Emergency Plumber in Smyrna, GA Stop the water first. Then we fix the cause.

Is it an emergency, or can it wait until morning?

Not every problem needs a plumber in the middle of the night, so it is worth knowing the difference. Here is how we think about it:

If you are not sure, call. We will tell you honestly if it can wait, and what to do until then.

The first five minutes: what to do right now

1. Shut off the main water valve. In many Smyrna homes it is where the water line enters the house: in a basement, crawl space, utility room, garage or near the water heater. Turn it clockwise until it stops, or a quarter turn if it is a lever.
2. If you cannot find it, shut it at the meter. The City of Smyrna says customers can turn off water at the meter with pliers. The meter box is usually near the street or sidewalk.
3. Turn off the water heater if it is leaking or the water is off for a long time: switch off the breaker for an electric heater, or turn a gas heater to "pilot" or "off."
4. Kill power to wet areas. If water is near outlets, appliances or the electrical panel, do not walk through it. Shut off the breaker for that area if you can do it safely, or call an electrician.
5. Open a faucet on the lowest floor to drain pressure out of the lines.
6. Photograph everything before you move it. Insurance adjusters want to see the damage as it was.
7. Start drying. Pull up wet rugs, move furniture, and run fans. Water left in drywall and floors for more than a day or two can lead to mold.
8. Call us at (470) 357-0172.

The emergencies we see most in Smyrna

Burst and frozen pipes

Atlanta-area homes are not built for long, hard freezes. During the December 2022 holiday cold snap, Cobb County plumbers reported that most of their calls were for pipes broken by the cold, and one Acworth plumber put it plainly: local pipes are not insulated the way they are up north. The damage often shows up during the thaw, when the ice that split the pipe melts and water starts pouring out. Two winter storms in January 2025 brought snow and below-freezing temperatures to metro Atlanta again. Read our guide to frozen pipes in Smyrna before the next one.

Sewer backups

Older Smyrna neighborhoods have clay and cast iron sewer laterals under mature trees. Roots find the joints, grease builds up, and one day the lowest drain in the house starts filling with sewage. That is an emergency because it is a health hazard. See sewer line repair and drain cleaning.

Water heater failures

Many Smyrna homes keep the water heater in a basement, garage or closet. When a tank rusts through, it can dump its whole contents and keep refilling. Shut off the cold water supply on top of the tank and the power or gas. More on water heater repair and replacement.

Burst supply lines

Braided supply lines to toilets, sinks, washing machines and refrigerators fail without warning. A washing machine hose can release a lot of water quickly. These are among the easiest emergencies to prevent; replace old hoses every few years.

Main water line breaks

If water is bubbling up in the yard between the street and the house, or the house suddenly has no water, the break may be in your service line. The City of Smyrna repairs leaks on the street side of the meter; the customer side is the homeowner's. See water line repair.

Storm and flood water

When Helene's rain pushed the Chattahoochee out of its banks in September 2024, The Eddy at Riverview flooded and Riverview Road closed. Heavy storms can overwhelm basements and crawl spaces too. If floodwater reached your water heater, electrical or sewer cleanouts, have them checked before you use them.

Is it a plumber's job, the city's, or Cobb County's?

Smyrna's water system has a clear line, and it is the meter.

• Street side of the meter: the City of Smyrna repairs leaks in its distribution system up to your water meter. If the leak is inside the meter box, city crews repair it from the meter back to the street.
• Customer side: leaks inside your house, or between the house and the meter, are the homeowner's responsibility. That is plumber work.
• After hours: for street-side emergencies, the City of Smyrna's after-hours emergency line is (770) 434-6666. For sewer main problems, city Water Distribution is (770) 431-2850.
• Cobb County water customers: some homes with a Smyrna mailing address are served by the Cobb County Water System instead. In 2024, Cobb County asked residents of one such neighborhood to report water problems to (770) 419-6200. Check your water bill to see who your provider is.

The full breakdown is in our guide: Smyrna water and sewer leaks, who fixes what.

What happens on an emergency visit

1. On the phone: we help you stop the water, ask what you see, and give you an honest arrival window.
2. On arrival: the plumber confirms the water and power are safe, finds the failure and explains it in plain language.
3. Explanation before work: you hear what is wrong and what the repair involves before anything is cut or replaced.
4. Make it safe tonight: sometimes the right move is a temporary fix that restores water tonight, with the permanent repair scheduled in daylight at a regular rate. We will tell you when that saves you money.
5. Repair and test: the repair is pressure-tested or flow-tested before we leave.
6. Paperwork: photos and a written description of what failed, for your records and your insurer.

Plumbing emergencies and homeowners insurance

Most homeowners policies treat a sudden, accidental water release, like a burst pipe, differently from a slow leak that went on for months, which is usually excluded. The pipe repair itself is often not covered, while the resulting water damage may be. Policies vary, so read yours and call your agent. What always helps a claim:

• Photos and video before cleanup starts
• A written description from the plumber of what failed and why
• Prompt reporting to your insurer
• Receipts for drying, repairs and anything you had to replace

This is general information, not insurance advice.

Build a plumbing emergency kit before you need it

Most of the damage in a plumbing emergency happens in the minutes before the water is off. A few minutes of preparation now saves a lot later.

• Know your main shutoff. Find it, label it, and make sure everyone in the house can reach and close it. If it is an old gate valve that is stiff, have it replaced with a quarter-turn ball valve.
• Keep a meter key near the front door or in the garage so you can close the curb valve if the house valve fails.
• Know your breaker. Label the water heater breaker in the panel.
• Keep towels, a bucket and a wet vac where you can get to them quickly.
• Put the numbers in your phone: our line, the City of Smyrna after-hours water and sewer line at (770) 434-6666, Atlanta Gas Light at 877-427-4321, and your insurance claim line.
• Add leak sensors near the water heater, washer, dishwasher and under sinks. Some Smyrna water customers may qualify for a smart leak detector rebate from the city.

If you are away from home when it happens

A neighbor, a smart leak sensor or a sudden high usage alert may be the first sign. Ask someone you trust to shut off the main valve, or the curb valve at the meter if the main cannot be reached. Then call us to arrange access. If you travel in winter, leave the heat on, open cabinet doors under sinks on exterior walls, and consider shutting off the main and draining the lines before a long trip during a hard freeze. Rental property owners should make sure tenants know where the shutoff is on move in day.

For landlords, property managers and HOAs

Smyrna has many rental homes, townhomes and condos. An emergency in one unit can damage another, so clear instructions matter. Post shutoff locations in each unit, keep an after-hours contact on file with tenants, and know which pipes your association treats as common elements. We can document the cause of a leak with photos and notes that help owners and insurers sort out responsibility.

Emergency plumbing across Smyrna

We answer emergency calls across Smyrna and nearby south Cobb, including Market Village and Williams Park, Forest Hills, Bennett Woods and Cooper Lake, Cheney Woods and Smyrna Heights, Belmont Hills and King Springs, Vinings, Cumberland and The Battery and Mableton and Riverview. Older neighborhoods near Market Village are more likely to have aging sewer laterals and original pipes, while newer townhomes and condos near Cumberland are more likely to see unit-to-unit leaks and water heater failures.

How to avoid your next plumbing emergency

• Find and test your main shutoff valve today, and show everyone in the house where it is
• Replace rubber washing machine hoses and old braided supply lines
• Insulate pipes on exterior walls, in crawl spaces and in unheated garages
• Disconnect garden hoses before freezing weather and cover outdoor faucets
• Do not pour grease down the kitchen sink
• Have the main sewer line camera-inspected if you live under big trees in an older neighborhood
• Check the water heater for rust, moisture and age; tank models typically last 10 to 15 years, according to the U.S. Department of Energy
• Learn to read your water meter so you can catch hidden leaks early; see leak detection

More plumbing services in Smyrna

• Drain cleaning in Smyrna: Clogged sinks, tubs, toilets and main line backups.
• Leak detection & slab leaks in Smyrna: Hidden leaks in walls, slabs and yard lines.
• Pipe repair & repiping in Smyrna: Burst pipes, polybutylene and galvanized replacement.
• Water heater repair & installation in Smyrna: Tank and tankless repair and replacement.
• Sewer line repair in Smyrna: Camera inspection, roots, breaks and replacement.
• Water line repair in Smyrna: Main service line from the meter to the house.
• Toilet & faucet repair in Smyrna: Running toilets, drips, fixtures and disposals.

Helpful Smyrna plumbing guides

• Smyrna water and sewer: who fixes what
• Frozen pipes in Smyrna
• Georgia plumber licenses
• All guides

Neighborhoods we serve

Licensed plumbers for homes in Market Village & Williams Park, Forest Hills, Bennett Woods & Cooper Lake, Cheney Woods & Smyrna Heights, Belmont Hills & King Springs, Vinings, Cumberland & The Battery, Mableton & Riverview. See every Smyrna service area or contact us.

Written and reviewed by Alex, a Smyrna local with an MBA who researches and edits every page on this site, citing official and published sources. Updated October 25, 2026.

Plumbing work is performed by independent, licensed Georgia plumbers. General information, not legal or insurance advice.