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

What emergency repairs cost in Phoenix

The figures come from metro price data, adjusted for Phoenix using the 0.90 construction cost factor from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Area Cost Factors (US average = 1.00).

Estimates for 2026, including labor and standard parts. Phoenix prices use the metro's construction cost factor of 0.90 (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 in Phoenix

Pipes inside walls, under a slab or out under the yard cost the most. They take the longest to reach. Cleanup, drywall and flooring are billed separately. For everyday plumbing prices, Phoenix housing age and hard water, see our Phoenix plumbing guide.

The first hour: what to do before help arrives

Water coming through a ceiling or wall

Close the main water valve. It usually sits where the supply line enters the house. There is often a second valve at the meter near the curb. Then shut off breakers in 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. Photograph everything before you start mopping.

You smell gas, or hear hissing

Do not light anything and do not flip any switch, on or off. Get everyone out. From a safe spot outside, call 911 if there is fire, a hiss you can hear, or anyone feeling sick. For a gas leak inside a home, call the fire department first and the utility second.

The power is out, or something is sparking

Check whether the whole street is dark before you call. Arizona Public Service runs an outage hotline at 602-371-3680 or 855-688-2437, and its main line at 602-371-7171 or 800-253-9405 answers anytime, according to APS. If your bill comes from another utility, save the number printed on it.

APS says to stay at least 100 feet away from a downed power line or exposed electrical equipment and call 911. Inside the house, a hot panel, a burning smell or smoke from an outlet means shut off the main breaker if you can do it without touching water. Then leave and call 911.

Who to call in Phoenix

Which trade handles which emergency

Call the right trade first and you avoid paying two service fees. Arizona licenses contractors through the Arizona Registrar of Contractors, which regulates over 60,000 residential and commercial contractors.

Arizona issues contractor licenses to the business. Check the company name on the license against the name on the truck. For electrical detail, see our electrical pillar. For storm and roof questions, see roofing.

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

When sewage rises through a shower or floor drain, the location of the blockage decides who fixes it. The city owns the public main under the street. You own the lateral, the pipe from your house to that main.

If only your home is backing up, call a plumber. If neighbors are backing up too, or sewage is coming out of a manhole in the street, call your city's wastewater line so a crew can check the main. Phoenix, Mesa, Scottsdale, Tempe, Chandler, Gilbert, Glendale and Peoria each run their own water and wastewater departments. The number on your bill is the right one.

Can a pro fix it tonight and pull the permit later?

Usually yes. Projects in unincorporated Maricopa County need a county permit. Otherwise you start with your city or town, according to Maricopa County.

Maricopa County runs its permitting through Permit Center, launched in June 2024. It offers virtual inspections for several emergency-shaped jobs: electrical service replacement or upgrade to 400A, minor electrical repairs, gas line repair or replace, minor plumbing repairs, gas and electrical clearances, and sewer or septic lines, per Maricopa County Planning & Development. A repair can be done at night and inspected by video the next day.

Tempe takes all building permit applications online through its Citizen Access Portal. Chandler adopted the 2024 International Codes with the 2023 National Electrical Code for plans submitted on or after July 1, 2025. Peoria requires a permit to replace a water heater. Maricopa County no longer requires one if the work follows the manufacturer's specifications.

Ask the pro to confirm in writing that they will pull the permit. Never pay a permit fee by wire transfer. Maricopa County says it will never request payment by wire transfer and that all payments go through Permit Center. You can verify a suspicious request at 602-506-3301. Tempe gives the same warning about its Community Development Department.

Phoenix disasters that cause emergency calls

Monsoon downburst winds and dust storms

The monsoon typically spans from the latter half of June through September, according to the National Weather Service. Downburst wind speeds can reach 50, 60 and 70 mph, and in rare cases exceed 100 mph. They topple trees, fences, utility poles and lines.

After a storm, the common calls are torn shingles, broken patio doors, downed service masts and water coming in where a roof lost its seal. Stay away from damaged poles and lines. They may still be live. If a downburst catches you outside, take shelter in a sturdy building and stay away from windows.

Extreme heat

Phoenix's 1991-2020 average annual temperature is 75.6°F, up from the prior normal, per NWS Phoenix. Heat is hard on the systems in a house. An air conditioner that fails in July is an emergency. So is a water heater that quits when the garage is already over 100°F. Arizona has seen half a century of increasing annual temperatures, with the last year below the middle-third of its normals being 1982.

Flash flooding

Phoenix's 1991-2020 average annual rainfall is 7.22 inches, down 0.81 inches from the prior normal, and Scottsdale's is 8.73 inches. The rain arrives in bursts. Desert ground sheds it fast. Water that pools against a wall finds its way under doors and into garages. Move belongings off the floor. Shut off power to any wet room. Photograph the water line on the wall before it dries.

Insurance: what to record during an emergency

Insurers pay for sudden events far more often than slow ones. A pipe that bursts and floods a room is usually covered. A leak from a pipe that corroded 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. Save every receipt for drying, cleanup and hotel stays. Call your insurer the same day if you can.

Areas we cover

GOLDGCP's 24/7 line takes emergency calls across the Phoenix metro, including:

• Phoenix
• Scottsdale
• Mesa
• Tempe
• Chandler
• Gilbert
• Glendale
• Peoria

Each city runs its own permit office and its own water and wastewater department. Check your bill for the right outage and sewer numbers.

Enter your ZIP code below to see emergency pros and prices for your area.