Emergency Plumber in Philadelphia: 24 Hour Costs, Shutoffs and Who to Call

What emergency repairs cost in Philadelphia

The figures apply the Philadelphia metro construction cost factor of 1.15 from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to national emergency rates.

Estimates for 2026, including labor and standard parts. Philadelphia prices use the metro's construction cost factor of 1.15 (US average = 1.00) from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Area Cost Factors. Your quote depends on access, materials and the condition of the home.

What common emergencies cost to fix

Pipes inside walls, under a basement slab or under the front yard cost the most because they are the hardest to reach. Cleanup, drywall and flooring are billed separately. For everyday plumbing prices, rowhouse pipe age and Philadelphia Water Department rules, see our Philadelphia plumbing guide.

When a night call is worth the extra money

Pay for a night or weekend visit when water is still running, sewage is coming up, or gas is in the air. A dripping trap or a slow tub drain can wait for Monday. If you can close a valve and nothing is getting worse, wait for a daytime visit.

The first hour: what to do before help arrives

Water coming through a ceiling or wall

Close the main water valve, usually where the supply line enters the house. Then shut off breakers for any room where water is reaching outlets, fixtures or appliances. Open a faucet on the lowest floor to drain what is left in the pipes. Take photos before you start mopping.

In Philadelphia, the property owner is responsible for the water service pipe, the curb stop and all interior plumbing, including the main house drain, curb trap and sewer lateral. PWD owns the water main and the combined sewer under the street. PWD says it does not cover your plumbing. Its 24/7 hotline is (215) 685-6300.

If water is pouring from the street or sidewalk, that is a city problem. Call PWD. A water main break averages 8 to 12 hours to repair, according to PWD.

You smell gas, or hear hissing

Leave the house first. Do not light anything or flip any switch. From a safe spot outside, call the right utility for your side of the river:

Call 911 if there is fire, if anyone is hurt, or if someone has carbon monoxide symptoms such as headache, dizziness or nausea.

The power is out, or something is sparking

Check whether the whole street is dark. Report it to your utility: PECO at 1-800-841-4141 for all five southeastern Pennsylvania counties, Atlantic City Electric at 1-800-833-7476 in South Jersey, Delmarva Power at 1-800-898-8042 in Delaware.

If you see a wire down, leave the area and call the utility or 911. Inside the house, if you find a hot panel, a burning smell or smoke from an outlet, shut off the main breaker if you can do it without touching water, then leave and call 911.

Who to call in Philadelphia

Which trade handles which emergency

Calling the right trade first avoids paying two service fees.

Pennsylvania has no statewide plumber or electrician license. The City of Philadelphia licenses both. In the suburbs, ask the township or borough what it requires. For electrical detail, see our Philadelphia electrical guide. For storm and roof questions, see roofing in Philadelphia.

Sewer backups: your lateral or the city's main?

When sewage rises through a shower or floor drain, find where the blockage sits. In Philadelphia, PWD owns the combined storm and sanitary sewer under the street. You own the lateral from the house to that main, including the curb trap.

If only your home is backing up, call a plumber. If neighbors are backing up too, or sewage is coming out of a manhole, call PWD at (215) 685-6300 so they can check the main.

Two Philadelphia programs help after a backup:

1. The Basement Backup Protection Program installs a free backwater valve, and changes downspouts if needed, to reduce sewer backups into basements. Your water bill must be current and any PWD or City violations resolved. Licensed pros do the work with a one-year warranty; after that you own and maintain the valve. Document flooding first by calling (215) 685-4901.
2. If the lateral itself is broken or leaking, the HELP loan can cover the repair. It is zero interest, repaid over 60 months, for residential properties with no more than four units.

According to the Census Bureau's 2024 American Community Survey, more than 80% of the city's homes were built before 1980, and 40% before 1940. Old cast-iron laterals and shared rowhouse drains make backups common.

Philadelphia weather that causes emergency calls

Freeze-thaw winters

Philadelphia International Airport averages 77 nights a year at or below 32°F, and the outer suburbs run colder. January averages a low of 26°F. That is enough freezing nights to burst pipes in unheated porches, crawl spaces and vacant rowhouses. February is the snowiest month, at 8.4 inches on average. The January 1996 storm dropped 30.7 inches on the city, still the record.

When a pipe freezes but hasn't burst, shut off the water and warm the pipe gently with a hair dryer or towels. Never use an open flame. If it has burst, close the main valve and call a plumber.

Summer downpours and remnants of tropical storms

September is the wettest month at the airport, at 4.40 inches on average, and July and August are close behind. The remnants of Hurricane Ida on September 1, 2021, dropped 5 to 10 inches across southeastern Pennsylvania and central New Jersey in about six hours. The National Weather Service calls it one of the area's worst natural disasters on record. The Schuylkill River at Philadelphia crested at 16.35 feet, and Neshaminy Creek in Bucks County hit a flood of record.

If your basement takes on water after these storms, photograph the water line on the walls before you pump it out, and call your insurer the same day.

Snow load and ice dams

Philadelphia's structural design criteria list a ground snow load of 25 psf. Ice dams and interior leaks show up after heavy snow on a low-slope rowhouse roof, followed by a freeze. During an active leak, put a bucket under the drip, move belongings, and switch off the breaker for any light fixture that is getting wet.

Do you need a permit for emergency work?

Yes. In all three states, the repair can come first.

Philadelphia. L&I defines an emergency repair as work to fix a sudden, unforeseen condition that poses a significant threat to life or property. Qualifying failures include plumbing, electrical, mechanical and fire suppression systems, and structural failures. All work must be done by a contractor with the required license. The owner or contractor must notify the appropriate Construction Inspections District Office as soon as possible and document the work with time-stamped photos or video. A permit application to legalize the work must be filed within 3 business days, and an inspection scheduled as soon as the permit issues. The inspector may require concealed work to be exposed.

Suburban Pennsylvania. The state Uniform Construction Code allows emergency repairs or equipment replacements without a permit if an application is filed with the building code official within 3 business days. Each township or borough enforces the code, so confirm the local office.

New Jersey. A construction permit is required for structural, plumbing, mechanical and electrical work on existing buildings. The municipal enforcing agency must act on a complete application within 20 business days. Plumbing, electrical and HVAC work may only be done by people licensed for it, except a single-family homeowner on their own dwelling.

Delaware. New Castle County requires a permit for most construction and repairs unless the work is on its exempt list. In the City of Wilmington, you need a permit before any work, and projects over $10,000 need a City of Wilmington licensed general contractor.

Ask the pro to confirm in writing that they will pull the permit. For plan review and permit fees on larger repairs, see our home remodeling guide for Philadelphia.

Insurance: what to record during an emergency

A pipe that bursts and the water damage it causes is usually covered. A leak from a pipe that rusted through over years often is not.

Before cleanup, take wide photos of each room and close-ups of the damage, the water line on walls and the failed part. Keep the broken part if the plumber removes it. Ask for an invoice that states the cause in plain words, and save every receipt for drying, cleanup and hotel stays.

Three gaps apply in this metro:

• Flood: most homeowners policies do not cover storm water flowing in from outside. Check whether you carry flood coverage through the National Flood Insurance Program or a private insurer.
• Sewer backup: often excluded unless you add an endorsement. Philadelphia's free backwater valve program reduces the risk but does not change your policy.
• Storm deductibles: some policies carry a separate, higher deductible for wind or named storms. Read your declarations page before you assume the repair is covered.

Areas we cover

GOLDGCP's 24/7 line takes emergency calls across the Philadelphia metro in all three states:

• Philadelphia, from Center City and South Philly to the Northeast and Northwest
• The Main Line
• Bucks County
• Delaware County
• Cherry Hill and South Jersey
• Wilmington, Delaware

Enter your ZIP code to see emergency pros and prices near you.