During a Scottsdale plumbing emergency, close the main water valve, and if gas is in the air, leave the house and call 911 and your gas utility from outside. Then call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Scottsdale.
Scottsdale at a glance
Scottsdale Water, the city-run utility, supplies drinking water and runs the wastewater system, and 480-312-5650 is its general and 24-hour emergency number. Most homes are on city sewer, but some areas of Scottsdale are not on municipal sewer and rely on a private onsite wastewater system, and a small area on the east side near Cactus Road sends its wastewater to the Fountain Hills Sanitary District. The median home in the city was built around 1990, and hardness varies by area, highest south of Indian School Road and lowest north of Chaparral Road.
What to do right now
- Close the main shutoff. It is often where the supply line enters the house, in the garage or near a front hose bib.
- If the water heater is leaking, turn off its gas valve or breaker and close the cold supply above it.
- If a drain is backing up, stop running water anywhere in the house.
- If you smell gas, leave first, then call 911 and your gas utility from outside. Your gas bill names the utility; a home on propane calls its propane supplier.
- Water coming from the street, a hydrant or the meter box goes to Scottsdale Water at 480-312-5650.
- Take photos of the damage, then call a plumber.
Call now to be connected with a local plumber in Scottsdale.
(602) 313-0394Symptoms and likely causes
| What you notice | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Water on the floor around the water heater | Tank failure, a loose fitting or the relief valve discharging |
| A warm spot on tile and a meter that keeps spinning | A slab leak on a hot water line |
| Sewage in a tub or shower | A blockage or break in the sewer line to the street |
| Every drain slow in a home off the sewer system | Trouble in the line to the private onsite tank, or the system itself |
| No water at any tap | A closed valve, a failed pressure regulator or a main break |
| Gas odor near the range or heater | A loose connection or damaged gas piping |
What affects cost
- The hour and day of the call, since after-hours work usually costs more.
- Whether the leak is exposed or buried in a slab, a wall or the yard.
- Permits: Scottsdale requires a Minimum Plumbing Permit for a gas or electric water heater replacement and a plumbing permit for gas line repairs, so a same-night water heater swap includes that step.
- The size of the repair once the plumber can see what failed.
Emergency Plumber questions in Scottsdale
The house is not on municipal sewer and every drain is backing up. Who do I call?
Some Scottsdale areas are not on municipal sewer. A plumber can check and clear the line from the house to the onsite tank; if the tank or field itself is full or failing, you will also need a company that services private onsite wastewater systems.
Who do I call when a water main breaks in the street?
Call Scottsdale Water at 480-312-5650, the city's general and 24-hour emergency number. Breaks in the street and at the meter are the utility's to repair.
Does an emergency water heater replacement need a permit here?
Yes. Scottsdale requires a Minimum Plumbing Permit, with no plan review, for replacing a gas or electric water heater. The plumber can stop the leak first and handle the permit as part of the replacement.
Where is the main water shutoff, and how do I close it quickly?
Look where the supply line enters the house, often in the garage or by a front hose bib. Turn it clockwise until it stops, then open a faucet at the lowest point of the house to drain pressure.
More plumbing services in Scottsdale
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Helpful guides
Call now to be connected with a local plumber in Scottsdale.
(602) 313-0394Sources
- City of Scottsdale: drinking water
- Town of Paradise Valley: water companies (Scottsdale emergency line)
- City of Scottsdale water and wastewater infrastructure improvements plan
- City of Scottsdale hard water fact sheet
- Scottsdale housing by year built (city-stats.com)
- City of Scottsdale: home improvement permits
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