When to Call an Emergency Plumber
A burst pipe, a sewer backup, or a heating system failure in the middle of a cold snap are situations where every hour matters. But not every after-hours call is a crisis. Sometimes you just want the leaking pipe fixed tonight so you can turn the water back on and go to bed.
Harper’s Plumbing is on call for both. We provide 24-hour emergency plumbing services in Calgary and surrounding areas, whenever you need us — whether the situation is urgent or you simply do not want to wait until the next available appointment.
What Exactly Is An Emergency?
Emergency plumbing covers more situations than most people expect. Here are the most common reasons Calgary homeowners call us after hours:
Burst or Failed Pipes
A burst pipe can release a significant amount of water in a short period of time. In Calgary, frozen pipes are among the most common causes; water expands as it freezes, and older or poorly insulated sections of pipe are particularly vulnerable during cold snaps. Poly-b pipe failures are also a known risk in older homes in southwest Calgary. When poly-b fails, it often does so suddenly and without much warning. Either situation warrants an immediate call.
Sewer and Drain Backups
When wastewater backs up into your home through a floor drain, toilet, or other lower-level fixture, it is an emergency. Sewage exposure poses health risks, and the situation tends to worsen the longer fixtures remain in use. Stop using water in the home and call us right away.
Hot Water or Heating System Failure
Losing hot water is inconvenient any time of year, but losing heat during a Calgary winter is a matter of a different level of urgency. Whether it is a hot water tank, a boiler, or a tankless system that has stopped working, we treat heating failures in cold weather as a priority call.
Active Leaks You Cannot Isolate
If a fixture or fitting is leaking and you cannot stop it without shutting off water to the entire home, that is worth a call. Many homeowners do not want to leave the water off overnight or over the weekend while waiting for a regular appointment, and they should not have to.
After-Hours Repairs That Simply Cannot Wait
Not every call is dramatic. Sometimes a faucet needs to be installed before someone leaves for work the next morning, or a repair that has been managed all day finally needs to be properly addressed before bed. We are available for those calls, too. If it matters enough to you to call, it matters enough for us to help.
Emergency Plumbing Services
We have a journeyman plumber on call for urgent plumbing situations outside of regular business hours.
Emergency calls are handled after 5 pm Monday to Friday, on weekends, and on all statutory holidays. When you call, you will speak with someone who can help you assess the situation, walk you through immediate steps to protect your home, and dispatch a plumber when emergency service is needed.
We do not use an answering service for emergency calls. You reach someone who can actually help.
When you call, we will give you a realistic arrival window based on the situation and our current availability. We would rather be honest about timing than overpromise and leave you waiting without a clear expectation.
Emergency calls occur after 5 pm Monday to Friday, weekends, and all statutory holidays.
First Steps While You Wait for Us
If you are dealing with an active leak or flooding risk, these steps can help limit damage before we arrive:
- Locate and shut off the main water supply if water is actively leaking
- Switch off electrical breakers near the affected area if there is any water present
- Avoid using any plumbing fixtures if drains are backing up or sewage is involved
- Move valuables away from the affected area if it is safe to do so
- Do not enter areas with standing water if there is any risk of electrical contact
- If you suspect a gas issue, leave the building immediately and contact ATCO Gas before calling a plumber
If you cannot find your main water shut-off, call us, and we will guide you through it over the phone.
Our Approach to Emergency Plumbing
Emergency plumbing should be fast, but it should also be done properly.
When we arrive, we focus on:
- Stopping the immediate issue and making the area safe
- Completing a proper repair or a stable temporary fix when a full repair is not possible in one visit
- Documenting the situation clearly, which can be helpful if an insurance claim is involved
- Explaining what caused the problem and what to watch for going forward
Once the urgent issue is under control, we will let you know whether any follow-up work is recommended to reduce the risk of a repeat emergency, without pressuring you to commit to anything on the spot.
Protecting Your Home Between Emergencies
The best emergency is the one that never happens.
If you have experienced a burst pipe, a sudden leak, or unexpected water damage, it may be worth considering a Flo by Moen smart water shutoff system. It monitors your home’s water usage around the clock and can automatically shut off the water supply when it detects an abnormal flow, which is exactly the kind of protection that limits damage when no one is home to catch a problem early.
We supply and install Flo by Moen systems. You can learn more by visiting our leak detection page.
Frequently Asked Questions About Emergency Plumbing in Calgary
Find quick answers to common questions, from leaking toilets to burst pipes. If you don’t see what you’re looking for, our team is happy to help
Yes. We provide 24-hour emergency plumbing services in Calgary and surrounding areas, with an on-call journeyman plumber available for urgent situations outside of regular business hours.
It depends on the situation — and honestly, it is more subjective than most people expect. The obvious ones are burst pipes, active leaks you cannot stop, sewer backups, and heating failures in cold weather. But we also get calls from people who would rather have a repair done on a weeknight than take time off work, or who just want something handled before the weekend. If it matters enough to you to call after hours, that is reason enough. We will talk through what is going on and figure out the best next step together.
When you call, we will give you a realistic arrival window based on the situation and our current availability. We would rather be straightforward about timing than overpromise. If you call before dispatching, we can often help you take immediate steps over the phone to limit damage while you wait.
Shut off the main water supply as quickly as possible, then call for emergency service. If you cannot find the shut-off valve, call us first and we will guide you through it over the phone.
Yes. A sewer backup is a plumbing emergency. Stop using any fixtures, avoid the affected area, and call us right away. We will assess the situation, stop the backup, and help you understand what caused it and what the repair involves.
Yes. Plumbing emergencies do not take holidays and neither do we. Emergency service is available on all statutory holidays, including Christmas and New Year’s.
A: Our primary service area is southwest Calgary. We also serve communities in the surrounding area, including Foothills County, Bragg Creek, and Diamond Valley. If you are unsure whether we cover your location, call, and we can let you know.
Coverage depends on your policy and the cause of the damage. Many home insurance policies cover sudden and accidental water damage from burst pipes or sewer backups. We can clearly document the situation and our findings, which can be helpful when dealing with an insurance claim. We recommend contacting your insurer as soon as possible after an emergency event.
Look for a company that answers the phone directly, sends a licensed plumber, and fixes the problem properly rather than just stopping the symptom. Clear communication during a stressful situation matters as much as the technical work.
Poly-b is a type of plastic piping used in many Calgary homes built between the 1970s and mid-1990s. It is known to become brittle and fail over time, sometimes suddenly. When it fails, the resulting leak can be fast and difficult to isolate. If you know your home has poly-b and a pipe has failed or is actively leaking, treat it as an urgent situation.
What Our Clients Are Saying
We’re always so grateful to our customers who take the time to leave us reviews and who often refer us to family, friends and neighbours as well as continue to use us whenever their plumbing needs arise.
