Get Quotes from Top Plumbers in Arlington, TX
Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Plumber in Arlington
Plumbing leaks are one of the major causes of high water usage in every home. According to the Arlington Water Utilities Department, fixing your plumbing leaks can keep your water usage as low as possible and consequently protect you from additional water and sewer charges. Similarly, in a report published by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, it is estimated that fixing a household water leak can reduce your water bill by up to 10 percent. Therefore, residents of Arlington are advised to hire the services of an experienced plumber to fix any plumbing issue in their homes and help maintain their plumbing system.
You can find competent and experienced plumbers near you by asking the people you trust, like family and friends, for referrals. However, regardless of how you contact your potential plumber, it is always crucial to ask this plumber certain questions to confirm if they are qualified and competent enough to handle your project:
- Are You Licensed to Practice as a Plumber in Arlington?
- How Much Do You Charge Compared to Plumbers in Arlington?
- Do You Comply with the Arlington Building Code for Plumbing?
- Will You Get the Plumbing Permits as Required by Arlington Code?
- What Kind of Plumbing Services Do You Offer?
- Do You Offer Emergency Plumbing Services in Arlington?
- Do You Carry the Necessary Insurance Policy for Plumbers in Arlington?
- How to File a Complaint Against a Bad Plumber in Arlington
Are You Licensed to Practice as a Plumber in Arlington?
Anyone who intends to perform plumbing work as a professional plumber in Arlington must first obtain a plumber license from the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE). The plumbing license types issued by this Board include the Tradesman plumber-limited plumber license, the journeyman plumber license, the master plumber license, and the plumbing inspector license. The license requirements for each of these licenses vary. For example, to obtain a Tradesman plumber-limited plumber license, applicants must be a citizen of the United States and be registered as a plumber's apprentice in Texas or hold a journeyman plumber issued in another state. Applicants must also have at least 4,000 hours of experience working in the plumbing trade, and applicants are expected to have completed a 24-hour plumbing training course and pass a plumbing exam approved by the TSBPE.
Similarly, to obtain a Journeyman plumber license, applicants must be a citizen of the United States, be a registered plumber's apprentice, or currently hold a Tradesman plumber-limited plumber license in Texas. Also, applicants must have at least 8,000 hours of experience working in the plumbing trade, and applicants are expected to have completed a 48-hour plumbing training course and pass a plumbing exam approved by the TSBPE.
Besides a plumber license, Arlington plumbers may also obtain other plumbing certifications, such as endorsement and registration certificates from the TSBPE. When considering hiring a plumber, you should always confirm if the individual is licensed, endorsed, or registered to do your plumbing work. Per state law, performing plumbing work requiring a license, registration, or endorsement without having a current plumbing license, endorsement, or registration issued by the TSBPE is illegal. You can confirm if your plumber is licensed, endorsed, or registered using the TSBPE's licensee search tool. If you have inquiries concerning plumbing license, endorsement, or registration, contact the TSBPE at (512) 936-5200.
In addition to state-issued plumbing licenses, general and construction contractors are required to register with Arlington's Department of Planning and Development Services to be eligible to apply for building permits. Interested plumbers can contact this Department at (817) 459-6502 and make inquiries concerning contractor registration in Arlington.
How Much Do You Charge Compared to Plumbers in Arlington?
The hourly cost of performing plumbing services in Arlington generally depends on the type of plumbing work involved, the cost of materials needed to do the work, and the plumber's experience and qualifications. However, it is always advised that you have a general idea about your project's cost before signing any agreement with a plumber. You can achieve this by getting multiple estimates from different plumbers and ensuring that each plumber justifies their bid by clarifying necessary details. Such necessary details include the amount of work to be done, the time it will take to do the work, and the list of materials needed to complete the work. This gives you an idea of what to expect from the plumber you eventually hire. In addition to knowing what to expect, it also helps you avoid paying more than what is required for the plumbing service.
A plumber in Arlington earns an annual average wage of $33,180. Listed below is a breakdown of the average hourly wages for plumbers in Arlington compared with plumbers in other parts of Texas and other major cities in the country:
Do You Comply with the Arlington Building Code for Plumbing?
Arlington regulates all plumbing work and activities within its jurisdiction through the Arlington Plumbing Code, which includes amendments and additions to the 2015 Edition of the International Plumbing Code. The city's Plumbing Code was established to provide minimum standards to safeguard life, health, and property by regulating and controlling the design, construction, quality of materials, operations, maintenance, or use of plumbing systems in Arlington.
Residents must ensure that their plumbing works comply with the city's Plumbing Code, as violating any section of this code may attract a stop-work order from the Building Official or an administrative fine of up to $500 or both. Before hiring a plumber near you, confirming if they are familiar with the city's Plumbing Code is crucial, as this will protect you from code violations. The City's Department of Planning and Development Services maintains all construction codes in the city via its Permitting and Inspection Unit. All queries regarding these codes can be directed to the Department by calling (817) 459-6502.
Will You Get the Plumbing Permits as Required by Arlington Code?
Anyone who intends to perform plumbing work in Arlington must first obtain a plumbing permit for such work. However, it is not all plumbing work that requires a permit. Plumbing work exempted from permitting include:
- Stopping leaks that do not require the removal or replacement of a concealed trap, drainpipe, or vent pipe
- Clearing of stoppage, and
- Reinstallation of water closets that do not require removing and rearranging any parts of the plumbing system.
Before you hire a plumber near you, it is necessary to ask if they will obtain the appropriate permits for the work and if the plumbing work will be inspected. You can confirm if your plumbing work requires a permit by visiting the work exempted from permitting page maintained by Arlington or by calling the city's Department of Planning and Development Services at (817) 459-6504. This Department issues all types of construction work permits, including plumbing permits, via its Permitting and Inspection Unit. Applicants can apply for a plumbing permit online, but they should note that they need to create a user profile to use this online service.
The plumbing permit application process in Arlington generally involves clarifying the zoning and address of the building you intend to work on, describing the work to be done, submitting a detailed project plan, and paying permit application fees. However, plumbers working on a multifamily project with a total value of more than $50,000 will be required to provide the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) project number for such a project. Applicants who do not wish to use the online application method can apply in person by visiting the city's One Start Development Center at:
101 West, AbramSecond Floor
Arlington, TX 76010
A permit will be issued once the Permitting and Inspection Unit reviews and accepts an application. However, permittees are required to schedule an inspection with the Permitting and Inspection Unit as the work progresses and before the end of the project. All plumbing works for which a permit is issued must be inspected before being concealed. Permittees can schedule an inspection with the Permitting and Inspection Unit online or by calling (817) 261-8817. First-time users of the online platform are required to create a user profile to be eligible to use the online application method.
What Kind of Plumbing Services Do You Offer?
Professional plumbers in Arlington offer a variety of residential and commercial plumbing services. These plumbing services include general plumbing maintenance, replacement of faulty plumbing systems, stopping leaks, clearing blocked drains, installing water systems, and installing backflow prevention systems. However, residents of Arlington are advised always to ensure that the individual they intend to hire is experienced enough to provide the type of services they need.
You can confirm the plumber's experience by asking about their years of practice. While this is a good way to start, it is usually not enough. You should go further by asking the plumber to provide references from previous clients with similar plumbing needs. More so, ask the plumber for contacts of previous clients that you can call to verify the plumber's claims.
Listed below are some of the cost estimates for plumbing services in Arlington:
Do You Offer Emergency Plumbing Services in Arlington?
Professional plumbers in Arlington offer different plumbing emergency services, such as stopping leaks, clearing clogged toilets, fixing burst pipes, and replacing bad plumbing fixtures. When confronted with a plumbing issue, residents of Arlington are advised to hire competent plumbers for prompt and quality repairs, as this will reduce the possibility of water wastage and prevent unnecessary sewer and water charges. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, a single faucet leak can lead to water wastage of more than 3,000 gallons of water annually, equivalent to the amount of water needed to take more than 180 showers.
You can find competent plumbers in your locality by exploring third-party websites like Better Business Bureau, Google Review, and Yelp. Besides providing you with a list of plumbers near you, these websites typically allow customers to post reviews about plumbers they have hired in the past, which can help you access a plumber's level of expertise and professionalism. As soon as you are able to identify a competent plumber for your plumbing job, you should also confirm if the individual has obtained the necessary license that makes them eligible to do your work. You can confirm a plumber's license status using TSBPE's licensee search tool.
Do You Carry the Necessary Insurance Policy for Plumbers in Arlington?
Plumbing contractors are required to maintain general insurance liability to be eligible to work in Arlington. Per state law, a plumbing contractor must have a current certificate of insurance on file with the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners to be eligible to work anywhere in the state. Before you hire a plumber near you, it is crucial to ensure that the individual has general liability insurance, as this will protect you from claims that may arise as a result of property damages and injuries during your plumbing work.
You can confirm if your plumber maintains an insurance policy by requesting a certificate of insurance and confirming from the insurance company that issued the certificate. This is particularly important considering that fatal work accidents may happen at any time during home improvement work. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the construction industry accounted for 123 cases of fatal work injuries across Texas in 2019.
How to File a Complaint Against a Bad Plumber in Arlington
In 2017, the National Association of Home Builders estimated that homeowners or property owners in Texas, including Arlington, spend over $6,962 on each home improvement project. Home improvement projects can range from simple repairs to major construction work that takes a lot of time and money. Considering the amount of money citizens spend on these projects, homeowners and property owners are always targeted by unscrupulous individuals posing as contractors. These individuals employ various methods to steal from unsuspecting citizens.
These methods include performing shoddy work that will need repair after a short period, abandoning the project without completing the work, utilizing inferior materials to do the work, deliberately refusing to pay suppliers for materials, collecting cash payment and not showing up to do the job. In August 2021, a grand jury indicted two contractors for spearheading a series of home improvement scams across Texas, including Arlington. The pair admitted they collected over $850,000 from 18 homeowners for home improvement works, including plumbing work. To avoid being victim to such individuals, residents of Arlington are urged to take cautious steps when hiring a plumber. Some of these steps include:
- Ask people you trust for referrals.
- Use third-party websites like Better Business Bureau, Yelp, and Google Review to find a competent and experienced plumber near you.
- Always verify the plumber's license. You can confirm your plumber's license status by utilizing the TSBPE's licensee search tool.
- Confirm if your intended contractor is registered with Arlington by utilizing the registration and permit search tool.
- Get work estimates from two to three plumbers and make sure that each plumber clarifies the work to be done, the materials needed, the date of completion, and the total cost of the project
- Find out if your plumber has current liability insurance to cover accidents and injuries that may occur during your plumbing work. You can ask the plumber for an insurance certificate and contact the insurance company that issued the certificate to confirm
- Being cautious of anyone asking for cash payment or large payment upfront
Finally, if you suspect a plumbing scam, you can report it to the Consumer Protection Division of the Texas Office of the Attorney General. You can file a complaint with this Division online or by downloading, printing, completing, and mailing a consumer complaint form to:
Office of the Attorney GeneralConsumer Protection Division
P.O. Box 12548
Austin, TX 78711 - 2548
Upon receiving a complaint, the Consumer Protection Division of the Texas Office of the Attorney General will review the complaint to identify illegal activity. Once this is determined, the Division will initiate a simple mediation process to resolve your complaint. However, the Division can not file a lawsuit on your behalf. If you seek to recover all the money you lost to the plumber, you can file a small claims case against this individual or business at the Tarrant County Justice of Peace Courts. Note that you can not claim more than $20,000 in small claims cases. Also, if you choose to take legal action, it is always best to seek the advice of an attorney.
Table of Contents
- Are You Licensed to Practice as a Plumber in Arlington?
- How Much Do You Charge Compared to Plumbers in Arlington?
- Do You Comply with the Arlington Building Code for Plumbing?
- Will You Get the Plumbing Permits as Required by Arlington Code?
- What Kind of Plumbing Services Do You Offer?
- Do You Offer Emergency Plumbing Services in Arlington?
- Do You Carry the Necessary Insurance Policy for Plumbers in Arlington?
- How to File a Complaint Against a Bad Plumber in Arlington