Longview Plumbing Questions
Short answers first, with a link to the full guide. Can’t find your question? Call (903) 212-9500.
Who should I call?
Is the pipe from the street to my house the city’s or mine?
In Longview, the city owns the line from the main to the meter. From the meter to the house, it is yours. Read more: leak detection →
Is a sewer backup the city’s problem or mine?
The city maintains lines in the public right-of-way; ask the City who is responsible for the line between your house and the property-line cleanout. If neighbours have backups too, call the city. Read more: drain and sewer →
I rent my home. Who do I call?
Your landlord or property manager first, unless water or sewage is spreading right now. About 45% of Longview homes are rented, so check your lease for who arranges repairs.
Do I call a plumber or an electrician for an electric water heater?
A plumber, unless the problem is the house wiring or the breaker itself. Read more: water heater repair →
My home is on septic. Who handles permits?
The county: the Gregg County Health Department or Harrison County Environmental Health, depending on where you live.
Emergencies and what can wait
Can a plumbing problem wait until morning?
Not if water is spreading, sewage is coming up, you have no water, or you smell gas. A slow drip or one slow drain can usually wait. Read more: emergency plumbing →
Where is my main water shut-off?
Often where the line enters the house (garage, outside wall or crawl space) or in a box on your side of the meter. Never turn the city’s valve: it is city property.
I smell gas. What do I do?
Leave on foot right away. From outside, call 911 and your gas company. Don’t use switches or phones near the house.
What do I do before a hard freeze?
Know your shut-off, wrap outdoor faucets and crawl-space pipes, open sink cabinets and drip the faucet farthest from where water enters, as the City of Longview advises. Read more: frozen pipes →
Do you answer calls at night and on weekends?
Yes. Calls are answered 24/7.
Choosing a plumber
How do I check a Texas plumber’s licence?
Find the Responsible Master Plumber’s number on the truck and on the first page of the estimate, then check it on the state’s public licence search. Read more: how to choose a plumber →
What should I say when I call a plumber?
What you see, where, when it started, whether water is still running and whether you closed the main. Then ask how the job will be charged.
Should I tip my plumber?
It isn’t expected. A thank-you or a review is common.
Do I pay before or after the work?
Usually after, sometimes with a deposit for big jobs or special parts. Ask when and how you pay before work starts.
Does a water heater replacement need a permit in Longview?
Ask the plumber and the City’s Building Inspection office; some plumbing work needs a city permit.
Longview water
Where does Longview’s water come from?
Lake Cherokee, the Sabine River and Lake O’ the Pines, according to the City’s 2025 water quality report.
Does Longview have hard water?
Soft to moderately hard: 56 to 73 ppm (about 3.3 to 4.2 grains per gallon) in the City’s 2025 report.
Does Longview have lead water lines?
The City’s service line inventory of about 30,600 lines has found no lead service lines so far.
Why is my water bill high?
Usually a running toilet or a hidden leak. Do the toilet dye test, and report winter leaks (November to January) to Utility Billing by May. Read more: leak detection →
Why is my water pressure low?
One faucet: a clogged aerator. Whole house, suddenly: a leak or a city main issue. Whole street: call the city. Read more: leak detection →
