Emergency Plumber Portland: $100 to $500/hr + Rush Fee

National figures; we found no Portland-only emergency plumber price. Ask for the after-hours fee before anyone drives out.

Do this now: Portland plumbing emergency checklist

1. Gas smell: get out, then call NW Natural or 911 from outside.
2. Shut the main water valve. If you cannot find it, or water is coming up in the street, call the Portland Water Bureau emergency line, 503-823-4874.
3. Water near outlets or appliances: switch off the breaker only if you can reach it from a dry spot.
4. Sewage coming up a floor drain or tub: stop running water and flushing in the house.
5. Photograph the damage and the broken part before cleanup, and keep receipts. Portland's leak adjustment depends on the repair date.
6. Frozen pipe: open the faucet and warm the pipe with a hair dryer or heating pad, never a torch, the American Red Cross says. See frozen pipes.

Is it urgent? What counts as a plumbing emergency in Portland

A plumbing problem is urgent when water is spreading and the main valve will not stop it, raw sewage is coming into the house, you have no water at all, or you smell gas. Those cannot wait. A slow drain, a dripping faucet or one toilet that runs can wait for a weekday visit, which costs less: HomeAdvisor says after-hours work adds $100 to $300 or more.

Freezes are when Portland's emergency calls spike. The airport averages 31.7 nights a year at or below 32 F, NOAA's 1991 to 2020 normals show, and the January 2024 freeze left enough burst pipes that the Water Bureau published a notice on bill credits for them.

24 hour plumber in Portland: who answers at night

The Portland Water Bureau's emergency line, 503-823-4874, is answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, the bureau says, and it handles main breaks, water running down the street and sudden loss of water. It does not fix pipes inside your house. For that you need a plumber that takes emergency calls; hours vary by company. Calls to the plumber line reach an independent company that serves your area and takes this kind of job (how calls work).

Burst pipe? Get your Portland water bill adjusted

The Water Bureau adjusts bills for leaks on the property side of the meter under rule ADM-14.03. You must start looking for the leak within 30 days of noticing the higher use and finish repairs within 90 days, and a city meter check confirms the fix. Underground and other non-sewer leaks are billed at last year's volume. Leaks that drain into the sewer, such as toilets, are billed at last year's volume plus 50% of the leak. After the January 2024 freeze the bureau said faucets left running to prevent freezing did not qualify. Billing: 503-823-7770.

Sewage backup: is it your line or the City's?

In Portland the property owner is responsible for the sewer line from the house to the curb, and the City maintains it from the curb to the main, the City's broken sewer page says. Older homes connect at the curb. If your neighbors are backed up too, the problem may be in the City's main: call the City at 311 or 503-823-4000. If it is just your house, a plumber can clear and camera the line; prices and permits are on sewer line repair in Portland, and cleanup is on sewage cleanup.

Local rules, programs and climate for Portland, from the official pages listed under Sources.

What to ask an emergency plumber before they drive out

1. What is the emergency or after-hours fee, and what is the hourly rate after that?
2. What is your CCB number?
3. Can you stop the leak tonight and price the full repair separately?
4. Will the invoice show the repair date? I need it for the Water Bureau adjustment.

More Portland plumbing help

All Portland plumbing topics: plumber in Portland. Water already in floors or drywall: water damage restoration in Portland. Hot water out: water heater repair in Portland. Other cities: emergency plumber in Seattle and emergency plumber in Sacramento. National guide: emergency plumber; all prices: home repair costs.