Plumbers in Tyler

Tyler falls under the Texas rule requiring cities of more than 5,000 people to regulate plumbing by ordinance, water heaters included, and to require permits. Small jobs are exempt: fixing a leak, or replacing a faucet, ballcock, garbage disposal or toilet. A water heater swap, a repipe or a new bathroom is not small.

Tyler takes plumbing permits online through eTRAKiT. The applicant first files a Master Registration Form so staff can open the account, and bigger projects may move to ProjectDox for plan review. Before a city issues a plumbing permit, Texas law has it check with the plumbing board that the Responsible Master Plumber has insurance on file.

Tyler water service and inspections

The City of Tyler supplies its own water, 96% of it surface water from Lake Tyler, Lake Tyler East and Lake Palestine. Before service starts at new construction, or after material changes to the lines, a TCEQ customer service inspection checks the home's private water lines for cross-connections, contamination hazards and lead. Ask the city utility whether your job triggers one. Anyone testing a backflow assembly needs a TCEQ tester license, which runs three years.

The Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE) licenses plumbers in four grades: Tradesman Plumber-Limited, Journeyman, Master and Inspector. Any company that advertises plumbing must have a Responsible Master Plumber, who pulls permits, requests inspections and keeps at least $300,000 of liability insurance on file.

• Search the name or license number on TSBPE's Public License Search, or find licensed plumbers by county on its Find-a-Plumber map.
• Read the bid. Every written plumbing proposal, invoice or contract must show the RMP's name and license number plus TSBPE's name, address and phone number.
• Look at the truck: it should show the company name and the RMP's license number.
• Ask to see the license. Texas plumbers must carry it on their person while working.

Drain cleaning is its own credential. Drain Cleaner, Drain Cleaner-Restricted and Residential Utilities Installer are add-on registrations with TSBPE, so a sewer-jetting crew should show one of those or a full license. Customer service inspections and rainwater supply plumbing call for the Water Supply Protection Specialist endorsement, one of three a Journeyman or Master can add.

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

For a yardstick, HomeGuide's national figures put plumbers at $45 to $150 an hour, with average jobs at $125 to $450 and service-call fees of $50 to $200. A burst pipe runs $400 to $2,000 nationally to repair. The Texas cost guide is on our plumbing hub.

Burst pipes are the expensive call. Texas health officials confirmed 246 deaths related to the February 2021 winter storm. Ask a plumber in the fall which pipes on your house are exposed and what insulating them would cost.

Water heaters and other Tyler trades

A licensed plumber may disconnect and reconnect a water heater on an existing circuit, but any other electrical work needs a licensed electrician. If a new heater needs a new circuit, add one of Tyler's electricians to the job. Plumbers in Longview hold the same state licenses if you want a comparison quote, and the Tyler hub covers the city's other permits.