24/7 emergency line
Water coming through the ceiling at 2 a.m., a kitchen fire just out, a roof open to the rain. Call and a person answers. We will tell you what to do right now and when a crew can be there.
Tap to call, any hour 902 555 0144Arrival aims: 90 minutes or less in the urban core, about 2 hours in the suburbs, 2 to 4 hours in outer communities. Storm nights take longer, and we will tell you.
Call 911 first if there are flames, smoke, a gas smell, or someone is hurt.
Get everyone out and wait for the fire department. Call us once everyone is safe. We can start securing the home the same night.
What happens when you call
No phone tree, no voicemail, no form to fill in first. The same calm sequence every time, day or night.
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Ring
A person answers
A coordinator picks up. Not a recording, not a menu. Overnight that is usually Dev, our night coordinator.
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2 to 4 min
Six quick questions
What happened, where in the home, is it still happening, is the power safe, is everyone okay, and do you have insurance.
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Same call
What to do right now
Plain steps for the next few minutes: the water valve, the breakers you can safely reach, what to move, what not to touch.
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Same call
A real arrival window
We check where the nearest crew is and give you a window. If it is a storm night and we are behind, we say so.
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On site
Make it safe first
The crew stops the source, protects what is not damaged, and boards up or tarps if the home is open. Then they photograph everything.
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Before they leave
A written plan
What we did tonight, what happens tomorrow, and what to tell your insurer. Nothing is signed under pressure.
The next 10 minutes
While you wait for the crew, these are the safe first steps. If any step means walking through water near electricity, skip it.
Water damage
- Shut off the main water valve. In most Halifax homes it is in the basement near the front wall, where the water line enters.
- If water is near outlets, cords or the electrical panel, do not walk through it. Only switch off breakers if you can reach the panel from a dry spot.
- Move rugs, electronics, photos and papers off the wet floor and up high.
Fire and smoke
- Wait for the fire department to tell you the home is safe to enter.
- Leave the power, furnace and air conditioning off until they are checked. Running them spreads soot.
- Do not wipe soot off walls with water or household cleaners. It smears and can stain for good.
Storm damage
- Stay away from downed power lines and anything touching them. Report them to the utility.
- Take photos of the damage from a safe spot before any temporary repairs.
- Put buckets and towels under drips and move belongings away from wet areas.
Sewage cleanup
- Keep children, pets and anyone unwell away from the affected area.
- Stop using water in the house: no taps, laundry, showers or flushing.
- Do not try to clean it with household cleaners or a shop vacuum.
How long until a crew arrives?
These are aims, not promises. Traffic, snow and storm volume change them. When you call, we give you a window based on where our crews are right then.
90 minutes or less
Urban core
Halifax peninsula, Dartmouth, Clayton Park, Fairview, Spryfield and nearby
about 2 hours
Suburbs
Bedford, Lower Sackville, Middle Sackville, Timberlea, Hammonds Plains and nearby
2 to 4 hours
Outer communities
Tantallon, Hubbards, Chester, Elmsdale, Enfield and nearby
24/7 emergency line
Call now. A person will answer.
Day or night, weekends and holidays. If the damage has already stopped and you would rather type than talk, the online intake takes about three minutes.
