Guide
What to Do in a Plumbing Emergency
Shut off the water at the main valve, turn off the gas control or breaker on a water heater if it is involved, open a low fixture to drain pressure from the lines, and stop using every fixture if the problem is a sewer backup. Then call.
Shut off the water at the main valve, turn off the gas control or breaker on a water heater if it is involved, open a low fixture to drain pressure from the lines, and stop using every fixture if the problem is a sewer backup. Then call.
Last updated 2026-09-17. Published by Las Vegas Plumbing.
Find your shutoff before you need it
This is the only item on this page that has to be done in advance, and it is the one that matters most.
In most valley homes the street side shutoff is in a covered box in the front yard near the sidewalk. Many houses also have a homeowner valve on the exterior wall near the hose bib, or in the garage close to the water heater.
Go and find yours now, and turn it once so you know it moves. A valve that has never been operated in fifteen years is exactly the valve that will not close on the night you need it, and discovering that during a flood is a bad time to learn.
The order of operations
When water is escaping, do these in sequence.
| Step | Action | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Close the main shutoff | Stops the supply feeding the leak |
| 2 | Turn off the water heater gas or breaker | Prevents firing on a low or empty tank |
| 3 | Open a low fixture | Drains standing pressure instead of into your ceiling |
| 4 | Kill power to affected areas at the panel | Only if water is near wiring or outlets |
| 5 | Photograph everything | Before anything is moved, for the insurer |
| 6 | Call | With the water already off, you have time |
Sewer backups are different
If waste water is coming up through a floor drain, a tub or a shower, the instruction is the opposite of instinctive: stop using water entirely.
Every flush, every sink, every washing machine cycle adds volume to a line that is already unable to take it, and all of it comes back up inside the house. That includes a dishwasher somebody started before the problem was noticed.
Do not use chemical drain products on a main line backup. They rarely clear a real obstruction and they leave caustic liquid standing in the line for whoever opens it.
What is not an emergency
A dripping faucet. One slow drain. A running toilet you can shut off at the stop valve under it. A water heater that is not hot but is not leaking.
These are worth fixing and they will keep until normal hours, usually at lower cost. Knowing the difference saves money and keeps genuine emergency capacity for genuine emergencies.
FAQ
Common questions
Where is the main water shutoff in a Las Vegas home?
Usually in a covered box in the front yard near the sidewalk, often with a second homeowner valve on the exterior wall near the hose bib or in the garage.
Should I turn off the water heater in a leak?
If the heater is involved or the house supply is off, yes. Turn the gas control off or switch off the breaker so it cannot fire on a low or empty tank.
What if my shutoff valve will not close?
Do not force it to the point of breaking it. Contain what you can and say so when you call, because it changes what has to happen on arrival.
Can I use a chemical drain cleaner in an emergency?
No. They rarely clear a real blockage and they leave caustic liquid in the line, which is a hazard for whoever opens it afterwards.
Sources
Where these facts come from
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