Commercial plumbing in Houston differs from house work in one way: a failed pipe can stop a business and bring a City rule into play. Restaurants answer to the Houston Health Department on grease and sewage, and any site with a backflow assembly answers to Houston Public Works. Tell us what the building does and what failed, and we start there.
Commercial plumbing in Houston: which service fits your building?
Start from the symptom, because each one leads to a different kind of visit:
- Kitchen, floor or restroom drains slow or backing up: commercial drain service, with grease lines and scheduled cleaning
- A notice from Houston Public Works, or an assembly on a domestic, irrigation or process line: backflow testing
- Sewer trouble that keeps coming back: a sewer camera inspection before anyone repairs the line
- Grease or scale that a cable does not clear: hydro jetting
- Water running now: emergency leak repair, starting with the shut-off

Commercial Drain Service
Keep grease lines, floor drains and building sewers flowing, with your City paperwork in order.

Backflow Testing
Know which assemblies on your property need a test, who may test them, and where the report has to go.

Business down or a City notice in hand? Call during open hours and tell us which.
- ★ 5.0 on Google, 18 reviews
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What does a restaurant plumber have to plan around?
A restaurant plumber plans around the Health Department first. Three City rules change how a job runs:
- Sewage in the building: the Houston Health Department's emergency form says operations must stop for any sewage backup, and you request an inspection before resuming.
- Lost water: the same form treats a water outage over one hour as a reason to stop food operations, unless you follow a plan the Bureau of Consumer Health Services accepted.
- Grease interceptors: the Department wants a full pump-out at least every 90 days, set aside only by an approved notice. Our commercial drain page covers the records.
So a shut-off in a kitchen needs a planned time and a known end point. Tell us your prep and service hours when you call.
How does office plumbing work around tenants?
Office plumbing work goes better with a shut-off plan in place before anyone touches a valve. Walk the building and answer three questions: which valve feeds which floor or suite, who loses water when it closes, and who needs notice.
Restroom groups stacked floor over floor often share a wet wall. A leak on the third floor can show up on the second, so the visible stain may sit a level below the cause. Open the access panel above the stain first, then trace upward.

If a valve has not been turned in years, plan to exercise it before you depend on it. A seized valve found during a leak turns a small repair into a building shutdown.

What should a property manager plumber leave in your file?
A property manager plumber should leave enough paper that the next person never starts from zero. Each commercial visit from us includes:
- A look at the failed part or line before any quote
- A clear, upfront quote for the work
- The repair or drain service you approve
- An invoice naming the suite, fixture and location of the failure
- Photos or camera notes where they apply
Keep those with your backflow test reports and grease manifests. If you manage several properties, one folder per address keeps inspections simple.

Business plumbing rules: who regulates what in Houston?
Business plumbing in Houston answers to four authorities, and each one checks something different:
| Authority | What it covers | What to ask for |
|---|---|---|
| Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners | Plumber licensing statewide | License number you can verify |
| Houston Permitting Center | Plumbing permits and inspections | Whether the job needs a permit |
| Houston Public Works, Cross Connection Control | Backflow assemblies and test reports | Proof the report was filed |
| Houston Health Department | Grease interceptors, food establishment closures | Manifests and permit on site |
Sites outside Houston city limits follow their own city or water district, so confirm with that office.
Why PipeElectric for commercial plumbing?
Commercial work needs clear answers, because you have to explain the job to an owner or a tenant:
- A 5.0 rating on Google from 18 reviews, which you can read before you hire.
- Customers point to plain explanations, the kind you can repeat to an owner.
- They also bring up clean work, which counts in a space that reopens tomorrow.
- Fair pricing and on-time arrival come up too.
- A clear, upfront quote lands before anyone opens a wall.
Commercial calls come to us from all over Houston, and the same service reaches Galena Park, Jacinto City, Stafford and Pasadena.
What customers say about our plumbing work
5.0 on Google from 18 reviews, checked October 2026.
“The plumbers were very professional and made sure I understood what was going on during the entire process. Their prices are very reasonable as well.”
“They had someone out to my house within a couple of hours. The technician was professional, he explained everything clearly, located the gas leak, and repaired it on the spot. He even double check the rest of the line to make sure there wasn't any other leak. I really appreciated how honest and thorough they were.I highly recommend PipeElectric to anyone looking for fast, affortable and caring service!”
“Had PipeElectric install a new water heater, and they did a fantastic job! Fast, professional, and no mess left behind. Highly recommend them for any plumbing work!”
Commercial Plumbing questions
Can plumbing work be scheduled around our business hours?
Usually, inside the hours our phones are open. We work from 7 AM to 8 PM Sunday through Thursday and 7 AM to 6 PM on Friday, so an office closed on Sunday has a quiet day for a planned shut-off. Tell us when the building is empty and what cannot lose water.
Who pays for plumbing repairs in a leased space, the landlord or the tenant?
The lease decides, and many commercial leases split it by location: the tenant owns fixtures and lines inside the unit, the landlord owns shared stacks and mains. Read that clause before you book. An invoice stating exactly where the failure sat makes the conversation between both parties much shorter.
Does a Houston restaurant have to close for a sewage backup?
Yes. The Houston Health Department's emergency form says operations must stop for any sewage backup in the establishment, and you request an inspection before resuming in full or in part. Report it to Consumer Health Services at (832) 393-5100, then clear the line and clean up.
Do commercial plumbing jobs need a City of Houston permit?
Many do, and the answer depends on the work. The Houston Permitting Center lists separate permits for items like gas lines and water heaters, and its pages say a master plumber registered with the City must obtain them. Confirm the job with that office at (832) 394-8810 before work starts.
How do I check a commercial plumber's license in Texas?
Ask for the responsible master plumber's name and license number, then verify it with the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners. The Houston Permitting Center points the public to that board for license checks and complaints. Ask also whether the master plumber's City registration is current, because inspections depend on it.
Tenants waiting or a City notice on your desk? Call and tell us which.
- ★ 5.0 on Google, 18 reviews
- Sun–Thu 7 AM–8 PM · Fri 7 AM–6 PM · Sat closed
- Clear, upfront quote
PipeElectric - Plumbing & Electrical - HVAC · Houston, TX · (321) 559-0657

