When You Need to Call Immediately
Some slab leak situations cannot wait for a scheduled appointment. Call us right now if you are experiencing any of the following:
- Water coming up through the floor or pooling on the slab surface
- The sound of water running loudly under the floor that was not there yesterday
- A burst or failing shut-off valve with water actively escaping
- Your water meter showing flow after you have shut off everything in the house
- A sudden dramatic drop in water pressure across all fixtures simultaneously
- Water discoloring or staining flooring overnight
In any of these situations, shut off your main water supply at the curb shut-off (the valve near the EMWD meter at the street) if you can locate it. Then call us. We will talk you through immediate steps and confirm an arrival time.
What Happens on an Emergency Call
- Call received: We answer. A real person picks up the call. We ask what you are seeing and confirm your address and ZIP code in Perris.
- Immediate guidance: We walk you through locating and using the main shut-off to stop active water flow while we are on the way. This is the most important step to prevent additional floor and foundation damage.
- Arrival and detection: We confirm the leak source using acoustic equipment and pressure isolation. Even in an emergency, detection comes before concrete is opened. This prevents us from cutting in the wrong location and creating a second problem.
- Options and written estimate: We give you repair options and a written cost range before any work begins. Emergency response does not change this process. You still approve the scope before work starts.
- Repair and pressure test: We complete the repair the same appointment whenever possible. Reroutes and spot repairs are done on-site. We do not leave until the line passes a pressure test.
What You Can Do Before We Arrive
If you have an active leak and water is entering your home before we arrive, here is what to do:
- Shut off the main water supply. The EMWD meter and curb shut-off is at the street near your property line. Turn it clockwise to close. This stops the flow into the slab line entirely.
- Move rugs and furniture away from wet areas. Water damage to flooring and furniture accelerates quickly. Getting fabric off wet concrete slows secondary damage.
- Do not use fans to dry a wet slab area immediately. If the concrete is saturated, rapid drying can cause surface cracking. Wait for our assessment.
- Document the damage with photos. This helps if you are filing a homeowner's insurance claim for water damage.
Frequently Asked Questions
We take calls around the clock and respond to emergency situations on nights, weekends, and holidays. Any pricing information specific to after-hours response will be provided on the call and in your written estimate before work begins. We do not surprise customers with costs that were not discussed in advance.
If you are not sure whether the leak is on your side of the meter, you can call EMWD, but the fastest way to determine this is pressure isolation, which we do on arrival. EMWD is responsible for the main up to the meter. Everything past the meter is the homeowner's responsibility. We can tell you on arrival which side the loss is on.
Coverage varies significantly by policy. Most homeowner's insurance policies cover the resulting water damage (flooring, drywall, contents) but not the cost of the plumbing repair itself. Some policies have specific exclusions for gradual leaks. We provide a written repair invoice that you can submit to your insurer. We do not bill insurance directly, but we give you documentation that supports a claim.