Emergency Plumber in Clarkston, GA

Clarkston at a glance

Clarkston is a small DeKalb city just outside I-285, long a refugee-resettlement hub. Much of its housing is 1970s and 1980s apartments and homes: the median year built is 1979, about 53% predate 1980 and roughly 31% were built in the 1970s. The city handles only storm drains. Water and sewer are managed by DeKalb County, and the city sends sewage problems and missing manhole lids to DeKalb County Water and Sewer at 770-621-7200. DeKalb's 24-hour emergency repair line is 770-270-6243.

In buildings from the 1970s, original shutoff valves, water heaters and galvanized or early copper supply lines are the parts most likely to give out. In apartments, a leak in one unit often shows up first as a stain or drip in the unit below, so a neighbor may notice before you do.

What to do now

1. Close the main valve. In an apartment, the unit shutoff may be under a sink or in a utility closet.
2. Tell the property manager if you rent; the owner usually arranges repairs.
3. Turn off the water heater if it is leaking.
4. Shut off breakers for wet rooms.
5. Report public-side problems to DeKalb. DeKalb owns the line from the main to the meter; the owner is responsible from the meter to the home's plumbing.
6. Call for a plumber for leaks and backups on the owner's side.

Signs and likely causes

Cost factors

• Time. Night and weekend work usually costs more.
• Older materials. Corroded pipe may need a section replaced.
• Access. Shared walls and finished ceilings add time.
• Permits. Clarkston requires permits to replace a water heater, for new plumbing and for fixture work that alters piping, through its online trade permit application (404-296-6489).

Ask about after-hours pricing when you are connected. Arrival depends on the hour and the plumber's workload, so no time is promised.