Plumber in Kilgore

Kilgore at a glance

Kilgore is a city in Gregg and Rusk counties with 13,376 people at the 2020 census. It sits where Interstate 20 and U.S. 259 meet south of the Sabine River, and covers about 15.7 square miles, most of it in Gregg County.

What that means for your plumbing

A city that boomed fast has homes from many decades close together. Houses from the boom years may have old galvanized supply pipe and cast iron drains, while newer homes near the interstate use plastic lines. Rusty water or falling pressure is a clue worth following up; see repiping.

Across two counties

Part of Kilgore lies in Rusk County and part in Gregg, so the paperwork side of a permit can depend on where your property sits. A licensed plumber who works locally will know which office to deal with. Ask about it when you get a quote for any bigger job.

Born of the railroad, made by oil

Kilgore was founded in 1872 when the International–Great Northern Railroad laid out a new townsite on land sold by Constantine Buckley Kilgore. It stayed modest until October 3, 1930, when wildcatter Columbus "Dad" Joiner struck oil near Henderson and the vast East Texas Oil Field opened up. Kilgore grew almost overnight. Today the city counts hundreds of locally owned businesses. Homes and shops built in a hurry, then updated piece by piece, often have a patchwork of old and new pipe. Where those meet is where leaks tend to start, so it's worth having a plumber look over any section you can see.