See our gas line installation and repair service.
Keep a Record for Insurance
Photos and notes help if you file a claim later. Take pictures before cleanup, and keep any failed parts the plumber removes. If we do the repair, we can note what we find and how the plumbing failed.
You can submit these documents to your insurance company to request compensation. Whether a loss is covered is between you and your insurer. We don't make coverage decisions or promise any outcome.
Call a Clovis Plumber Now
Call Clovis Rooters at (559) 418-4780, 24/7. There is no fixed price. Cost is set after the job is assessed.
Call (559) 418-4780