From the street main to the top floor.
Leaks, clogs, sewer backups, no hot water. Understand what's happening in your kind of building, then call to request plumbing help.
Takes about a minute. Tell us what's happening, what kind of building it is, and the town or neighborhood.
Get plumbing help
Six kinds of problems cover most calls. Each guide explains the symptoms, likely causes, what a plumber typically does, and local rules.
- 01 Emergency plumbing Burst pipes, active leaks, overflowing fixtures: first steps and when to call.
- 02 Drain cleaning Kitchen, bath and basement clogs, including shared stacks in apartment buildings.
- 03 Sewer line repair Main line clogs, house traps, camera inspection, repair or replacement.
- 04 Water heaters No hot water, leaks, replacement, tank vs. tankless.
- 05 Leak detection Hidden leaks, water through the ceiling, leaks between apartments.
- 06 Pipe repair & repiping Galvanized, cast iron, copper pinholes, frozen pipes.
What are you seeing?
Start from the symptom. Each guide covers what you can safely check, what it may indicate, and when to call a professional.
Water backing up from the basement drain
Often a main sewer line clog or a city sewer surcharge in heavy rain.
Water coming through the ceiling
Usually from the unit or bathroom above. Who to notify, and what to protect.
Weak water pressure
One fixture, one apartment, or the whole building? Each points somewhere different.
Water in the basement
Plumbing leak vs. groundwater vs. sewer backup: how to tell the difference.
Pipes froze
What to do in the first ten minutes, and what never to do.
Hot water runs out or swings
Central systems, mixing valves and water heaters.
Plumbing depends on your building
A prewar co-op, a Park Slope brownstone and a Bergen County colonial fail in different ways. Pick yours.
New York City, the suburbs and New Jersey
Twenty boroughs and counties, three different licensing systems. Select an area to see who licenses plumbers and who issues permits there.
New York City
New York suburbs
New Jersey
Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau, generalized. Licensing and permit information reviewed November 4, 2026. Rules change, so confirm with the local authority before work starts.
Why New York plumbing is different
Old buildings, shared pipes and a sewer system that fills up in heavy rain.
54%of NYC homes are in buildings constructed before 1947NYC Housing & Vacancy Survey 2023, via NYC Rent Guidelines Board
68%of NYC homes are rented, so the building owner usually controls the plumbingNYC HVS 2023 (68.1%)
2,851sewer backup complaints resolved by NYC DEP in one fiscal yearFY2024, Mayor's Management Report via City Limits
≥130kknown lead water service lines in NYC, plus ~200,000 of unknown materialNYC DEP testimony, June 2024
Guides worth reading before you call
- Pipe materials, comparedCast iron, galvanized, copper, PVC, PEX: what each tends to do as it ages
- What a sewer camera inspection showsAnd how to read the report
- Lead service lines in NYC and NJHow to check your building and what replacement involves
- Water heater guideTank, tankless, gas, electric: and the safety parts
Codes & permits, by jurisdiction
- NYC plumbing permits explainedLicensed Master Plumbers, DOB NOW, Limited Alteration Applications
- How to verify a NYC Licensed Master PlumberA two-minute check before work starts
- Plumbing permits in New JerseyUniform Construction Code and your municipal construction office
- Who can legally do plumbing work in NJ?Master plumbers, contractors and the homeowner exemption
Before you call
I rent my apartment. Should I call a plumber myself?
Usually, contact your super, landlord or managing agent first. In New York City, building owners are generally responsible for maintaining plumbing in rental apartments. If water is actively leaking, protect your belongings, stay away from wet electrical fixtures and notify the building right away. Our apartment plumbing guide explains who usually handles what.
What should I say when I call?
Describe what you see and hear (water, smell, noise, where it shows up), what kind of building it is, and where the property is: borough, city or town. Mention whether water is still flowing and whether you've found the shutoff valve.
What if I smell gas?
Leave the building immediately, then call your gas utility's emergency line or 911 from outside. Don't switch lights or appliances on or off and don't use a phone inside. Do not use our number for gas emergencies.
Do plumbers in NYC need a license?
Yes. In New York City, plumbing work must be performed by or under a NYC Licensed Master Plumber. Rules differ in Westchester, Long Island and New Jersey. See Codes & Permits.
Leave now. Call your gas utility's emergency line or 911 from outside. Don't use this number for gas emergencies.
Close the nearest fixture shutoff, or the main shutoff, usually where the water line enters the cellar or basement. In apartments, call the super or management.