Emergency Plumbing in St. Louis 

Fast, Clear Help From a Local Family Plumbing Team

When water is pouring where it should not, a toilet is overflowing, or a sewer line backs up, you need help right away. Our emergency plumbing services are built for those moments when you cannot wait for a regular appointment and you need someone calm and capable to pick up the phone.

At Armstrong Plumbing, we are a family-owned plumbing company that has been helping neighbors across the St. Louis area since 1989. We answer calls around the clock, provide same-day service when your situation cannot wait, and share pricing upfront so you know what to expect before work begins.

Our licensed and insured plumbers follow Missouri codes, arrive in clearly marked service vans, and focus on protecting your home or business from further damage. If you are dealing with a plumbing emergency right now, you can call us any time at (636) 538-5179.

Why St. Louis Homeowners Call Armstrong Plumbing in an Emergency

When a pipe bursts over a finished ceiling or a basement drain suddenly sends water back into the house, most people just start dialing numbers. We understand that in those moments you are looking for someone who can actually show up, tell you what is happening, and give you a fair price before starting work.

We have served the Greater St. Louis community for more than three decades, and we bring that history into every urgent call. Our team is fully licensed and insured in Missouri, and we maintain long-standing accreditation with the Better Business Bureau. We have also achieved Home Advisor Elite Service status, which reflects the consistent feedback we receive about our quality and professionalism.

Cost is one of the biggest worries during an emergency. Our approach is simple and transparent. We explain our diagnostic fee before we arrive, then provide an honest estimate after we inspect the problem. When you choose to move forward with our recommended work, that diagnostic fee is credited back to your service cost. There are no surprise charges added at the end. You see the price before we begin repairs, and we walk you through what you are approving.

We also know that letting someone into your home, especially late at night, takes trust. Our technicians are uniformed, drive wrapped utility vans, and follow a clear communication process. From the first phone call through the final inspection, we keep you updated on what we are seeing and what we recommend, so you never feel left out of the loop.

What To Do Right Now If You Have a Plumbing Emergency

In a plumbing emergency, a few simple steps can protect your home and make it easier for our team to help once we arrive. You do not need to fix anything on your own, but you can often slow the damage and stay safer while you wait.

Here are practical steps you can take right now:

• Put safety first. If water is near electrical outlets, appliances, or your breaker panel, avoid standing in pooled water and do not touch electrical switches with wet hands. If you feel unsafe, step away from the area and call us immediately.
• Shut off the water if you can. For a sink, toilet, or appliance, look for a small shutoff valve under or behind the fixture and gently turn it clockwise. If you cannot locate it, or if multiple fixtures are affected, you can often turn off the main water supply near where the line comes into the building.
• Contain the water. Move belongings out of the wet area, place a bucket under active drips, and use towels to slow the spread of water. This can reduce damage to flooring, cabinets, and personal items.
• Avoid using affected fixtures. Do not flush a problem toilet again or run water into a backed-up drain. This can make the issue worse and cause more overflow.
• Call our team and describe what you see. When you call Armstrong Plumbing, we will ask simple questions about where the water is coming from, what you hear or smell, and whether you have been able to turn off the water. This helps us prioritize your call and plan for the right equipment.

If you cannot find shutoff valves or you feel unsure, call us right away. Our dispatcher can often talk you through basic steps over the phone while we send a plumber to your home or business. You do not have to manage the situation alone.

How Our Emergency Plumbing Process Works

When you are stressed and watching damage spread, not knowing what happens next can make things feel even worse. Our emergency process is designed to be clear and predictable so you know what to expect from the moment you call.

Here is how we typically handle an emergency visit:

• Your call and initial questions. You reach a member of our team who will listen to what is happening, ask a few questions to understand the urgency, and confirm your location in the St. Louis area. We let you know about our diagnostic fee and give you an estimated arrival window.
• Dispatch and arrival. We send a plumber in a wrapped service van equipped with common parts, tools, and drain cleaning equipment. Our goal is to have what we need on the vehicle so we can address most emergencies during the first visit.
• Inspection and diagnosis. Once on site, we locate the source of the problem and check nearby areas for related issues, such as additional leaks, wet walls, or stress on other parts of your plumbing system. We do not simply stop the obvious drip and walk away. We look at the whole situation.
• Clear explanation and upfront pricing. After we diagnose the problem, we explain what we found in everyday language and outline your repair options. We provide an estimate that shows what the recommended work will cost. If you approve the repair, your diagnostic fee is credited to the cost of the job.
• Repair, cleanup, and final checks. We complete the agreed-upon work, test the system carefully, and check for additional leaks before we leave. Our plumbers clean up the work area and aim to leave your space as tidy as we found it.

For many emergencies, we can complete the repair during that initial visit. In situations that require larger parts, more extensive excavation, or coordination with other work at your property, we explain the next steps and schedule follow-up work as needed. Throughout the process, our goal is to reduce your stress by being thorough, transparent, and respectful of your home.

Common Plumbing Emergencies We Handle Every Day

Not every plumbing problem needs an emergency response, but some issues can quickly damage your home or create health risks if they are not addressed right away. We handle a wide range of urgent situations across the St. Louis area for both homes and small businesses.

Examples of emergencies that we respond to on a regular basis include:

• Burst or leaking pipes. Pipes can fail due to age, corrosion, freezing and thawing, or accidental damage. In older neighborhoods with galvanized lines, even a small split can release a surprising amount of water. We work to locate the break, stop the flow, and repair or replace the damaged section.
• Sewer backups. When a main sewer line or branch line clogs, wastewater can come back up through floor drains, tubs, or lower level toilets. This creates a sanitation hazard and should be treated as an emergency. We use appropriate equipment to clear the line and check for root intrusion or pipe damage, which are common in some older St. Louis sewer systems.
• Overflowing toilets and drains. If a toilet will not stop rising or a drain is overflowing onto the floor, continued use can quickly lead to damaged flooring and subflooring. We help stop the overflow, clear the obstruction, and check for issues further down the line.
• Failed sump pumps and flooded basements. Heavy storms in our region can overwhelm aging sump pumps, leading to standing water in basements and crawl spaces. We can repair or replace pumps, evaluate discharge lines, and discuss options to reduce the risk of future flooding.
• Water heater leaks and failures. A leaking tank or failed relief valve can send water onto nearby floors or finished spaces. We assess whether repair or replacement makes more sense and work to restore hot water service as quickly as conditions allow.

If you are not sure whether your situation counts as an emergency, you can always call and describe what is happening. We will ask a few questions, offer guidance on any immediate safety steps, and let you know whether we recommend emergency service or a scheduled service time.

Experienced, Licensed Plumbers Focused on Long-Term Solutions

When you call for emergency plumbing help, you want the immediate crisis resolved. You also want to avoid facing the same problem again a few months later. Our team is led by a master plumber and drain layer, and that experience shapes how we approach every urgent job.

We hold multiple Missouri licenses, including plumber, drainlayer, plumbing contractor, and general contractor credentials. These licenses require ongoing education, insurance, and compliance with state and local regulations. Over the years, we have pulled more than 1,550 building permits covering millions of dollars of plumbing and related work, which reflects our familiarity with complex installations as well as day to day repairs.

In an emergency visit, we work to balance speed with a careful, detail-oriented inspection. That can mean checking nearby fixtures after a major backup, looking for hidden moisture around a repaired leak, or confirming that safety devices are functioning properly. We want to address the specific issue that brought you to us and also notice early signs of related problems where it makes sense.

For customers who want extra peace of mind after a major repair, we offer a Preferred Customer program that includes follow-up inspections. Our plumbers return to see how the system is performing once you are back in your normal routine. We also provide financing options and service warranties on our work, so you can focus on restoring your home or business while we handle the technical details.

Serving Emergency Plumbing Needs Across the Greater St. Louis Area

Plumbing systems in our region can vary widely, from older homes with original piping near the city center to newer construction in growing communities. Because we have been serving this area since 1989, we are familiar with the types of systems found in many neighborhoods and the issues that tend to appear in each.

We respond to emergency calls throughout the St. Louis area, including communities such as O'Fallon, Florissant, Chesterfield, and across St. Charles County. Whether you are in a historic home with aging cast iron or a newer building with modern materials, we adjust our approach to fit the specific layout and code requirements of your property.

Local conditions also play a role in many emergencies. Heavy Midwestern storms can put strain on sump pumps and drainage systems. Freeze and thaw cycles can stress outdoor lines and exposed plumbing. By focusing our work in this region for more than three decades, we have seen how these patterns affect homes and businesses, and we build that knowledge into our diagnostics and recommendations.

We stay current with local code updates and permitting practices so that emergency repairs align with what area inspectors expect. When a repair involves work that may need inspection later, such as major drain line replacement or changes to venting, we take those requirements into account as we plan and complete the job.

Frequently Asked Questions

How fast can your team get to my plumbing emergency?

We respond to emergency calls as quickly as conditions allow, and we are available to take those calls 24 hours a day. When you contact us, we ask questions about what is happening and where you are located so we can gauge the severity and route the nearest available plumber. Travel time depends on your distance from our current crews, traffic, and weather, but we always provide an estimated arrival window before you commit. If your situation is especially urgent, such as active flooding or a sewer backup, we work to prioritize that call within our schedule.

What will my emergency plumbing visit cost?

We believe that even in an emergency, you should know what to expect financially. Before we send a plumber, we explain our diagnostic fee and what it covers. Once our plumber inspects the issue, you receive an upfront estimate for the recommended work. If you choose to move forward, we credit that diagnostic fee toward the cost of the repair. Final pricing depends on factors such as the location of the problem, the parts required, and how extensive the work needs to be, but we do not add surprise charges at the end. You see the numbers before we begin repairs.

What counts as a plumbing emergency that I should call about right away?

You should consider calling for emergency help when a problem is causing active water damage, creating a sanitation risk, or making part of your home unsafe to use. That includes issues like burst pipes, major leaks that you cannot control, sewer backups, overflowing toilets that do not stop rising, and sump pump failures with water entering your basement. A slow drip under a sink may be able to wait for a scheduled visit, but if you are unsure, you can always call and describe what you see. We will ask questions and let you know whether we recommend emergency service or a standard appointment.

Will your plumbers explain my options before starting work?

Yes, our plumbers explain what they find and review your options before any repair work begins. After diagnosing the problem, we describe it in straightforward terms and outline one or more ways it can be addressed, along with the estimated cost for each approach. You have the opportunity to ask questions and decide how you would like to proceed. Our goal is to keep you informed so you understand both the immediate fix and any longer term considerations that might affect your decision.

Can you help me avoid future plumbing emergencies after this repair?

We work to reduce the chance that you will face the same emergency again. During an urgent visit, our plumbers look for related issues around the immediate problem area, such as early signs of pipe wear or partial blockages elsewhere in a line. After the repair, we can discuss simple maintenance steps and, where appropriate, schedule additional work to address underlying causes, such as root intrusion or aging piping. For ongoing support, our Preferred Customer program offers follow-up inspections to check how repairs are holding up once everything is back in regular use.

Are your plumbers licensed and insured for work in my area?

Our team is fully licensed and insured to perform plumbing work in Missouri, including the Greater St. Louis area. We hold multiple state credentials, such as plumber, drainlayer, plumbing contractor, and general contractor licenses, that cover different aspects of the work we perform. These credentials require us to meet insurance and education standards and to follow state and local codes. This structure helps protect you from unpermitted work and supports a smoother process when projects require inspections or permits.

Do you offer financing or warranties for emergency plumbing repairs?

Yes, we offer both financing options and service warranties to help make emergency repairs more manageable. Financing can be helpful when an unexpected problem leads to a larger repair or replacement, such as a failed water heater or major line repair. Service warranties apply to the work we perform and are intended to give you added confidence in the repairs. Specific terms can vary depending on the type of service and materials involved, so our team explains those details when we review your estimate.

Call Armstrong Plumbing for Emergency Help Today

When a plumbing emergency disrupts your home or business, having a calm, experienced team on your side can make a big difference. Armstrong Plumbing provides around the clock emergency service, same-day appointments when needed, and clear pricing so you can make decisions with confidence even in a stressful moment.

We have been serving this area since 1989, and we bring that history, our state licensing, and our commitment to thorough, tidy work to every emergency call. Whether you are facing a sudden leak, a sewer backup, or a flooded basement, you do not have to handle it alone. Our team is ready to listen, explain your options, and get to work stabilizing the situation.

For immediate emergency plumbing help, call (636) 538-5179 now.