Emergency Plumbing in Albuquerque, NM
Burst pipe, sewage backup or a failed water heater? We answer around the clock and tell you what to shut off first.
- NM CID License #413436
- 24 Google reviews
- Led by Dominic Montoya, over 20 years in the trade
- Free written estimates
Need an emergency plumber in Albuquerque? Shut off the water first, then call Red Wrench Company at (209) 563-1400. We answer 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and we will talk you through what to do while we work out when someone can get to you.
What Counts as a Plumbing Emergency?
Call right away when water or sewage is doing damage now, or when the home has lost something it needs.
- A burst or split pipe that is spraying or flooding
- Sewage rising in a tub, shower or floor drain
- A tank water heater leaking from the tank body
- No water to the whole house when your neighbors have supply
- A leak near electrical panels or outlets
- Water pouring through a ceiling
Some problems feel urgent but can usually wait for daylight. A single clogged toilet in a home with a second bathroom, a dripping faucet or a slow sink rarely needs a night call, and we will tell you so if you ask.
What Sets Off a Night Call Here
- A hard freeze. Albuquerque averages about 113 freezing nights a year (BestPlaces). A frozen line can stay quiet until the ice melts, so the flood often starts on the thaw.
- A cooler line left charged. A thin line running to a roof swamp cooler can split over winter and spray when the supply comes back on.
- A tank at the end of its life. Hard water and sediment wear the tank from the inside, and the failure can arrive with no warning.
- A private sewer line. Roots, grease or a low spot can block the lateral, and everything in the house backs up to the lowest drain.
Your First Five Minutes
Do these in order, and skip anything that puts you near wet electrics.
- Stop the water. Close the main shutoff, or the fixture valve if the leak is at one fixture. Common main valve spots are a garage wall, a utility closet or where the line enters the house.
- Protect the heater. With the main off, turn a gas water heater to pilot or vacation and switch off the breaker for an electric unit.
- Drain what is left. Open a low faucet to relieve the pressure.
- Stay safe around power. Keep out of standing water near outlets or panels. Turn off a breaker only if you can reach it from dry ground.
- Stop using drains. During a sewage backup, no flushing, laundry or dishwasher.
- Take photos. Your insurer may want them later, and your safety comes first.
If the main valve will not close, or you think the problem is in the street, the Water Authority dispatch center takes emergency reports around the clock at (505) 842-9287, Option 1. Its page lists broken water mains and sewer overflows or backups, says service may be shut off during repairs, and since August 24, 2026 also takes reports through its Ripple chatbot.
If You Are Not on Water Authority Service
Dispatch serves Water Authority customers, so check your bill if you are unsure. Rio Rancho's drinking water comes from the City, and Bosque Farms has its own village Water and Sewer department. Corrales has no municipal water system, and many homes there draw from a private well. A well home has no street valve to request. Switch off the breaker for the pump if you can reach it from dry ground, then close the valve at the pressure tank.
How We Respond to an Emergency Plumbing Call
The phones stay on all night, and you get a person who can talk through the problem. We do not promise an arrival time, because the honest answer depends on how many calls are open and where you are. We work toward same-day service and tell you what we know as soon as we know it.
When you call, have these ready:
- Your address and the best callback number
- What happened, and whether the water is off
- Whether anyone is elderly, very young or medically fragile
- Whether the home is on city sewer or septic
- Any photos you can take safely
What an Emergency Call Includes
- Shutoff and safety steps on the phone first
- A straight read on whether the problem can wait for regular hours
- Diagnosis on site, with temporary and permanent options
- The price stated before work starts
- A written note of what we found and anything still open
What Happens When We Arrive
The first job is making the home safe and stable, and the permanent fix comes after that.
- We confirm the water, gas or power that needs to stay off.
- We find the source, whether it is a split line, a failed tank or a blocked sewer.
- We tell you what the temporary and permanent options are, and what each costs.
- You approve the price before the work starts.
- We stop the damage, then repair what we can on that visit.
- We restore the water, check for other leaks and write up what remains.
Night parts can be limited. Sometimes the right call is a safe temporary repair that keeps part of the house running until a supply house opens, and we will say so.
After-Hours Pricing Without Surprises
Night and weekend work can cost more, and we will not pretend it does not. The price for your job is stated before work starts, so you can decide whether to go ahead now or stabilize things and wait for morning. If waiting is safe, we will tell you, and it may save you money.
These change the total most:
- The hour and the day of the call
- Whether the fix is temporary or permanent
- Parts on hand or ordered
- Access to the failed pipe, tank or line
Why Call Red Wrench at 2 in the Morning
- A real answer on the phone. We answer around the clock and start with safety steps.
- A price before we work. Nothing goes ahead until you say yes.
- Hands-on leadership. Our owner, Dominic Montoya, has worked in plumbing, heating and cooling for over 20 years.
- A number you can verify. NM CID License #413436 is searchable any hour on the state license lookup. Look for MM-1, the state's plumbing classification, on any contractor you call.
“Our water heater went out on a weekend and our family was left without any water. Red Wrench was able to be here fast! They were professional, incredibly knowledgeable, and took care of the issues. Unbeatable service. Highly recommended!!”
“Great service, quick response. Thank you”
Where We Take Emergency Plumbing Calls
Emergency plumbing works best close to our Paradise Blvd base, so this section covers Albuquerque and nearby places such as Rio Rancho, Corrales and the South Valley. The drive and the open calls both affect timing, so none of those places comes with an arrival promise. If you are farther out, call first and ask, because we confirm plumbing coverage call by call.
New Mexico plumbing work follows the 2021 New Mexico Plumbing Code (14.8.2 NMAC). Even a night repair has to meet it, and a temporary fix stays temporary until the permanent work is done. On a home that is leased or rented out, the City of Albuquerque's permit page says a licensed contractor must obtain any permit for the work.
Areas we serve
- Rio RanchoCity water here, so a street-side break goes to the City, not the Authority.
- South ValleyOlder homes on long lots can hide shutoffs, so find yours before a pipe fails.
- CorralesNo municipal water here, so a well home stops a burst at the pump.
- Los Ranchos de AlbuquerqueGuest houses and workshops can sit far apart, so learn each building's shutoff.
- North ValleyTell us about septic on the phone, because many properties here have no public sewer.
- BernalilloGive your exact address when you call, since town and county lines sit close here.
- PlacitasNo town government here, so confirm your water provider before a night emergency.
- TijerasAt 6,382 feet, exposed lines split in hard freezes, so insulate before winter.
- All service areas
Emergency Plumbing questions
Do you answer plumbing calls at night and on weekends?
Yes. Our phone is answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call and describe what is happening, and we will start with what to shut off. We do not promise a set arrival time, so we will tell you honestly what we can do tonight based on the calls we have open.
Where is my main water shutoff?
It is often on a garage wall, in a utility closet, near the water heater or where the line enters the house. Find yours before you need it and make sure it turns. If you cannot find it during a flood, call us and the Water Authority dispatch line.
What should I do during a sewer backup?
Stop all water use, including flushing, laundry and the dishwasher. Keep people and pets away from the affected area, and do not mix chemicals into it. Call us so we can find out whether the blockage sits in your line. Suspect the street main? Report it to Water Authority dispatch.
How much does an emergency plumber cost?
We do not publish a set fee, because the hour, the failure and the access all change the total. You get the price before work starts, and you can choose a temporary fix or wait for regular hours if that is safe. Ask us on the phone what applies.
Is having no hot water an emergency?
Usually not, unless the tank is leaking or someone at home depends on hot water for medical reasons. Shut off a leaking tank and call. If the tank is dry and quiet, a daytime visit may cost less. Tell us your situation and we will say what we think.
My rental has a plumbing emergency. Who do I call?
Stop the water if you can, then tell your landlord right away, in writing as well as by phone. A New Mexico courts pamphlet, revised July 2023, lists working plumbing and running water among a landlord's duties, and your lease may name who approves repairs. We can diagnose and repair the problem once the owner or manager approves the visit, and we will note what we found.
Talk to Red Wrench about emergency plumbing
Call any hour. You get a straight answer, a free written estimate and the price before the work starts.
- NM CID License #413436
- 24 Google reviews
- Led by Dominic Montoya, over 20 years in the trade
- Free written estimates
Red Wrench Company, 5635 Paradise Blvd NW, Albuquerque, NM 87114, (209) 563-1400