Get Quotes from Top Plumbers in Austin, TX

Are You Licensed to Practice as a Plumber in Austin?

The Austin plumbing code requires persons offering plumbing services to hold a state plumbing license and register the same annually with the Austin Development Service Department. Anyone who fails to meet this requirement commits a misdemeanor punishable by a maximum fine of $2000.

The Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE) is in charge of state-level licensing of plumbers in Austin. A plumber can either hold a journeyman license, tradesman license, master plumber license, or be registered as a plumber apprentice. Each license type requires the applicant to have obtained experience related to the plumbing trade and to take a TSBPE-administered examination. However, The requirement of experience varies depending on the license type. For instance, to be eligible for a master plumber license, the applicant must have been a licensed journeyman plumber for at least four years. However, applicants who have completed a training program approved by the United States Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship only require one year of holding a journeyman license.

In contrast, to get a journeyman plumber license, the individual must have worked under the supervision of a master plumber for at least 8,000 hours. A tradesman license application only requires an individual to have 4,000 hours of experience working as a registered apprentice of a master plumber. Meanwhile, the individual must be at least 16 years old to register as an apprentice. Note that each license or registration has its scope of work. For example, a plumber apprentice can only assist licensed plumbers or perform manual tasks, while a tradesman plumber can only work on one or two-family dwellings, and this must be under the supervision of a master plumber.

You can check out the TSBPE Find a License portal to verify state-issued licenses, while local plumbing registration can be verified through the Austin Development Service Department by calling (512) 974-9760.

How Much Do You Charge Compared to Plumbers in Austin?

Before hiring a plumber in Austin, try to obtain at least three bids for your project and carefully compare the bids. This would give you an idea of the details of your project and open you to affordable alternatives. However, note that the lowest bid may not always be the best value.

A plumber in Austin earns an annual average wage of $52,470. Plumbing costs are usually dependent on the required material, labor, and the scope and complexity of the project. Below is a breakdown of the average hourly wages for plumbers in Austin compared with plumbers in other parts of Texas and other major cities in the country:

Do You Comply with the Austin Building Code for Plumbing?

When selecting a plumber in Austin, it is essential to ensure that the plumber is familiar with the requirements of the city's Plumbing Code. Besides indicating that your plumbing work is up to standard, adherence to the plumbing code will also help you avoid issues with the local authorities. A Plumbing Code violation is a misdemeanor offense in Austin punishable by fines ranging from $150 to $500.

Austin Plumbing Code is an amendment to the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials' 2021 Uniform Plumbing Code. The Code provides minimum standards and requirements for several plumbing works, including water heater and boiler installations, drain systems, piping criteria, insulation requirements, shut-off valves, filter systems, and more.

Confirming that your plumber is familiar with the Code's provision is important, as even simple projects can have plumbing Code requirements that are different from what is obtainable in other places. For example, in Austin and other parts of Texas, dishwashers must have an air gap preventing dirty water from flowing back into the unit. Meanwhile, other parts of the country allow for a 'high loop' to solve the same problem. As such, while a method of plumbing might solve your issue, it may not be the approved method under the Code.

To get more information about Code violations in Austin, you can contact the Austin Code Department by calling (512) 974-2633.

Will You Get the Plumbing Permits as Required by the Austin Code?

Section 1501.3 of the Austin Plumbing Code requires residents to obtain plumbing permits before commencing plumbing works within the city's jurisdiction. Performing such works without permits is a code violation that can attract criminal punishments, including fines. The only works that can be done without permits include works required to:

• Stop a leak in a drain, soil, waste, or vent pipe that does not involve the replacement of a defective concealed trap, drain, pipe, solid, waste, or vent pipe with a new device
• Clear a stoppage, not requiring rearrangement or replacement of valves, pipes, or drains
• Repair or replace fixtures and replace exposed traps, continuous waste piping, fixture supply valves, or faucets not involving inspection from other trades

Plumbing permits are issued by the Austin Development Services Department, and only master plumbers registered within the city can obtain them. Application for permits can be made and tracked through the Development Service Department's Build+Connect portal. Note that the application may require the submission and review of building plans, and this process may take up to seven business days to complete. Submission of building plans can be done virtually on the city's project dox portal. To determine whether your project requires a building plan review, you can schedule an appointment with the Department.

In addition to obtaining permits, the city's Building Inspection Division (BID) performs inspections on plumbing projects during construction or upon completion to ensure that they align with the Plumbing Code. Depending on the scope of work, a final inspection may lead to the issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy, which indicates that a structure is safe for occupancy. You can schedule inspections on the Build+Connect portal. For more information on obtaining permits and scheduling inspections, you can contact the Austin Development Services Department by dialing 311.

What Kind of Plumbing Services Do You Offer?

Ensure that any plumber you hire in Austin has the expertise to perform your task. Plumbers in Austin specialize in different areas of plumbing broadly classified as residential, commercial, and service and repair plumbing. Residential plumbers typically do plumbing work at home, while commercial plumbers work mainly in factories, hospitals, and similar facilities. Meanwhile, service and repair plumbers do maintenance and repair work in both commercial and residential structures.

Below are cost estimates for certain plumbing works in Austin.

Do You Offer Emergency Plumbing Services in Austin?

Issues like overflowing toilets, burst pipes, and sewer backup can lead to plumbing emergencies that require immediate attention. However, simpler issues like leaky pipes and faucets should not be taken for granted. This is so, considering that the average household's leaks account for more than 10,000 gallons of water wasted every year, and Austin residents pay $36.74 per 7,727 gallons of water used.

Also, note that the fact that there is an emergency does not mean you should allow just any plumber to work on your home. You have to ensure that the plumber is licensed and capable of solving your emergency. You can look up the license status of a plumber using the TSBPE's find a license portal. Similarly, you can search sites like Yelp and Better Business Bureau for competent plumbers that provide emergency services near you. Doing this would not only ensure that you pick a qualified plumber but will also ensure that the plumber will not take too much time to reach you.

Do You Carry the Necessary Insurance Policy for Plumbers in Austin?

In Austin, master plumbers must hold a certificate of insurance evidencing certain insurance policies to operate legally within the city. The insurance must include general liability insurance for claims of property damage or bodily injury, with coverage of at least $300,000 in a one-year period. Specialized types of plumbing, such as liquefied petroleum gas plumbing and medical plumbing, also require additional insurance requirements.

According to statistics provided by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, 608 fatal occupational injuries were recorded in Texas in 2019, and 193 of these injuries occurred to persons participating in construction-related activities. Ensuring that your plumber is insured affords you protection from unexpected costs arising from occupational accidents that occur during your project.

Note that besides master plumbers, other classifications of licenses do not have compulsory insurance requirements so far as such a plumber is working under the supervision of a master plumber who has met the requirements. Interested persons can verify that a plumber has met the city's insurance requirement by looking up the plumber's license on the TSBPE's license search portal or by contacting the plumber's insurance company.