Plumbing questions, straight answers

Three ways: book online at https://www.plumbersthatcare.com/book and pick a time that works, call Austin at (512) 233-6590, or call Marble Falls at (830) 460-3565. Online booking takes a couple of minutes; you'll get a confirmation and a reminder, and our tech arrives in a marked truck.

Yes. That's the whole point of how we operate. We diagnose the problem, lay out your options in plain English, and give you the exact price in writing before any work begins. You approve it first. The price we quote is the price you pay — no hourly meters running while we work and no surprise line items on the invoice.

We charge for a diagnostic visit when we come out to assess a problem — and that visit buys you a real diagnosis plus upfront pricing for the fix, not just a look around. If you approve the work, you're paying for the solution, not guessing. Call us and we'll tell you exactly what the visit costs before we roll a truck.

Burst pipes, major active leaks, sewage backing up into the home, no water at all, or a gas smell — those jump the line. Call us directly at (512) 233-6590 in Austin or (830) 460-3565 in Marble Falls rather than booking online for emergencies. While you wait: shut off your main water valve (usually near the meter or where the line enters the house). If you smell gas, leave the house first and call your gas utility, then us.

Our shops run Monday–Friday, 7:30 AM–5:30 PM, and weekends are by appointment. Emergencies get prioritized whenever they happen — call and we'll tell you honestly what we can do and when.

We're based at 701 Tillery St #12 in Austin and 2409 Commerce Street in Marble Falls, and we serve the surrounding Central Texas communities from both shops — including the Highland Lakes area around Marble Falls. If you're on the edge of our range, call and ask; if we can't get to you reasonably, we'll say so rather than keep you waiting.

Yes — we hold Texas Master Plumber License #M-41147, and we've served Central Texas since 2012. Every technician is our own employee, trained by us. Jobs are permitted when the code requires it and done to pass inspection.

That's almost always sediment buildup on the bottom of a tank water heater — very common in Central Texas, where the water is hard. The sediment traps water against the burner, which overheats it and makes the rumbling sound. A flush can help if the unit is otherwise healthy, but heavy long-term buildup can damage the tank. If your unit is 8–12+ years old and rumbling, it's often telling you replacement is near. Our water heater guide walks through the details.

Most tank water heaters last 8–12 years; tankless units often last 15–20+ with maintenance. Repair makes sense when the unit is relatively young and the fix is minor (a thermostat, an element, a valve). Replace when the tank itself is failing — rusty water, water pooling at the base, or age past 10–12 years. A good rule: if the repair costs more than about half of replacement and the unit is past its prime, replacement is usually the smarter money.

Usually yes — most Central Texas jurisdictions require a permit for water heater replacement, and code requires things like proper venting, a temperature-and-pressure relief valve with correct discharge, and an expansion tank on closed systems. We handle the permit and make sure the install passes inspection. It's one of the reasons to use a licensed plumber rather than a handyman for this job.

Yes. We clear branch lines and main sewer lines, and we use camera inspection to find the actual cause — roots, bellies, breaks, grease — instead of just punching through the clog and hoping. Knowing the cause is what keeps it from coming back in three months.

Yes — new gas line runs, extensions for outdoor kitchens and grills, and propane lines are all work we do regularly. Gas work is permitted and pressure-tested; it's not a DIY or handyman job, and we treat it with the seriousness it deserves.

A backflow preventer keeps contaminated water from flowing backward into the clean water supply — they're common on irrigation systems and some commercial properties. Many water utilities require them to be tested annually by a certified tester. We're certified, we do the testing, and we handle repairs if a device fails.

Yes. We stand behind our workmanship — if something we installed or repaired fails because of how we did it, we make it right. Manufacturer warranties cover the equipment itself, and we'll help you navigate those too. The specifics depend on the job, and we'll put them in writing on your invoice.

It depends on tank vs tankless, the size your household needs, fuel type, and whether venting or gas lines need upgrading — that's why anyone quoting a flat price over the phone is guessing. Our water heater calculator gives honest planning ranges, and every real job gets an exact upfront price you approve before we start. No surprises.

Often, yes — especially if you call early in the day. Emergencies like burst pipes and major leaks jump the line no matter what. For non-urgent work, online booking shows our real availability so you can grab the earliest window that suits you.

Yes — repair, descaling and maintenance, replacement, and brand-new installs. Tankless units need periodic descaling in Central Texas because of our hard water, and we size new installs to your household's actual simultaneous usage so you get the endless-hot-water part without overspending on capacity you don't need.