Plumbers in Arlington

Texas cities of more than 5,000 people must regulate plumbing by ordinance and require permits, except for small jobs such as fixing leaks or replacing faucets, ballcocks, garbage disposals or toilets. In Arlington, permits and inspections run through ArlingtonPermits.com, and construction contractors must be registered with the city before they can get a building permit.

The Responsible Master Plumber (RMP) is the person responsible for pulling the permit and requesting inspections. When the city issues a plumbing permit, it must check with TSBPE that the RMP has a certificate of insurance on file. Ask for the permit number on any water heater swap, repipe or sewer line job, and look it up yourself.

Arlington water service and plumbing

Arlington Water Utilities, a city department, supplies your water; ask the utility where its responsibility ends at the meter before a service line repair. If a sprinkler line is part of the problem, the city and the Tarrant Regional Water District offer free yearly sprinkler evaluations through mysprinklereval.com, so request one before paying for irrigation work.

The nearest local figures come from HomeGuide's Dallas guide: most residential plumbing jobs run $182 to $500, about $340 on average, with hourly rates of $45 to $200 and service calls of $100 to $250. Nationally, HomeGuide puts average jobs at $125 to $450.

A burst pipe is the expensive exception, at $400 to $2,000 or about $150 to $250 per linear foot (national). The February 2021 winter storm, which Texas health officials tied to 246 deaths statewide, showed what a hard freeze can do. Insulate exposed pipes before the next one. The Texas plumbing guide covers costs job by job.

1. License: search TSBPE's Public License Search by name, license number, city or county. TSBPE issues four licenses: Tradesman Plumber-Limited, Journeyman, Master and Plumbing Inspector, each renewed yearly.
2. On the job: license and registration holders must carry the card while working. Ask to see it.
3. Paperwork: every written proposal, invoice or contract must show the RMP's name and license number plus TSBPE's name, address and phone number. You must get an invoice when the job is done.
4. Vehicles: service trucks should show the company name and the RMP's license number.
5. Insurance: the RMP keeps at least $300,000 of general liability insurance on file with TSBPE.

Complaints go to TSBPE on its General Complaint Form, or call (512) 936-5200.

Some work needs more than a plumbing license. Anyone who tests or repairs a backflow prevention assembly, common on irrigation systems, must hold a TCEQ Backflow Prevention Assembly Tester license, valid for three years. A water heater swap is fine for a plumber on an existing circuit, but new electrical work needs an Arlington electrician. If the plumbing job is part of an HVAC change-out, coordinate with your AC contractor so permits line up.

Homeowner plumbing rules in Arlington

Texas law lets you do plumbing in your own homestead without a plumbing license. That exemption covers the license only. Arlington's permit rules may still apply to work such as a water heater or a new line, so check ArlingtonPermits.com before you start. Any installed plumbing must be inspected by a licensed plumbing inspector, and TSBPE's Find-a-Plumber map, built with the Texas Division of Emergency Management, can locate a licensed plumber if the job grows past a weekend fix.

For more quotes, Fort Worth plumbers work under the same state license. Back to the Arlington local services page.