Emergency Plumbing Services in Hastings, Napier & Hawke's Bay
When a pipe bursts or the hot water fails at midnight, you need a plumber who picks up the phone and shows up. A Plus Plumbing & Gas provides 24/7 emergency plumbing across Hastings, Napier, and the wider Hawke's Bay region - licensed, local, and available when it matters most.
What Counts as a Plumbing Emergency?
If you're not sure whether you need an emergency plumber, here are the most common jobs we attend across Hastings and Napier:
Burst pipes — water escaping inside a wall or ceiling can cause serious structural damage within hours. Turn off your water main immediately (see below) and call us. This can often be a problem with Dux Quest Pipes - read our blog for more info.
No hot water — if your hot water cylinder is leaking, making unusual noises, or visibly damaged, that's a plumbing emergency. If the cylinder looks fine but there's simply no hot water, it's more likely an electrical fault (a tripped element or blown fuse) — in that case, a sparky is your first call. Not sure which it is? Ring us and we'll help you figure it out over the phone.
Blocked toilets — if plunging hasn't cleared it and the toilet is completely unusable, that's an emergency, particularly in a single-bathroom home.
Gas leaks — if you smell gas, don't touch any switches or open flames. Ventilate the building, get everyone out, and call 111 first. Once it's safe, call us — our team are licensed gasfitters and can isolate and repair the fault.
Blocked drains — a slow drain is usually a booked job, but if water is backing up into multiple fixtures, flooding outside, or you can smell sewage, that's an emergency. Call us and we'll clear it the same visit.
Sewage backups — raw sewage in your home is a health hazard. If drains are backing up into showers, sinks, or toilets, call us straight away.
Not sure? Call us anyway — we'd rather answer a question than have you sit with a problem that's getting worse.
What to Do Before We Arrive
A few quick steps can limit damage while you wait:
Turn off your water main — if water is escaping anywhere in the house, isolate it at the toby (street-side shutoff). Read our guide on how to turn off your water main if you're unsure where it is.
Isolate your hot water cylinder — if the cylinder itself is the problem, turn off its dedicated cold water valve (usually directly above or beside the unit).
Gas issue? Don't use light switches, appliances, or naked flames. Open windows and doors, leave the building, and call 111 before calling us.
Take a photo or short video of the issue before you call — it helps us arrive prepared with the right parts.
What to Expect During an Emergency Call-Out
When you call an emergency plumber in Hastings or Napier, you want to know they're actually coming. We aim to be on-site within the hour — sooner where possible. Our emergency service runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including weekends and public holidays.
We keep a dedicated team member available for urgent call-outs, so we're not trying to squeeze emergencies in between scheduled jobs. If our on-call plumber is already on a job, yours is next — and we'll give you an honest ETA so you're not left guessing.
When we arrive, we'll assess the situation and give you a quote or best estimate before any work begins. No surprises. All our plumbers hold current NZ trade licences - so whatever the fault, we're qualified to fix it correctly and certify the work.
What Happens After the Emergency Fix
Our priority on an emergency call-out is to stop the damage and get things safe. Sometimes that's the full fix — a cleared drain, a repaired pipe, a replaced valve. Other times, the emergency repair is a temporary hold while we scope the proper job.
If your burst pipe turns out to be failing Dux Quest pipework, we'll talk you through a full repipe. If your hot water cylinder is beyond repair, we can usually book a replacement within a day or two. And if a blocked drain keeps coming back, that's usually a sign the drainage needs upgrading rather than just clearing again.
We'll always explain what we've done, what the options are, and what it'll cost before any follow-up work starts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you charge extra for after-hours call-outs?
Yes. After-hours and weekend call-outs have a $150 call-out fee plus a minimum one hour's labour at $140 — so a minimum charge of $290 before any parts. We're upfront about this because we think you should know before we come out. The call-out fee goes directly to the plumber — it's how we're able to offer a genuine 24/7 service.
How quickly can you get to me in an emergency?
We aim to be on-site within the hour for jobs in Hastings and Napier. Response times to Havelock North, Flaxmere, and surrounding areas are similar — call us and we'll give you a realistic ETA based on where our on call plumber is coming from.
What should I do while I wait for the plumber?
The most useful thing is to turn off your water main if there's active water escaping — this limits damage until we arrive. If it's a gas issue, leave the building and call 111 first.
Need an Emergency Plumber in Hastings or Napier?
Call us any time — day or night, weekends and public holidays included. We'll give you an honest ETA and a quote before we start any work.
