Sometimes you can clear a clog in your kitchen sink by yourself. At other times, you need help from Billy the Sunshine Plumber.

It’s Fathers Day, so when your kitchen sink clogged this morning, you were determined to clear the blockage yourself rather than calling for help and spoiling the day.

Nytimes.com offers these tips to try to clear a clog. If they don’t work, it may be time to call in a professional plumber:

• “Boiling water: Sometimes the heat is enough to break up a new clog or melt some of the grease that’s built up in your pipes.
• “Plunger: A good old plunger can clear clogs from your toilet as well as your kitchen sink (though make sure you have the right one for each).
• “Dish soap: A number of things could be slowing the flow of your drains. But if it’s grease or something similar (a common kitchen-sink clog), dish soap works to break up those compounds and makes it easier to move the clog along.
• “Baking soda and vinegar: When you mix these two, the fizzing of the rapid creation of carbon dioxide gas can work to loosen some of the simpler clogs.
• “A plastic drain cleaner: Sometimes called a hair snake or drain cleaning tool, these flat plastic lengths are designed to flex into small drains, hook drain detritus, and allow you to pull them out. These are best for clogs that are a short way down the drain. But you can’t be too vigorous when using one, or you’ll snap it and have even more material obstructing your drain.
• “Drain snake or auger: A drain snake or drain auger is an amateur drain cleaner’s last step. These long, flexible metal spools wind into a drain to seek out the clog. Depending on the design, this tool will either break up the clog so it can flow through your pipe or hook onto the bulk so you can pull the clog back out.”

Nytimes.com concludes, “If after all of these methods you still have sluggish drains, it’s probably time to call a professional.”

If you don’t know a reliable professionnal plumber, it’s time to get to know the trusted plumbers at Billy the Sunshine Plumber.

Billy the Sunshine Plumber has been the Tampa Bay 24-hour plumber of choice since 1924 when he first opened for business. Billy the Sunshine Plumber is open 24/7/365 in Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties. Days, nights, weekends, or holidays. Billy the Sunshine Plumber is always here for you, even on holidays.

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Prevention is the best cure for plumbing clogs. But if you do get a clog or blockage you can’t handle, Billy the Sunshine Plumber is here to help.

The last thing you wanted to do when you got back from kayaking at Weedon Island was to take a plunger to get your kitchen sink flowing again. It seems that, recently, you keep having to clear clogs and blockages from your sinks, tubs and showers. Frankly, you’re sick of it.

“Clogged drains are a common home plumbing problem, especially during the warmer months when we take more showers. The culprit is often hair that goes down the drain, but it’s not the only cause. Knowing how to prevent clogged drains will help keep your plumbing system in good shape,” accordig to ahs.com.

Ahs.com offers these tips to help keep your drains clear:

• “Keep food, coffee grounds and grease out of kitchen drains.
• “Put leftover food in the trash or compost heap, not the garbage disposal.
• “Pour liquid grease into a sealable container. After it cools, put it in the trash or take it to a recycling center.
• “Keep hair and soap scum out of bathroom drains. …
• “Brush your hair before you shower or take a bath.This process removes loose hair and keeps it from clogging the shower drain. If you must bathe your dog in the tub or shower, place a washcloth over the drain. The amount of hair a dog sheds during a bath can even clog your regular shower drain hair catcher.
• “Watch what you flush. Toilets are designed to handle human waste and toilet paper. Flushing dense, stringy or bulky materials can cause a clog.
• “Dental floss, feminine hygiene products and other household waste should go in the trash instead.”

Of course, no matter how careful you are, sometimes clogs happen. If you do get a clog or blockage you can’t clear, then it’s time to call the plumbing pros at Billy the Sunshine Plumber.

Billy the Sunshine Plumber has been the Tampa Bay 24-hour plumber of choice since 1924 when he first opened for business. Billy the Sunshine Plumber is open 24/7/365 in Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties. Days, nights, weekends, or holidays. Billy the Sunshine Plumber is always here for you, even on holidays.

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Billy the Sunshine Plumber can help if your drains become clogged with fats, oils, and/or grease.

“Fatbergs” made up of fats, oils, and grease have become international news during the past few years. The fats, oils, and grease, more commonly called FOG, get into the sewer system and form a HUGE (17 tons in one London sewer) clog that stops up the system. It takes a lot of work and expense to clear those fatbergs and get things running again.

Now, the fatberg type of clog has hit near home with repeated FOG clogs in Polk County’s sewer system. They’ve become more common, officials say, because of the growing population in Polk.

Fatbergs are not only a problem in government systems. They also cause problems for home and business owners as the FOG that’s dumped into drains builds up and stops up your plumbing system. The problem gets even worse around Thanksgiving as turkeys and other cooking become more intense.

As with many things in life, prevention is the best cure for fatbergs.

“If you make a lot of grease at one time, say, frying a turkey, some areas offer fat and oil recycling to get rid of it and actually turn it into useful biofuel,” businessinsider.com advises. “For smaller amounts of grease, let it solidify in the pan or in a jar, then throw the solid grease in the trash can. Make sure to wipe the greasy pan or dish with a paper towel to soak up the rest. Try to get as much as possible of the grease and oil into the trash instead of the drain — just the little bit that washes out with the wastewater can cause problems over time, especially in areas with high populations like cities.”

No matter how careful you are, FOG can still get into your drains. Businessinsider.com quotes one expert who explains: “People try to discharge their oil and grease properly, but over time, you can get a fair amount of oil and grease from washing pots, pans and dishware. … The cumulative impact could be substantial. It’s that long-term consistent discharge of that oil and grease, even if it’s a small amount at a time, which could lead to problems.”

If that happens to you and you can’t get rid of the blockage by yourself, it’s time to call the reliable plumbers at Billy the Sunshine Plumber for help.

Billy the Sunshine Plumber has been the Tampa Bay 24-hour plumber of choice since 1924 when he first opened for business. Billy the Sunshine Plumber is open 24/7/365 in Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties. Days, nights, weekends, or holidays, Billy the Sunshine Plumber is always here for you even on Thanksgiving day. 

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Can’t dislodge that clog? Maybe you’re using the wrong type of plunger.

You swung by the grocery store this morning on your way home from biking around Fort Cooper State Park. You found everything you needed until you were standing in front of the household counter. Some of your drains have been slow recently so you decided to buy a plunger. What you didn’t expect was to see more than one type of plunger and now you’re wondering if the type of plunger you use truly makes a difference.

The short answer is – yes. The type of plunger you use can make a difference. Not only in efficiency but in cleanliness.

Apartmenttherapy.com explains that “not all plungers are created equal. As it turns out, there are multiple variations of this household essential, each designed for declogging different drains and plumbing scenarios. Simply grabbing any plunger from the cleaning aisle when you have a drainage issue isn’t the way to go.”

The “cup” plunger – that’s the traditional one that is usually kind of an orange-red – is designed for sinks. The other – usually black with a cuplike top and a narrower base – is designed for toilets.

Billy the Sunshine Plumber can help if your toilet keeps clogging.

You got a late start on your way to Anclote River Park this morning because your toilet clogged. It not only clogged, it backed up and dumped dirty toilet water all over your bathroom floor. You did get it – and yourself cleaned up – but you’re really frustrated because it seems to be clogging a lot recently.

It’s probably no consolation. But you’re not the only one with that problem. Especially recently as people have stayed home more often, which means they’re using their toilets more frequently. Many times the problem is caused when a clog forms because non-flushable items are flushed. The biggest offender is sanitary wipes that have the word “flushable” on the label but are not truly flushable.

“A lot of manufacturers are putting out what they call flushable wipes. The problem is they’re not really flushable,” said Larry Hare, the plant manager at the Des Moines Metropolitan Wastewater Reclamation  Authority, in a recent news story. “What they do is they end up clogging the sewer pipe themselves. They get into pumps that are downstream and clog those pumps and back up a large amount of sewage in the neighborhood. … Even after nine months the flushable wipe is mostly still intact.”

Hare and other sewer experts say you should only flush toilet paper. Wipes should go in the trash.

The fact that they do appear to flush but get clogged farther down in the system could be the reason you’re experiencing recurrent toilet clogs. Using a plunger or other methods to clear the toilet itself isn’t getting to the real problem.

Your best move is to have a trusted Tampa Bay plumber like the reliable 24-hour plumbers at Billy the Sunshine Plumber come clear your drainage and sewage pipes.

Billy the Sunshine Plumber has been the Tampa Bay 24-hour plumber of choice since 1924 when he first opened for business. Billy the Sunshine Plumber is open 24/7/365 in Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties. Days, nights, weekends, or holidays, Billy the Sunshine Plumber is always here for you, even on holidays. 

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You don’t need a plunger to unclog your toilet. But, if you can’t get it cleared, it’s time to call Billy the Sunshine Plumber.

You spent part of the day relaxing at Pine Island only to return home to a bit of stress when your toilet clogged. Even worse, you didn’t have a plunger.

Not to worry. You really don’t need a plunger to get rid of many toilet clogs. All you need is a regular sized box of baking soda and up to a gallon of vinegar, according to thespruce.com.

If your toilet has backed up and has overflowed or is about to overflow, you’re going to need to clear out the bowl a bit.

“Grab a garbage bag and empty any solid contents into it and fasten for disposal. Then you will want to dip out the excess water with a bucket or other container and dispose of it in another toilet (or in the toilet once it is unclogged),” the spruce.com says.

Do NOT skip that step or you will get a real mess on your floor.

After you’ve made room in the toilet, you simply dump in the contents of the box of baking soda and slowly start to pour in the vinegar.

” It will create a foaming action as it comes into contact with the baking soda,” thespruce.com says. ” You don’t want to dump it all in as you will have a frothy mess erupting from your toilet. Instead, slowly add up to a gallon of vinegar and get the action started but under control.”

Wait awhile then flush. Follow by pouring hot (not boiling) water into the bowl to clear out any last debris. Boiling water can crack the bowl, thespruce.com says. 

If that doesn’t work, you can try straightening out a wire coat hanger and probing the clog.

If that doesn’t work, it’s time to call Billy the Sunshine Plumber. 

Billy the Sunshine Plumber has been the Tampa Bay plumber of choice since 1924 when he first opened for business. Billy the Sunshine Plumber is open 24/7/365 in Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties. Days, nights, weekends, or holidays, Billy the Sunshine Plumber is always here for you.

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Plumbing problem? Billy the Sunshine Plumber has your back even during the coronavirus outbreak. Call us 24/7/365.

With Hernando’s parks closed, it can be difficult to find a place to get a bit of fresh air and exercise these days to get away from all the bad news. And it’s not just news about the coronavirus that’s everywhere. There’s also news about toilet paper and the problems that have resulted from the toilet paper shortage.

It’s not only the shortage of toilet paper as some people have been hoarding it. It’s what’s happening to homeowners’ and public plumbing systems when others are forced to use substitutes, like wipes, paper towels, or tissues.

A story in the Washington Times noted that the Environmental Protection Agency issued a statement Monday urging Americans to flush only toilet paper, not disinfected wipes or other items, to protect the nation’s wastewater management infrastructure.

“Flushing only toilet paper helps ensure that the toilets, plumbing, sewer systems and septic systems will continue working properly to safely manage our nation’s wastewater,” said the EPA statement.

Yes, that’s right, the nation’s plumbing is getting clogged up because paper towels, facial tissues, and wipes (even the ones that say they’re flushable) don’t disintegrate as fast as toilet paper. The result is that they ball up and get tangled up with other things in homeowners’ and public sewage pipes and form a clog.

If you can’t find toilet paper, your best option is to toss the substitute in the trash. Just don’t flush it.

Of course, no matter how careful you are, sometimes you do get clogs in your home’s pipes that, no matter how hard you try, you can’t get rid of. That’s the time to call Billy the Sunshine Plumber. 

Billy the Sunshine Plumber has been the go-to company for drain cleaning since opening almost 100 years ago in 1924. Billy the Sunshine Plumber is the trusted plumber of choice in Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties where he is available 24/7/365. Days, nights, weekends, holidays, anytime – Billy the Sunshine Plumber is always here for you.

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If you can’t fix a slow drain yourself, it’s time to call Billy the Sunshine Plumber for help.

You’re planning to take Max, you new puppy, to Bluebird Springs Park for a short walk and some playtime. Unfortunately, the trip won’t be totally fun because you’re going to have part of your mind on your bathroom sink, which seems to be developing a clog or something. It’s awfully slow to drain.

It’s not unusual for a bathroom drain to become clogged and there are things you can do to help speed up the draining procees. Thespruce.com suggests you start by buying a zip it tool to help clear clogs or blockages that are near the top of the system. If that doesn’t work, try removing the pop-up stopper, using a homemade drain cleaner of vinegar and baking soda, cleaning the overflow area, or using a plunger.

Sometimes, none of those things work, however. You might have a stubborn clog or a clog farther down in the system. Either way, it’s probably time to call the drain-clearing experts at Billy the Sunshine Plumber. 

Billy the Sunshine Plumber has been the go-to company for drain cleaning since it opened almost 100 years ago in 1924. Billy the Sunshine Plumber is the trusted plumber of choice in Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties where he is available 24/7/365. Days, nights, weekends, holidays, anytime – Billy the Sunshine Plumber is always here for you.

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If your dishwasher’s hose is clogged, call Billy the Sunshine Plumber for help.

You got up extra early this morning to get the house straightened before leaving for the Florida Craft Festival. But when you opened the dishwasher to unload the dishes you washed overnight, you were irked to find food residue still on your dishes. At first you thought you might have forgotten to turn the dishwasher on, but then you noticed the water at the bottom of the washer was also dirty. Now you’re not exactly sure what happened.

It could be your dishwasher hose that drains water from the dishwasher into the sink drain or garbage disposal. Hunker.com says, “It’s normal to find a pool of water inside the dishwasher after a cycle. However, if you find excess water, dirty water or food residue on dishes, it may be a sign that the dishwasher drain hose is clogged or kinked.”

That’s a job a handy homeowner can do. But it involves removing a panel to get at the hose and then disconnecting the hose itself so you can straighten the kink or clear the clod. Then, of course, you have to put it back together. Some homeowners don’t feel capable of doing the job, or would simply rather have someone else do it. If that’s the case – or if a kink or clog wasn’t the problem – it’s time to call Billy the Sunshine Plumber. 

Billy the Sunshine Plumber is the reliable Tampa Bay plumber. He’s been clearing clogs of all types in Tampa Bay area plumbing for almost a century – he opened for business in 1924. Billy the Sunshine Plumber is the plumber of choice in Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties. Billy the Sunshine Plumber is here for you 24/7/365 – days, nights, weekends, holidays – Billy the Sunshine Plumber is always here to help with that.

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Don’t pour grease or cooking oil down the sink. If you do and you get a clog, then call Billy the Sunshine Plumber for help.

You’re training for this weekend’s Race for the Cupcakes Trail Run. It’s going to be your first 10K. Even though you’re trying to be healthy, you do have your “cheating” moments. Like this morning, when you fried some bacon after getting back from your morning training run.

While it tasted great, you did feel a bit guilty about indulging. But you felt even guiltier because you dumped the grease down the drain in your kitchen sink. You immediately flushed the drain with hot water and everything seems okay, but you are wondering if you did any damage.

Well, yes, by dumping grease and cooking oil down your drain, you might be damaging not only your plumbing but also contributing to a much bigger problem in your city’s sewer system.

Thedailymeal.com explains, “Here’s what happens when you put oil down the drain: It makes its way through your pipes and gets into the sewer, where it joins up with the area’s wastewater. This wastewater can contain a wide assortment of chemicals as well as other people’s grease, and when fatty acids bond with calcium (which is common in sewer water), the two bond into a soapy, waxy compound. These little fatty blobs stick to each other as well as the walls and ceiling of the sewer, creating something that’s called a ‘fatberg’ (yes, a fatberg). These fatbergs continue to grow and grow over time; one that weighed 130 tons was recently removed from a British sewer system and a part of it is now on display in a museum! Eventually they’ll cause water from the sewer to flow back up into your drains, which can make for a very, very bad day.”

As for what happens to your home’s plumbing, thedailymeal,com says, “This giant, greasy mess can clearly cause a lot of damage to the sewer, but it can also clog up your pipes as well. If you’ve ever left bacon grease in the pan for too long you’ll notice that it completely solidifies as it cools and can be very difficult to clean off. Now picture this happening inside the pipes in your house, every time you rinse out your pan.”

The image is pretty disgusting. Your better bet is to pour the grease in a disposable container, let it cool and toss it into the garbage.

Of course, if you’ve already got a slow drain or a clog somewhere in your plumbing system, you’re going to have to get it fixed. If home remedies don’t work, it’s time to call in the drain cleaning specialists from Billy the Sunshine Plumber. 

Billy the Sunshine Plumber has been the Tampa Bay plumber of choice in Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties for almost 100 years. That’s right, Billy the Sunshine Plumber opened for business in 1924 and has cleaned a lot of drains and pipes during that time. Billy the Sunshine Plumber is available 24/7/365 – days, nights, weekends, holidays (yes, even Thanksgiving). Billy the Sunshine Plumber is always here to help you.

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