Plumbing emergency · New Orleans, LA
Emergency Plumbing in New Orleans, LA
For a burst pipe, major leak or sewage backup in New Orleans, shut off the water first, then call. Problems on the street side of the meter go to Sewerage & Water Board of New Orleans; 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 New Orleans
- 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 New Orleans homes
- 72% of New Orleans's homes were built before 1980 (median year built 1964). Aging galvanized supply pipe and cast iron or clay sewer lines are behind many sudden leaks and backups in homes of that age.
- Heavy rain can overwhelm drainage in a low-lying city.
- Ground movement stresses service lines between the street and the house.
- Typical home built
- 1964
- Homes before 1980
- 72%
- Winter freezes
- Rare
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 New Orleans homeowners with
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.
Emergency Plumbing in New Orleans: questions
Who do I call for a water or sewer problem in New Orleans?
The city directs water and sewer issues to the Sewerage & Water Board at 504.52WATER (529.2837); street flooding and catch basins go to NOLA 311.
What hours can New Orleans residents reach the water board for a plumbing emergency?
Any hour. NOLA Ready says the 52-WATER hotline for water and sewerage emergencies is open 24/7, and Entergy's 1-800-ENTERGY line is also staffed 24/7 for power emergencies affecting home equipment.
Who fixes a water main break on my street in New Orleans?
Sewerage & Water Board of New Orleans handles mains and the service line up to the meter. A plumber handles the line from the meter to the house and everything inside.
Are older New Orleans homes more likely to have plumbing emergencies?
Age matters: the median New Orleans home was built in 1964 and 72% predate 1980. Homes of that era typically have copper or galvanized supply, cast iron drains, clay or cast iron sewer laterals.
Is sewer backup a common emergency in New Orleans?
Heavy rain can overwhelm drainage in a low-lying city.
Is water line repair a common emergency in New Orleans?
Ground movement stresses service lines between the street and the house.
Emergency Plumbing near New Orleans
- Emergency Plumbing in Baton Rouge, LAPlumbing emergency in Baton Rouge, LA? Who to call (Baton Rouge Water Company or a plumber), what to shut off first, and the emergencies most likely in Baton Rouge homes.
- Emergency Plumbing in Shreveport, LAPlumbing emergency in Shreveport, LA? Who to call (City of Shreveport or a plumber), what to shut off first, and the emergencies most likely in Shreveport homes.
More plumbing services in New Orleans
- Sewer Line Repair in New Orleans, LASewer Line Repair in New Orleans, LA: settling soils shift and crack old sewer laterals under older homes.
- Sewer Backup Cleanup in New Orleans, LASewer Backup Cleanup in New Orleans, LA: heavy rain can overwhelm drainage in a low-lying city.
- All plumbing services in New OrleansEvery plumbing service available to New Orleans homes.
Local rules and details for New Orleans
Who to call in New Orleans
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 New Orleans that is Sewerage & Water Board of New Orleans. 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 New Orleans; when they can arrive depends on that company and the time of day.
Reporting a water emergency in New Orleans
- The City of New Orleans Department of Public Works says water, sewer and drainage concerns are managed by the Sewerage & Water Board of New Orleans, not DPW. For water and sewer issues, contact SWBNO at 504.52WATER (529.2837); to report street flooding or clogged or broken catch basins, call NOLA 311. [3]
- NOLA Ready, the City of New Orleans emergency preparedness office, states that the 52-WATER emergency hotline for water or sewerage emergencies is open 24/7. During cold weather it noted SWBNO would keep responding to emergencies throughout the freeze, and that Entergy New Orleans' 1-800-ENTERGY line is staffed 24/7 for power emergencies, which matters for electric water heaters and sump equipment. [4]
Other common plumbing calls in New Orleans
- Sewer Line Repair: settling soils shift and crack old sewer laterals under older homes.
New Orleans facts behind this page
- New Orleans' water comes from the Mississippi River: East Bank customers are served by the Carrollton plant and West Bank customers by the Algiers plant. Boil-water advisories are issued when pressure falls below 20 psi. [1]
- The median home in New Orleans was built in 1964. [2]
- About 72% of New Orleans's housing units were built before 1980, the era of galvanized steel supply pipe, cast iron drains and clay sewer laterals. [2]
- The City of New Orleans Department of Public Works says water, sewer and drainage concerns are managed by the Sewerage & Water Board of New Orleans, not DPW. For water and sewer issues, contact SWBNO at 504.52WATER (529.2837); to report street flooding or clogged or broken catch basins, call NOLA 311. [3]
- NOLA Ready, the City of New Orleans emergency preparedness office, states that the 52-WATER emergency hotline for water or sewerage emergencies is open 24/7. During cold weather it noted SWBNO would keep responding to emergencies throughout the freeze, and that Entergy New Orleans' 1-800-ENTERGY line is staffed 24/7 for power emergencies, which matters for electric water heaters and sump equipment. [4]
Sources (4)
- Sewerage & Water Board of New Orleans, Drinking Water Quality · checked 2026-10-01
- U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024 1-year (B25035) · checked 2026-10-01
- City of New Orleans, Department of Public Works home page · checked 2026-10-19
- NOLA Ready, City of New Orleans, Utility Disconnections Suspended during Freezing Temperatures · checked 2026-10-20