AROUND THE CLOCK
Emergency Plumber in St. Louis, MO: What We Handle Around the Clock
Some plumbing problems can wait until morning. These cannot, and each one gets same-day emergency response:
Burst or frozen pipes. A split supply line can put out several gallons a minute. We shut it down, repair or replace the section, and check the rest of the run for the next weak spot. Details on frozen and burst pipe repair.-
Sewer backups and main line clogs. Wastewater coming up a floor drain or basement shower is a health issue, not just a mess. We clear the line with a cable or hydro jet and run a camera to find out why it happened. See drain cleaning and sewer line repair.
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Water heater failures. No hot water, a tank leaking from the bottom, or a pressure relief valve that will not stop discharging. Most tank repairs are finished on the first visit; if the tank itself has failed, we can replace it the same day. See water heater repair.
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Gas leaks. If you smell gas, leave the house first and call Spire at 800-887-4173 from outside. Once the utility has secured the meter, our licensed plumbers locate and repair the leak so Spire can restore service. See gas line repair.
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Overflowing or non-flushing toilets when it is the only bathroom in the house, or when the overflow will not stop at the supply valve.
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Sump pump failure during a storm. When the pit is rising and the pump is silent, minutes matter for a finished basement. We repair or replace the pump and can add a battery backup so the next outage does not flood the basement. See sump pump installation.
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Hidden leaks showing up as a ceiling stain, a warm spot on a slab floor, or a water bill that doubled. We find the source with leak detection equipment before opening any walls.
BEFORE WE ARRIVE
What to Do Before the Plumber Arrives
A few minutes of action limits the damage while our truck is on the way:
Shut off the water.
For a leak or burst pipe, close the main shutoff valve. In most St. Louis homes it is in the basement on the wall facing the street, near where the water line enters, or beside the meter. Turn it clockwise until it stops.
Isolate the water heater.
If the tank is leaking, close the cold water valve on top of the heater. Turn the gas control to “off” or switch off the breaker for an electric unit. Do not drain the tank yourself if it is still hot.
Stop adding water to a backed-up sewer.
No flushing, no laundry, no dishwasher. Everything that goes down a drain upstairs will come up the lowest drain in the house.
Cut power near standing water.
If water is pooling near outlets, the furnace or the electrical panel, turn off the affected breakers only if you can reach the panel without stepping in water. Otherwise leave it for the technician.
Get out if you smell gas.
Do not flip switches or use a phone inside. Call Spire from outside, then call us.
Take photos.
A few pictures of the water, the damaged fixture and the affected rooms make an insurance claim much easier later.
CUSTOMER REVIEWS
What Your St. Louis Neighbors Are Saying
Homeowners across St. Louis, Chesterfield, St. Charles, Ballwin, and beyond trust Academy Air for professional plumbing repair. Here’s what some of them have to say.
Kathy Davis
2 weeks agoBrad called early to say he could be there before my allotted time. I was glad to have him arrive at the time he mentioned. He was courteous in a low-key manner. He asked if had any questions after telling me what was done. He also advised me about the filter. He seemed knowledgeable and efficient. Thanks.
Corey Dunston
a month agoBoth Rick Brooks and Elijah Clark were excellent to work with. Both were knowledgeable and provided detailed explanations of my options. Elijah worked hard to get me the services I needed within a budget that I could afford. Rick was super cool guy who chatted with me about my concerns, offered solutions, and then gave me some tips for questions that I had about his trade and experiences. Very good dudes.
Tom Grace
2 months agoI cannot recommend Demetrius Shaw and Academy highly enough. Demetrius came to provide our semi-annual HVAC maintenance. Demetrius was extremely professional, always wore shoe covers inside and took the time to identify issues outside the scope of his assigned tasks. Instead of just identifying them he took the time to explain them, the underlying issues, and to suggest corrective course of action. He provided transparent pricing before starting any work. Fast, honest, efficient and top notch service. Top marks across the board!
Samuel Fisher
2 months agoAcademy Air is great. After experiences with other HVAC companies, Academy is now the only one I trust. Keith Long was my technician, and he did a great job - courteous, knowledgeable, and efficient. Everything you want out of a tech. Definitely recommend. Tacking onto my review - the sales rep Vanessa Rodriguez was knowledgeable and professional and put in extra work to make sure I got the best deal. I never felt pressured. Another good experience.
Anthony Dietz
4 months agoAndrew L. came to my house and delivered excellent service. Not only was he courteous and professional, he empathize with our home's AC not working on the hottest day of the year and how that may be an issue with infants. He gave exceptional service, wore boot covers where needed, showed and explained the issue clearly, and cleaned up better than he found it. Cannot express how thankful we are to him. Thank you Andrew!!!
Larry Petcu
6 months agoClayton did a great job in installing the various components of by home backup system to include backup breaker, Interlock kit, power inlets, charging panel outlet and electrical system grounding. Anthony and David returned to complete the "future" task of the project a few weeks later to add another RV type outlet to the power station charging branch to permit turbo charging. They also added a "Return to Grid Power" sensor to complete the system. They also moved an outside GFCI outlet as I was having a deck extension added to the screen room. Similarly to Clayton's work, Anthony was meticulous, knowledgeable and extremely mindful of minimal disturbance to the home. Anthony also used this complex project to educate and train David, his apprentice, on tasks that he may not have otherwise had the opportunity to encounter. I commend their work and recommend them for similar projects.
Layla Getwell
9 months agoI had a great experience working with Anthony Dietz. He took the time to explain everything in detail, educated me on the issue, and walked me through all of my options without any pressure. I really appreciated how clearly Anthony broke things down so I could make an informed, confident decision about what was best for my situation. It’s refreshing to work with someone who is knowledgeable, patient, and genuinely focused on helping rather than just selling a quick fix. I would absolutely recommend Anthony to anyone looking for an honest and professional electrician. Oh did I mention he was friendly? lol
Sir Fairley
9 months agoThis company is amazing!!! They came out and got the old units uninstalled and had the new ones in with a few hours. Extremely polite and professional. Walked us through how the new units worked and how to set them for optimal efficiency and performance. The two installation techs were a true blessing to me and my family. Thanks again Joe and Ryan for your time and help. And thank you Academy Air for your service.
LOCAL OFFICES
Emergency Plumbing Repair in Hazelwood, Imperial and Across St. Louis County
Why St. Louis Homes Have Plumbing Emergencies
Housing stock explains most of what we see. Brick homes built before 1970 in North County, South City and the older parts of St. Charles still drain through clay sewer laterals, and the joints in clay pipe are an open invitation to tree roots. A root ball that has been growing for a decade can block a lateral in a single heavy rain. Homes from the same era often still have galvanized steel supply lines, which corrode from the inside until a pinhole opens behind a wall.
Winter adds its own risks. January lows in the St. Louis area routinely fall into the teens, and a supply line in an uninsulated crawlspace, an exterior wall or a garage ceiling can freeze solid overnight. Thawing is the moment pipes split. In Jefferson County and along the Meramec, saturated spring ground raises the water table and overwhelms undersized or aging sump pumps. Knowing these patterns lets our plumbers diagnose faster and carry the right parts.
What Emergency Plumbing Costs and How We Price It
Every emergency call starts with a diagnosis and a written price before any work begins. The price we quote is the price you pay; nothing is added to the invoice after the fact. Our plumbers complete 93% of repairs on the first visit, which keeps labor to a single trip. Members of the Total Care Club go to the front of the line for scheduling and save 10% on plumbing repairs. For larger jobs, water heater replacement, sewer line work or whole-home repiping, financing is available so the repair does not have to wait on a paycheck.
Learn About Membership Benefits
Repair Now, Replace Later: Honest Guidance in an Emergency
The first job is stopping the damage. The second is telling you plainly whether the fix will hold. A water heater past 12 years with a corroded tank is not worth another repair. A sewer lateral that has backed up twice in a year needs a camera inspection and, often, a trenchless repair rather than a third cable job. Galvanized supply lines that have started failing in one spot will fail in another, and whole-home repiping becomes the cheaper path. You will hear the options and the numbers for each, and the decision stays yours. Our guarantees, including the satisfaction guarantee on every service call, apply to emergency work the same as scheduled work.
Browse all plumbing services for non-emergency repairs, installations and maintenance.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions About Emergency Plumbing in St. Louis
Our plumbers are on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and you receive a written price before any work begins. Whatever time you call, the quote you approve is the amount on the invoice.
Emergency calls get same-day response. Trucks dispatch from our Hazelwood office near Lambert Airport and our Imperial office in Jefferson County, so most of St. Louis County, St. Charles County and Jefferson County is a short drive. The dispatcher will give you an arrival window when you call (314) 770-9800.
Find the source. If water is coming from a pipe, close the main shutoff. If it is coming up through the floor drain, stop using every drain in the house. If the sump pit is overflowing, check that the pump has power. Then call us. A failed pump is usually replaced the same visit, and a battery backup from our sump pump installation service keeps it running through the next outage.
Yes. Wastewater in a living space carries bacteria and will keep rising as long as anyone upstairs uses water. We clear the blockage, sanitize the affected drain, and run a camera to show you whether the cause was roots, a collapsed section or grease. From there the fix may be routine drain cleaning or a sewer line repair.
Leave the house and call Spire at 800-887-4173 from outside. Spire will shut off and secure the meter at no charge. After that, call us: a licensed plumber must find and repair the leak before Spire will turn service back on. We handle both the repair and the pressure test the utility requires.
Open the faucet served by the frozen line and warm the pipe gradually with a hair dryer or warm towels, starting at the faucet end. Never use a torch or open flame. If you see a bulge or a split, or if water appears once the ice lets go, shut off the main and call us. Our frozen and burst pipe repair page covers the warning signs in detail.
It depends on where the water is coming from. A leaking relief valve, drain valve or supply connection is a repair. Water seeping from the bottom of the tank means the inner liner has failed, and the tank must be replaced. Our trucks carry common tank sizes, so a replacement usually happens the same day.
Most homes built before 1970 in the city, North County and inner-ring suburbs drain through clay sewer laterals. Clay pipe comes in short sections with joints every few feet, and tree roots work into those joints in search of water. Over time the roots form a net that catches everything. The City of St. Louis and many St. Louis County municipalities run sewer lateral repair programs funded by a small fee on the property tax bill; check whether yours is covered before paying for a full lateral replacement out of pocket.
Yes. The Imperial office handles Jefferson County, including Arnold, Imperial, Fenton and the Meramec River communities. The Hazelwood office covers North County and crosses into St. Charles, St. Peters, O’Fallon, Lake St. Louis and Wentzville.
Members get priority scheduling on every service call, not just inspections, which moves you ahead of non-members when the phones are busy during a cold snap or a storm. Members also save 10% on plumbing repairs. Membership is $14.95 a month and covers heating, cooling, plumbing and electrical. Details are on the Total Care Club page.
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