What to Do in a Plumbing Emergency — A Homeowner's Guide

A burst pipe at 2 AM on a Saturday morning. A sewer backup during Thanksgiving dinner. A water heater that won't quit leaking. In Wyoming, plumbing emergencies don't wait for business hours -- and neither should you. The first few minutes after a plumbing emergency strikes can mean the difference between a quick repair and tens of thousands of dollars in water damage.

This guide walks you through exactly what to do when disaster strikes. We've handled thousands of emergency calls across the Big Horn Basin, and we know what separates homeowners who stay calm and minimize damage from those who panic and make things worse.

First Things First: Shut Off Your Water

Your first instinct when you see water spraying or pooling is often to run for a mop -- don't. Your most important job is to stop the water at its source. Every minute that water continues flowing can add hundreds of dollars in damage.

Locate Your Main Water Shutoff

Find this before an emergency happens. Your main water shutoff valve is typically in one of these locations:

• In your basement or crawl space, along the main water line coming from the street
• In a utility room, near your water heater
• Outside your home, in a buried box along your property line (look for a small plastic or metal cover)
• At the meter inside your home, usually near the curb or in a utility closet

In Wyoming's cold climate, outside shutoff boxes are common. Get familiar with yours now -- turn it on and off a few times so you know exactly how it operates. If you can't find it, call us at (307) 587-3713 and we'll show you where it is on our next visit.

How to Shut It Off

Most valves turn clockwise to close. Turn the handle until you feel firm resistance -- don't force it. Water should stop flowing immediately. If the valve won't turn or feels stuck, leave it alone and call us right away; a broken shutoff valve is even more of an emergency.

Common Plumbing Emergencies: What to Expect

Burst or Frozen Pipes

Wyoming winters are merciless to exposed pipes. If you hear a loud hissing sound or see water spraying from your walls or foundation, you likely have a burst pipe. This is a true emergency because water can cause structural damage quickly.

Immediate action: Shut off the main water valve. If the burst is in a cold area like a crawl space, you can also open nearby faucets to release pressure and drain the line. Call us immediately at (307) 587-3713 -- we have emergency crews standing by 24/7, and frozen-pipe damage gets worse every minute.

Sewer Backup

If multiple drains are backing up at once -- water coming up through your shower, toilet, or floor drains -- you have a sewer line problem. This is sanitary and hazardous. Do not use any plumbing fixtures and do not try to clear it yourself.

Immediate action: Stop using water immediately. Avoid flushing toilets. Call us at (307) 587-3713 right away. We carry camera equipment that lets us see exactly where the blockage is, and we can often clear it without digging up your yard.

Water Heater Failure

A leaking water heater is usually not an immediate flood emergency, but it can spread slowly through your home and cause serious damage. A completely failed heater leaving your family with no hot water in winter is an emergency because of health and comfort concerns.

Immediate action: If your water heater is leaking, turn off the water to it (look for a shutoff valve on the cold-water line above the tank) and the natural gas or electric supply. Call us to schedule an urgent replacement -- a 30-year-old water heater failing isn't a surprise, and we can often install a new one the same day.

Gas Leak

If you smell natural gas (that rotten-egg smell) near any of your plumbing or appliances, this is a life-safety emergency.

Immediate action: Leave your home immediately. Don't turn off lights or appliances (sparks can ignite gas). Call 911 from outside. Do not re-enter until emergency responders have cleared the home. Call us afterward to locate and repair the leak.

Protect What Comes Next: Stop Water Damage

Once you've shut off the water, your next priority is minimizing damage while you wait for help.

Protect Your Belongings

• Move furniture, electronics, and personal items away from the water source
• Open windows and doors to increase air circulation and help the area dry
• If water has soaked carpets or drywall, pull them back to expose the area underneath to air
• Take photos and video of all damage for your insurance claim

Start Water Removal

If water is pooling, use towels, a shop vac, or a bucket to remove standing water. This isn't optional -- standing water breeds mold within 24 to 48 hours, and mold remediation is expensive. You don't need to get everything perfectly dry, but removing the bulk of standing water is crucial.

Don't run your water heater, HVAC system, or appliances if they're near the affected area -- wet electrical systems are hazardous.

When to Call: Emergency vs. Can Wait

Some plumbing problems are true emergencies that can't wait. Others can wait until morning. Here's how to tell the difference.

Call Us Immediately (24/7)

• Burst pipes or active water spray -- water damage escalates rapidly
• Sewer backups -- sanitary hazard, health emergency
• No water to your home -- if a pipe rupture has shut off all supply
• Gas leak smell -- call 911 first, then us after emergency responders clear
• Water heater failure in winter -- living without hot water during a Wyoming winter is dangerous
• Frozen pipes that have burst -- the damage gets worse every minute they freeze-thaw

Can Wait Until Morning

• Slow leak under the sink -- place a bucket and watch it overnight
• Running toilet -- annoying but not damaging; just stop using it until we arrive
• Single slow drain -- use a plunger or snake; if that doesn't work, it can wait
• Leaking faucet -- place a bucket; it can wait 8-12 hours
• Water heater not heating -- as long as it's not leaking, it can wait for business hours

Know Our Emergency Response

When you call Wrangler Plumbing at (307) 587-3713 for an emergency, a real person answers -- not a recording, not an automated system. We don't make you leave voicemails and wait to be called back. We assess your situation, dispatch a crew immediately, and give you a realistic arrival time. We have emergency crews on rotation 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, including holidays.

Our emergency technicians carry common repair parts in their trucks -- shutoff valves, pipe fittings, water line clamps, and temporary repair patches. Many emergencies can be fully resolved in a single visit instead of requiring a technician to come back for parts.

Prevention Beats Emergency

The best emergency is the one that never happens. We can help prevent most plumbing disasters with simple winterization, pipe insulation, and routine maintenance. If you live in a home built before 1980, galvanized pipes or older water lines are probably a ticking time bomb -- we can inspect and discuss replacement options that fit your budget.

After 40 years serving Cody and the Big Horn Basin, we know the specific challenges your home faces in Wyoming -- freeze-thaw cycles that burst pipes, mineral-heavy water that corrodes plumbing, and deep winter weather that makes quick repairs critical.