Most plumbing emergencies in Pueblo come down to a short list: a pipe that froze and split, a water heater tank that has rusted through, a sewer line that is backing up into the lowest drain, or a supply line under a sink that let go. All of them get worse every minute the water runs. These steps keep the damage small until help arrives.
The first few minutes
- 1Find and close the main valve. Pueblo houses vary a lot. With a basement, the valve is usually on the wall where the water line enters. With a crawl space or slab, check near the water heater, in a utility closet, or by the crawl space hatch. Some houses also have a valve in the meter pit near the street.
- 2Open the lowest faucet in the house so the pressure bleeds off and the leak slows down.
- 3Shut down the water heater if the tank is leaking. Close the cold water valve above it, set a gas heater to off, or flip the breaker for an electric one.
- 4Mind the electricity. Stay out of standing water near outlets, the panel or a furnace.
- 5Call us and tell the plumber what is leaking, where it is, and whether you got the water off.
If you smell gas anywhere in the house, leave first. Do not touch switches or use a phone inside. Call Black Hills Energy or 911 from outside.
If water is bubbling up at the curb or in the street, the leak is probably on the utility side. Call Pueblo Water about it rather than a plumber.
Calls that cannot wait
- A burst pipe, or water running inside a wall or dripping through a ceiling.
- A water heater that is leaking from the tank or smells of gas.
- Sewage coming up through a floor drain, tub or toilet.
- No water at all on a very cold morning, which usually means a frozen line.
- A fixture that will not stop running and has no shutoff that works.
A drip, one slow sink or a toilet that runs now and then can usually wait for a normal visit, as long as you can turn the water off at that fixture.
Why Pueblo houses have urgent leaks
Age is the biggest reason. Census figures for the city show 43.8% of homes were built before 1960 and 21.2% in 1939 or earlier. Old galvanized pipe, worn valves and tired water heaters tend to fail suddenly rather than slowly.
Hard water adds to it. Pueblo Water's 2025 tests averaged about 10.7 grains per gallon of hardness, and that scale eats at tank bottoms and valve seats over the years.
Then there is the cold. Pueblo winters are mostly mild, but lows hit 0 F or below on about 6 nights a year, and the city's record is minus 31 F. A pipe that freezes overnight often splits without leaking, then floods the crawl space or basement once it thaws in the afternoon sun.
Old main valves
Many older Pueblo homes still have a gate valve on the main line. If it has not been turned in years, it may not close fully, or it may start to drip from the stem once you move it. If yours is stiff or will not shut, ask the plumber to swap it for a quarter turn ball valve during the visit. It makes the next emergency much easier to handle.
What happens after you call
A licensed plumber who handles urgent work around Pueblo phones you back, asks a few questions and tells you when they can get there. On site they find the cause, make it safe, and give you a price for the repair before doing it.
Whether someone can come late at night, on a weekend or on a holiday depends on the business taking the call, so ask. After hours visits usually cost more. Ask about any extra charge before they set out.
Common questions
What do I do first if a pipe bursts in my Pueblo house?
Close the main water valve, open the lowest faucet to drain pressure, and keep away from water near anything electric. Then call a plumber.
Who handles a leak at the curb or in the street?
That is usually on the utility side of the meter, so call Pueblo Water. Leaks inside your house or on your side of the line are for a plumber.
Does an emergency plumber cost more?
Often it does. Many plumbers charge more at night, on weekends and on holidays. Ask about it when the plumber calls you back.
Can it wait until morning?
If the water is off and the leak has stopped, a morning visit is usually fine. If you cannot stop the water, sewage is coming up, or you smell gas, get help now.