Emergency plumbing · Houston & surrounding counties
A 24-hour desk, and a plumber who is actually on it.
Sterling & Vance runs an emergency rota rather than an answering service. Calls are triaged by a licensed plumber, dispatched against a named technician, and quoted at a fixed figure before any work is authorised.
- Target attendance
- 60 minutes
- Desk hours
- 24 / 7 / 365
- Quotation
- Fixed, pre-authorised
- Coverage
- Houston + 25 mi
Scope of works
What the emergency rota covers
- Burst and frozen supply lines
- Isolation, excision of the failed run, repipe and pressure test prior to sign-off.
- Water heater failure
- Diagnosis of tank, thermocouple and relief valve. Repair where economic, replacement where not.
- Blocked waste and drainage
- Cabling or hydro-jetting selected on the basis of camera survey, not guesswork.
- Main line and sewer backup
- CCTV survey, clearance, and footage supplied to the client on completion.
- Concealed leak detection
- Acoustic and pressure testing to locate before any fabric is opened up.
- Slab leaks
- Location, exposure and repair, with re-instatement quoted separately and in advance.
Procedure
How an emergency call is handled
- 01
Triage by a licensed plumber
The desk establishes what is failing and instructs you on isolation while the technician is assigned. This step alone accounts for most of the avoidable damage.
- 02
Named dispatch and attendance window
You are given the technician's name and an attendance window. Within the Houston radius the target is sixty minutes.
- 03
Fixed quotation, then authorisation
Diagnosis is carried out on site and a fixed figure issued. Nothing is opened up until you authorise it. Decline, and the attendance fee is all that is payable.
- 04
Completion and documentation
Works are pressure-tested where applicable, photographed, and the invoice matches the authorised figure.
Schedule of rates
Indicative charges
Figures are supplied by the operator for this page and must be confirmed before publication. Work is priced per job, not per hour.
| Item | Basis | Indicative |
|---|---|---|
| Out-of-hours attendance | Travel and on-site diagnosis | $155 |
| Drain clearance, single fixture | Cable or jet, per fixture | $235 |
| Water heater replacement | Removal, install, haul-away | $1,940 |
| Main line CCTV survey | Survey and footage supplied | $385 |
| Concealed leak detection | Acoustic and pressure testing | $295 |
Coverage
Houston and surrounding counties
Dispatch operates from Houston to a working radius of approximately 25 miles. Beyond that the desk will still take the call and advise honestly whether attendance is practical within a useful timeframe.
| The Heights | 60 min |
|---|---|
| Montrose | 60 min |
| Midtown | 60 min |
| Bellaire | 60 min |
| West University | 60 min |
| Katy | 75 min |
| Sugar Land | 75 min |
| Pearland | 75 min |
| Spring | 75 min |
| Cypress | 75 min |
| Clear Lake | 75 min |
| Pasadena | 75 min |
Attendance targets are objectives, not guarantees; traffic and concurrent emergencies take precedence in order of severity.
Common questions
Answered before you ring
What is payable simply to attend?
$155 out of hours, covering travel and on-site diagnosis. Remedial work is quoted separately and requires your authorisation.
Does the rota run on public holidays?
Yes. The desk is staffed continuously, including weekends and public holidays.
Which payment methods are accepted?
Card and tap-to-pay on site, and cheque. Payment falls due on completion, once the work has been inspected.
What should I do while waiting?
Isolate the supply at the stopcock and keep water away from electrical fittings. The desk will talk you through both.
Are technicians licensed and insured?
Work is carried out under Texas Master Plumber licence M-00000 (demo) with $1M general liability cover (demo). Both are produced on request at the door.
Will I be told the cost before work starts?
Always. A fixed figure is issued after diagnosis and nothing proceeds without your authorisation.
Written enquiry
For matters that are not an emergency
Quotations for planned work, second opinions, and anything that can reasonably wait for office hours. Enquiries are answered in the order received.
Currently leaking? Do not use this form. Ring the emergency desk on (713) 555-0168.