Get Quotes from Top Plumbers in Garland, TX
Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Plumber in Garland
With water usage costing Garland residents up to $9.36 per 1,000 gallons and a typical household leakage causing the wastage of over 90 gallons of water per day, residents of the city may end with additional liability in excess of hundreds of dollar on their utility bill. However, you can find a qualified plumber in Garland to save you this cost by fixing both detected and undetected leaks, as well as helping to optimize both your indoor and outdoor plumbing systems. When contracting a plumber in the city ensure to ask the following questions before signing off on the papers:
- Are You Licensed to Practice as a Plumber in Garland?
- How Much Do You Charge Compared to Plumbers in Garland?
- Do You Comply with the Garland Building Code for Plumbing?
- Will You Get the Plumbing Permits as Required by the Garland Code?
- What Kind of Plumbing Services Do You Offer?
- Do You Offer Emergency Plumbing Services in Garland?
- Do You Carry the Necessary Insurance Policy for Plumbers in Garland?
- How to File a Complaint Against a Bad Plumber in Garland
Are You Licensed to Practice as a Plumber in Garland?
Anyone intending to offer plumbing services in Garland must obtain a master plumbing license from the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE). Per Section 103.351(1) of the Plumbing License Law, it is illegal for a plumber to carry out plumbing work without the appropriate license, and penalties range from fines to refusing to register such individuals if they later attempt to obtain a license.
In addition to obtaining a master plumber license, anyone intending to offer plumbing services in Garland is further required to register with Garland prior to commencing any work within the City. However, it should be noted that not all plumbing-related works require a license. For example, you do not need a plumbing license to carry out plumbing work that accompanies the work of another profession.
In Garland, a plumber can get one of three main license types to operate in the City. They are; the Tradesman-Plumbers Limited license, Journeyman license, and Master Plumber license. In order to obtain these licenses, applicants must first write and pass an exam and pay the required fees. It should be noted that to take this exam, applicants must meet certain eligibility requirements. These requirements also differ depending on the license the applicant is applying for. For instance, in order to be eligible to take a Journeyman license exam in Garland, an applicant has to fulfill the following requirements:
- They must be a citizen of the United States or an alien or a non-immigrant qualified for licensing in Texas.
- They must be presently registered as a Plumber's apprentice or licensed as Tradesman-Plumbers in Texas or licensed as a Journeyman plumber or a Master plumber in another state.
- They must have at least 8,000 hours of experience working as a plumber.
- They must have finished a 48-hour training course that has been approved by the TSBPE or a training program approved by the United States Department of Labour Office of Apprenticeship.
You can verify a plumber's license on the TSBPE license search portal or by contacting the TSBPE at (512) 936-5200.
How Much Do You Charge Compared to Plumbers in Garland?
The hourly wage of plumbers in Garland depends on a number of factors, such as the kind of work to be done, the amount it would cost to obtain necessary materials, and the cost of obtaining any permits. Getting and comparing price estimates from plumbers near you will help you choose the most favorable price estimate. Also, observing the hourly rates of plumbers in your area will give you a good idea of what would be a fair price. For example, plumbers' mean hourly wage in Garland is just over $24.
A plumber in Garland earns an annual average wage of $50,690. Below is a breakdown of the Average hourly wages for plumbers in Garland compared with plumbers in other parts of California and other major cities in the country:
Do You Comply with the Garland Building Code for Plumbing?
Garland has adopted the 2015 International Plumbing Code as its PLumbing Code, and it would be in your best interest to hire a plumber who is familiar with this Code. The Code regulates the repairs, installation, adjustments, and maintenance of plumbing systems in Garland. It also provides guidelines that would guarantee a reasonable amount of safety, health, and general welfare concerning plumbing works in Garland.
The provisions of the Plumbing Code are not restricted to water-related plumbing works as it also regulates the installation, adjustments, repairs, and upgrades of nonflammable medical gas, vacuum piping, nonmedical oxygen systems, inhalation anesthetic, and sanitary and condensate vacuum collection systems. Anyone found in violation of the provisions of the Code will be penalized; the violation is punished with a stipulated fine, term of imprisonment, or both under Section 108.4.
For further assistance or inquiries regarding the Plumbing Code, contact the Development and Permitting Center (DPC) at (972) 205-2300.
Will You Get the Plumbing Permits as Required by the Garland Code?
Before you can carry out most plumbing work within Garland,, you must obtain a plumbing permit. However, specific plumbing works are exempted, and they include:
- Work concerning clearing drainages, pipes, valves, or any other component of the plumbing system, except it involves removing or replacing any pipes, valves, or fixtures.
- Work that involves fixing leaks in pipes, valves, soil, drains, or fixtures, except it involves the removal or replacement of any concealed component that becomes defective.
The Garland Development and Permitting Center is responsible for reviewing plumbing permit applications in Garland and issuing plumbing permits. Generally, only master plumbers are eligible to apply for permits, and applications can be made by completing a permit application form and mailing the completed form to:
GarlandP.O. Box 469002
800 Main Street
Garland, TX 75040-6299
Depending on the type of plumbing work you wish to carry out, you may be expected to schedule an appointment for inspection with the Plumbing Inspector. Contact the Permitting Center at (972) 205-2300 to schedule inspections and make related inquiries. You can also visit the Center at:
Department and Permitting Center200 North Fifth Street
Garland, TX 75040
What Kind of Plumbing Services Do You Offer?
Plumbers in Garland offer a variety of plumbing services ranging from drainage clearing and repair, installation and repair of faucets or toilets, water heater installation and repair, and shower and tub installation and repair. Due to the diverse nature of plumbing work, you must consider whether the plumber you want to hire has the skills and expertise required to handle your plumbing job. Also, it is in your best interest to find out how much the plumber charges for their services, so you can properly budget for it.
The following are the price estimates of some plumbing services in Garland:
You should note that these price estimates do not include the costs of obtaining a permit, inspection or building fees, or any general contractor fees.
Do You Offer Emergency Plumbing Services in Garland?
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, households across the United States lose up to 1 trillion gallons of water to plumbing leaks. It equals the amount of yearly water usage of over 11 million homes. With water costing $9.36 per 1,000 gallons for city residents, fixing any leakages you discover in your home as soon as possible is crucial to avoid unnecessarily high water bills. While you should endeavor to address all plumbing problems as soon as you can, some plumbing issues generally require quicker action than others. Such plumbing issues include burst pipes, clogged toilets, faucet malfunction, basement flooding, and bad water heaters, to name a few.
Ensure the plumber you wish to hire has the expertise to carry out these emergency services without a hitch. Employing a general contractor without a license to offer emergency plumbing services is risky since they may not have the required expertise or knowledge to do the job properly. To find plumbers near you, make use of websites such as the Better Business Bureau or HomeAdvisor.
Ensure to confirm your plumber's licensing status by making use of the TSBPE License Search Portal. Also, contact the Building Inspection Department to confirm if your plumber has registered with the city.
Do You Carry the Necessary Insurance Policy for Plumbers in Garland?
Master plumbers in Garland are not generally required to have insurance coverage in Texas. However, Master plumbers who wish to include the Responsible Master Plumber (RMP) title to their license are required by the TSBPE to have commercial liability insurance and a certificate of insurance to show compliance with this requirement. The minimum insurance coverage amount for this insurance is $300,000 annually.
Hiring a plumber with an insurance policy will provide you with the necessary financial buffer if life-threatening injuries or property damage were to occur during the plumbing work. This is emphasized by the fact that in 2019, over 600 occupational injuries in Texas were fatal. Ask your prospective plumber if they have the necessary insurance policy, and you can contact the insurance company to verify if it is still current.
How to File a Complaint Against a Bad Plumber in Garland
According to the Havard Joint Center for Housing Studies, Americans spend more than $400 billion on home renovation repairs each year. With this much money spent on home improvement services, it is not surprising that many dubious plumbers would like to take advantage of this seemingly profitable venture. For example, in August 2021, dubious home improvement contractors admitted to defrauding clients across Texas of $850,000 after their operations were finally uncovered by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). You can visit the Garland fraud alert webpage to view current fraud and scam alerts across the city and acquaint yourself with common scam techniques related to plumbing. Examples of these scams include:
- Buying cheap and shabby materials after billing and collecting money for standard materials.
- Price gouging and other subtle attempts to overcharge you.
- Refusing to sign a written contract and later increasing their charges mid-way into the project.
Fortunately, you can better protect yourself from these common plumbing scams by doing the following:
- Compare bids from multiple plumbers. Ensure each bid has material prices and miscellaneous costs, so you can determine whether a plumber is overcharging you or planning to use cheap materials. You can also compare these prices online.
- Ensure you have a well-written contract detailing quotes, estimates, and your plumber's duties.
- To avoid too many people working on your plumbing issue, ask ahead if the job requires more than one plumber. Uncomplicated plumbing issues do not require more than one person to get them done.
- Make sure to use the TSBPE license search tool to confirm the licensing status of the plumber you wish to hire. This way, you ensure they have the appropriate license to carry out the job.
If you think you have been a victim of a plumbing scam or a dubious plumber is trying to scam you, ensure to file a complaint to the necessary authorities. For instance, you could file a general complaint to the TSBPE. A general complaint form is provided online and is to be filled and mailed to the following address:
Texas State Board of Plumbing ExaminersP.O. Box 4200
Austin, TX 78765-4200
Contact the Board at (512) 936-5249 for further assistance. A complaint can also be filed online to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation to report unlicensed activity and infractions licensed plumbers commit. Necessary steps would be taken to come to your desired resolution. An investigation will be conducted, and there will be an attempt to resolve this through mediation. If these agencies cannot come to your desired conclusion, you can proceed to file a small claims case. Small claims cases from Garland City are typically filed at the Dallas County Justice of the Peace 2-1.
For assistance and inquiries, contact the court at (217) 643-4773 or send an email. You should note that only civil cases with damages worth less than $20,000 will be heard at this court. You would be better off consulting an attorney for legal advice and evaluation of your case before you go ahead with filing the case.
Table of Contents
- Are You Licensed to Practice as a Plumber in Garland?
- How Much Do You Charge Compared to Plumbers in Garland?
- Do You Comply with the Garland Building Code for Plumbing?
- Will You Get the Plumbing Permits as Required by the Garland Code?
- What Kind of Plumbing Services Do You Offer?
- Do You Offer Emergency Plumbing Services in Garland?
- Do You Carry the Necessary Insurance Policy for Plumbers in Garland?
- How to File a Complaint Against a Bad Plumber in Garland