Plumbing emergency · Chesapeake, VA
Emergency Plumbing in Chesapeake, VA
For a burst pipe, major leak or sewage backup in Chesapeake, shut off the water first, then call. Problems on the street side of the meter go to City of Chesapeake; anything on your side goes to a licensed plumber, and we connect you with one.
By calling, you agree to be connected with an independent plumbing contractor serving your area. Calls may be recorded for quality and training. The call and referral are free, and you are never obligated to hire.- Licensed local plumbers
- Free call and referral
- You approve the quote first
Call now for
- Burst pipes
- Major leaks
- Sewage backups
- Overflowing toilets
- Leaking water heaters
Emergency plumbing services in Chesapeake
- Burst Pipe RepairStopping and repairing burst or split pipes.
- Sewer BackupSewage coming up through floor drains, tubs or toilets.
- Water Heater RepairNo hot water, leaking tank, strange noises or uneven temperature.
- Leak DetectionHidden leaks behind walls, ceilings or floors, or a bill that suddenly jumps.
- Frozen Pipe RepairThawing frozen lines safely and fixing freeze damage.
- Sump Pump Repair and InstallationSump pumps that fail, run constantly or need replacing.
Emergencies we connect you with help for
- Burst or split pipes
- Water leaking through a ceiling
- Sewage backing up into drains
- An overflowing toilet that won't stop
- A water heater leaking from the tank
- No water in the house
Emergencies most likely in Chesapeake homes
- Chesapeake sees regular hard freezes. Burst pipes usually show up when the pipe thaws, so check exposed lines, garages and crawlspaces after a hard freeze.
- Low, flat ground and a high water table keep crawlspaces wet after heavy rain.
- Typical home built
- 1988
- Homes before 1980
- 35%
- Winter freezes
- Regular hard freezes
The first five minutes
- 1Shut off the waterMain shutoff, or the fixture's own valve.
- 2Cut power near waterOnly from a dry spot.
- 3Gas smell: leave firstCall the gas utility or 911 from outside.
- 4Call and describe itSay what failed and when.
What affects the price
The plumbing company sets the price after seeing the job; ask for it in writing before work starts.
- Time of day, weekends and holidays
- What failed and how much water got out
- Access to the pipe or fixture
- Whether a temporary fix or a full repair is done first
- Parts the plumber has to source
Plumbing work we connect Chesapeake homeowners with
Sewer BackupSewage coming up through floor drains, tubs or toilets. Water Heater RepairNo hot water, leaking tank, strange noises or uneven temperature. Leak DetectionHidden leaks behind walls, ceilings or floors, or a bill that suddenly jumps. Frozen Pipe RepairThawing frozen lines safely and fixing freeze damage. Sump Pump Repair and InstallationSump pumps that fail, run constantly or need replacing.
Emergency Plumbing in Chesapeake: questions
Who do I call for a sewer backup at night in Chesapeake?
Call Chesapeake Public Utilities at 757-382-3550 after 5 p.m., weekends and holidays; weekdays call 757-382-2489. Sewer backups are always emergencies.
Will Chesapeake check my low water pressure before I call a plumber?
Yes. A Chesapeake technician checks the City line and meter; if those are fine, you need a plumber for your lines.
When does Chesapeake send a technician, and when do I need my own plumber for a leak?
Chesapeake dispatches a technician to check the City line and meter. If those are fine, the city says you'll need a plumber to evaluate the leak in your own water lines.
What's Chesapeake's emergency number for a sewer problem on a weekend?
Chesapeake Public Utilities takes after-hours and weekend sewer calls at 757-382-3550. If the city finds its main is clear, an emergency plumber handles the blockage in your line.
Who fixes a water main break on my street in Chesapeake?
City of Chesapeake handles mains and the service line up to the meter. A plumber handles the line from the meter to the house and everything inside.
What should I do if a pipe bursts during a Chesapeake freeze?
Close the main shutoff, open the faucets to drain the lines, and keep heat on. In Chesapeake, check garages, crawlspaces and exterior walls first.
Are older Chesapeake homes more likely to have plumbing emergencies?
Age matters: the median Chesapeake home was built in 1988 and 35% predate 1980. Homes of that era typically have copper or CPVC supply, plastic drains, and in some homes gray polybutylene supply pipe.
Is sump pump repair and installation a common emergency in Chesapeake?
Low, flat ground and a high water table keep crawlspaces wet after heavy rain.
Emergency Plumbing near Chesapeake
- Emergency Plumbing in Virginia Beach, VAPlumbing emergency in Virginia Beach, VA? Who to call (City of Virginia Beach Public Utilities or a plumber), what to shut off first, and the emergencies most likely in Virginia Beach homes.
- Emergency Plumbing in Norfolk, VAPlumbing emergency in Norfolk, VA? Who to call (City of Norfolk or a plumber), what to shut off first, and the emergencies most likely in Norfolk homes.
More plumbing services in Chesapeake
- Sewer Line Repair in Chesapeake, VASewer Line Repair in Chesapeake, VA: older clay laterals in South Norfolk and Indian River crack and admit roots.
- Water Heater Replacement in Chesapeake, VAWater Heater Replacement in Chesapeake, VA: tank heaters in garages and crawlspace homes wear out in the humid coastal climate.
- Sump Pump Repair in Chesapeake, VASump Pump Repair in Chesapeake, VA: low, flat ground and a high water table keep crawlspaces wet after heavy rain.
- All plumbing services in ChesapeakeEvery plumbing service available to Chesapeake homes.
Local rules and details for Chesapeake
Who to call in Chesapeake
Leaks on the street side of the water meter, a broken main or no water on the whole street are for the water utility: in Chesapeake that is City of Chesapeake. Check its website or your water bill for its emergency line.
Leaks, backups and failures on your side of the meter, inside the house or in your sewer lateral, are a plumber's job. Call us and we connect you with an independent, licensed plumbing company that handles emergency calls in Chesapeake; when they can arrive depends on that company and the time of day.
Reporting a water emergency in Chesapeake
- Chesapeake Public Utilities says to report water or sewer emergencies at 757-382-CITY (2489) from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, and at 757-382-3550 after 5 p.m., on weekends and holidays. Sewer backups are always an emergency, and the city asks residents to call about water leaks anyway so someone can check. [3]
- For low water pressure, Chesapeake Public Utilities dispatches a service technician to check the City line and meter. If there is no problem with City lines or the meter, the customer will need to contact a plumber to evaluate the problem in their own lines. [3]
- For a water leak, Chesapeake Public Utilities asks residents to call the emergency line even if unsure it is an emergency, at 757-382-3550 after hours. A service technician is dispatched to check the City line and meter. If there is no problem with the City lines or meter, the city says the resident will need to contact a plumber to evaluate the problem in their own lines. [4]
- Chesapeake Public Utilities, at 306 Cedar Road, lists its phone as 757-382-6352 and its emergency phone as 757-382-3550. Its Sanitary Sewers page tells residents with a sewer problem to first call Customer Service at 757-382-6352 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, or 757-382-3550 after hours and on weekends. [5]
Other common plumbing calls in Chesapeake
- Sewer Line Repair: older clay laterals in South Norfolk and Indian River crack and admit roots.
- Water Heater Replacement: tank heaters in garages and crawlspace homes wear out in the humid coastal climate.
Chesapeake facts behind this page
- Chesapeake produces about 15 million gallons a day from the Northwest River Water Treatment Plant, which treats river water and brackish groundwater from four wells, and the Lake Gaston Water Treatment Plant; customers in Indian River and South Norfolk receive treated water bought from Norfolk, and Western Branch and Deep Creek from Portsmouth. [1]
- The median home in Chesapeake was built in 1988. [2]
- About 35% of Chesapeake's housing units were built before 1980, the era of galvanized steel supply pipe, cast iron drains and clay sewer laterals. [2]
- Chesapeake Public Utilities says to report water or sewer emergencies at 757-382-CITY (2489) from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, and at 757-382-3550 after 5 p.m., on weekends and holidays. Sewer backups are always an emergency, and the city asks residents to call about water leaks anyway so someone can check. [3]
- For low water pressure, Chesapeake Public Utilities dispatches a service technician to check the City line and meter. If there is no problem with City lines or the meter, the customer will need to contact a plumber to evaluate the problem in their own lines. [3]
- For a water leak, Chesapeake Public Utilities asks residents to call the emergency line even if unsure it is an emergency, at 757-382-3550 after hours. A service technician is dispatched to check the City line and meter. If there is no problem with the City lines or meter, the city says the resident will need to contact a plumber to evaluate the problem in their own lines. [4]
- Chesapeake Public Utilities, at 306 Cedar Road, lists its phone as 757-382-6352 and its emergency phone as 757-382-3550. Its Sanitary Sewers page tells residents with a sewer problem to first call Customer Service at 757-382-6352 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, or 757-382-3550 after hours and on weekends. [5]
Sources (5)
- City of Chesapeake, Plants & Sources · checked 2026-10-04
- U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024 1-year (B25035) · checked 2026-10-01
- City of Chesapeake Public Utilities, Report a Problem · checked 2026-10-19
- City of Chesapeake Public Utilities, Report a Problem · checked 2026-10-20
- City of Chesapeake, Sanitary Sewers · checked 2026-10-20