Plumbers in San Antonio

HomeGuide's national figures give a yardstick for San Antonio quotes. They put hourly rates at $45 to $150 and an average job at $125 to $450, with service-call fees of $50 to $200 that usually cover the first hour. A burst pipe repair runs $400 to $2,000 nationally, or $150 to $250 per linear foot of pipe.

The San Antonio twist is the water bill. SAWS sets its drought stages by the Edwards Aquifer's 10-day average at the J-17 well (Stage 3 at 640 feet), and the Stage 3 surcharge applies above 20,000 gallons a month for a single-family account. In Stage 4 that threshold drops to 12,000 gallons. If your usage jumps without explanation, ask a plumber to check for leaks. A first water-waste charge is $137, though a one-hour online course can waive it.

The Texas-wide cost table and hiring checklist sit on our plumbers hub.

TSBPE license and the responsible master plumber

The Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners licenses plumbers at four levels: Tradesman Plumber-Limited, Journeyman, Master and Plumbing Inspector. Any company that advertises plumbing must have a Responsible Master Plumber, who carries at least $300,000 of liability insurance on file with TSBPE and answers for permits, inspections and the licensing of everyone on the crew. Look up the license on TSBPE's Public License Search, which you can filter by city or county.

Every written proposal, invoice or contract must show the Responsible Master Plumber's name and license number plus TSBPE's name, address and phone number. A quote without those lines is incomplete. Workers must carry their license or registration while plumbing, so it's reasonable to ask to see it.

San Antonio plumbing permits on BuildSA

Texas cities over 5,000 people must require a plumbing permit, water heaters included, except for small jobs such as fixing leaks or swapping faucets, disposals or toilets. San Antonio's Development Services takes permit requests online through BuildSA, and any city that issues a plumbing permit must confirm that the Responsible Master Plumber's insurance is on file with TSBPE. Ask for the permit number on a water heater or repipe.

• Irrigation backflow. Anyone who tests or repairs a backflow prevention assembly in Texas needs a TCEQ Backflow Prevention Assembly Tester license, valid for three years. Ask for the license number before the test.
• New construction and remodels. A customer service inspection checks private water lines for cross-connections and illegal lead materials before water service starts. A Journeyman or Master with the Water Supply Protection Specialist endorsement can perform it.
• Water heaters. A licensed plumber may disconnect and reconnect a water heater on its existing circuit, but a new or extended circuit needs a San Antonio electrician.
• Freeze prep. Texas health officials tied 246 deaths to the February 2021 winter storm. Know where your main water shutoff is before the next hard freeze, and ask a plumber to insulate any exposed lines outside the house.

If an AC job turns up drain or gas-line work, ask who holds the plumbing license, and see AC repair in San Antonio. For the city's other rules, start at the San Antonio guide; to compare Hill Country companies, see plumbers in Boerne.