What to Do in a Plumbing Emergency: A Guide for Austin & San Antonio Homeowners

Edited: September 15, 2025

Water spraying from a pipe. A toilet overflowing in the middle of the night. A water heater giving out right before guests arrive. Plumbing emergencies never wait for a convenient time — they strike suddenly and can cause serious damage in minutes.

That’s why Radiant Plumbing & Air Conditioning is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you need an emergency plumber in Austin or San Antonio, our licensed team is standing by to answer your call and get help on the way. While you wait for us to arrive, here are the steps homeowners can take to protect their homes and minimize damage.

What Counts as a Plumbing Emergency

Not every drip requires an immediate response, but certain problems can’t be ignored. Left untreated, small issues can turn into costly repairs fast.

In Austin and San Antonio, these situations almost always call for an emergency plumber:

• Burst or leaking pipes that can’t be contained.
• Toilets that continue to overflow despite attempts to stop them.
• Sewer backups with foul odors or gurgling drains.
• Water heaters that leak or threaten to flood surrounding rooms.
• No running water throughout the home.

A good rule of thumb: If water is where it shouldn’t be, or sewage is backing up into the house, it’s an emergency that needs immediate attention.

What to Do While Waiting for Help

The most important step in any emergency is stopping the damage from spreading. Homeowners should know where their main shut-off valve is located and turn it off if water is flowing uncontrollably. If a water heater is leaking, shutting it down can prevent further flooding or pressure damage. Toilets have small shut-off valves behind them — closing these can stop an overflow in progress.

Once the water flow is under control, contain the mess as best as possible. Towels, buckets, or wet/dry vacs can help keep water from spreading into flooring or walls. Belongings should be moved to a dry area. And if water is near electrical outlets, avoid the space until it’s safe.

Chemical drain cleaners or DIY patch kits may seem like a quick fix, but they usually make the situation worse. The safest step is always to stabilize the problem and wait for a licensed plumber to arrive.

If you’re in the middle of one of these emergencies right now, don’t wait — Call Radiant and we’ll walk you through the next steps while we’re on the way.

The Emergencies We See Most in Austin & San Antonio

Every city has its plumbing quirks, and the homes across Austin and San Antonio are no exception. During sudden cold snaps, pipes can freeze and burst in homes not designed for extreme temperatures. Older homes in San Antonio often have aging plumbing that can give out unexpectedly. And everywhere from Pflugerville to Boerne, overflowing toilets and leaking water heaters are among our most common emergency calls.

One recent emergency involved a family in Round Rock who woke up to water pouring through the ceiling. A small leak upstairs had grown overnight, eventually collapsing part of the drywall. Cases like this highlight why treating plumbing problems as emergencies, and calling right away, is so important.

Do You Really Need to Call at 2 a.m.?

It’s a question many homeowners ask: Can it wait until morning? The answer depends on the situation. If sewage is backing up, if a toilet is unusable, or if water is actively flooding a room, waiting will only make the problem worse.

In fact, most customers who call overnight end up saying the same thing afterward: “I’m glad I didn’t wait.”

That’s why Radiant answers the call 24/7. When an emergency call comes in, there’s always a real person ready to answer and dispatch help immediately — no voicemails, no waiting until the next business day.

Why Homeowners Across Austin & San Antonio Call Radiant in an Emergency

When plumbing emergencies strike, the last thing you need is uncertainty. With Radiant Plumbing & Air Conditioning, you can count on help arriving fast — and work that’s backed by our Home Comfort Guarantee. That means we stand behind every repair with professional service, honest pricing, and the promise that the job will be done right.

For decades, Austin & San Antonio families have trusted Radiant because:

• We’re available 24/7 — emergencies don’t wait, and neither do we.
• We know Austin and San Antonio homes — from historic San Antonio plumbing to brand-new Austin builds, we’ve seen it all.
• Every technician is licensed and background-checked — so you can feel confident opening your door, day or night.
• Our pricing is transparent — no surprises when you’re already under stress.

If you’re in the middle of a plumbing emergency, don’t wait. Whether you’re in Austin, San Antonio, or a surrounding community, Radiant is ready to respond right now. We’ll walk you through shutting things down, dispatch a licensed plumber to your home, and resolve the problem quickly and professionally — guaranteed.

Call Radiant Plumbing & Air Conditioning today for 24/7 emergency plumbing service.