Plumbing repair in Inland Empire suburbs
Pick your city for local, sourced data and to request help.
- Fontana 28% built before 1980
- Moreno Valley 19% built before 1980
- Rancho Cucamonga 29% built before 1980
- Ontario 50% built before 1980
- Corona 25% built before 1980
- Murrieta 6% built before 1980
- Temecula 7% built before 1980
- Menifee 20% built before 1980
- Rialto 44% built before 1980
- Victorville 19% built before 1980
- Hemet 42% built before 1980
- Chino 38% built before 1980
- Chino Hills 17% built before 1980
- Redlands 58% built before 1980
- Eastvale 2% built before 1980
Before the plumber arrives
- Find the main shut-off. Usually where the line enters the house or at the meter box by the street. Close it for any active leak.
- Water heater leaking? Shut its cold-water inlet and turn off the power (electric) or set the gas valve to “pilot”.
- Note the pattern. One slow drain points to that fixture; every drain slow at once points to the main line. In older homes, low pressure, rusty water or recurring slow drains can mean aging galvanized or cast-iron pipe — ask about a camera inspection before a big repair.
- Newer house? Problems are usually fittings, supply lines, water-heater installs and drain slopes. If it's within its builder warranty, report the problem to the builder in writing first.
- Before a freeze. Know where the main shut-off is, cover hose bibs and open cabinet doors on exterior walls. After one, look for water in ceilings and exterior walls, not just at fixtures.
- Renting? Report leaks and no-hot-water problems to the landlord in writing — repairs to the building's plumbing are normally the owner's to schedule and pay for.
- Check the license. Plumbers are licensed by the state or by the city or county, depending on where you live, and gas-line work may need its own license. Ask for the license number and check it with the agency that issued it.
Do you need an emergency plumber? A decision guide
The same guidance as the quiz on each city page, laid out in full. Find the line that matches your situation. The most urgent ones are listed first.
Act now A smell of gas
Leave the house now, then call from outside
A gas smell is a safety call before it's a plumbing call. Get everyone out first.
Do this now
- Get everyone, including pets, out of the house and away from it.
- From outside, call 911 or your gas company's emergency line.
- Stay out until the gas company or fire department says it's safe to go back in.
Don't
- Don't flip light switches, unplug things or light anything. A spark can ignite gas.
- Don't try to find or fix the leak yourself.
Act now A burst pipe you can't stop
Shut off the main and call an emergency plumber
A burst line can put out a lot of water in minutes. Getting the main closed matters more than anything else right now.
Do this now
- Find the main shut-off (where the line enters the house, or the box by the meter at the street) and turn it clockwise until it stops.
- Call an emergency plumber now. If you can't get the water off, say so; it changes how fast they come.
- If water is near outlets or the electrical panel, stay out of it and switch off power from a dry spot if you can.
- Move valuables out of the way and photograph the damage for your insurer.
Don't
- Don't walk through water that could be touching outlets or cords.
- Don't wait to see if it slows down.
Get help today A burst pipe with the water shut off
Water's off. Get the pipe repaired and the area dried today
With the water off, the emergency is over, but the house is without water and anything wet needs drying within a day or two.
Do this now
- Leave the main closed until the pipe is repaired.
- Book a plumber for today, and tell them where the break is and what the pipe looks like.
- Mop up, pull back wet rugs and run fans. If drywall, carpet or cabinets got soaked, call a water-damage restoration company too.
- Open a faucet at the lowest point of the house to drain the lines.
Don't
- Don't turn the water back on to test it before the repair is done.
- Don't wrap a split pipe in tape and call it fixed.
Get help today A leak you can't shut off
Contain the leak and get a plumber out today
A leak you can't stop is small only until it isn't. Contain it, find a valve if you can, and get it looked at today.
Do this now
- Put a bucket or towels under it and move anything that could get damaged.
- Look for a valve under the fixture or behind the toilet. If there isn't one, the main shut-off stops everything.
- Book a plumber for today and tell them you can't stop the water.
Don't
- Don't overtighten fittings. Cracking a plastic nut turns a drip into a spray.
- Don't leave a running leak overnight.
Get help today Sewage coming up, or several drains backing up together
Stop using water and get the line cleared today
When several drains back up together, the blockage is usually in the main sewer line, and every flush or load of laundry pushes more water back into the house.[1]
Do this now
- Stop using sinks, showers, toilets, the dishwasher and the washing machine until it's cleared.
- Book a plumber for today and say that several drains are backing up.
- If you know where the sewer cleanout is (often a capped pipe outside near the house), tell the plumber; it speeds things up.
- If sewage has soaked flooring or walls, it needs professional cleanup, not just mopping.
Don't
- Don't pour chemical drain cleaner into a main-line backup. It won't clear it and it makes the work dangerous for the plumber.
- Don't touch sewage without gloves, and keep children and pets away.
Get help today A leak from the tank itself, or a relief valve that keeps releasing
Turn off the water heater and call a plumber today
A tank that leaks from its body usually can't be repaired, and a relief valve that keeps opening is a warning. Either way, turn it off and have it looked at today.
Do this now
- Turn off the heater: switch off its breaker (electric) or set the gas valve to Pilot or Off (gas).
- Close the cold-water valve on the pipe going into the top of the heater.
- Put a pan or towels down, and keep people away from the hot water.
- Book a plumber for today. Have the heater's label (model, size, fuel type) photographed for them.
Don't
- Don't plug or cap the relief valve. It's what keeps the tank from bursting.
- Don't drain a hot tank yourself. The water can scald.
Book a visit No hot water, or a leak from a fitting or drain valve
Book a water-heater visit in the next day or two
No hot water or a dripping fitting isn't dangerous, and it's often a repair: a thermostat, an element, a pilot or a loose connection.
Do this now
- Gas heater: check the pilot is lit, following the lighting steps on the heater's label. Electric heater: check its breaker.
- Put a pan under any drip and check it's not getting worse.
- Book a plumber and give them the heater's age and model from its label.
Don't
- Don't remove the heater's electrical covers with the power on.
- Don't relight a pilot if you smell gas. Leave and call the gas company.
Handle it yourself A drip or small leak with its valve closed
A small leak you've shut off is often a DIY fix
Drips at a faucet, a toilet supply line or a sink trap are some of the most common small repairs, and many don't need a plumber.
Do this now
- Keep the fixture's valve closed and put a bowl under the drip.
- Find where it's coming from: the supply line, the valve, the faucet body or the drain trap.
- Braided supply lines and trap washers are cheap and standard at hardware stores. Take the old one with you to match it.
- Call a plumber if the leak is inside a wall, under a slab, or comes back after the part is replaced.
Don't
- Don't overtighten plastic fittings. Hand-tight plus a quarter turn is usually enough.
- Don't ignore a stain spreading on a ceiling or wall. That's a hidden leak.
Handle it yourself One slow or clogged drain, or a running toilet, with other drains working
Try clearing it yourself first
When only one drain is affected, the clog is close to that fixture, and a plunger or a hand auger usually clears it.
Do this now
- Use a plunger with a good seal: a cup plunger for sinks and a flange plunger for toilets.
- For sinks and tubs, pull and clean the stopper, where hair and soap collect.
- A hand drain auger from a hardware store reaches further than a plunger.
- Running toilet: the flapper at the bottom of the tank is the usual cause, and it's a cheap part.
- Call a plumber if it keeps coming back or more drains start slowing.
Don't
- Don't mix drain chemicals, or plunge after using one. They splash and burn.
- Don't pour grease down the drain to 'flush' it through.
Good to know
- Most homes have a main shut-off where the water line enters the house, and a second one in a box by the meter at the street. Fixtures usually have their own small valve underneath.
- The temperature-and-pressure relief valve is a safety device. If it keeps releasing water, the tank may be overheating or over-pressure, so have it checked the same day.
- Renters: tell your landlord or property manager in writing (a text or email with photos) as soon as you can. Plumbing repairs are usually theirs to arrange, and many leases say who to call in an emergency.
This guidance was written with AI tools. It has not yet been reviewed by a person. It's general information, not professional advice. If anyone is in danger, call 911.
Common questions
How do I check a plumber’s license?
Ask for the license number and check it with the agency that issued it — the state, or the city or county. For a gas water heater or range line, ask whether the plumber is licensed for gas piping too.
Sources
- IICRC S500 standard (link unverified)