Emergency Plumber in Union City, CA for Leaks, Clogs and No Hot Water
Union City Express Plumbing runs a 24/7 phone line for plumbing trouble in Union City and the neighboring Tri-City communities. Call at any hour, tell us what is happening, and we line up a plumber for the job.
Water heaters, drains, sewer lines, burst pipes and fixtures are all covered. There is nothing to book online.
- 24/7 phone line
- Call-only dispatch
- Union City and Tri-City area
What happens when you call
Three simple steps, nothing to fill out.
- 24/7 phone line, nights and holidays included
- Call-only dispatch with no forms to fill out
- Union City, Fremont, Hayward, Newark and Castro Valley
- Plain advice on what to shut off first
Water or sewage where it should not be? Call now.
If you smell gas, leave the building first, call 911, then call PG&E at 1-800-743-5000. For a pipe that will not stop running or a drain backing up into the house, shut off the main water valve and call our 24/7 emergency plumber line.
Who answers when a pipe lets go in Union City
Union City Express Plumbing is a 24/7 phone line for plumbing trouble in Union City, California. When you need an emergency plumber at two in the morning or on a holiday, the call is answered and a plumber is lined up for the work. You call, describe the problem, and get clear next steps.
Our address is 32040 Union Landing Dr, Union City, CA 94587, at Union Landing. The same ZIP code, 94587, appears on addresses for Union City BART at 10 Union Square, the Kaiser Permanente medical offices on Whipple Road and the Masonic Home on Mission Blvd. When you call, give the nearest cross street or landmark along with your address, because it helps the right plumber find you faster.
Emergencies are only part of the work. The same line handles planned jobs like a new toilet, a tankless upgrade or a repipe, and you can browse the full list of plumbing services before you call.
Signs you need an emergency plumber now
Some plumbing problems can wait until Monday. These cannot, because the damage grows every hour.
Water that will not stop
A pipe that keeps running after you close the valve means you need the main shutoff. Turn the house valve clockwise, then see burst pipe repair for what happens next.
Sewage coming up
Several drains gurgling at once, or sewage in a tub or floor drain, points to the main line. Stop using water and read about sewer line repair while you wait.
A leaking or dead water heater
Water pooling at the base of a tank is a failing tank, not a loose fitting. Cold showers with no leak often mean a part failure, which water heater repair can fix.
Wet walls or a spinning meter
A stain spreading on a ceiling or a meter that moves with every tap closed means a hidden leak. Leak detection finds it with acoustic gear and thermal imaging before walls are opened.
A toilet that keeps rising
Close the stop valve behind the toilet before the bowl overflows. If the water still climbs, the blockage is deeper than the trap and a drain machine is needed.
A gas smell
Gas is not a plumber-first problem. Leave the building, call 911, then call PG&E at 1-800-743-5000 from outside.
Plumbing services, from a clogged sink to a sewer line
Every service below has its own page that explains the symptoms, how the work is done and what changes the cost. Pick the one closest to your problem, or call and describe it in plain words.
Drain Cleaning
Cable and snake work for slow or stopped sinks, tubs and main lines.
View service →
Hydro Jetting
High-pressure water to scour grease, scale and roots from stubborn pipes.
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Sewer Line Cleaning
Main line clearing for the day every drain in the house backs up at once.
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Sewer Line Repair
Spot repair, replacement and trenchless options after a camera shows the damage.
View service →
Sewer Camera Inspection
A camera run that shows what the pipe really looks like before anyone digs.
View service →
Water Heater Repair
Thermostats, elements, pilots and valves on gas and electric tanks.
View service →
Water Heater Replacement
A failed tank swapped out, with strapping, venting and permit questions covered.
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Water Heater Installation
New or relocated heaters with expansion tanks and proper relief piping.
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Tankless Water Heater
On-demand heating, with honest advice on gas line size and venting.
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Leak Detection
Hidden leak tracing and meter checks for unexplained high water use.
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Slab Leak Repair
Tracing and fixing leaks in pipes that run under the concrete floor.
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Burst Pipe Repair
Shutoff guidance and repair for split or broken supply pipes.
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Water Line Repair
The line from the meter to the house, which the owner maintains.
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Repiping
New supply piping for homes where pinhole leaks keep returning.
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Toilet Repair and Installation
Fixes for running, leaking and clogged toilets, plus new installs.
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Faucet Repair
Fixes for dripping, loose or low-flow faucets in kitchens, baths and laundry rooms.
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Garbage Disposal Repair
Jammed, humming or leaking disposals and replacement when needed.
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Plumbing Installation
New fixtures, relocated lines and remodel rough-in work.
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Water Softener and Filtration
Treatment options for the hard blended water in Union City.
View service →
Commercial Plumbing
Backflow testing, grease traps, storm drains and shop and restaurant plumbing.
View service →Plumbing in Fremont
Our neighbor to the south shares the same water and sewer agencies.
See Fremont coverage →What to do in the first ten minutes of a leak
The first few minutes decide whether you are mopping a floor or replacing one. Work through these in order.
Stop the water
Close the fixture stop valve if the leak is at a sink or toilet. If you cannot find it, turn the main house valve clockwise, which is the shutoff Alameda County Water District points owners to.
Take the heater out of the picture
If a tank heater is leaking, switch off the electric breaker or turn the gas control to off. Do not relight anything until the tank is dry and inspected.
Contain and photograph
Move rugs and electronics, put towels or a bucket where water drips, and take photos of the damage. Photos help later if you file an insurance claim.
Call and describe it
Tell the dispatcher where the water is, what you shut off and whether it has stopped. That detail lets us line up the right plumber and tools.
Who to call first for what
Not every plumbing emergency starts with a plumber. Here is who owns which part of the problem in Union City.
| Situation | Call first | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Gas smell indoors | 911, then PG&E at 1-800-743-5000 | Leave the building before you call. Gas leaks are handled by the utility and fire crews first. |
| Water leaking on the street side of the meter | ACWD Operations at (510) 668-6500 | ACWD maintains the pipe on the street side of the meter. |
| Leak at or after the meter | Our phone line | The owner maintains everything from the meter inward, and that is where most repairs happen. |
| Sewage backing up | USD at (510) 477-7500 and our line | USD checks its public main for free. If the main is clear, the blockage is in your lateral. |
| Planning to dig for a repair | 811, at least 2 working days ahead | California requires a call before digging, and it is free. |
Phone numbers come from the Alameda County Water District, Union Sanitary District and PG&E public contact pages.
Pipe broken at 3 a.m.?
The line is open all night. Describe the leak, tell us what you have shut off, and we will arrange the plumber.
Union City water and sewer: what it means for your repair
Union City's tap water is a blend of purchased San Francisco supply and local groundwater, and the blended hardness runs from 120 to 160 ppm with an average of 138 ppm, about 8 grains per gallon. That is enough to leave scale on fixtures and sediment in a tank heater, so a yearly tank flush is worth asking about, and the water softener and filtration page covers treatment options.
Sewer service comes from Union Sanitary District, and USD says the owner is responsible for the entire lateral from the house to the main, including the part under the sidewalk and street. Before paying for excavation, ask USD to check the public main, because it does that free of charge. Any lateral repair needs a USD permit, even on private property.
ACWD says homes built before 1960 are likely to have galvanized steel service lines, which tend to leak after 40 to 50 years. If your house predates 1960 and your pressure has dropped, say so on the call.
Source type: Alameda County Water District 2025 Water Quality Report and service line guidance, Union Sanitary District homeowner guidance
Repair or replace: a quick way to decide
A good plumber will tell you when a repair is not worth the money. These rules of thumb apply to heaters, fixtures and pipes alike.
Repair usually makes sense when
- One part has failed, such as a thermostat, heating element, fill valve or cartridge.
- The leak is at a fitting or connection and the tank or pipe body is sound.
- A clog is a one-time event and the camera shows a healthy line.
- The repair costs far less than a new unit and the old one is not near the end of its life.
Replacement usually makes sense when
- A tank is leaking from the body, because a rusted-through tank cannot be patched.
- The same appliance has needed several repairs in a short time.
- Pinhole leaks appear in more than one spot, which points to pipe wall failure.
- A camera shows a cracked, offset or root-filled sewer pipe that keeps clogging.
Our pages on water heater replacement and repiping walk through the decision in more detail, with the cost drivers that change a quote.
Neighborhoods and corridors we send plumbers to
Union City grew from several older communities that merged in 1959. These are the areas we hear from most.
Alvarado
Alvarado has a historic district and the landmark marking Alameda County's first courthouse site at 30977 Union City Blvd. On older streets, ask for a camera look before assuming a clog is a one-off.
Decoto
One of the three communities that formed Union City in 1959. If your house predates 1960, check whether the water service line is galvanized, since leaks and low pressure are the usual signs.
Union Landing area
Restaurants, theaters and shops sit next to Sugar Mill Landing Park. Food businesses should ask about grease traps, which our commercial plumbing page explains.
Station District and BART
The Station District is the transit-oriented area around the Union City BART station. The Hayward Fault trace runs about 680 feet northeast of the planning area, so confirm your water heater is strapped to the wall.
Mission Blvd corridor
Mission Blvd runs from the Masonic Home at 34400 Mission Blvd toward Fremont. Homes along it share the same water and sewer agencies as the rest of the city.
Beyond Union City: Fremont, Hayward, Newark and Castro Valley
Our 24/7 emergency plumber line also takes calls from the neighboring cities. Fremont and Newark use the same Alameda County Water District and Union Sanitary District as Union City, so the same ownership rules apply, and the Fremont coverage page covers that side of the border.
Hayward and Castro Valley use different utilities, so a main line problem there goes to a different agency than in Union City. The service area page lays out who to call in each town and how ZIP codes like 94587 and 94552 relate to city lines.
What to have ready when you call
A minute of preparation makes the call shorter and the dispatch more accurate.
- The address. Include the nearest cross street and whether it is a house, apartment or business.
- What you see. Water, sewage or no hot water, and where in the building it is happening.
- What you shut off. Tell us if the main valve is closed and whether the leak has slowed or stopped.
- Any gas smell. If you smell gas, leave and call 911 before you call us.
- Owner or tenant. Renters should call the landlord too, since many leases require that.
Emergency plumbing questions in Union City
Yes. The phone line is answered around the clock, including nights, weekends and holidays. Call, describe what is happening, and we arrange a plumber for the job.
We do not publish arrival times, because they depend on the hour, traffic and the job. The dispatcher will tell you what to do in the meantime.
Treat it as an emergency if water cannot be stopped, sewage is coming up, a tank heater is leaking, or a leak is damaging floors or ceilings. A gas smell is a 911 call before anything else.
A slow drain, a dripping faucet or a running toilet can usually wait for the next working day, though they are easy to fix when you call.
The main house valve is usually where the water line enters the property, often near the front hose bib, along an exterior wall or in the garage. Turning it clockwise closes it, according to Alameda County Water District.
Leave the district's meter and the valve beside it alone, and use the valve on your side.
Union Sanitary District owns the public main in the street. The property owner owns the lateral, the pipe from the house to the main.
USD answers its line at (510) 477-7500 and checks the main for free. If the main is clear, the blockage is on your side and you need a plumber.
Union City is our home base, and we take calls from Fremont, Hayward, Newark and Castro Valley as well. Fremont and Newark use the same water and sewer agencies as Union City.
Read the service area page for the utility differences in Hayward and Castro Valley.
California requires a contractor license for work valued at 1,000 dollars or more in labor and materials. You can look up any license on the Contractors State License Board website or call 800-321-2752.
Ask for the license number on the phone and verify it before agreeing to work.
Union City's building rules say a permit is needed for most construction, and replacing concealed defective pipe counts as new work. Water heater replacement is not named specifically, so ask the Building Division at 510.675.5313.
California also requires water heaters to be braced or strapped against earthquake movement.
Shut off the water at the main, switch off the heater's power or gas control if it is leaking, and move belongings out of the wet area. Take photos for your insurer.
Keep children and pets away from standing water near outlets, and do not run drains that are backing up.
Need an emergency plumber in Union City right now?
The 24/7 line is open tonight. Call, tell us what is happening, and we will start arranging the plumber while you shut off the water.
Call (510) 544-1962