Bell County’s largest city, on US 190

Plumber in Killeen, TX

Killeen sits at the outer edge of our range, close to 55 minutes from Georgetown up I-35 and west on US 190. About half of its occupied homes are rentals, many built from the 1960s to the 2000s. Alta Vista Plumbing works for owners and property managers on make-readies, water heaters, slab leaks and sewer clogs.

Call (512) 988-5119 All areas we serve

4.7 on Google · 436 reviews
Georgetown plumbing since 1999
Family-owned
Homes and businesses

Rolling grassland and limestone hills beyond a large subdivision in Killeen TX

Rail stop to Army city

From a Santa Fe whistle stop to rows of rental slab homes

Two booms built this city: the railroad in 1882 and the Army from 1942 on.

The town began as a railroad stop. The Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe bought the land in 1881, and the first train came through in May 1882. The town took the name of Frank P. Killeen, the railroad’s assistant general manager. A public water system followed in 1914, and WPA crews built a new water and sewer system in the 1930s.

Then the Army arrived. Camp Hood opened on September 18, 1942, and the town grew from 1,263 people in 1940 to 23,377 in 1960 and 86,911 in 2000. The post was renamed Fort Cavazos in 2023 and has been Fort Hood again since June 2025.

Plumber checking the plumbing wall behind a tub in a slab rental home in Killeen TX — Slab homes keep most supply and drain pipe in walls or under the floor.

Most houses went up during that growth. Census estimates put the median construction year at 1999, and about half of occupied homes are rented. Slab foundations and plastic drain lines are the norm, while houses from the 1960s and 1970s may still carry cast-iron drains under the floor.

Rentals in a military town turn over often, and property managers need plumbing finished between one lease and the next. A dripping tub valve or a slow drain the last tenant tolerated becomes the first line on the next move-in report.

New tub and shower valve cartridge installed during a rental make-ready in Killeen TX — A dripping tub valve is a common make-ready item between leases.

City water and sewer

WCID No. 1 lake water, private laterals and the city’s smoke tests

What the city owns, what the owner owns, and what a permit covers.

The city buys treated water from Bell County WCID No. 1, which draws from Lake Belton. Its 2025 water report adds Stillhouse Hollow Lake as a second source. The city runs the mains and sewers, including about 600 dead-end flushers that keep water moving at the ends of lines.

Two programs matter to owners. A ten-year smoke-testing program begun in December 2024 checks about a tenth of the sewer system each year. Smoke rising from a yard can expose a broken lateral or a missing cleanout cap. The city also arranged coverage for residential laterals in the public right-of-way, but the private side stays with the owner.

Smoke rising from a cracked sewer cleanout during a city smoke test in Killeen TX — Smoke testing shows where broken laterals and missing caps let water and gas escape.

Replacing a water heater needs a city plumbing permit. The fee schedule lists water heater replacement under plumbing permits, applications go through an online portal, and the city has adopted the 2024 ICC codes.

Services

Make-ready plumbing for property managers and owner-occupied homes

The calls that come in most from landlords, managers and the families living in these houses.

Water Heater Repair & Replacement

Many rentals built around 2000 are on their first or second tank, and a failed heater stalls a new lease. We replace gas and electric units and file the city plumbing permit the swap requires.

Toilet, Faucet & Fixture Repair

Worn flappers, cracked supply lines and loose faucets top most move-out reports. We clear the fixture list in one visit where parts allow and flag anything larger to the owner before touching it.

Drain & Sewer Cleaning

Grease and wipes from the last tenant often sit in the kitchen line or main. We clear the blockage, then camera the line if it backs up again so the owner knows whether the pipe has failed.

Sewer Backup & Sewer Line Repair

The city covers laterals in the public right-of-way, but the private run to the house is the owner’s. We find where the break sits on camera, then repair or replace the private section.

Slab Leak Detection & Repair

Slab foundations dominate the post-1970s housing here, so a hidden supply leak shows up as a warm floor or a spinning meter. We trace it before choosing a spot repair or a reroute through the attic.

Water Leak Detection

A vacant rental with a climbing water bill is losing water somewhere. We test at the meter and narrow it to the yard line, a fixture, a wall or the slab before opening anything.

Burst & Frozen Pipe Repair

Empty houses between tenants are the ones that freeze when the heat gets turned down too far. We repair split lines and fittings and show managers which exposed runs to protect before winter.

Reviews

Reviews from owners who bought, fixed up and rented out homes

4.7 average from 436 Google reviewsRead our Google reviews

Katherine “Kathy” MendozaGoogle review, about 8 years before Oct 2026

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!

Matthew OrnelasGoogle review, about 4 years before Oct 2026

The team did an excellent job. They came in and quickly assessed the problem and replaced the garbage disposal. The team was kind, knowledgeable, and professional. After they quickly installed the new one they cleaned up their work area and gave me all the information needed. I would recommend this company.

Reply from Alta Vista Plumbing

Mr. Ornelas, I apologize for the delayed response. We are pleased to hear that you had great service. We like to keep our customers happy with hopes to gain a working relationship. Take care.

Map & nearby areas

Next door on US 190 and down SH 195

Killeen anchors the west end of the county, and these neighbours share its roads, its lake water or its rental market.

Map of Killeen, TX and the surrounding area

Get directions

Harker Heights

Directly east, hillside homes with frequent PCS turnover.

Nolanville

Further east on US 190, with 2000s and 2010s subdivisions.

Belton

The county seat at I-35, with early-1900s houses and student rentals.

Florence

Down SH 195 toward Georgetown, with farm-town homes and wells.

Every area we serve, by tier · Sewage Backing Up Into Your Tub? First Steps for Williamson County Homes

FAQ

Landlord and homeowner questions on rentals and sewer laterals

Who fixes a broken sewer lateral in Killeen, the city or the owner?

It depends on where the break is. The city has arranged coverage for residential sewer laterals in the public right-of-way, usually the stretch nearest the street. The private section, from the property line to the house, is the owner’s responsibility. A camera inspection from the house cleanout shows where the problem sits before anyone calls the wrong party.

Do I need a permit to replace the water heater in a rental?

Yes. The city’s permit fee schedule lists water heater replacement under plumbing permits, and applications go through its online portal under the 2024 ICC codes it has adopted. Rentals are no exception. We pull the permit, install the unit with its relief line and pan, and arrange the inspection, so paperwork does not hold up the next lease.

Can you handle make-ready plumbing for several properties at once?

Yes. About half of the occupied homes in this city are rentals, and managers often have several turning over in the same month. Send the addresses and move-out notes, and we work through each list of fixtures, drains and heaters, quoting on site before repairs. Bigger finds, such as a slab leak, get reported separately so the owner can decide.

Leak, backup or rental make-ready in Killeen? Call now.

Call (512) 988-5119 and tell us the address, what you see and whether the house is occupied. We explain the options and quote on site before work starts.

Call (512) 988-5119 Get directions on Google

4.7 on Google · 436 reviews
Georgetown plumbing since 1999
Family-owned
Homes and businesses

Alta Vista Plumbing Services, LLCGeorgetown, TX 78628(512) 988-5119