Soviet-era blocks
Look where the supply pipe enters the flat, typically in the bathroom or toilet next to the water meter, behind a small access panel or under the sink. In some flats it sits on the riser in a kitchen corner.
Plumbing emergencies · Burst pipes, floods, backups
Emergency plumber in Tbilisi: stop the water, then call us
An emergency plumber stops an active leak, flood or sewer backup, makes the area safe and then repairs the failed pipe, hose or fitting. The cost depends on the cause and the repair needed, and we name it once we hear what happened and, if you can, see a quick photo. Call or WhatsApp us in English. Whether someone can come right away is confirmed on the call.
- Burst pipes and failed flexible hoses
- Water leaking to the flat below
- Overflowing toilets and sewer backups
- Clear first steps you can take safely
Right now
The first five minutes, before anyone arrives
Close the main water valve, cut the power to any wet area if you can reach the panel from a dry spot, lift valuables off the floor and warn the neighbors below. Then call us and let your landlord know.
- 1
Close the water
Turn the main valve to your flat clockwise, or swing a lever handle a quarter turn so it sits across the pipe. If the leak is from one tap or toilet, the small valve underneath may be enough on its own.
- 2
Cut power to wet zones
If water is near sockets, an extension lead or the water heater, switch those circuits off at the flat's breaker panel. Only do this if you can reach the panel without standing in water. If you cannot, stay out of that room and mention it when you call.
- 3
Move what matters
Lift laptops, documents, rugs and anything with a plug off the floor. Towels rolled along the doorway help keep the water in one room.
- 4
Warn the flat below
Knock on your downstairs neighbors' door or leave a note. Water finds its way through old ceilings much faster than most people expect.
- 5
Call and message
Ring us with the answers from the list above, then send your landlord a short message with a photo.
If water has reached a light fitting, or you smell burning or see smoke, leave the room and call 112. If you smell gas at any point, get everyone out and call 112 from outside the building.
Finding the valve
Where the main valve usually is in a Tbilisi flat
Nobody wants to hunt for the valve with water on the floor, so it is worth locating yours on a quiet day.
New builds
Many newer buildings keep meters and valves in a cabinet on the landing or in a utility niche off the corridor. Yours may be one of several, so check the flat number on the tag.
Old houses
In older homes in Sololaki, Vera or Mtatsminda, the valve can be in a yard, cellar or shared courtyard, and it may serve more than one household.
Old steel valves sometimes seize or no longer shut fully. Do not force one with a wrench, because a snapped valve is worse than the leak you started with. If yours will not move, the next option is the riser valve, which the building administrator or a long-time neighbor usually knows how to reach.
When the leak is coming from the water heater, also close the cold inlet valve under the tank and switch the heater off at its breaker or plug. The tank will stop filling, and the heating element is safe from running dry.
What counts
Burst pipes, floods, overflows and sewer backups
| Situation | What you usually see | Why it is urgent |
|---|---|---|
| Burst pipe | A spray or steady stream from a wall, a joint or an exposed pipe | Full supply pressure keeps flowing until the valve is closed |
| Failed flexible hose | A braided hose under a sink or toilet split open, often with a loud hiss | These hoses fail suddenly and release a lot of water in minutes |
| Water through the ceiling | Drips or a bulging patch below a bathroom or kitchen | Wet plaster gets heavy, and water may reach light fittings |
| Overflowing toilet | The bowl fills to the rim, or the cistern will not stop filling | Dirty water spreads across the floor and under tiles |
| Sewer backup | Waste water rising from a shower drain, floor drain or toilet | Often a blocked shared riser, affecting lower floors first |
| Leaking water heater | Water dripping from the tank body, not just the relief valve | A corroded tank can let go completely, next to live wiring |
Not every drip is an emergency. A tap that will not stop dripping or a cistern that keeps running can usually wait for a planned visit, and our toilet and tap repair page covers those. If waste water is backing up from the drains, see also our notes on drain cleaning and shared risers.
Neighbors and landlord
Water going through the ceiling: talking to people
When your water is reaching the flat below
Tell the downstairs neighbors as soon as the water is off. They may need to move their own things or switch off a light circuit. Exchange phone numbers so you can compare notes on damage later, and let them know when the repair is done.
When water is coming from the flat above
Go upstairs and knock. If nobody answers, ask the building administrator, a neighbor who knows the owner, or the residents' association chat, which many Tbilisi buildings keep on WhatsApp or Viber. If the flow is heavy and the owner cannot be found, the riser valve may be the only way to stop it, which affects the whole stack.
Your landlord
If you rent, message your landlord straight away, even late in the evening. You do not need their permission to close a valve or call for help in a real emergency, but they should hear about it from you first, with photos. Who pays for the repair is whatever your lease and your landlord agree.
Keep a record
Photos for your landlord or insurance
Once the water is stopped, spend two minutes with your phone camera. Pictures taken at the time are far more convincing than anything described later, whether you are dealing with a landlord, a neighbor or your own insurance policy.
- The source: the split hose, the burst joint or the overflowing fixture
- How far the water spread, with a wide shot of each wet room
- Damaged belongings, furniture and flooring
- The ceiling below, if the neighbors let you in
- The time, which your phone records automatically
We do not deal with insurance companies on anyone's behalf. We can describe what failed and what was repaired, so you have a clear account to pass on.
On site
What the emergency plumber does first
- 1
Make it safe
Confirm the water is fully off and ask whether any electrical circuits were affected. Nothing is dismantled until the area is safe to work in.
- 2
Find the failure
Trace the leak to the exact pipe, joint, hose or seal. With old steel pipes, the plumber also checks how sound the neighboring sections look.
- 3
Stop it for now
Where a full repair needs parts you do not have, the priority is a temporary fix, such as capping a line, so that the rest of the flat can have water back.
- 4
Plan the proper repair
You get an explanation of what failed, what needs replacing and a parts list. The price for the permanent repair is agreed before it goes ahead.
- 5
Test
Once the repair is done, the water is turned back on slowly and each joint is watched for drips.
Afterwards
Drying out and avoiding a repeat
Open windows and keep air moving for several days. Lift rugs and pull furniture away from wet walls. If a ceiling is sagging or bulging, keep people out of that room until it has been checked, because wet plaster can come down without warning.
Damp that lingers after a week, or a new stain that keeps growing, points to water still escaping somewhere. That is a job for leak detection rather than more drying. Many floods start with a tired flexible hose, so it is worth replacing any others of the same age while the plumber is there. For everything else plumbing-related, the main plumbing page is the best place to start.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Can you come at night?
We answer from 09:00 to 23:00 Monday to Saturday and from 08:00 to 22:00 on Sunday. Whether a plumber can reach you quickly depends on the moment, so that is confirmed on the call.
What if the main valve will not close?
Do not force it. Try the small valves under each fixture, then ask the building administrator or a neighbor about the riser valve. Tell us when you call, as it changes what the plumber brings.
Should I call the landlord or the plumber first?
Stop the water first. After that, ring whoever can act faster. In practice most tenants call us and message the landlord at the same moment.
Water is coming from upstairs and nobody is home. What now?
Contact the building administrator or your residents' group to find the owner. If the flow is heavy, the riser valve may need to be closed for the whole stack while the owner is found.
Is a sewer backup my responsibility?
If waste water rises from your drains when neighbors use theirs, the blockage is often in the shared riser, which is normally a building matter. The plumber can tell you where the blockage sits.
Can I use the water again after the repair?
Yes, once the plumber has tested the joints. With old steel pipes, the water may run brown for a short while after the supply is restored. Let it run until it clears.
Can I get help in English during an emergency?
Yes, you can explain the situation in English by phone or WhatsApp, and our office coordinates the visit with you in English.
Contact
Report a plumbing emergency
For an active leak, calling is fastest. For anything that can wait a little, the form works too.
Send a short description
Tell us what failed, where the water is going and your district.
Next step
Water on the floor right now?
Close the valve, keep clear of wet electrics and call us.