Many people who face this kind of price tag wonder if they can get away with patching their pipes. But if the sewer line is old there are almost certainly water heater other bad spots that will give you problems now or in the near future. A series of patch jobs isn't cheap. In the long run, it just makes more sense to replace the entire line.
Be cautious. If you've just become aware of a problem with water line repair in your home, there are a few steps you should take. First, if there's a lot of water (such as from flooding), you should turn off your electricity to avoid electrocution. Also, don't use your regular household appliances (such as a vacuum cleaner) to remove water. If the water is contaminated (such as from a sewage line), you and your family should leave the home so that you don't get sick. Finally, if the water is from a leak, try to locate the leak's source and turn off the water to prevent further damage.
Another obvious indicator is if the water you get is close to cold as ice, then your water heating device has already reached its maximum level of service. If it can talk, it might have been shouting at the top of its voice telling you it needs replacement.
Blisters in asphalt or felt roofs only need to be treated if they contain water or have caused the roof covering to leak. Press the blister to check if moisture is expelled. If so, it must be sealed with a patch.
The first step in the replacement project is to turn off the water line repair to the toilet and flush any water that may be in the tank. If you forget this step, you will have a giant mess to clean up! You should now disconnect that water line.
People who own rental properties are great ones to give you information. With all of the service people needed for maintenance on their units, they typically know who to call and what level of work they perform. Most property owners will be more than happy to give you the information you seek. In fact, they were probably in your shoes at one time.
In short, the emergency plumber you hire should be from a reputable company. If you think that you can rely on him then you should look for another one. An emergency plumber should be skilled and should be able to deliver quality services to everyone.