Plumbing emergency · Rochester, NY
Emergency Plumbing in Rochester, NY
For a burst pipe, major leak or sewage backup in Rochester, shut off the water first, then call. Problems on the street side of the meter go to City of Rochester; 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 Rochester
- 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 Rochester homes
- Rochester sees regular hard freezes. Burst pipes usually show up when the pipe thaws, so check exposed lines, garages and crawlspaces after a hard freeze.
- 86% of Rochester's homes were built before 1980 (median year built 1938). Aging galvanized supply pipe and cast iron or clay sewer lines are behind many sudden leaks and backups in homes of that age.
- Lead service lines are being replaced citywide.
- Lake-effect winters freeze pipes in older homes.
- Typical home built
- 1938
- Homes before 1980
- 86%
- Water hardness
- 5.6 gpg
- moderately hard
- 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 Rochester 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 Rochester: questions
Will Monroe County send a crew for a sewer backup at my Rochester home?
Yes. Pure Waters dispatches a maintenance crew when called at 753-7600, Option 1, for backups in Rochester. If a plumber finds the problem is in the main or street-side lateral, Pure Waters handles it.
Is it safe to wade into my flooded Rochester basement to stop a leak?
Monroe County advises against it. To reduce the danger of electrocution, do not enter a flooded basement; call the fire department, which will contact the utility if necessary. Avoid skin contact with sewer water.
Who fixes a water main break on my street in Rochester?
City of Rochester 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 Rochester freeze?
Close the main shutoff, open the faucets to drain the lines, and keep heat on. In Rochester, check garages, crawlspaces and exterior walls first.
Are older Rochester homes more likely to have plumbing emergencies?
Age matters: the median Rochester home was built in 1938 and 86% predate 1980. Homes of that era typically have galvanized steel supply lines, cast iron drains and clay sewer laterals, often partly replaced over the years.
Is water line repair a common emergency in Rochester?
Lead service lines are being replaced citywide.
Is frozen pipe repair a common emergency in Rochester?
Lake-effect winters freeze pipes in older homes.
Emergency Plumbing near Rochester
More plumbing services in Rochester
- Drain Cleaning in Rochester, NYDrain Cleaning in Rochester, NY: original cast iron drains narrow with decades of buildup.
- Water Line Repair in Rochester, NYWater Line Repair in Rochester, NY: lead service lines are being replaced citywide.
- Frozen Pipe Repair in Rochester, NYFrozen Pipe Repair in Rochester, NY: lake-effect winters freeze pipes in older homes.
- All plumbing services in RochesterEvery plumbing service available to Rochester homes.
Local rules and details for Rochester
Who to call in Rochester
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 Rochester that is City of Rochester. 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 Rochester; when they can arrive depends on that company and the time of day.
Reporting a water emergency in Rochester
- If a sewer backup occurs in the City of Rochester, Gates, Chili or Ogden, Monroe County Pure Waters can be called at 753-7600 (Option 1) and a maintenance crew will be dispatched. Residents can also call a plumber, who can fix almost all causes of a backup. If the plumber finds a problem in the main sewer or the street side of a lot line cleanout, call Pure Waters. [3]
- Monroe County's sewage backup guidance for Rochester-area homes warns residents not to enter a flooded basement because of the danger of electrocution, and to call the fire department instead, which will contact the utility if needed. It also advises avoiding skin contact with sewer water, especially open cuts, and keeping children out of contaminated areas during cleanup. [3]
Other common plumbing calls in Rochester
- Drain Cleaning: original cast iron drains narrow with decades of buildup.
Rochester facts behind this page
- Rochester has relied on Hemlock and Canadice lakes since 1876; hardness is about 5.6 grains per gallon for Hemlock water and 7.6 for the Lake Ontario supply. [1]
- The median home in Rochester was built in 1938. [2]
- About 86% of Rochester's housing units were built before 1980, the era of galvanized steel supply pipe, cast iron drains and clay sewer laterals. [2]
- If a sewer backup occurs in the City of Rochester, Gates, Chili or Ogden, Monroe County Pure Waters can be called at 753-7600 (Option 1) and a maintenance crew will be dispatched. Residents can also call a plumber, who can fix almost all causes of a backup. If the plumber finds a problem in the main sewer or the street side of a lot line cleanout, call Pure Waters. [3]
- Monroe County's sewage backup guidance for Rochester-area homes warns residents not to enter a flooded basement because of the danger of electrocution, and to call the fire department instead, which will contact the utility if needed. It also advises avoiding skin contact with sewer water, especially open cuts, and keeping children out of contaminated areas during cleanup. [3]
Sources (3)
- City of Rochester, Water Quality Report · checked 2026-10-01
- U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024 1-year (B25035) · checked 2026-10-01
- Monroe County Department of Environmental Services, Basement Sewage Information · checked 2026-10-20