A real voice call — the moment an emergency is detected.
When a caller reports a plumbing emergency, Plumber Dispatch immediately places a voice call to the customer with safety instructions, then works through your company's chain of contacts until someone picks up.
Two calls. One system. Zero delays.
The moment Plumber Dispatch identifies a potential emergency, it places two calls simultaneously: one to the customer with immediate safety guidance, and one to your designated on-call contact. If the first contact doesn't answer, it moves to the next — automatically, without anyone having to intervene.
Your company defines which situations trigger the emergency response, who is in the contact chain, and in what order. Plumber Dispatch executes your protocol every time — at 2 AM on a Sunday just as reliably as at noon on a Tuesday.
How emergency triage works
Customer calls your number
A customer calls your business number reporting a potential emergency — a burst pipe, flooding, sewer backup, or other urgent situation.
Emergency criteria matched
Plumber Dispatch evaluates the situation against your company's predefined emergency criteria. If it matches, the emergency protocol activates immediately.
Safety call placed to the customer
Plumber Dispatch immediately calls the customer back and delivers voice safety instructions — what to do right now to minimize damage while help is on the way.
Contact chain calling begins
Simultaneously, Plumber Dispatch starts calling your company's emergency contact chain — your designated on-call contacts, in the order you've configured.
Chain continues until someone answers
If the first contact doesn't answer, the system moves to the next. It keeps calling through your chain until a live person picks up and acknowledges the emergency.
Contact receives full briefing
The team member who answers gets the customer's name, address, issue description, and urgency level — everything needed to respond immediately.
Potential emergency indicators
These are examples of situations your company might configure as emergency triggers. You decide which apply to your operation.
The customer isn't left waiting.
While your contact chain is being called, the customer is already receiving help. Plumber Dispatch places an immediate voice call with safety instructions tailored to the type of emergency reported.
Burst pipe or flooding
Locate your main water shutoff valve and turn it off. This is usually near the water meter or where the main line enters the house.
Sewer backup
Stop using all water fixtures immediately — toilets, sinks, showers. Do not flush or run water until a plumber has assessed the line.
Water heater leak
Turn off the cold water supply valve at the top of the water heater. If it's a gas unit, turn the thermostat to the pilot setting.
Gas smell with plumbing issue
Leave the building immediately. Do not use light switches or any electrical devices. Call 911 and your gas company from outside.
Safety instructions are configured during onboarding based on the emergency types your company handles. Your team reviews and approves all scripted guidance before it goes live.
Your contact chain. Your order.
During onboarding, you define the exact sequence Plumber Dispatch follows when an emergency is detected. The system calls each contact in order until someone answers.
- Primary on-call contact called first
- If no answer, moves to secondary contact
- Chain continues through all configured contacts
- First person to answer receives the full briefing
Available on the Professional and Priority plans. The Priority plan supports extended contact chains and custom escalation delays between each attempt.
Your emergencies. Your rules.
During onboarding, every client receives an Emergency Triage Profile — a configuration that defines exactly how your company handles after-hours and emergency situations.
Emergency situations
You select which issue types qualify for escalation
Emergency hours
You define when emergency triage is active
Customer safety script
The voice instructions delivered to the caller while help is being dispatched
Contact chain
Your on-call contacts in the order they should be called
Escalation delay
How long to wait before moving to the next contact in the chain
Briefing script
The information read to the team member who answers
Emergency triage is included in Professional and Priority plans
Standard emergency triage — customer safety call plus a single on-call contact — is included in the Professional plan. Extended contact chains, custom escalation delays, and advanced rules are available on the Priority plan.
Frequently asked questions
What does the customer hear when an emergency is detected?
How does the contact chain work?
What happens if nobody in the chain answers?
Does Plumber Dispatch decide what counts as an emergency?
What plan includes emergency triage?
When a pipe bursts at 2 AM, your customer needs help now.
Plumber Dispatch calls them with safety instructions and calls your team until someone answers — automatically, every time.