Plumbing help · Greenville, TX
Greenville, TX Plumbing FAQs: Straight Answers Before You Call
Most plumbing calls start with the same handful of questions: what to shut off, whose problem it is, who needs a permit and what a fair quote looks like. The answers below are short, local where they can be and plain about what they cannot say.
The first ten minutes: shutoffs, gas smells and city water notices
Fast decisions matter most when water is loose or a smell is in the air. These four answers cover what to do first and who owns the problem.
What should I do first in a plumbing emergency?
Stop the water at the home's own main shutoff valve, usually where the line enters the house. If a water heater is flooding, turn off its power or gas. Leave the city's meter shutoff alone, since that is the city's equipment. Then move valuables, photograph the damage for a claim and call a plumber.
Who do I call for a gas smell?
Leave the building at once without switching lights or appliances on or off, and call 911 from outside. Then call the gas utility whose number is on your bill. A strong gas smell is not a job to start on your own, and a plumber should come only after the utility says the line is safe.
What should I do when Greenville issues a boil water notice?
Follow the instructions in the city's notice, since the city decides when it ends. A notice usually points to a problem on the city's side, such as the pipeline leak that led to one on July 6, 2024. It does not mean your own pipes failed. This page does not state how long a notice lasts, because each one differs.
My water pressure dropped. Is it my plumbing or the city?
Ask two or three neighbors and look for a notice from the city. If several homes lost pressure together, the cause is probably a city main. In September 2023, two main breaks left parts of northeast Greenville without water for about two days. If only your house is affected, the cause is likely inside it.
| What you notice | Who to call first | One thing to do |
|---|---|---|
| A gas smell | 911 from outside, then the gas utility on your bill | Do not switch anything on or off |
| No water or weak water, and neighbors too | The City of Greenville at (903) 457-3100 | Look for a city notice first |
| Water inside the house only | Your main valve, then a plumber | Run the meter test if it is safe |
| Sewage backing up | A plumber | Stop using water and avoid chemicals |
| A boil water notice | The city's instructions | Your pipes are probably not the cause |
Hiring, registration, permits and inspections in Greenville
A few checks before work starts can save an argument later. The answers use the City of Greenville's own Permits and Inspections page and the state's public tools.
Does the plumber doing my work need to be registered with the city?
The city asks a master plumber to register before working in Greenville. Its Permits and Inspections page lists a copy of the master license, an ID and liability insurance naming the City of Greenville as certificate holder. Plumbing contractors pay no annual fee. Ask the plumber whether they have registered, and the city office can confirm.
How can I check a plumber's Texas license?
The Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners runs a public license search on its website. Enter the name on the quote, then check that the license is active and matches the person or company you are dealing with. This site does not publish license numbers, so ask the plumber for one directly.
Does a new water heater need a permit in Greenville?
The city lists plumbing among the permit types it handles, but its page does not spell out water heater replacement. Ask the plumber whether the job needs a permit and who pulls it, and call the city at (903) 457-3100 to confirm. A plumber who says none is needed should be able to say why.
What happens at a plumbing inspection, and who calls for it?
When a job needs one, the permit holder, meaning the plumber, calls for the inspection. The city asks for calls by 3:00 p.m. for an inspection the next business day. Underground plumbing under a new slab is inspected before concrete or reinforcing steel goes in. After-hours inspections need written notice at least 72 hours ahead.
Should I call 811 before a plumber digs?
Yes, for any dig that reaches buried lines. Texas811 asks anyone who digs, homeowners included, to submit a request at least two business days before the work begins, and utilities then mark their lines. Ask the plumber who makes the request and on what date digging can start.
| Item | Who handles it | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Texas license | State Board of Plumbing Examiners | Search the name on the quote |
| City registration | City Permits and Inspections | Ask the plumber whether they registered |
| Inspection calls | The permit holder | By 3:00 p.m. for the next business day |
| Buried lines | Texas811 | Request at least two business days ahead |
Leaks, slabs, sewers and drains: what the signs mean
Pipe problems hide, so the useful answers are the ones that tell you what to check and what to ask. Each one points to the page that explains it in full.
How can I tell whether a leak is mine or the city's?
Turn off every tap and appliance, then watch the meter's small leak dial. If it moves, water is going somewhere. Close the home's main valve and look again. A dial that stops points to a leak inside the house, and one that keeps moving points to the buried line outside. Ask the city which stretch it maintains at your address.
What clues point to a slab leak?
Common signs are a warm spot on a floor, the sound of running water when everything is off, a water bill that climbs without explanation and damp or lifting flooring. None proves a slab leak alone. The meter test is the safe first check, and a plumber should confirm the location before anyone cuts concrete.
Is it possible to locate a slab leak without cutting concrete first?
Often, yes. Plumbers use acoustic listening, pressure tests and thermal or tracer methods to narrow a leak to a small area before cutting. The repair itself may mean opening the floor or rerouting the line through walls or the attic. Ask which method was used and for the findings in writing.
Should I repair or repipe after a second pipe leak?
One leak in a pipe that is otherwise sound is usually a repair. A second or third leak in a short time suggests the material is wearing out, and then repiping is worth pricing against repeated repairs. Ask the plumber to show the failed section and explain why the rest of the line will or will not hold.
What does a sewer backup mean, and what do I do until help arrives?
Stop using water, keep people and pets away from standing sewage and do not pour chemicals down a drain. If several fixtures back up at once, the blockage is likely in the main line. Heavy rain can make a weak line worse, so a camera inspection is how a plumber finds the cause. Say which fixtures are affected when you call.
How does heavy rain affect sewer drains in Greenville?
Heavy rain can overload a sewer when stormwater or groundwater gets in through defects, and the EPA lists that among the causes of sewage backing up into homes. If your drains slow down or back up mainly after storms, tell the plumber, since roots or a break in the line can let ground water in. If neighbors are affected too, the city's main is the likely cause, so call the City of Greenville at (903) 457-3100. Stop using water until it clears.
When is trenchless pipe lining better than digging up a sewer line?
A camera inspection decides it. Lining can suit a line that is intact enough to accept a new liner, while a collapsed or badly offset section may need excavation. Ask for the inspection video and for the reason the plumber recommends one method over the other.
See lining a sewer pipe.
How often should drains be cleaned or jetted?
No single schedule fits every line. How often depends on what a camera shows: grease, roots, scale or a low spot that holds water. A line that clears and stays clear may need nothing, while one that clogs repeatedly may justify cleaning at set intervals the plumber can explain.
What does water damage cleanup include, and what does it leave out?
Cleanup here means removing standing water, drying wet materials and documenting the damage. It does not include mold remediation or rebuilding walls and floors, which are separate trades. Photograph everything before work starts and keep the notes from the plumber and the drying crew for an insurance claim.
- The street address and ZIP code.
- Which fixtures or rooms are affected.
- What the meter's leak dial did during the test.
- Whether water is still running and whether the main is closed.
- Photos of anything wet, with dates.
Heaters, fixtures and water quality: checks you can do safely
Some fixes are a small adjustment, and some are not worth the risk. These answers separate the two and say when to stop.
Why is there no hot water, and can I relight the pilot myself?
Check first that the breaker has not tripped or, on a gas heater, that the pilot or igniter is working. If the pilot will not stay lit, or you smell gas, stop and call. The manual walks through relighting for some models, but a heater that fails repeatedly needs a plumber, not another relight.
See no hot water causes.
How do I know when a water heater should be replaced?
Age matters less than condition. Check the date code on the label, look for rust or moisture at the base and ask the plumber what failed. A repair that costs a large share of a new unit, on an old tank, often points toward replacement. Ask for both options in writing and compare them.
Is a tankless heater worth the switch, and does it need descaling?
A tankless unit can suit a household that wants steady hot water and has the gas or electrical capacity to run one. It needs periodic descaling, and how often depends on your water. This site does not publish a hardness number, so ask for a water test before relying on any schedule.
See tankless descaling.
What can I check when a disposal hums but will not spin?
Turn the power off at the switch and the breaker. Many models have a hex socket underneath that turns with the wrench to clear a jam, and a reset button on the underside. Never put a hand into the disposal. If it still only hums, or it leaks from the body, the unit may need replacing.
See a humming disposal.
Why does a toilet keep running after I flush?
A toilet that keeps running usually has a flapper that does not seal or a fill valve that does not shut off. Lift the tank lid and look for a flapper that sits crooked or a float set too high. If the running continues after a simple adjustment, a plumber can check the rest.
See a running toilet.
How do I stop a leaking faucet or shower valve?
A drip from the spout usually means a worn cartridge or washer, and a leak at the base points to a seal. Shut off the supply valve under the sink before you take anything apart. A shower valve that drips or will not turn off sits behind the wall, which makes it a plumber's job.
Is a water softener worth buying in Greenville?
This site does not publish a hardness number for Greenville, because the city's water quality report is the right source and it is not summarized here. Scale on fixtures and spotting on glass are common signs of hard water. A water test tells you whether a softener is worth installing.
- Shut the supply valve before you open any fixture.
- Switch the power off at the breaker for a disposal or heater.
- Stop at any gas smell, spark or standing water near electrics.
- Photograph the part before you take it off.
Prices and coverage: what a quote includes and where we reach
Two last questions people ask before they dial: what it will cost and whether anyone can come.
What should I expect plumbing work to cost in Greenville?
Costs depend on the house, the access and the repair, so the cost page gives wide ranges rather than exact prices. Treat a written quote as the only number that counts, and ask each plumber to list what it includes. A quote that cannot say what is included is hard to compare.
See typical price ranges.
Do you serve my area, and which ZIP codes are covered?
Call with your ZIP code and street address, and the person answering will confirm whether we can get a plumber to you. The ZIP codes on our service list are 75401, 75402 and 75404. Appearing on that list is not a promise about any single address.
Still have a plumbing question? Call and ask
Call, describe what you see and give your street address. The person who answers will tell you whether we can get a plumber to you.