A plumbing emergency is one of the most stressful situations any homeowner or property manager can face. Water pooling on your basement floor. A toilet that won’t stop overflowing. A hot water tank leaking across your utility room. The damage is already happening — and every minute you delay makes it worse. But if you act fast, follow these three steps, and call a licensed emergency plumber, you can limit the damage, protect your property, and potentially save yourself hundreds or even thousands of dollars in repairs.
At Orleans Plumbing & Drain Services, our licensed team handles plumbing emergencies across Ottawa 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Business owner and licensed plumber Francois Hetherington has seen every type of emergency — from frozen pipes that have burst in Ottawa’s -30°C winters to backed-up sewer lines flooding commercial properties. These three steps are what he recommends to every client before the emergency plumber arrives.
Shut Off Water
Stop the flow immediately at the shutoff valve or main supply.
Assess Damage
Find the source and note every detail for your plumber.
Document It
Photos and video for your plumber and insurance claim.
1 Shut Off Your Water Supply Immediately
The single most important action during any plumbing emergency is stopping the water flow. Every second that water continues to leak, spray, or overflow, the damage to your floors, walls, ceilings, and belongings gets worse. Shutting off the water buys you time, limits the damage, and makes the situation safer for everyone — including your emergency plumber when they arrive.
How to Shut Off Your Water Supply
- Locate your main shutoff valve — In most Ottawa homes, the main water shutoff is near your water meter, typically in the basement or utility room. It may be a gate valve (round handle) or ball valve (lever handle). Turn it clockwise or to the perpendicular position to stop all water flow to the property.
- Turn off electricity near the affected area — Water and electricity are a dangerous combination. If there is standing water near electrical outlets, switches, or appliances, turn off the relevant circuit breaker before approaching the area.
- Shut off the local fixture valve if possible — For isolated leaks (a running toilet, dripping sink), look for the small shutoff valve on the supply line directly behind or beneath the fixture. Closing this stops water to that specific fixture without shutting off supply to your entire home.
If you smell gas or suspect a gas leak — shut off the gas supply immediately, open all windows and doors for ventilation, and leave the property. Do not use towels to block doorways — gas must be allowed to dissipate, not trapped. Do not operate light switches or electrical devices. Call your gas utility and then call your emergency plumber from outside the property.
Whether you’re dealing with a burst pipe, an overflowing toilet, a leaking hot water tank, or a backed-up sewer drain — shutting off the water is always step one. If you cannot locate your shutoff valve or it won’t turn, call Orleans Plumbing at (613) 424-6737 and our team will guide you through it while dispatching an emergency plumber to your location.
Every member of your household should know where the main water shutoff valve is located before an emergency happens. Take two minutes today to locate it, test that it turns, and label it clearly. This single preparation step can save thousands of dollars in water damage.
Orleans Plumbing dispatches licensed emergency plumbers 24/7 — nights, weekends, and holidays.
2 Assess the Damage and Identify the Source
Once the water is off, resist the urge to immediately start calling plumbers. Take a few minutes to carefully examine the situation. Your emergency plumber will need specific information to diagnose the problem, bring the right equipment, and provide an accurate estimate. The details you gather now will speed up the entire repair process.
What to Look For During Your Assessment
- Identify where the water is coming from — Is it a specific pipe, fixture, appliance, or ceiling? Is water still seeping even after the main supply is off? If so, the issue may be in your main sewer line or a municipal supply problem.
- Listen for sounds — Gurgling from drains, hissing from pipes, or running water behind walls can indicate the type and location of the problem even when you can’t see it directly.
- Check for secondary damage — Has water reached electrical panels, appliances, or the foundation? Is the ceiling sagging? Are walls damp or discoloured? Note every affected area.
- Determine if the problem is inside or outside — Basement flooding that continues after shutoff, or sewage backing up through floor drains, may indicate a blocked main sewer line or a municipal water issue. This information helps your plumber arrive with the correct equipment.
Never wade into standing water if there is any possibility it has reached electrical outlets, baseboard heaters, or appliances. If the water level is above the floor by more than a couple of centimetres, turn off the main electrical breaker for that area before entering. If you cannot safely reach the breaker, wait for a professional.
When you call Orleans Plumbing, your information helps us respond faster and more effectively. Telling us “there’s water coming from the pipe joint under the kitchen sink, the shutoff valve is closed, and the adjacent hardwood floor is wet” is far more useful than “there’s a leak.” The more detail you provide, the faster the repair.
3 Document Everything With Photos and Video
This step feels strange in the middle of an emergency — but it is one of the most valuable things you can do. Grabbing your phone and taking clear photos and short video clips of the damage takes less than two minutes and serves two critical purposes.
Why Documentation Matters
- Helps your emergency plumber diagnose the problem — Photos and video capture details that are easy to forget or describe inaccurately over the phone. They show your plumber the severity, the exact location, the type of fixture involved, and potential complications — before they even arrive.
- Essential for insurance claims — If the damage is significant enough to file a homeowner’s insurance claim, your documentation becomes critical evidence. Insurance adjusters need to see the condition of the property during the emergency — not after cleanup. Without photos, proving the extent of damage becomes much harder.
- Creates a record for follow-up repairs — Some plumbing emergencies reveal underlying issues that need longer-term attention. Your documentation provides a baseline record that helps your plumber plan follow-up work and helps you track the progression of any related issues.
Photograph the source of the leak, all areas where water has spread, any visible pipe damage or corrosion, water levels and stain lines, and the overall scope of the affected area. Shoot a slow video pan across the scene. Include wide shots and close-ups. This takes less than two minutes and can be the difference between a straightforward insurance claim and a disputed one.
After you’ve documented the situation, it’s time to call your emergency plumber. If you’re in Ottawa or surrounding areas, call Orleans Plumbing at (613) 424-6737 — our licensed team responds to emergencies 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including holidays.
Licensed, insured, and available right now. Upfront pricing with no hidden fees.
Orleans Plumbing Emergency Services in Ottawa
At Orleans Plumbing & Drain Services, we deliver reliable, licensed emergency plumbing repairs for residential and commercial properties across Ottawa. When you’re facing a plumbing crisis, our team arrives equipped to handle the situation — with upfront pricing, transparent communication, and guaranteed workmanship on every job.
- 24/7 Emergency Plumbing Repairs
- Burst & Leaking Pipe Repair
- Sewage Backup & Sewer Line Clearing
- Overflowing Toilet Repair
- Water Heater Emergency Service
- Frozen Pipe Thawing & Insulation
- Drain Cleaning & Clog Removal
- Basement Flood Response
- Gas Line Emergency Assessment
- Commercial Emergency Plumbing
- Plumbing Inspections & Diagnostics
- Insurance Documentation Support
Orleans Plumbing provides emergency plumbing service across Ottawa and surrounding communities including Orleans, Kanata, Nepean, Barrhaven, Gloucester, and Rockland — day or night, weekends and holidays included.
Frequently Asked Questions
Plumbing Emergency in Ottawa?
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Don’t wait for water damage to get worse. Our licensed emergency plumbers are available right now — with upfront pricing, guaranteed workmanship, and rapid response across Ottawa and surrounding communities.