Plumbing help for East Point, Fulton County
Emergency Plumber in East Point, GA for Sewer Backups, Burst Pipes and Dead Water Heaters
A drain is backing up into the tub, a pipe has let go in the wall, or the water heater has stopped making hot water. In East Point the first question is often who owns the problem: the city, or the plumbing inside your property line.
This page explains where that line falls using the East Point Water and Sewer Department's own published information, then shows how to describe the problem so a dispatcher can tell you what to do next.
Sewage in the yard or the tub: city main or your line?
East Point runs its own water and sewer department. Its water and sewer page says the Sewer Line Maintenance Division is responsible for sewer mains and manholes, and that it provides a 24-hour response to sewer overflows and back-ups.
That split drives the first phone call. If several homes on your street are backing up, or sewage is coming out of a manhole, the problem is in the city main and the city is the one to call. The department lists (404) 474-3834 on weekdays from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM and (404) 240-2183 after hours.
If only your house is affected, the blockage is usually in the line you own, between the foundation and the street connection. A single slow tub or a toilet that gurgles when the washer drains points the same way. Read how clearing a blocked household drain works before you reach for a chemical cleaner.
- Stop running water, including the washing machine and dishwasher.
- Check whether neighbors on your street have the same problem.
- If they do, call the city numbers above.
- If they do not, call us and describe which fixtures are slow or backing up.
Water lines, meters and who repairs what
The same city page says the Waterline Maintenance Division repairs water mains, service lines, valves and fire hydrants, and that Meter Services installs, maintains and repairs water service lines and meters. A leak on the street side of the meter is therefore the city's repair.
Inside your property, the pipes belong to you. A water bill that climbs with no change in habits, a damp patch in the lawn, or the sound of water running when every tap is off all point to a leak on your side. A hidden water leak inspection can locate it without digging up the whole yard.
| What you notice | Likely owner | First call |
|---|---|---|
| Water pooling at the street, near the meter box | City | East Point Water and Sewer, (404) 474-3834 on weekdays |
| Wet spot between the meter and the house | You | A plumber, after you shut off the valve at the house |
| Sewage at a manhole or several homes affected | City | East Point after-hours line, (404) 240-2183 |
| Wet drywall or ceiling stain | You | Shut off the main, then call a plumber |
A burst pipe in an East Point house
When a supply pipe breaks, every minute adds to the damage. Find the main shutoff before you need it: it is usually where the line enters the house, in the basement, a crawlspace or a utility closet, or at the meter box near the street.
- Close the main shutoff valve fully.
- Open the lowest faucet and the highest faucet to drain the line.
- Turn off the water heater power or gas so the tank does not run dry and overheat.
- Move rugs and furniture, and photograph the damage for your insurer.
- Call with a description of where the water is coming from.
More detail is in the guide to stopping a burst pipe, and if the water has reached floors and walls, see removing standing water and drying a home.
Water heater trouble and the permit question
East Point's plumbing permit application is published on the city site. It lets either a homeowner or a contractor apply, charges a base fee plus fees per fixture, and lists a water heater as one of those fixtures. It also states that any work prior to permit issuance is prohibited.
The practical step is to ask about the permit before a replacement is scheduled, not after the tank is already out. A plumber should tell you who is pulling it. The city's plumbing permit application shows the current fixture list.
If the heater is leaking, making popping noises, or giving lukewarm water, the symptoms are covered in diagnosing a failing water heater. A tank that is leaking from the bottom is usually past repair.
Backflow devices and irrigation
The East Point department also lists a Backflow Prevention division, which it says is responsible for the installation and inspection of residential and commercial backflow devices. If you are adding an irrigation system or a lawn spigot with a backflow assembly, expect the city to inspect it. Ask the plumber who schedules that visit.
What a dispatcher needs to hear
- The street, nearest cross street and your ZIP code.
- Which fixtures are affected and whether the problem is getting worse.
- Any shutoff valve you have already closed.
- If the home is a house, a townhouse or a unit with shared lines.
That is enough to tell you if you should wait for a plumber, call the city first, or shut something off in the meantime.
Where East Point sits on the map
Our dispatch line currently covers ZIP code 30291 in Union City. East Point is outside that ZIP, so call with your ZIP code and the dispatcher will confirm whether a plumber can reach your address before anything is booked.
East Point is listed in Fulton County's municipal clerk contact list. If a source above or a bill tells you a different office handles your address, follow that office for city-side problems and call us for the plumbing inside your property.
Give your ZIP code and say what the plumbing is doing
Call, give your ZIP code and tell the dispatcher what the plumbing is doing. If it is a city main issue, you will be told so rather than sent a plumber you do not need.