Houston Plumber Guide

Plumbing guides for Houston homes

Each guide opens with a short answer, explains what is specific to Houston, and lists the official sources behind it.

  1. Plumbing emergencies in Houston: what to do first

    Get people safe first: leave right away if you smell gas, and stay out of water that may touch electricity. If you can reach your main water shutoff safely, close it. Then call the right party. That is CenterPoint or 911 for gas, Houston 311 for a leak at the street or meter, and a licensed plumber for leaks inside your property line. Ask about after-hours rates before anyone is dispatched.

    10 sources

  2. Drain clogs and sewer line problems in Houston

    If one fixture is slow, it's usually a local clog that a plumber can clear without a permit. If several drains back up at once, or the lowest drain gurgles or overflows, suspect the main sewer line and ask for a camera inspection before paying for repairs. In Houston, replacing sewer pipe needs a permit. Trenchless methods are allowed, but not on cast iron, and liners can't go into collapsed pipe.

    8 sources

  3. Water heaters in Houston: repair, replace or go tankless

    Replacing or installing a water heater in Houston requires a plumbing permit and inspection. A master plumber registered with the city pulls it, unless you're a homestead owner doing the work yourself under a homeowner's permit. Storage tanks typically last 10 to 15 years, and the Department of Energy says tankless units often last more than 20. A tank that leaks from the tank itself needs replacing. Most other problems can be repaired.

    9 sources

  4. Hiring a plumber in Texas: licenses, permits and estimates

    Every Texas plumbing company works under a responsible master plumber, whose license number must appear on its vehicles, ads and invoices. Look that number up in the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners' public search. Confirm the license is current and an insurance certificate is on file. For permitted work in Houston, the permit must be pulled by a master plumber registered with the city. In suburbs, the city's own permit office decides.

    12 sources

  5. Slab leaks in Houston: signs, detection and repair

    Most Houston homes sit on concrete slabs over expansive clay that swells and shrinks with moisture, and that movement can crack water and drain lines under the slab. Warning signs include a water bill jump with no change in use, a warm or damp spot on the floor, or the sound of running water when everything is off. Get the leak located before choosing a repair. Options range from a spot repair to rerouting the line above the slab.

    6 sources

  6. Frozen pipes in Houston: prepare, respond and repair

    Before a hard freeze, cover outdoor faucets and exposed pipes, let hot and cold taps drip overnight, drain irrigation lines, and find your water shutoff. If a pipe bursts, shut off the water if you can do so safely and keep away from water near electricity. In Houston, pipe repairs after a freeze need a permit pulled by a city-registered master plumber. Freeze leaks may qualify for a water-bill credit.

    7 sources