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- Mesquite Chamber of Commerce Member
- 30+ Years Experience
Water Heater Repair and Replacement in McKinney, TX
James Armstrong Plumbing repairs and replaces water heaters in McKinney, TX. Master Plumber James Armstrong, Texas License M-39428, sizes the unit to the house, installs it to the 2024 codes McKinney adopted on October 1, 2025, and pulls the permit as part of the job. You get a flat written quote before anything comes out.
We run out of our shop at 844 Dalworth Dr in Mesquite, about 40 minutes from McKinney. Replacement is planned work with a scheduled start, which is exactly the kind of job that distance does not hurt. If a tank is actively pouring water into your attic right now, shut off the water supply and the power or gas to the unit, then call a plumber based closer to you. We would rather tell you that than have you watch a ceiling come down while our truck sits on 75.
Same-Day Service — Call Before Noon • Most calls are answered within 15 minutes
Licensed Master Plumber
License #M39428
The “Armstrong Clean Promise".
We leave your home cleaner than we found it, or we pay for the cleaning. No mess, no stress — that's our guarantee.
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Our Services
Comprehensive Plumbing Solutions for Homes & Businesses
At James Armstrong Plumbing, we handle every aspect of your plumbing system — from quick fixes to complex installations.
An attic tank that fails does not make a puddle. It drains eighty gallons through insulation, drywall, and whatever is under it. That is the difference between a water heater replacement and a water heater replacement plus a ceiling, and it is why the code around attic installs is stricter than most homeowners realize.
This is not a small population in McKinney. The 1990s and 2000s master-planned build across Stonebridge Ranch, Eldorado, Craig Ranch, and the newer Trinity Falls and Tucker Hill construction leaned heavily on attic and upper-floor mechanical placement. If your McKinney house went up after roughly 1995, there is a good chance your tank is over your head right now.
Plumbing Repairs and Installation
Get fast help from a trusted plumber in the DFW for leaks, fixture installs, and upgrades. We restore your plumbing with smooth, reliable work.
Water Heater Services
From quick fixes to full replacements, our water heater services in Dallas-Fort Worth, keep your hot water steady. We work on all standard and tankless models.
Drain Cleaning Services
Stubborn clogs disappear with our drain-cleaning solutions in Texas. We clear the buildup fully so your drains flow the way they should.
Sewer Line Plumbing
Our team handles sewer line plumbing in the DFW , with careful inspection and precise repairs. We keep wastewater moving safely away from your home.
Gas Line Plumbing
Safe and reliable gas line plumbing in the DFW, is just a call away. Whether it’s a leak, repair, or new line, we follow strict safety standards.
Emergency Service
Emergency Service — Available 24/7
Burst pipe? Major leak? Don’t wait. Our emergency team serves the entire DFW area around the clock.
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Meet James Armstrong
Meet the Master Plumber Serving DFW: James Armstrong
James Armstrong has been a Mesquite-resident Master Plumber since 1995. What began as helping neighbors fix leaky faucets turned into a career — and eventually a family business, built on one simple rule: treat people right, do the job with integrity, and always stand behind your work. Today, James and his crew serve Mesquite, Rowlett, Sachse, Garland, and the broader east DFW metro, with most calls dispatched and on-site within 25 minutes of the Mesquite headquarters at 844 Dalworth Dr.
“In thirty years working Rowlett, Garland, and the Lake Ray Hubbard side of the metro, the drain calls almost always come down to two things: tree roots in the older Rowlett neighborhoods near the lake, and grease and hair buildup in the newer developments off Liberty Grove and Schrade Road. We camera-inspect first, then choose hydro-jetting or snaking based on what we actually see — not on what gets you to the highest invoice.”
James Armstrong, Master Plumber • Texas License M-39428 • Founder, James Armstrong Plumbing
Every job comes with the Armstrong Clean Promise — we leave your home cleaner than we found it, guaranteed. No excuses, no mess, no shortcuts. It’s the kind of commitment that’s earned us thousands of repeat customers and a reputation across the DFW metroplex for honest, reliable work.
Why Choose Us
Why DFW Homeowners Choose James Armstrong
Licensed & Certified Technicians
Our plumbers are fully licensed, professionally trained, and committed to delivering quality workmanship that meets today’s industry standards.
Transparent, Upfront Pricing
No hidden fees and no surprises. Just clear, honest pricing you can trust before we begin any repair or installation.
Fast & Friendly Service
We respect your time. Our technicians arrive promptly, work efficiently, and treat you and your home with courtesy and care.
The Armstrong Clean Promise
Floor protection, shoe covers, and a meticulous cleanup on every job. If your home isn’t cleaner than we found it, we pay for the cleaning.
5-Star Rated by Homeowners Like You
Local families choose us for reliable plumbing and friendly service. Your comfort, safety, and satisfaction are the reasons we do what we do.
Emergency Response Available
Afterhours and weekend emergency calls accepted. $199 emergency service fee — no surprises. Call (214) 918-6109.
Emergency Calls Accepted After Hours & Weekends as well.
Our Process
What to Expect When You Call
Call or Book Online
Speak with a real person, not a call center. We schedule at your convenience.
Same-Day Inspection
A licensed plumber evaluates your issue on-site. No guesswork.
Upfront Quote
You approve the price before work begins. The number you see is final.
Clean, Expert Work
Armstrong Clean Promise — we leave your home better than we found it.
Follow-Up Guarantee
We check in within 24 hours and follow up to ensure everything holds.
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Customer Reviews
What Our Customers Say
Service Areas
Serving Communities Across Dallas-Fort Worth
- Allen
- Anna
- Arlington
- Azle
- Balch Springs
- Bedford
- Benbrook
- Blue Mound
- Blue Ridge
- Burleson
- Celina
- Colleyville
- Combine
- Dallas
- Everman
- Fairview
- Farmersville
- Flower Mound
- Forest Hill
- Fort Worth
- Frisco
- Garland
- Grand Prairie
- Plano
- Richardson
- Rowlett
- Sunnyvale
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FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Have questions? We’ve got answers. Can’t find what you’re looking for? Give us a call anytime.
Yes. Water heater replacement is scheduled work with a set arrival window, which is the kind of job we take in McKinney from our Mesquite shop about 40 minutes away. What we do not take in McKinney is emergency dispatch on a tank that is actively flooding. In that situation, shut off the water supply and the power or gas to the unit and call a plumber based closer to you.
Yes. The City of McKinney requires a permit for water heater replacement, applied for through the Citizen Self-Service portal by searching "Water Heater" in the Application Assistant, with inspection after the install. We pull the permit as part of the job. Confirm current requirements with City of McKinney Building Inspections at 469-617-4800.
McKinney adopted the 2024 codes on October 1, 2025. Those codes require a pan where a leak would damage the structure or finishes below, which includes attic and upper-floor installs. The pan must be at least 1.5 inches deep, sit under the full footprint of the unit, and drain through an indirect waste line of at least 3/4 inch that terminates somewhere visible. One exception worth knowing: if a pan drain was never installed originally, code does not require adding one on a straight replacement.
Less than the rating, usually. McKinney is supplied by the North Texas Municipal Water District, and that water is moderately hard, with third-party testing putting it near 9 to 10 grains per gallon. Hard water leaves scale on the tank bottom that makes the unit work harder and run hotter than designed. A tank rated for a dozen years often gets closer to eight here without periodic flushing.
A leaking tank is a replacement, always. A pilot that will not stay lit, a failed element or thermostat, or a unit that suddenly runs short on hot water is usually a repair, and sediment is often the real cause of the last one. We test before we quote rather than defaulting to a swap.
Sometimes. It is worth real consideration when an attic tank is being retired and the failure risk or the floor space is the actual reason for the project. It is a larger install with gas line and venting implications, so it is not automatically the right answer. Ask during the quote and we will give you a straight comparison for your house.
It depends on bathroom count, how many people live in the house, and how much hot water gets used at the same time, not on what happened to be installed before. Undersizing is the most common complaint we hear about other companies' installs. We size it to your household during the assessment.
Comparison
Repair or Replace
| What you are seeing | Usually means |
|---|---|
| No hot water, gas unit, pilot will not stay lit | Repair. Thermocouple or gas control |
| No hot water, electric unit | Repair. Element or thermostat |
| Not enough hot water, ran fine last year | Often sediment. Flush and test before replacing |
| Rumbling or popping during heating | Sediment layer. Flush now, and it may be late |
| Rust-colored hot water | Tank lining. Replacement territory |
| Water in the pan or around the base | Tank is leaking. Replace |
| Unit is 10 years or older and in an attic | Plan the replacement rather than wait for it |
A tank that is leaking is not a repair, no matter who tells you otherwise. Everything above it on this list usually is.