Emergency Plumbing Services

24/7 Emergency Plumber in Des Moines, Urbandale, and Ankeny

 

When a pipe bursts, a sewer line backs up into a basement, or a water heater fails at 2 a.m. on a February night in Ankeny, the problem cannot wait until morning. 72 Degrees provides 24/7 emergency plumbing service across the Des Moines metro, with live answering around the clock and no overtime charges for after-hours calls.

 

Call now: (515) 965-7272 — answered live 24 hours a day, every day of the year.

 

We serve Urbandale, Des Moines, Ankeny, Johnston, Clive, Grimes, Waukee, West Des Moines, Altoona, Bondurant, Norwalk, Pleasant Hill, and all surrounding Polk County communities from our location at 3074 104th Street in Urbandale.

 

What Qualifies as a Plumbing Emergency

 

Not every plumbing problem requires emergency dispatch, but these situations do:

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• A pipe has burst or is actively releasing water you cannot contain by closing a fixture shutoff

• Your main sewer line has backed up into a basement floor drain, toilet, or tub

• You smell natural gas near a plumbing fixture or appliance connection (evacuate first, then call from outside)

• Your water heater has failed entirely, particularly in winter when frozen pipe risk is elevated

• A frozen pipe has stopped water flow or cracked and begun leaking after thawing

• A sump pump has failed during or after heavy rainfall with water entering the basement

• A toilet or drain is overflowing and the water cannot be contained

 

A dripping faucet, a slow drain, or a running toilet are problems we handle promptly on a standard scheduled call but do not require emergency dispatch unless they escalate.

 

What to Do Before the Plumber Arrives

 

Active water leak or burst pipe

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Locate the shutoff valve at the affected fixture or at your home's main shutoff and close it. In most Urbandale and Des Moines homes, the main shutoff is near the water meter in the basement or mechanical room. Closing it stops water from continuing into the leak and limits damage while you wait.

 

Gas smell

 

Do not turn lights or switches on or off. Do not use a phone inside the house. Leave the building immediately. Call MidAmerican Energy's emergency line at 1-800-595-5325 from outside, then call 72 Degrees at (515) 965-7272. Do not re-enter until the utility has cleared the area.

 

Sewer backup

 

Stop using all water in the home until the line is cleared. Do not use the dishwasher, washing machine, or any toilet. Water from any fixture adds to the backup and worsens the situation.

 

Sump pump failure during flooding

 

If safe to do so, unplug the failed pump, remove standing water with a wet/dry vacuum, and move valuables off the floor. Do not enter standing water if there is any possibility of electrical contact. Call (515) 965-7272 for emergency sump pump service.

 

Emergency Plumbing Situations We Handle

 

Burst and Frozen Pipes

 

Iowa winters regularly push temperatures to single digits across the Des Moines metro. Pipes in uninsulated exterior walls, garages, and crawl spaces are vulnerable when temperatures drop below 20 degrees Fahrenheit. We repair frozen and burst pipes and advise on insulation measures to reduce recurrence risk. See leak detection and pipe repair.

 

Sewer Line Backups

 

A main sewer line backup is one of the most disruptive plumbing emergencies a homeowner faces. We dispatch with camera equipment and cleaning gear to diagnose and clear the line on the same call when possible. Older clay laterals in established Urbandale neighborhoods are particularly prone to root intrusion, which our camera work identifies precisely. See sewer services.

 

Water Heater Failures

 

A water heater that stops working in January is a different situation than one that fails in July. We carry stock to replace common tank sizes same-day and assess whether repair or replacement is the right call on arrival. See water heater services.

 

Sump Pump Failures

 

Heavy rainfall events in Polk County can drop 2 to 3 inches in a short window. A failed sump pump during or after that event can mean significant basement flooding within hours. We respond to sump pump emergencies and can install a temporary or permanent replacement on an emergency basis. See sump pump services.

 

Gas Line Emergencies

 

Contact MidAmerican Energy first at 1-800-595-5325, then call us once you are safely outside and the utility has been notified. We handle gas line diagnosis and repair for residential connections once the line is confirmed safe to work. See gas line services.

 

Why Response Time Matters in Iowa Winters

 

The Des Moines metro sits in IECC Climate Zone 5A, with average January lows of 13 degrees Fahrenheit and

regular cold stretches below zero. A burst pipe in an unheated basement can release dozens of gallons per minute. A water heater failure in a home already stressed by cold is a compounding problem: no hot water increases the risk that supply lines in exterior walls drop to damaging temperatures if heating is also struggling.

 

Polk County's housing stock includes a significant number of homes from the 1950s through the 1980s in northwest Des Moines, established Urbandale neighborhoods east of Douglas Avenue, and older sections of Clive. These homes were built to the standards of their era, which often means less insulation in wall cavities, older pipe materials, and water heaters past their expected service life.

 

Secondary damage from water and freezing compounds quickly. 72 Degrees maintains availability every day of the year with no premium for nights, weekends, or holidays.

 

Schedule Emergency Plumbing Service in Des Moines and Urbandale

 

Call (515) 965-7272 any time, day or night. Our line is answered live. We serve the full Des Moines metro from 3074 104th Street, Urbandale, IA 50322.

See our full plumbing services   |   Schedule Online

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

Does 72 Degrees charge extra for after-hours emergency calls?

 

No. We do not add overtime charges for emergency service calls outside regular business hours. The work is priced the same regardless of when you call.

 

How fast can a plumber reach me in Urbandale or Ankeny?

 

Response times depend on technician location and current call volume. Active water loss and sewage backups are treated as the highest-priority calls. Call (515) 965-7272 and our dispatcher will give you a current estimated arrival time.

 

What should I do if a pipe bursts in my Des Moines home?

 

Locate and close the shutoff valve at the affected fixture or at the main shutoff near your water meter. Then call (515) 965-7272. If the burst pipe is causing water to contact electrical panels or outlets, contact MidAmerican Energy and stay out of the affected area. See leak detection and pipe repair.

 

Can you fix a burst pipe in the middle of the night?

 

Yes. Our technicians are on call around the clock. A burst pipe is among the situations we treat as highest priority because active water loss causes compounding damage with every passing hour. See leak detection & pipe repair.

 

Do you provide sewer emergency service in Johnston, Grimes, and West Des Moines?

 

Yes. Our emergency service area covers the full Des Moines metro including Johnston, Grimes, West Des Moines, Waukee, Clive, Altoona, and all surrounding Polk County communities. See sewer services.

 

My water heater stopped working at night. Does that qualify for emergency dispatch?

 

It depends on the situation. If you have no other source of hot water and the failure is combined with cold weather, we treat it as a priority dispatch. If the situation is stable, we can schedule same-day service at standard rates. Call (515) 965-7272 and we will help you decide the right course of action. See water heater services.

 

What if I smell gas near a plumbing fixture in my home?

 

Leave the building without touching any switches. Call MidAmerican Energy at 1-800-595-5325 from outside. Once the utility responds and secures the line, call 72 Degrees at (515) 965-7272 for gas line diagnosis and repair. Do not attempt to locate or fix a gas leak yourself. See gas line services.

 

Does 72 Degrees handle emergency drain and sewer calls?

 

Yes. Main line sewer backups and severely clogged drains that result in sewage entering the home qualify for emergency dispatch. We carry camera and cleaning equipment on our service vehicles for these calls. See drain cleaning & hydro jetting.