24/7 Emergency Plumber in Campbell, CA

A Homeowner’s Guide to Emergency Plumbing in Campbell

First, stop the damage

Call us any time at (408) 978-3093; after hours the call goes to our emergency service and an on-call plumber is dispatched. While you wait:

• Burst pipe or failed supply line: close the fixture valve, or the house shutoff where the water line enters the house. Stay clear of water near outlets or the electrical panel.
• Sewage coming up a drain: stop running water everywhere, including the washer and dishwasher, and call the District (below) before anyone opens a cleanout.
• Leaking water heater: close the cold-water valve on top of the tank and turn the heater off.
• Gas smell: don’t use switches or phones nearby. Leave, call 9-1-1, then PG&E at 1-800-743-5000.

Sewer backups: the West Valley Sanitation District

The West Valley Sanitation District runs Campbell’s sewers, and the City says it takes overflow and backup reports 24/7. Call (408) 385-3090 on weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or (408) 299-2507 after hours, and don’t run water until the backup is cleared. Its crew checks the District main and, where there’s a property line cleanout, clears the lower lateral between that cleanout and the main. The visit is included in the sewer service charge.

If the District finds its pipes clear, it advises calling a plumber, because the stoppage is in your upper lateral or indoor drains. Without a usable cleanout, keeping the whole line clear to the main is the owner’s job. One more thing to check: if your home has a backflow device, a flap stuck shut by sediment backs sewage into the house even when the District’s pipes are fine. See main drain and sewer cleaning and sewer line service in Campbell.

Water emergencies: San Jose Water and the meter

Campbell homes get water from San Jose Water, which lists (408) 279-7900 as its 24-hour customer service line and takes reports of leaks on its side of the meter at any hour.

• San Jose Water’s side: the connection to the main, the service line up to the meter’s inlet shutoff, the meter, the meter box and the outlet coupling.
• Your side: the service line from the meter to the house, the house valve and every fixture. State rules (CPUC Rule 16) require the customer to provide and maintain a shutoff valve between San Jose Water and the house line.

Don’t close the valve in the meter box yourself. San Jose Water asks customers to call instead and holds them responsible for any damage there. If your own shutoff is seized or leaking, replacing it is often the first repair after the water is stopped. See burst pipe repair and leak detection.

Water heater failures

A leaking tank is shut down first: water off at the cold inlet, gas or power off. The replacement is a general trade (MEP) permit, filed online through the City’s MyGovernmentOnline system; a like-for-like swap needs no plans. The City’s guide calls for seismic straps at the upper and lower thirds of the tank, an expansion tank where the system has a check valve, backflow preventer or pressure regulator, and, in a garage, an 18-inch stand or barrier where required.

Think before replacing gas with gas: the City notes that under Bay Area Air District rules, gas water heaters can no longer be sold and installed in the Bay Area starting in 2027. Silicon Valley Clean Energy’s Emergency Water Heater Replacement program swaps a failed gas unit for a heat pump model through a partner contractor, and its Home Rebates have their own process for emergency replacements. See water heater services.

After the emergency: permits and the follow-up repair

Repairs that replace pipe are City work: sewer line and water line repair or replacement are general trade permits from the Building Inspection Division, (408) 866-2130, done by a licensed plumbing contractor or an owner-builder. Every sewer line permit needs the District’s clearance, and the District may add a property line cleanout or a backwater valve to the job. Digging in the street or park strip adds a Public Works encroachment permit.

After hours, the job is quoted as a fixed price before we start, typically based on $200–$300 per hour, plus parts and drive time, with a minimum charge. When the damage is stopped, the rest of the repair can often wait for regular hours, and we’ll tell you on the phone.

Sources

West Valley Sanitation District: Got a backup · How do the pipes work · Contact Us. City of Campbell: Water & sewer services · Building · General Trade Permits (MEP) Application Guide · Electrify Your Home · Encroachment Permits. San Jose Water: Contact us · Who’s responsible for what. PG&E: Gas safety. Silicon Valley Clean Energy: Home Rebates · Emergency Water Heater Replacement. Checked November 2026.