Emergency Plumber in Pomona, CA

What to do right now

1. Shut off the water. Close the main valve at the house (see below). For a leak at one fixture, close the small valve under the sink or behind the toilet instead.
2. Water heater 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 heater.
3. Stay out of standing water near outlets, cords or appliances. If you can reach the electrical panel safely, turn off the breaker for that area.
4. Sewage backing up? Stop using water anywhere in the house. Every flush, shower and load of laundry adds to what's coming up.
5. Limit the damage. Move what you can off wet floors, open windows, and take photos for your insurance company.
6. Skip the chemical drain cleaner. It won't clear a main line backup, and it makes the job dangerous for whoever opens the line.

Where's my main water shutoff?

In most Pomona houses, the main shutoff is on the water line where it comes up out of the ground and into the house, usually on the front or side wall facing the street, often right next to a hose faucet. Older homes, especially pre-war houses around Lincoln Park and Wilton Heights, may have a round-handle gate valve that's stiff or rusted in place. Turn it clockwise. If it won't move, don't force it until it snaps.

The meter box near the curb has a valve too, but that's city property and usually takes a meter key. If you can't stop the water at the house, call City of Pomona Water Resources. The best time to find your shutoff is today, before you need it.

What counts as urgent

• A burst or split pipe, or water coming through a ceiling or wall.
• Sewage backing up into a tub, shower or floor drain.
• A water heater leaking from the tank itself.
• No water at all in the house, when the neighbors have water.
• Water coming up through the floor, which can be a slab leak.

Things that can usually wait for a regular appointment: a dripping faucet, one slow drain, or a running toilet once you've closed the valve behind it.

Why plumbing emergencies happen in older 909 homes

Old galvanized pipe

Galvanized pipe is thinnest at the threads, and that's where it lets go, often inside a wall. Many Pomona homes built before the 1960s still have some.

Supply hoses and lines

Rubber washing machine hoses and old supply lines under sinks and toilets can burst without warning. Braided stainless lines last longer, but they don't last forever.

Water heater tanks

Tanks rust through at the bottom, and Pomona's hard water speeds that up by piling sediment on the tank floor. See water heater repair for the warning signs.

Root-filled sewer lines

Clay sewer lines in older neighborhoods let roots in at the joints. They narrow the line slowly, then one day it stops draining completely.

Failed pressure regulators

When a pressure regulator fails, full street pressure hits the house plumbing and can blow out weak fittings and supply lines.

What happens on an urgent call

First the plumber stops the water and makes things safe. Then they find the source, explain what failed, and give you your options: a temporary fix to get you through, or the permanent repair. If it turns out to be a bigger job, like a repipe or a sewer line replacement, the permanent fix may need a City of Pomona permit and a second visit.