Licensed Plumbers Only

For your protection, all Berkey’s plumbers 
are licensed by the State of Texas after passing 
rigorous state plumbing examinations. By design, this professional path is not an easy one:

• Licensed Tradesman Plumbers must have at least two years of experience as an apprentice before they can take the state exam, and then nearly 80 percent fail it the first time.
• Licensed Journeyman Plumbers must have four years experience; about 65 percent fail that test the first time.
• Licensed Master Plumbers must have a minimum of six years in the profession, and must pass both written and practical exams.

Texas Has Multiple Plumbing Codes

One reason to hire only licensed professionals is the complexity of the plumbing codes. Texas law provides for three separate codes, all of which our licensed plumbers must know and practice.

• Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC), published by the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials
• International Plumbing Code (IPC), published by the International Code Conference
• International Residential Code for One and Two Family Dwellings, published by the International Code Conference.

Municipalities in Texas have some latitude in which codes to follow, so it’s not at all unusual to find a plumber making an installation or repair a certain way one day, then doing it differently the next day a few miles down the road. On top of that, each jurisdiction can amend the code to meet local requirements.

No Place for Amateurs

Here’s why all this matters: if you have plumbing done by an unlicensed handyman – who may or may not be a member of your family – you run the risk of a result that doesn’t meet code.

This could put you family’s safety at risk, and it also could cause your home to fail inspection when you eventually sell it.

All Legal Parts

You may not be aware of it, but the big box home stores can sell plumbing parts it would be illegal for licensed plumbers to use. Something as innocent appearing as the wrong size valve in a toilet could cause water to back up from the tank into your drinking water.

At Berkey’s, we use only parts that meet or exceed all code requirements. And we check for code violations every year when we inspect your home’s plumbing as part of our Universal Protection Plan.

We Know the Rules…

…for Southlake, Grapevine, Flower Mound, Colleyville and the rest of the Metroplex, so you can be assured of a job that meets code to the letter.

If your job requires a city permit, we’ll take care of that for you, and we will arrange for any required follow up inspections. We’re proud of the work our plumbers do, and we want you to have the assurance that comes with the third-party validation the cities provide.

Call Berkey’s today at 817-481-5869 or request an appointment online. And for more information, please see our frequently asked questions about plumbing.