A burst pipe or a sewer backup can rattle anyone. Heart rate jumps. Floors get wet. Thoughts race. That first minute on the phone shapes everything that follows. Clear details help the dispatcher route the right technician, load the right parts, and give you quick steps that reduce damage before help arrives. This guide shows you exactly what to say in those first 60 seconds so the Reichelt Plumbing team can move fast. You’ll see what info matters most, how to describe the problem in plain words, and what to do while the truck heads your way. Keep this handy for your home in Schererville, IN. Share it with family members or tenants so anyone who picks up the phone can act with confidence.
Start With Your Exact Location
Say your full street address right away. Include unit number, building name, or the part of the property where the issue lives.
- “123 Elm Street, Schererville. Unit 3B.”
- “North side of the house, basement entrance off the driveway.”
- “Gate code 2468; use the side door next to the garage.”
Name a landmark if the address gets tricky to find. Call out the nearest major intersection. Mention parking or access limits (low clearance, gated lot, alley only). These details cut down on back-and-forth and help the tech reach the problem area faster.
Describe The Emergency In One Clear Sentence
Give a sharp, simple headline for the problem. Aim for one sentence that covers the fixture, the symptom, and the location.
- “Cold water line burst behind the washing machine; water sprays across the laundry room.”
- “Sewer backs up through the basement floor drain; foul odor and standing water.”
- “Water heater leaks from the bottom; small puddle near the burner.”
- “Sump pump clicks but won’t discharge; water rises in the pit during the storm.”
Skip long history at the start. You can add context after the dispatcher locks in the basics. A tight headline helps the team pick tools and parts without delay.
Say How Fast The Water Flows And Where It Goes
Speed changes the playbook. A mist or a drip calls for one approach. A full spray or a rising drain calls for another.
Try quick checks like these:
- Spray, stream, steady drip, or occasional drip?
- Clean water from a supply pipe, or dirty water from a drain?
- Water pooling on floors, running down walls, or pushing up through a drain?
A simple scale helps too: “Small puddle,” “Soaking the floor,” or “Running like a faucet.” Clear severity cues help the dispatcher decide if you should shut the main valve, kill power to a wet zone, or move valuables while we roll.
Share Shutoff And Utility Details
Small steps can reduce damage while the truck heads your way. Tell the dispatcher what shutoffs you see and what you tried.
- Main water valve location: near the meter, crawlspace, furnace room, or curb box.
- Status: “Main valve off,” “Tried to turn; stuck,” or “Valve turns but water still runs.”
- Power: “Breaker off for the laundry room,” or “Power out on the block.”
- Water heater fuel: gas or electric. Any error codes or blinking lights?
- Pump gear: sump pump, battery backup, or ejector pump present? Alarms beeping?
Say “city water” or “well” if you know it. Share anything unusual you hear (whistle, hammer, grinding) or smell (gas, sewage, burning). These clues steer the next questions and the safety advice we give you on the spot.
Call Out Safety Red Flags
Some signs call for instant steps or a different first call.
- Gas odor or hissing near gas piping: leave the area and contact your gas utility or 911 first. Then call us.
- Live electricity near water: flip the breaker for that area if you can reach it safely. Don’t step into water to reach a panel.
- Ceiling sagging with water: keep clear of the area. A soaked ceiling can drop without warning.
- Raw sewage present: keep kids and pets away; avoid skin contact.
Say the red flag first. Safety beats speed every time. The dispatcher will guide you through next steps before the tech arrives.
Give A Quick Timeline
Share when you first noticed the issue and what changed.
- “Pipe burst five minutes ago after I ran the washer.”
- “Sewer backed up last night; cleared a bit; now it’s back and worse.”
- “No hot water since this morning; water heater shows error 11.”
This timeline helps the tech triage parts and trace root causes faster.
Photos Help, Keep It Fast And Simple
Have one photo ready if the dispatcher requests it. A clear shot of the leak area, floor drain, pump pit, or water heater label can speed diagnosis. Keep the phone dry and stay safe while you take it. Don’t climb, remove panels, or reach behind live appliances.
A 60-Second Script You Can Use
Keep this short script on your fridge or in a notes app:
- “My name is ____. I’m at [full address], Schererville. Gate code/entry: ____.”
- “Emergency: [one-sentence headline].”
- “Flow level: [spray/stream/drip]. Water going to [floor/walls/drain].”
- “Main valve status: [off/on/stuck]. Power status: [on/off/outage].”
- “Timeline: [started X minutes/hours ago].”
- “Safety notes: [gas smell/electric risk/sewage present].”
- “Callback number: [best cell number].”
That’s your first minute. After that, the dispatcher will ask follow-ups while help heads your way.
How Reichelt Plumbing Dispatch Works In Schererville
Our local team answers your call and logs the essentials. We route the nearest qualified technician, match the job type to the right truck stock, and share any safety steps you can take right now. You get a clear confirmation and an active callback number. The tech arrives with the gear for Schererville homes, valves, fittings, pumps, and common repair parts, so we can stabilize the situation and start repairs fast. We work clean, respect your space, and explain the fix in plain language before any work begins.
What To Do In The Next Five Minutes After You Hang Up
You can protect your home and stay safe while the truck rolls:
- Shut the main water valve if the leak comes from a supply line and you can reach the valve without risk.
- Open a nearby faucet to relieve pressure after you close the main.
- Move rugs, electronics, and furniture out of the wet zone.
- Place a bucket under steady drips. Poke a tiny hole in a bulging ceiling with a screwdriver to drain water into a bucket only if you feel safe and the area has no live electrical risk.
- Keep kids and pets away from the area.
- Don’t pour chemicals into a clogged drain. Caustic products can burn skin and limit what a plumber can do on arrival.
- Don’t run appliances that sit in water.
These small moves keep damage in check and speed the repair once we arrive.
Quick Guides For Common Schererville Emergencies
Burst supply pipe
Shut the main valve. Open a faucet to relieve pressure. Wrap a towel around the burst area to slow the flow. Share pipe material (copper, PEX, galvanized) if you know it.
Main sewer backup
Stop running water and avoid flushing toilets. Keep people away from the floor drain area. Tell the dispatcher about recent heavy rain or tree roots on your lot. Share whether any drains still flow.
Water heater leak or no hot water
Say where the water drips: top, side, or bottom. Tell us the brand and fuel type. Share any error codes. Don’t relight a gas heater without guidance.
Sump pump failure during storms
Tell us if the pump hums, clicks, or stays silent. Share whether the pit rises during rain only or all the time. Say if a battery backup sits nearby and whether it alarms.
Frozen pipe suspected
Describe the area that lost flow (kitchen, bath, exterior wall). Leave faucets slightly open. Warm the room air, not the pipe with open flame. Tell us where you suspect the freeze.
Print-Friendly First-Minute Checklist
- Full address + access notes
- Callback number
- One-sentence emergency headline
- Flow level + where water goes
- Main valve status
- Power status
- Safety red flags
- Timeline (when it started)
- Any model labels you can read safely
Tape this list inside a cabinet near the kitchen sink or laundry room. Share it with anyone who lives in or manages the property.
FAQs: Emergency Dispatch For Schererville, IN
1) Where do I usually find the main water shutoff in a Schererville home?
Most homes have a main valve near the water meter, often in a basement, utility room, or crawlspace on the street-facing side of the house. Newer builds may place a ball valve with a yellow or red handle near the furnace or water heater.
2) Should I call the city for a sewer backup or call a plumber first in Schererville?
Call a plumber first if the backup shows inside the home. We can confirm whether the blockage sits on the private side. If our camera shows a city main issue, we share findings you can pass to the public works team.
3) Can the dispatcher walk me through shutting off the main valve?
Yes. Keep the phone on speaker. The dispatcher can guide you to the valve and explain how to turn a wheel or a lever. Stop if the valve sticks or feels risky. We’ll handle it on arrival.
4) Do I need a permit for emergency plumbing repairs in Schererville?
Simple leak repairs and valve swaps usually don’t need a permit. Larger work, like water heater replacement or sewer repairs, may require one. We explain permit needs and handle paperwork when the job calls for it.
5) What counts as a plumbing emergency in winter here?
Active leaks, frozen pipes with no water, sewage inside the home, and sump failure during storms all count as emergencies. Strange gas odors near a water heater call for the gas utility or 911 first, then a plumber.
Water flows. Damage spreads. Fast details get fast help. Call Reichelt Plumbing at (219) 322-4906 for emergency dispatch in Schererville, IN. Share the first-minute script above. Our local team jumps on the call and guides you step by step until the truck pulls up.
