When something goes wrong with your plumbing, the first question is usually: do I call now, or can this wait until morning? Calling out an emergency plumber costs more than a scheduled visit, but waiting on a true emergency can cost far more in damage. Here's how to tell the difference.
Call a 24/7 plumber right now if…
- A pipe has burst or is leaking and you can't stop it at the fixture
- Sewage is backing up into tubs, toilets, or floor drains
- You have no water at all in the house
- A water heater is leaking heavily or has failed
- You smell gas (leave the home first, then call from outside)
- Water is spreading toward electrical panels or outlets
These share one trait: every minute of delay means more damage or a real safety risk. Our 24/7 emergency plumbers answer any hour and target a 60-minute response across the Metrocom.
It can probably wait until morning if…
- A single faucet drips but you can shut its stop valve
- One toilet is clogged and you have another to use
- Water pressure is low but water is flowing
- A water heater is a little slow but still producing hot water
- A minor drip you've contained with a bucket and a closed valve
For these, shutting the local valve and booking a next-day appointment saves you the after-hours rate. When in doubt, call and describe it — we'll tell you honestly whether it can wait.
What an emergency call costs
After-hours, weekend, and holiday work carries a higher rate — emergency labor in the San Antonio area runs roughly $140–$275/hr, versus $70–$135/hr for standard scheduled work. We always quote the price before we start, even at 2 a.m. Stopping active damage early almost always saves more than the call costs.
What to do while you wait
For any water emergency: shut off the water at the fixture stop or main, keep people away from wet electrical equipment, and photograph the damage for your records. For a sewer backup, stop all water use in the house immediately — every flush adds to the problem — and keep everyone away from the sewage. If you smell gas, get out first.
We answer across the Metrocom
We're based in Cibolo, so we reach Schertz, Selma, Universal City, and the rest of the Metrocom fast — and we serve the wider region across Guadalupe County and beyond. Save our number now so it's there when you need it: (831) 290-4327.
How We Triage an Emergency Call
When you call, we're doing two things at once: getting you safe and getting a truck moving. First we help you stop the damage — which valve to close, how to keep clear of electrical, what not to touch. Then we route the nearest available plumber and give you an honest ETA based on your actual location and current call volume, not a scripted promise.
Active flooding, sewage backups, no-water situations, and gas smells jump the queue — those cause damage or danger by the minute. A contained drip you've shut off at the stop valve is real, but it's safe to schedule for the next opening at the standard rate, which saves you money. We'll tell you which bucket your problem falls in so you're never oversold an emergency you don't have.
Frequently Asked Questions
Usually not, if you can stop it at the fixture's shut-off valve. Close that valve, put a bucket or towel under it, and book a next-day visit at the standard rate. It becomes an emergency if you can't stop the flow or if water is reaching electrical, ceilings, or a finished floor.
Start with the fixture stop closest to the leak, then your home's main shut-off (near the meter, in the garage, in a utility room, or on an exterior wall). The street/city valve is a last resort and often needs a special key — we can guide you over the phone if the house valve won't hold.
Yes — a real person answers 24/7, including holidays. Plumbing emergencies don't wait for business hours, and neither do we. Call (831) 290-4327 any time.
Cibolo Pro Plumbing
Licensed Texas plumbers (TX Master Plumber (TSBPE)) based in Cibolo, serving the Metrocom for 15+ years. Have a question about your home's plumbing? Call (831) 290-4327.
