In Apex, the first step in a plumbing emergency is closing the main shutoff. If gas is what you smell, leave and call 911 or Enbridge Gas North Carolina at 1-877-776-2427 from outside. Then call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Apex.
What's different in Apex
Apex runs its own water distribution system; the water is treated at the Cary/Apex plant, which the two towns own together. The town owns and maintains the public side of each service line, and the property owner owns the private side. A break in the street is the town's to fix; a leak from your side of the meter to the house needs a plumber.
The houses are among the newest in the Triangle: the median home was built in 2008 and fewer than 4% date from before 1980. In homes this new, emergencies tend to come from water heaters, washing machine hoses, ice maker lines and drain clogs rather than corroded pipe. The town's inventory found no lead or galvanized lines needing replacement.
Apex is stricter than many towns about permits. Replacing a water heater needs a permit even when it's like-for-like, and only a contractor can do it. Replacing fixtures or a same-size water or drain line needs a permit too. That doesn't stop anyone from shutting off water and stopping a leak tonight, but it does shape the permanent repair.
Tonight vs. the follow-up visit
| Problem | Tonight | Later |
|---|---|---|
| Water heater leaking | Shut off water and power or gas; drain if needed | Permitted replacement by a contractor |
| Burst supply line in a wall | Cap or repair the line, restore water | Drywall repair; permit if line is replaced |
| Main drain clog | Clear the line | Camera inspection if it keeps happening |
| Leak in the yard | Close the meter-side valve | Repair the private service line |
Signs to act on
- Water running across a floor or through a ceiling
- A toilet or drain backing up with waste water
- No water at any tap while the neighbors have it
- A gas odor near the heater or furnace
Timing notes
Apex switches from chloramine to chlorine each spring, roughly late February to early April; that's routine treatment and doesn't damage plumbing. Irrigation systems here must have a reduced pressure backflow assembly, which can split in a hard freeze if it isn't drained. If you find one spraying after a cold night, close the irrigation valve and call for a repair.
Emergency Plumber questions in Apex
Who pays to fix a leak in the pipe between the meter and my house?
Will an emergency repair need a permit, and who issues it?
Water is pooling around my water heater. How urgent is that?
Which plumbing problems can safely wait for regular hours?
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