You can shut off the water supply using the valve near where the water piping enters your home. This is usually in the basement, but if you don't have a basement, it will be in the crawl space or your utility room where your water heater is. Once you find it, turn it clockwise until it stops turning. If it has a long single handle, it will be a short quarter of a turn. If it has a circular handle, it will spin multiple times until it stops spinning. Many times the circular type will not shut off all the way. In this case turning it will only slow the water leak down. If it does not slow it down or stop it, the water will have to be shut off at the water meter in the front of the property, which will be in an accessible pit underground. In some areas like Olathe, only Water One is allowed to shut off the water at the meter and they must be called as soon as possible. If you have any trouble shutting off your water during an active leak, please let us know and we will be there as soon as possible in order to prevent water damage to your home.

I have a clogged drain

You should discontinue the use of your plumbing until the problem is repaired. Many times drains are connected together, and the use of a working fixture that is in another part of your home will cause the clogged drain to overflow further. Let us know if you have a clogged drain and we will unclog it as soon as possible! We can unclog all of the different types of drain pipes in your home and have multiple methods and equipment options to do so in the least invasive ways possible. We can open up the drains for your: Kitchen, toilet, sewer, septic, shower, tub, lavatory, laundry, and floor drain.

The best thing to do is leave the home immediately and call the fire department or the gas company, then call us! If you are able, turn off the gas meter outside the home with a large wrench. There will be a valve that will require a quarter turn to shut off. After the proper authorities tag the problem, we can evaluate and repair it.

My sump pump is not working

You can make sure the pump is still plugged in, and the switch is in the on position. We get many sump pump calls where doing these two things fixes the problem. If that doesn't work, check your breaker panel to see if anything has tripped. If so, flip the breaker back into the on position. If this works, it is a temporary solution and the cause of the tripped breaker needs to be fixed urgently. If none of that works please let us know and will solve the problem as soon as possible!

I have a high water bill, but can't find a leak

The best thing to do is to call us! In the meantime you can eliminate the possibility of leaking toilets first. Some toilets can leak very quietly but waste a lot of water over a month. We do this by placing dye in the tanks of the toilets. If the dye makes it into the bowl without flushing, you have a leak. Once the toilets are confirmed to not be the problem, it is likely that the main underground water pipe from your water meter to your home is leaking and must be repaired or replaced.

My garbage disposal is not working

The best thing to do is to call us! But for DIYers: if you hear a humming sound when the switch is in the on position, the motor is attempting to work but is being obstructed. If you leave the switch on in this condition the internal breaker can disconnect the power, or the motor will burn out, destroying the garbage disposal. If there is no humming sound, the internal breaker may be reset by pushing the small red button on the bottom of the garbage disposal.

I have a sewer smell in my home

The best thing to do is to call us! But for DIYers: if you have a fixture that has not been used in a while (like a master bathroom spa tub, a floor drain, or a laundry sink), the water trap in its drain may be dry and causing the smell. A drain trap holds water in it at all times as long as the drain is being used often enough. The water from use creates a barrier that keeps the air from the sewer from entering your home. But when that trap dries out, the sewer gases will come in. The solution is simply to pour a few cups of water down the drain every couple of weeks.

Frequently Asked Questions

Answers from our 5-generation plumbing family

General

What areas of Kansas City do you serve?

We serve the full KC metro: Overland Park, Olathe, Lenexa, Shawnee, Leawood, Prairie Village, Mission, Kansas City MO, Lee's Summit, Blue Springs, Independence, Gladstone, Liberty, and Raytown. Visit our location pages for service-area-specific info.

How long has Bright Side Plumbing been in business?

Since 1940. We are the only multi-generation family plumber in the KC metro with this lineage. Read more on our About page.

Are you licensed and insured?

Yes. We are licensed in Kansas City, MO and Johnson County, KS. We are IICRC certified and fully insured. License numbers are listed on our About page.

Pricing

How much does a sewer line inspection cost?

Sewer camera inspections are free with no dispatch fee. If we find a problem, we give you a flat-rate written estimate with three options before any work begins.

Do you offer free estimates?

Yes. Sewer camera inspections are free. Other service calls have an $89 dispatch fee that is waived if you proceed with the repair.

Do you finance?

Yes. We partner with Wisetack, GreenSky, and Acorn Finance for monthly payment plans. See our financing page for current rates.

Scheduling

Are you open 24/7?

Our office is open 8 AM to 9 PM Monday through Saturday. For after-hours emergencies, our on-call dispatcher Daniel will text you within 15 minutes. Call (913) 963-1029 anytime.

How soon can you come out?

Same-day service for most calls. Emergency calls are prioritized. Call (913) 963-1029 to confirm availability in your area today.

Services

What services do you offer?

Sewer repair, sewer camera inspection, drain cleaning, water heater repair and replacement, hydro jetting, trenchless sewer repair, gas line repair, leak detection, sump pumps, and emergency plumbing. Full list on our services page.

Do you do commercial plumbing?

Yes. We serve KC metro commercial clients with same-day dispatch and after-hours coverage. Call (913) 963-1029 for commercial rates.

Can you fix a sewer smell in the house?

Yes. Sewer smell in the house is usually a dry P-trap, a cracked sewer line, or a roof vent issue. We diagnose with a free sewer camera inspection and quote a flat-rate fix.

Emergency

What do I do if I have a burst pipe or flood?

Step 1, shut off your main water valve. Step 2, call (913) 963-1029 immediately. Step 3, document any damage with photos before cleanup. We dispatch the closest plumber available.

How quickly can you handle an emergency?

Emergency dispatch is available during office hours, 8 AM to 9 PM Mon to Sat. After-hours, our on-call dispatcher Daniel texts you back within 15 minutes. Call (913) 963-1029.

Warranty

What is your guarantee?

Our $50 on-time guarantee means if we miss our scheduled window, $50 comes off your bill. Our $200 clean-tech guarantee means if we do not leave your home as clean as we found it, $200 off. Both are bill-adjustable, not marketing claims.

Do you warranty your work?

Yes. Two-year workmanship warranty on every repair. Parts carry the manufacturer warranty, which ranges from one to ten years depending on the component. Membership-covered work carries a longer warranty.

Ready for a real answer in person?

Call (913) 963-1029