Plumbing questions, answered

Water or sewage entering the house that you can't stop, a burst pipe, no water at all, or a gas smell. A dripping faucet or one slow drain can usually wait for a scheduled visit. For a gas smell, leave the house and call the gas utility or 911 first.

Close the main water shutoff valve, or the stop valve at the leaking fixture. Keep clear of wet outlets and appliances, stop using drains if sewage is backing up, and move belongings out of the water.

No. Calling Prime Plumbing is free. The plumbing company you are connected with sets its own prices and should confirm the price with you before any work starts.

An independent, licensed local plumbing company. Prime Plumbing is a referral service: we connect your call or request to a plumbing company that serves your area, and that company performs the work and provides its own pricing and warranty.

Prime Plumbing takes calls from across the United States. Availability depends on the plumbing companies serving your ZIP code, so the quickest way to find out is to call.

Ask for the license number and look it up with the state or city agency that issued it. Our state pages name the licensing body for each state.

Prices depend on the job, your region, the time of day and the company. Plumbing companies charge either a flat price per job or an hourly rate plus parts. Ask for the price in writing before work begins.

Because we would be guessing. The plumbing company that does the work sets the price after seeing the problem. Our service pages explain what drives the cost of each job so you can judge a quote.

Many plumbing companies charge more outside normal business hours. Ask about any after-hours or trip fee when the plumber confirms your appointment.

Usually where the water line enters the house: on the street-facing basement wall, in the garage, in a utility closet or beside the water heater. In warm climates it can be outside at the wall of the house.

Yes. It can waste hundreds of gallons a day. The cause is usually a worn flapper or fill valve, both inexpensive parts.

Once a year, and more often where water is very hard. Flushing removes sediment that makes the heater noisy and less efficient and shortens its life.

Minor repairs usually don't need one. Water heater replacement, sewer repair, repiping and gas work usually do. The plumbing company normally pulls the permit.