Fort Collins · Larimer County
24 Hour Emergency Plumber in Fort Collins, CO
Fort Collins emergencies follow the city's housing.
First: If water is moving, close the main shutoff; if sewage is coming up a drain, stop using water everywhere instead.
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Fort Collins emergency plumbing: call now
(833) 615-1180Do this first
If water is moving, close the main shutoff; if sewage is coming up a drain, stop using water everywhere instead.
Call right away if: a frozen pipe that has split or is dripping as it thaws; water coming through a basement ceiling or wall; sewage backing up through a basement floor drain.
Pick what's happening in your Fort Collins home
Pipe frozen, not leaking yet
Do now
- Find and test the main shutoff before the pipe thaws.
- Crack open the faucet on that line so thawing water can flow out.
- Warm the section with a hair dryer or a space heater kept at a safe distance.
Avoid
- No torches or lighters on a frozen pipe; they start fires inside walls.
- Don't leave a heater running unattended in a crawl space or garage.
Call: If you can't reach the frozen section, or several fixtures have no water.
Full step-by-step guideBurst pipe or leak you can't stop
Do now
- Close the main shutoff; in a basement home it's usually where the line enters through the foundation.
- Cut the breaker to any circuit with water near it.
- Open a basement laundry tub or the lowest faucet to drain the lines.
Avoid
- Stay out of standing water until the power to that area is off.
- Don't turn the water back on to test the repair yourself.
Call: Now, while the main is closed: the fix is faster before drywall and carpet soak through.
Full step-by-step guideSewage in the basement
Do now
- Tell everyone in the house: no showers, laundry, dishwasher or flushing until the line is clear.
- Keep kids and pets out of the basement.
- Note where the sewer cleanout is for the plumber.
Avoid
- Skip the chemical drain opener: it won't clear a main-line block and it burns whoever snakes the line next.
- Every flush upstairs adds more water to the basement.
Call: Right away: sewage at a floor drain means the main line is blocked.
Full step-by-step guideWater heater leaking
Do now
- Set the gas valve to off (most homes here have gas heaters) or switch off the breaker.
- Close the cold-water valve on top of the tank.
- Move stored items away.
Avoid
- If you smell gas, leave the house and call the gas utility first.
- Don't open the drain or relief valve while the water is hot.
Call: When the tank itself is leaking or the relief valve keeps discharging.
Coming home to a leak after being away
Do now
- Close the main shutoff before walking through the house.
- Turn off power to any room with water near outlets.
- Photograph everything before moving anything.
Avoid
- Don't turn the water back on until the source is found and repaired.
Call: Right away: leaks in an empty house have usually spread further than they look.
Full step-by-step guideLocal conditions
Emergency Plumbing in Fort Collins: what's different here
Fort Collins emergencies follow the city's housing. Old Town and near-campus homes have galvanized supply lines, cast iron drains and clay sewer laterals under mature trees, so root-blocked sewers and corroded pipe failures are common. Midtown ranches and bi-levels from the 1970s and 1980s add aging water heaters in basements.
Arctic cold snaps are the other big trigger. Pipes on exterior walls, in crawl spaces and near basement rim joists freeze and split, and the leak often shows only as the pipe thaws. Student rentals with frequent turnover can go days without anyone noticing a slow leak or a failing water heater.
If it happens in Fort Collins: the likely cause and the first move
- 1. Local condition
About half of Fort Collins homes are renter-occupied.
- 2. Risk to the home
Renters often don't know where the main shutoff is.
- 3. What goes wrong
A burst pipe or backup that runs longer than it should.
- 4. What to do
Find the shutoff before winter; renters should know the landlord's emergency contact.
Emergency Plumbing: the full guide
More on emergency plumbing: signs, steps and costs.
Emergency Plumbing questions from Fort Collins homeowners
Who do I call for a water main leak in Fort Collins?
Leaks at the meter or in the street go to Fort Collins Utilities. Leaks between the meter and the house, and anything inside, need a plumber.
My pipe froze but isn't leaking yet. Is it an emergency?
Treat it as one. Open the faucet, warm the pipe gently and call before it splits as it thaws.
Service area
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Related
Other Fort Collins services
Burst & Frozen Pipe Repair
Frozen pipe repair thaws the frozen section safely and checks it for splits; burst pipe repair replaces the split section and fixes whatever let it freeze.
Learn more
Emergency Leak Repair
Emergency leak repair stops water that's actively escaping, from a failed supply line, a cracked fitting, a leaking valve or a split pipe, and makes a permanent repair so water can be turned back on.
Learn more
Basement Sewer Backup
A basement sewer backup happens when the main sewer line is blocked or the city main surcharges, so waste comes up the lowest drain, usually the basement floor drain.
Learn more
Need emergency plumbing in Fort Collins?
Cold snaps, failed supply lines, sewer blockages and aging water heaters.