Guide

Emergency plumber vs. regular plumber in Paris: how to know which you need

Most people who call us aren't sure whether their problem counts as "an emergency" — and honestly, that's not something you need to work out alone before calling. Here's a rough guide anyway, since it helps to know what to expect either way.

Signs it's a genuine emergency

• Water you can't stop. A burst pipe, a valve that's failed, or water actively flooding a room — even after you've shut off the stopcock, if water is still spreading, this is urgent.
• Water near electrics. Any leak dripping toward a socket, light fixture, or appliance is a safety issue, not just a plumbing one.
• No water at all, for the whole flat. A total loss of water supply (as opposed to just no hot water) usually points to something that needs sorting quickly, especially in winter.
• Sewage backing up. Waste water coming back up through a drain or toilet is both unpleasant and a genuine health concern — this counts as urgent every time.

Signs it can usually wait for a scheduled visit

• A slow-draining or blocked toilet when you have access to another bathroom.
• A dripping tap that's annoying but contained — a bucket underneath buys you time.
• Lukewarm rather than hot water, when it's not urgent for your situation.
• A slow kitchen or bathroom drain that hasn't fully stopped.

What actually changes if it's urgent

The honest answer: less than you'd think. Our emergency plumber line runs the same English-speaking service 24/7 — the difference is how we prioritise dispatch, not a different process or a different plumber network. You don't need to justify the urgency or convince anyone; just describe what's happening and we'll treat it accordingly.

If you genuinely can't tell

That's completely normal, and it's fine to just call and describe the situation — a burst pipe at 3am is obviously urgent, but plenty of situations sit in between, and working that out with you is part of what the call is for. Better to call and be told it's not urgent than to wait on something that turns out to be.