Hanover · Emergency Plumbing
Burst pipe, sewage on the floor, or no water in a Hanover home? Stop the water if it's safe, then call or send a request to reach an independent local plumber.
Hanover, Massachusetts
In March 2010, storm flooding closed King Street at the Forge Pond bridge for two to three days, and every house on King Street and the roads off it south of the bridge was affected, according to the town's 2016 hazard mitigation plan. It's a useful reminder for any Hanover emergency: the first few minutes are yours, and what you do before anyone arrives decides how much water ends up on the floor.
Safety comes ahead of the leak. Water rising toward outlets, a furnace, or the electrical panel means you should leave the house and call 911 from outside. If you smell gas, get out and call 911 or Eversource from a safe distance. Sewage coming up a floor drain is a health hazard, so keep people and pets away from it.
Once the house is safe, call or send a request. South Shore Plumber Finder is a referral service, and you'll be connected with an independent plumber who serves Hanover; when that plumber can come depends on their own schedule.
A pipe or fitting that keeps spraying after you close the fixture valve needs the main shutoff closed and a plumber called.
In a septic home, wastewater coming up through a basement drain means it has nowhere else to go.
If every faucet is dry and your neighbors have water, the problem is likely a frozen or broken line on your property.
Water near the panel, outlets, or a furnace calls for 911 first and a plumber second.
When the pump runs but the pit keeps filling, or the pump is silent while water rises, the basement is close to flooding.
Local knowledge
Flood-prone roads, private septic systems, and frequent high water all change what an urgent call looks like here.
Road Closures In Floods
The 2016 hazard mitigation plan records that closure lasting two to three days. If you live along a flood-prone road, learn where your main shutoff is now, because during a storm a plumber may need a longer route to reach you.
Septic Backups
With no municipal sewer beyond a few special treatment facilities, a backup in a Hanover basement is almost always on your own property. Stop using water, and expect the plumber to check whether the house line is blocked or the tank needs a septic pumper.
Frequent Flooding
The town's plan puts the yearly chance of flooding above 20 percent. When heavy rain arrives, a sump pump that quits can turn into an emergency quickly, so test yours before storm season rather than during it.
Right now
Work through these in order, and skip anything that puts you near standing water and electricity.
Leave the house and call 911 from outside if water is near electricity or you smell gas; for gas, Eversource can also be called once you're out. Keep everyone away from sewage.
On homes fed by Hanover's town water, the main valve is typically where the supply line comes through the basement wall or floor, often near the meter. Turn it clockwise until it stops.
If drains are backing up, don't flush, run the dishwasher, or start laundry. Every gallon has to go somewhere, and right now it's coming back into the house.
Pictures of the water and the failed part help the plumber and any insurance claim. Move valuables up and out of the way.
Describe the problem, whether the water is off, and whether the house is on septic. You'll be connected with an independent local plumber who serves Hanover.
What to expect
The first job is to stop the damage: isolate the leak, make a temporary repair, or clear a blockage enough to use the house again. Expect questions about where the water came from, when the septic tank was last pumped, and whether anything changed recently, such as a cold snap or a long stretch of rain.
A lasting repair may need a permit. Hanover's Building and Inspectional Services department takes plumbing permit applications through the Town's online OpenGov portal, and the plumbing and gas inspector checks the finished work. Ask whether your repair needs one and who will file it.
If the cause is the septic tank or leach field rather than the pipes, the plumber may tell you to call a septic contractor. That's normal in Hanover, where most systems are private and regulated by the Board of Health.
Hire smart
Plumbing and gas fitting in Massachusetts require a license from the Board of State Examiners of Plumbers and Gas Fitters, and most plumbing work needs a permit from the town's plumbing inspector.
A quick search on the state's occupational license lookup confirms the plumber's Massachusetts license before work starts.
Get the rates for nights, weekends, and holidays in writing, along with any trip charge, before you agree to the visit.
Ask which part of the work is temporary and which is permanent, and get a written estimate for anything that can wait for daylight.
If the trouble is a backup, ask whether the plumber cameras house-to-tank lines and knows when to bring in a septic contractor.
Costs
Timing is the biggest factor: nights, weekends, and storm days usually cost more than a scheduled visit. After that come the cause, the parts, and how much finished ceiling or wall stands between the plumber and the pipe.
Ask for the price of the stopgap and the permanent repair separately, in writing. If the problem turns out to be the septic system, pumping or repair is often billed separately by a septic contractor, so ask which costs belong to whom before work begins.
More help in Hanover
Every page below is written for Hanover homes. Or start from the Hanover plumbing guide.
Learning Center
A short list of the right questions tells you more about a plumber than any ad. Use these on the phone, during the site visit, and before you sign off on an estimate.
Read the guide
Massachusetts has some of the clearest plumbing rules in the country. Here is how to use them to pick a plumber with confidence, whether the job is a dripping shutoff or a full repipe.
Read the guideQuestions
Still not sure? Send a short request and a local pro can answer the specifics.
Water you can't shut off, sewage backing into the house, no water at all, or water reaching electrical equipment. A dripping faucet or a slow sink can usually wait for a scheduled visit.
We can't promise a time. When you call, you'll be connected with an independent plumber who serves Hanover, and timing depends on that plumber's schedule and the weather. Keep the water shut off while you wait.
Almost certainly not. Hanover has no municipal sewer apart from a few special treatment facilities, so the line and the septic tank are usually yours. A plumber can tell whether the pipe is blocked or the tank needs pumping.
Many plumbing repairs do. Hanover issues plumbing permits online through Building and Inspectional Services. Ask the plumber whether your repair qualifies and who will file the paperwork.
Get connected
Share a few details and an independent local plumber who serves your town can follow up about the job. There’s no charge to use this site, and you decide whether to hire anyone.
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