24/7 Emergency Plumber in Louisville, KY
Dauenhauer is a family-owned plumbing company in Louisville that answers emergency plumbing calls 24/7 at (502) 275-0400 in Jefferson County and the surrounding areas. Since 1958, our licensed master plumbers have handled local Louisville plumbing emergencies, such as storm-driven sewer backups, sump pump failures, water heater failures, and burst or frozen pipes during Ohio Valley cold snaps.
Call Dauenhauer for prompt emergency plumbing repairs. We’ll help you locate your main shut-off valve over the phone before the service truck arrives.
Louisville’s Two Emergency Seasons
Louisville experiences sewer backups and basement flooding emergencies during storm season as well as burst and frozen pipes during hard freezes. Dauenhauer handles the plumbing issues common during both seasons.
Storm season: sewer backups & basement flooding
Since Louisville has a combined sewer system, transporting raw sewage from homes and businesses and stormwater runoffs, plumbing systems get easily overwhelmed.
During heavy rains, sewage may be pushed back through basement floor drains and tubs. Sump pump failures can also occur during storm season and flood basements within hours. In Louisville, sewer backups and basement flooding are the most common after-hours calls during the spring and summer.
Freeze season: burst & frozen pipes
Louisville gets the Ohio Valley cold snaps and ice storms during the winter season, which can cause frozen or burst pipes. Frozen and burst pipes are especially common in older homes with uninsulated crawlspaces and galvanized or cast iron lines.
This seasonal risk table explains the common Louisville plumbing emergencies during each season and what steps to take.
| Season | Top Louisville Emergencies | First Move |
| Heavy rain / storms | Sewer backup, sump failure, basement flood | Stop using water; call us |
| Hard freeze / ice storm | Frozen & burst pipes, no water | Shut off main; call us |
| Any time | Water heater leak, gas smell, slab leak | See who-to-call table |
Who to Call First in a Louisville Plumbing Emergency
Generally, in Louisville, you own the water line from the meter into the home and your side of the gas meter, and Louisville Water Company owns the main and the line to the meter. Louisville MSD handles repairs to the public sewer mains, while LG&E handles gas emergencies.
Knowing who to call and where responsibility falls can seem tricky. Utilize this table to better understand whether you should call Louisville Water, MSD, LG&E, or Dauenhauer for your situation.
| Emergency | Call FIRST | Then |
| Smell of gas (rotten eggs) | Leave home, call 911 & LG&E | Call Dauenhauer once safe |
| No water on every fixture | Check Louisville Water outage map | No outage? Call us |
| Sewage backing up indoors | Dauenhauer (your lateral) | MSD if main-line/public |
| Burst pipe / water heater leak inside | Shut off main, call Dauenhauer | Document for insurance |
| Water main break at the street | Louisville Water | Us for the home-side line |
Plumbing Emergencies in Louisville’s Older Homes
Pre-1960s homes in the Highlands, Old Louisville, Germantown, and Crescent Hill, often have galvanized or cast iron supply and drain lines. These aging pipes are easily corroded and can result in plumbing emergencies. Louisville’s older homes also typically have original main shut-off valves that can seize when you need them most.
Pipe bursts, main line failures, and stuck shut-off valves are common older home plumbing emergencies in these areas. If you have a broken pipe or slab leak, a Highlands plumber can save the day. Dauenhauer professionals can also talk you through locating and operating an original shut-off before the service truck arrives. Older homes also can benefit from sewer line cleaning services.
Louisville Emergency Plumbing FAQs
My basement is flooding during a storm — is that MSD’s problem or mine?
Basement flooding during heavy rains in Louisville is common because MSD’s combined sewer system can push sewage back through your floor drains. Groundwater intrusion or failed sump pump flooding are also common.
If you have sewage backing up in your home, it typically starts with your private lateral, which should be handled by a licensed plumber. A blockage or overflow in the public main is MSD’s responsibility. Either way, stop running water, stay clear of the sewage and call Dauenhauer at (502) 275-0400 to diagnose whose responsibility it is.
Who do I call first if I have no water in my Louisville home?
If you have no water from any fixture in your Louisville home, first, check the Louisville Water Company outage map to see if there is a main break or utility work happening in your area. If there is no reported outage, the issue is likely on your side of the meter. It may be a closed or failed main valve, a frozen line, or a supply line break. No matter the cause, Dauenhauer can respond 24/7 in Jefferson County at (502) 275-0400.
How fast can Dauenhauer reach me in Jefferson County?
Dauenhauer reaches emergency plumbing customers as quickly as possible in Jefferson County. The exact timing depends on your location, plumber availability, traffic, and other factors. We provide estimated wait times for all emergency repairs.
My pipes froze in an older Highlands home — what should I do right now?
If your home’s pipes froze, you should turn off your main water supply valve immediately to prevent burst pipes and flooding. Then call our emergency line at (502) 275-0400. Next, open faucets connected to the frozen pipe to release pressure as the ice melts and use a heating pad, hair dryer, or hot towels to thaw the frozen section of pipe.
Do you charge extra for after-hours emergency calls?
Yes. We charge a small after-hours fee to fairly compensate our licensed plumbers who make emergency calls outside of normal business hours. We provide transparent price estimates on all repairs before work is done.
Louisville’s 24/7 Emergency Plumbers
Since 1958, Dauenhauer has been family-owned and serving Louisville homeowners. Our licensed, bonded, and insured master plumbers have earned us 10,000+ five-star reviews. We offer upfront pricing, flexible financing, fully-stocked trucks, and fast response times in Jefferson County.
Call our emergency line at (502) 275-0400 for 24/7 service or call our Louisville office on Robards Court at (502) 219-3297 for non-emergencies.
