Plumbing emergency · Lansing, MI
Emergency Plumbing in Lansing, MI
For a burst pipe, major leak or sewage backup in Lansing, shut off the water first, then call. Problems on the street side of the meter go to Lansing Board of Water & Light; 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 Lansing
- 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 Lansing homes
- Lansing sees long, hard freezes. Burst pipes usually show up when the pipe thaws, so check exposed lines, garages and crawlspaces after a hard freeze.
- 75% of Lansing's homes were built before 1980 (median year built 1962). Aging galvanized supply pipe and cast iron or clay sewer lines are behind many sudden leaks and backups in homes of that age.
- Michigan winters freeze pipes in exterior walls and crawl spaces.
- Spring thaws and storms test basement sump pumps.
- Typical home built
- 1962
- Homes before 1980
- 75%
- Winter freezes
- Long, 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 Lansing 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 Lansing: questions
Which valve can I legally shut in a Lansing plumbing emergency?
Use your own valve at the outlet of the BWL meter. BWL rules reserve the outside curb stop for authorized BWL staff, and piping after the meter is the customer's responsibility to repair.
Can I open the curb stop myself in Lansing after a repair?
No. BWL rules say an unauthorized opening of a BWL-closed curb stop leads to the curb box being filled with soil plus fill and tampering fees. Have BWL restore service after your plumber finishes.
Who fixes a water main break on my street in Lansing?
Lansing Board of Water & Light 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 Lansing freeze?
Close the main shutoff, open the faucets to drain the lines, and keep heat on. In Lansing, check garages, crawlspaces and exterior walls first.
Are older Lansing homes more likely to have plumbing emergencies?
Age matters: the median Lansing home was built in 1962 and 75% predate 1980. Homes of that era typically have copper or galvanized supply, cast iron drains, clay or cast iron sewer laterals.
Is frozen pipe repair a common emergency in Lansing?
Michigan winters freeze pipes in exterior walls and crawl spaces.
Is sump pump repair and installation a common emergency in Lansing?
Spring thaws and storms test basement sump pumps.
Emergency Plumbing near Lansing
- Emergency Plumbing in Detroit, MIPlumbing emergency in Detroit, MI? Who to call (City of Detroit or a plumber), what to shut off first, and the emergencies most likely in Detroit homes.
- Emergency Plumbing in Grand Rapids, MIPlumbing emergency in Grand Rapids, MI? Who to call (City of Grand Rapids or a plumber), what to shut off first, and the emergencies most likely in Grand Rapids homes.
More plumbing services in Lansing
- Repiping in Lansing, MIRepiping in Lansing, MI: older homes still have galvanized interior pipe.
- Frozen Pipe Repair in Lansing, MIFrozen Pipe Repair in Lansing, MI: michigan winters freeze pipes in exterior walls and crawl spaces.
- Sump Pump Repair in Lansing, MISump Pump Repair in Lansing, MI: spring thaws and storms test basement sump pumps.
- All plumbing services in LansingEvery plumbing service available to Lansing homes.
Local rules and details for Lansing
Who to call in Lansing
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 Lansing that is Lansing Board of Water & Light. 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 Lansing; when they can arrive depends on that company and the time of day.
Reporting a water emergency in Lansing
- Lansing Board of Water & Light rules say customers connect their plumbing at the outlet of the BWL meter set and, where the meter is inside, must first install a valve at the meter outlet. The customer installs, owns and maintains the piping from the meter outlet onward, while only authorized BWL personnel may operate the outside curb stop valve. [3]
- Under Lansing Board of Water & Light rules, if a curb stop closed by BWL is reopened by an unauthorized person, BWL will close it again and fill the curb box with soil to prevent operation, and the customer must pay a curb box fill fee and a tampering fee before service is restored. Customer plumbing connections must comply with all applicable plumbing codes. [3]
Other common plumbing calls in Lansing
- Repiping: older homes still have galvanized interior pipe.
Lansing facts behind this page
- The Lansing Board of Water & Light finished removing all known active lead service lines in December 2016, a 12,150-line effort that began in 2004 and cost $44.5 million. It was the second US utility to do so. [1]
- The median home in Lansing was built in 1962. [2]
- About 75% of Lansing's housing units were built before 1980, the era of galvanized steel supply pipe, cast iron drains and clay sewer laterals. [2]
- Lansing Board of Water & Light rules say customers connect their plumbing at the outlet of the BWL meter set and, where the meter is inside, must first install a valve at the meter outlet. The customer installs, owns and maintains the piping from the meter outlet onward, while only authorized BWL personnel may operate the outside curb stop valve. [3]
- Under Lansing Board of Water & Light rules, if a curb stop closed by BWL is reopened by an unauthorized person, BWL will close it again and fill the curb box with soil to prevent operation, and the customer must pay a curb box fill fee and a tampering fee before service is restored. Customer plumbing connections must comply with all applicable plumbing codes. [3]
Sources (3)
- Lansing Board of Water & Light, Lead Information · checked 2026-10-01
- U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024 1-year (B25035) · checked 2026-10-01
- Lansing Board of Water & Light, Water Rules & Regulations (effective 10/01/2025) · checked 2026-10-20