It's 11 p.m., the basement floor is wet, and you're standing there trying to decide if this can wait until Monday. For a lot of homeowners, that's the hardest part of a plumbing problem — not fixing it, but figuring out whether it's actually urgent.
Here are seven signs that mean it's time to stop waiting and call someone, along with what's safe to do in the meantime.
1. Water Is Spraying, Gushing, or Pooling Where It Shouldn't Be
A pipe that's actively leaking, spraying, or bursting is the clearest sign of trouble. In Michigan, this often happens during a hard freeze-thaw stretch, when a pipe that froze overnight cracks as it warms back up. If you see standing water, a wet ceiling, or a spray behind a wall, shut off your main water valve first, then make the call. Every extra minute is more water damage to your floors, drywall, or foundation.
2. You Have No Hot Water — Anywhere in the House
A shower that runs a little cooler than usual is annoying. No hot water at all, from any fixture, is different — it usually means the water heater has failed outright, not just started to slip. That's a bigger deal in January than it is in July, but either way, it's worth a same-day call rather than a "maybe next week."
3. Sewage Is Backing Up Into a Drain, Tub, or Toilet
One slow drain is probably a clog you can plunge. Multiple drains backing up at the same time, or sewage coming up through a floor drain or tub, points to a blockage in the main line — and that's a health hazard, not a weekend project. Stop using water in the house until it's cleared.
4. You Smell Gas Near a Water Heater or Appliance
This one isn't a judgment call. If you smell gas near a water heater, furnace, or any gas line, get everyone out of the house, don't flip switches or light anything, and call your gas utility before you call a plumber. Once the gas company confirms it's safe, a licensed plumber can find and fix the source.
5. Ceiling Stains or Bulging Drywall Show Up Out of Nowhere
A brown ring on the ceiling or a soft, bulging patch of drywall usually means water has been collecting behind it for a while — often from a slow pipe leak you can't see. It's not as dramatic as a burst pipe, but left alone, it turns into mold and a much bigger repair bill.
6. Every Fixture in the House Quit at Once
If one faucet stops working, that's a local issue. If every faucet, toilet, and shower in the house loses water pressure or stops entirely, that's usually a main line problem — and not something to troubleshoot yourself.
7. Pipes Are Starting to Freeze
If a faucet is putting out nothing but a trickle during a cold snap, or you can see frost on an exposed pipe in a crawl space or garage, that pipe is close to bursting, not already there. Catching it before it splits is a lot cheaper than catching it after.
What to Do While You Wait for Help
Know where your main water shut-off valve is before you need it — usually near the water meter or where the line enters the house.
Turn off water to the affected area (or the whole house) rather than letting it keep running.
Skip the space heater or open flame near a frozen pipe — it's a bigger risk than the freeze itself.
If it's a gas smell, leave the house. That's the one exception to "wait for the plumber."
When in Doubt, Call
Not every plumbing problem is an emergency, but the ones on this list are the ones where waiting costs you more — in water damage, in health risk, or in safety. Mitten State Plumbing is a licensed, insured, veteran-owned team serving homes within about an hour of Troy, and we're available 24/7 for exactly these situations: burst pipes, backups, and no-hot-water calls that can't wait for a normal appointment.