Plumbers, HVAC technicians, and electricians are happy to provide emergency services after hours. Even during regular business hours, emergency service takes priority. Contractors don’t mind because they can charge more. That begs the question: do you really need emergency plumbing, HVAC, or electric services? Or could you manage to live with the problem and wait for regularly scheduled service?
There are certain things that constitute obvious emergencies. Then there are other things that are mere inconveniences even though a property owner might consider them emergency needs. Contractors have the tough task of sorting things out and prioritizing calls. I suspect that is one of the reasons they charge more for emergency service. Higher prices are a way to weed out those customers whose problems really are not genuine emergencies.
Examples of Legitimate Emergencies
I was more than curious about what a contractor would consider an emergency. So I did some research, looking into plumbing, HVAC, and electric service. It turns out there are fewer emergencies than most people believe.
Genuine Plumbing Emergencies:
- Burst pipes and other major leaks that could cause flooding
- Water heater failure (especially issues with potential health risks)
- Severe clogs and sewage backups that could cause significant damage or pose health risks
Genuine HVAC Emergencies:
- Complete loss of heating during the winter
- Complete loss of AC in extreme heat
- Smoke or burning odors coming from an HVAC unit
- System breakdowns that jeopardize system integrity
Genuine Electrical Emergencies:
- Sparks, smoke, or burning odors in any electrical equipment
- Electrical shocks related to appliances or outlets
- Short circuits in electrical panels
- Frequent breaker trips related to water heaters, stoves, etc.
Genuine emergencies involve situations that pose a certain level of risk to either homeowners or their property. If there is little to no risk involved, a situation will not be deemed an emergency.
How Emergency Services Function
Although contractors are free to operate their emergency services in whatever way suits them best, most follow a certain pattern. SameDay out of Salt Lake City, Utah offers typical emergency services available 24/7.
Like most other contractors, SameDay provides rapid response service. But they still prioritize calls according to need. The most threatening emergencies are dispatched first. In addition, licensed and fully trained techs are on call evenings, weekends, and holidays.
Technicians follow all applicable procedures and codes to ensure work is done correctly. Before work is done however, a technician will thoroughly diagnose the situation. In doing so, he may offer a temporary fix that stabilizes the situation until regular repairs can be scheduled.
A good example is addressing a complete AC failure in the middle of a hot, dry Utah summer. SameDay might send out a technician whose diagnosis uncovers a refrigerant league. The unit is old enough that it needs to be replaced. To stabilize the situation, the technician temporarily fixes the leak and recharges the system. But that’s it. Full replacement is scheduled for a few days down the road.
When to Call for Emergency Service
The big question for homeowners is when to call for emergency service. Here’s the simple answer: call if you’re facing a situation that includes danger to life or property. If it’s something else, especially routine maintenance or a minor repair, it’s best to wait and schedule regular service.
Don’t worry if you cannot make that decision. Anytime you call for emergency service, your contractor will ask certain questions to determine the seriousness of the situation. If your situation is a genuine emergency, a technician will be dispatched as quickly as possible. Otherwise, the agent will recommend scheduling regular service instead.
