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Emergency Plumbing in Des Moines, IA

Emergency plumbing in Des Moines, answered 24 hours a day. Burst pipes, sewer backups, failed water heaters, and anything putting water where it should not be.

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OVERVIEW

Emergency Plumbing in Des Moines

An emergency is anything actively causing damage or making a building unusable: water you cannot shut off, sewage coming up through a floor drain, no water at all, or a gas smell near an appliance. We answer the phone in Des Moines 24 hours a day, and we give you an honest arrival time rather than the one you want to hear.

Des Moines has the oldest housing stock of any city we serve, with a median build year around 1961. A large share of the city still drains through cast iron stacks and clay laterals that have had six decades to scale up, settle, and open at the joints.

All work is performed in compliance with the 2024 Uniform Plumbing Code as adopted by the State of Iowa.

Clog Busters technician with drain cleaning van

WHAT COUNTS AS AN EMERGENCY

When to Call Us Immediately in Des Moines

Some plumbing problems can wait until morning. These cannot.

Water You Cannot Shut Off

If the fixture stop will not close and you cannot find the main shutoff, call now. We will talk you through finding it while we are on the way.

Sewage Coming Up Indoors

Waste surfacing at a floor drain or a low fixture means the main line is blocked. Every further gallon used in the building makes it worse.

A Water Heater Leaking Badly

A tank that is both failing and leaking is a flooding risk, and in a finished basement it does expensive damage quickly.

A Gas Smell Near an Appliance

Leave the building and call the gas utility first. We handle the plumbing side afterward, but that call comes before ours.

Odor From Older Venting

Shared and atmospheric venting is common in this housing stock, and a vent fault shows up as smell or sluggish drainage rather than a visible leak.

Roots at a Clay Joint

Mature trees on established Des Moines streets send roots straight to the moisture weeping from a clay pipe joint. Seasonal timing is the giveaway.

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EMERGENCY SERVICES

Emergencies We Handle in Des Moines

Residential and commercial, around the clock.

  1. 01

    Main Line and Sewer Backups

    Waste surfacing indoors, usually at the lowest drain in the building. We clear the line, then camera it once the immediate problem is contained.

  2. 02

    Burst and Leaking Pipes

    Split lines, failed joints, and leaks inside walls and ceilings. We isolate first and repair second.

  3. 03

    Frozen and Split Lines

    Iowa winters find every under-insulated run. Thawing safely matters more than thawing fast, because heat applied wrongly splits the pipe outright.

  4. 04

    Water Heater Failures

    Tanks that have opened up, relief valves discharging, and units leaking into a finished space.

  5. 05

    Overflowing Fixtures

    Toilets, sinks, and tubs that will not drain and will not stop, including the shutoff that should have worked and did not.

  6. 06

    Commercial Shutdowns

    A restaurant or clinic that cannot open is losing money by the hour, and those calls are treated accordingly.

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WHY CLOG BUSTERS

Why Des Moines Calls Us in an Emergency

  • A Live Voice at Any Hour Every day of the year, holidays included. The phone reaches someone who can actually help rather than take a message.
  • An Honest Arrival Window We would rather tell you we are ninety minutes out than say twenty and leave you standing over a running leak.
  • Price Agreed Before We Start Approved up front even in the middle of the night. Urgency does not become a pricing lever.
  • We Fix the Cause, Not the Symptom Once the damage is stopped we find out why it happened, so you are not making this same call again next month.
  • Drains Are the Whole Job We are a drain and sewer company first. This is not a sideline bolted onto furnace work.
  • Based on Vandalia Road Our shop is inside Des Moines on the east side, not out in a suburb, which is why response times in the city are short.
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How an Emergency Call Works in Des Moines

A real person, an honest arrival time, and a fixed price before any work starts.

  1. You Reach a Person

    Not a queue and not a voicemail box. Someone who can tell you what to shut off and what to stop using right now.

  2. A Straight Arrival Time

    You get the actual window rather than an optimistic one. If we cannot be there quickly we say so while you still have time to call someone else.

  3. Permit and Code

    Des Moines issues plumbing permits through its Permit and Development Center, and the work is done to the 2024 Uniform Plumbing Code Iowa has adopted.

  4. Stabilise, Then Diagnose

    First we stop the damage. Then we find the cause properly, because something applied in a hurry to the wrong problem is not a repair.

  5. Price Before Repair

    Even at three in the morning you approve the number before work begins. An emergency is not an excuse for open-ended billing.

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REVIEWS

Hear From Some Of Our Customers

Don't Just Take Our Word For It

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4.9 4.9-star Google rating

“Max did a great job with our plumbing issue. He came same day and was very helpful an communicated every step of the way. Cleaned everything up when he was done. Will definitely call them for future issues.”

Lisa Morales

“I had my furnace inspected for fall maintenance today, and the tech mentioned my drain was backing up - not exactly the news I wanted to hear! I called Clog Busters and they had someone out within the hour, which already impressed me. Max was the technician, and he was absolutely splendid. He took the time to explain everything thoroughly without being condescending about it, which I really appreciated. He was clean and respectful of my home and belongings the entire time he was here.”

Sheree Clark

“Jordan Rambo was amazing he spent the extra time cleaning up area and taught me what I should and shouldn’t do for drains he was professional, extremely knowledgeable and polite. I would recommend him any time !”

Thomas Downin

“I live in an area with a lot of tree roots and need to get my sewer drain augered regularly. when jordan came to issue me a quote he also gave me so much information other businesses hadn’t. after he was finished completing the service he cleaned up after himself and gave me a thorough synopsis.”

Doña Andrade

“Rambo, was outstanding! If I could give 10 stars I would! Did everything he could to help and explain everything where I could understand!”

Elly Hawk

“Nick did an amazing job at our house today 8-29-2026. He was very informative, professional and answered all our questions. Couldn't ask for anything better.”

Bruce Cordes

“Rambo did a great job. Took care of us and gave tips on how to unclog myself next time. Fast service.”

Amy Debassige

“Caleb and Noah were a lifesaver. Needed the kitchen drain cleaned after guests ran potato peels down the disposal on Christmas Day. They take emergency calls and made sure I didn't have to wash Christmas dishes in the bathtub.”

Paul Vincent

“Max showed up and cleared a clog from our kitchen sink drain. He was professional, prompt and honest with pricing. He found a larger issue that he provided quotes for, and was able to complete that work the same day. Thank you Max”

Michael Podzimek

“Efficient, professional and knowledgeable service. Jordan and Evan did a fantastic job for us. Highly recommend!”

Nick DeRocher

FAQ

Emergency Plumbing FAQs for Des Moines

Still stuck? Call the Des Moines shop at (515) 259-1991.

Shut off the water. For one fixture that is the stop valve underneath it, and for the whole building it is the main shutoff, usually where the supply enters. For a water heater, close the cold inlet and turn off the gas or the breaker. We will talk you through it on the phone.

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Related services

Plumbing Repairs Fast fixes for leaks, faucets, toilets, and everything between. Learn more Water Heater Services Repair, maintain, and replace tank and tankless water heaters. Learn more Plumbing Inspections Whole-home plumbing checkups that catch problems early. Learn more Plumbing Remodeling Plumbing rough-in and finish work for kitchen and bath remodels. Learn more

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Get Emergency Plumbing Help Today

Des Moines metro homeowners rely on Clog Busters for fast, honest emergency plumbing help. Licensed in Iowa and backed by nearly 2,800 five-star reviews, with recommendations focused on what makes the most sense for your home.

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