What we do
What our Georgetown plumbing service covers
Repairs, replacements, maintenance and new installs, for houses, rentals and commercial spaces.
Most calls start with one symptom: water where it shouldn't be, water that won't drain, or water that won't heat. Behind that symptom sits a system, and the fix depends on which part failed. A slow tub can be hair in the trap or a sagging line under the slab. A wet ceiling can be a loose drain nut or a pinhole in copper.
We have done this work in and around Georgetown since 1999, so the visit starts by finding the cause rather than treating the symptom. The pages below cover each service in depth. This page is the overview: what we handle, how a visit runs, and what drives the cost.
- Leaks and pipe repair: supply lines, angle stops, burst or frozen pipes, slab leaks and yard lines
- Drains and sewer: kitchen and tub clogs, main-line backups, camera checks and sewer line repair
- Water heaters: gas and electric tanks, tankless units, expansion tanks and relief valves
- Water treatment: softener installs and repairs sized for hard water
- Fixtures: toilets, faucets, sinks, garbage disposals and hose bibs
- Bigger jobs: whole-house repipes, gas lines, main water lines and commercial work
Which signs mean a sewer line needs a camera inspection?
One slow sink is usually a local clog in the trap or branch line. When the tub gurgles as the washer drains, or a floor drain rises while a toilet flushes, those are the signs of a sewer line problem. A sewer camera goes in through the cleanout and shows roots, grease, a belly or a break before anyone picks a tool.
Then the method matches the pipe. A cable snake opens a branch-line clog; hydro-jetting scours grease and roots off the pipe wall, but not on cracked clay or scaled cast iron. See drain cleaning and sewer line service.
Can I use chemical drain cleaners on a clogged drain?
We advise against them. Caustic openers sit in the trap, attack older metal drain lines and rarely shift the grease or roots behind a repeat clog. If a drain has clogged twice, the cause is further down the line. Plunge once, then call.
Why is my water bill suddenly so high?
A sudden jump usually means a hidden leak: a running flapper, an irrigation valve, a yard line or a pipe under the slab. Run this meter test first; leak detection takes it from there.
Turn everything off
Close every faucet and stop the ice maker, the irrigation controller and the softener’s regeneration cycle.
Read the meter
Lift the meter box lid and note the reading, or watch the small leak indicator on the dial face.
Wait 15 to 30 minutes
Use no water at all, then read the meter again.
Act on the result
If the dial moved, water is escaping somewhere. Close the main shut-off and call us to trace it.
Drain & Sewer Cleaning
Kitchen, tub and main-line clogs cleared by cable or water jet, with a camera check when the sewer backs up.
Water Heater Repair & Replacement
Gas and electric tanks diagnosed, repaired or replaced, with the city permit pulled when a new heater goes in.
Tankless Water Heaters
Tankless units sized to your peak demand, plumbed for easy descaling and fed by a gas line that can keep up.
Water Softener Installation & Repair
Softeners sized to your water and household, tied into the loop with a bypass and an air-gapped drain.
Toilet, Faucet & Fixture Repair
Running toilets, dripping faucets and jammed disposals fixed, and fixtures you bought installed properly.
Emergency Plumbing
Burst pipes, sewer backups and leaking water heaters: stop the water, call, and get an honest arrival time.
Burst & Frozen Pipe Repair
Frozen, split or burst pipes found, cut back to sound pipe, repaired in PEX or copper and pressure-tested.
Slab Leak Detection & Repair
Slab leaks pinpointed before concrete is cut, then fixed by spot repair, reroute or tunnel, whichever suits the house.
Water Leak Detection
Hidden leaks in walls, slabs, yard lines and sprinkler zones traced and marked before anything is opened.
Sewer Backup & Sewer Line Repair
Backed-up mains cleared, filmed and repaired, from root-cut clay tile to a full new lateral.
Whole-House Repiping
Replace polybutylene, galvanized or leak-prone copper with new PEX or copper, permitted, inspected and patched.
Gas Line Repair & Installation
Leak repair, pressure tests and new gas lines for ranges, dryers, water heaters, outdoor kitchens and generators.
Main Water Line Repair & Replacement
Leaking or failing main water line found, repaired or replaced from the meter to the house, with trench or bore.
Commercial Plumbing
Repairs, replacements and finish-out plumbing for restaurants, offices, retail centres and the managers behind them.
Local causes
Why plumbing fails the way it does in Georgetown homes
Three local conditions explain most of the repairs we see: hard water, moving ground and the occasional hard freeze.
Georgetown Utility Systems rates its water hard to very hard. The city measures about 10–11 grains per gallon from the Lake Georgetown and Southlake plants and about 19 from the Park and Southside plants. That mineral load settles as scale in tank bottoms, tankless heat exchangers, aerators and toilet fill valves.
Can hard water damage my pipes and fixtures?
Yes, slowly. Mineral scale buildup narrows supply lines and faucet screens and shortens a water heater’s life. Your own hardness figure is in the annual drinking water quality report every Texas water system publishes under TCEQ rules. If your tank is scaling, a water softener is usually worth it.
The ground matters too. West of I-35 most lots sit on Edwards limestone, which makes trenching for yard and sewer lines slow. East of the interstate, Blackland Prairie clay swells when wet and shrinks in August, and that movement stresses drain lines and supply piping under slab foundations.
Why do slab leaks happen so often in Georgetown homes?
Because expansive clay soil and slab plumbing make a poor pair. As the clay dries in August and swells after fall rain, the slab foundation shifts and the joints inside it take the strain. Watch for the signs of a slab leak: a warm spot on tile, running water with every fixture off, a climbing bill. Caught early, slab leak repair is often one opening or a reroute.
Housing age changes the risk street by street. Old Town around the courthouse square has the oldest piping. Sun City, built from the mid-1990s on, is replacing original heaters, while Wolf Ranch is on its first builder-grade repairs.
Then there is cold. Winter Storm Uri in February 2021 split pipes in attics, exterior walls and hose bibs across Williamson County. Two of our Google reviewers describe broken lines from that week.
Frozen pipe prevention before the next hard freeze:
- Insulate exposed lines in the garage, the attic and exterior walls
- Disconnect hoses and cover every hose bib
- Label the main shut-off so anyone in the house can close it
- Agree on a faucet-drip plan before the forecast, not during it
- Keep (512) 988-5119 on paper by the fridge in case a phone dies
Our Winter Storm Uri guide covers each step.
Call a plumber when you notice:
- The water meter dial moves with every fixture off
- A warm spot on the floor or a hissing sound in a wall
- Rust-coloured or rotten-egg-smelling hot water
- More than one drain gurgling or backing up at once
- White crust building on faucets and showerheads within weeks of cleaning
Our process
How a service call works, from first ring to clean-up
Every visit follows the same order, so you know what happens next.
What should I do first when a pipe bursts?
Stop the water, then call. Every minute a line runs, it soaks further into drywall and flooring. Do these in order.
Close the main shut-off
It is usually in the meter box near the street or where the line enters the house. Turn it clockwise until it stops.
Drain the pressure
Open the lowest faucet or a hose bib. If the water heater is involved, switch off its breaker or set the gas control to off.
Cut power to wet areas
If water is near outlets, appliances or the panel, turn off that circuit. If you cannot reach the breaker without standing in water, stay out.
Photograph before you clean
Video the source, the damage and the water line on the walls. Keep damaged items until your insurance adjuster has seen them.
Call and describe it
Tell us what you see, where the shut-off is and whether the water is stopped, so the right parts come on the first trip.
| Problem | Warning signs | First action | When to call |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burst or leaking pipe | Running water sound, wet drywall, ceiling stains | Close the main, drain the lines | Right away |
| Sewer backup | Several drains gurgling, sewage smell, water rising in a tub | Stop using water; no chemical cleaners | Right away: a health hazard |
| No hot water | Pilot out, popping, water at the tank base | Turn off power or gas; if leaking, close the cold-water valve | That day; right away if leaking |
| Suspected slab leak | Warm floor spots, a bill that jumps | Run the meter test; close the main if it moves | As soon as the meter moves |
| Frozen pipe | A trickle or nothing in a hard freeze | Open the faucet; never thaw with a flame | Right away if a pipe split |
Smell gas? Leave first, then call 911 and Atmos Energy from outside. See our emergency plumber page.
Once you call: our plumbing repair process
Describe the problem on the phone
Tell us what you see and where. We ask whether the main shut-off is closed, how old the water heater is, and whether more than one fixture is affected. That way the right parts come on the first trip.
Stop the damage first
If water is running, the first job on arrival is isolating it: closing the right valve, capping a split line or shutting off the heater. Diagnosis comes after the floor stops getting wetter.
Find the cause, not just the drip
We trace the symptom back. That can mean a meter test for hidden leaks, a camera down a main line, or checking the pressure from the meter to the house.
Options and a quote before any work
You hear what failed, what the choices are, repair or replace, and what each costs before a wrench turns. Several of our reviewers mention exactly this step.
The repair, with a permit when the job needs one
Water heater replacements, repipes and gas lines need a city permit in most of the area. We file it and schedule the inspection as part of the job.
Test, explain and clean up
We run the fixtures, check for drips under pressure, walk you through what was done and leave the work area clean.
Cost
How much is a plumber service call in Georgetown, TX?
It depends on what the call turns into. Here is what moves the number.
A visit that ends with a new fill valve is a different job from one that ends with a jackhammer in the master bath. The honest answer is that nobody can price a repair they haven't seen, which is why we quote on site before the work starts.
| Factor | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Access | A pipe in an open attic is quicker than one under a slab or behind tile. |
| Diagnosis | Hidden leaks and recurring clogs may need a meter test or a camera inspection first. |
| Parts | A cartridge or flapper is small; a 50-gallon gas heater or a softener is not. |
| Permits | Water heater, repipe and gas line work carries a city permit and an inspection visit. |
| Ground | Limestone west of I-35 slows trenching for yard and sewer lines. |
If a repair and a replacement are both reasonable, you get both prices, so you can weigh a fix today against a new unit that resets the clock. Our reviewers describe the same thing from their side of the table.
When should I replace my water heater instead of repairing it?
Check the data plate’s date first. Water heater lifespan for a storage tank is typically 10 to 15 years, and hard water tends to shorten it.
| Repair it if… | Replace it if… |
|---|---|
| One part failed on a sound tank: an element, a thermostat, a thermocouple or the gas valve | Water is pooling at the base of the tank |
| The tank is well inside its rated life and the hot water runs clear | The hot water runs rusty or smells of rotten eggs that a new anode rod does not fix |
| A yearly flush still clears the sediment | You have paid for more than one repair in a year |
Which is better for hard water: a tank or a tankless water heater?
Both work here; they need different care. A tank tolerates scale with a yearly flush and an anode check, and it costs less to put in. A tankless unit can last 20 years or more, but its heat exchanger needs regular descaling or a softener ahead of it. The gas line or electrical service also has to carry the load, which the tankless water heater page explains.
Planning ahead beats an emergency swap. Our water heater replacement cost guide explains the price drivers.
Permits & licensing
Do you pull City of Georgetown plumbing permits?
Yes, when the job requires one. Here is how the rules work.
The City of Georgetown lists water heater replacement among the projects that need a permit, and repipes and new gas lines need one across most of the area. We pull the permit and meet the inspector. A small repair like a faucet cartridge or a toilet flapper does not need one.
Statewide, plumbing is regulated by the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners. Every plumbing company works under a Responsible Master Plumber whose license number starts with "M". TSBPE runs a free public search where you can check any plumber before work begins.
Gas work also follows Atmos Energy rules, and any digging for a yard line starts with a Texas 811 locate request at least two business days ahead.
How do I verify a plumber’s Texas license?
Open the TSBPE license search
The public search is free and linked from tsbpe.texas.gov.
Search by number or name
Use the license number from the plumber’s advertising, truck or written quote.
Check the type and the status
Look for a Responsible Master Plumber, whose number begins with “M”, and a current status.
Ask about complaints
The TSBPE consumer line, (512) 936-5249, answers questions about a license and its record.
Before you sign with any plumber, ask:
- Can I have the quote in writing? On a big job, compare two or three line by line
- Does it need a plumbing permit, and who pulls it? Georgetown plumbing permit requirements cover heaters, softeners and repipes
- What warranty covers the parts and the labor, in writing?
- What is the prepayment policy? Never pay the full price up front; tie large-job payments to finished stages
- Texas plumbing license verification: check the license and the reviews first
Why Alta Vista Plumbing
Why Georgetown has called Alta Vista Plumbing since 1999
Local, long-running and reviewed by hundreds of neighbours.
Alta Vista Plumbing started in Georgetown in 1999 and still works out of 78628. That is 436 Google reviews and a 4.7 average from homeowners, landlords and business owners who could check our work afterward.
Read those reviews and the same three things come up. We explain the options before quoting. We clean up. And we handle the small jobs, a toilet from Lowe's or a new kitchen faucet, with the same care as a slab leak.
Residential or commercial, repair or new install, it is one phone number and one crew that already knows the town: (512) 988-5119.
It is a family business, too. The Maldonado family came to Georgetown in 1978 and opened the company in 1999; the full story is on our About page. Check our record the way you would check anyone’s: read the customer reviews or look us up with the Better Business Bureau.
What Georgetown-area customers say
4.7 average from 436 Google reviewsRead our Google reviews
I found myself doing a total remodel on a property recently purchased. Alta Vista went above and beyond to bring my property up to code and added value to the property through doing the following: added an extra bathroom, rerouted water lines, add an outside faucet, added utility connections, assured the water pressure from the meter to the house was accurate and educated us in the drainage system. All the new lines are insulated and Steve Maldonado kept us updated and educated during the entire process. During their service of my property there was one small leak that they promptly fixed as soon as I called them! To this day I have asked them questions pertaining to the plumbing on the property and they respond fast! I highly recommend Alta Vista Services for ALL plumbing jobs. There is no job too big or too small that they can't do!
Excellent plumbing company with knowledgeable and professional staff. They repaired my plumbing issue promptly and in a very timely manner from my initial contact. They showed up on time and were ready with materials and supplies to complete my repair issue. We will use them again without hesitation.
Jared was amazingly helpful and thorough. He managed to balance being a genuinely nice guy with his professional know-how which made having him do the work a pleasure. Steve Maldonado responded in a timely fashion and always kept me up to date with what was happening. His responsiveness and professionalism were what made me give the job to Altavista Services in the first place.
These guys are amazing! Wonderful customer service and very trustworthy. I will definitely be calling them in the future for any plumbing work. I highly recommend them! You won’t regret it!
This place is great. The technicians/plumbers are really nice as well as the lady on the phone. So glad they service Florence!!
Reply from Alta Vista Plumbing
We are thankful to be able to assist you! Thank you for taking the time to leave a positive review! We are more than happy to share our services to others outside of our community.
Absolutely fantastic! Joe and zack were so incredibly helpful and polite. Got the work done when they said they would and everything works perfectly. Great company with great workers. Will definitely be asking for these guys again in the future.