How Do I Hire a Licensed Plumber in Texas?

Who licenses plumbers in Texas?

The Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners. Its licenses include master and journeyman plumbers, and gas work requires the right endorsement.

How do I check a license?

Ask for the license number and look it up on the TSBPE website. It shows the name and whether the license is current.

Does my job need a permit?

Water heater replacements, gas lines, repiping and sewer work usually do. A licensed plumber will know what the city of Tyler or your county requires.

What should the quote say?

What will be done, the parts or materials, whether permits and patching are included, and how long it will take.

What are the red flags?

Pressure to decide on the spot, cash-only deals, no license number, or anyone offering to skip a required permit.

Ready?

Send a request and a plumber will get in touch to go over the job. See emergency plumbing if it can't wait.

Who pulls the permit?

The licensed plumber doing the work normally pulls the permit and arranges the inspection. Be wary if you are asked to pull a permit yourself as the homeowner for work someone else is doing.

What about insurance?

Ask whether the company carries liability insurance. If something goes wrong, such as water damage from a failed fitting, you want to know who covers it.

What about after the job?

Keep the invoice, the permit and any warranty in one place. If the same problem comes back, it shows what was done and when, and helps the next plumber get it right faster.

Should I get more than one quote?

For big jobs like repiping or a sewer line, yes. Compare what each quote includes, not just the total.

More plumbing guides

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• Septic or Sewer: Which Does My House Have?
• Should I Get a Tank or Tankless Water Heater?
• A Pipe Burst. What Do I Do First?