No matter what the package says, you should not put kitty litter in the toilet. If you get a toilet clog you can’t clear out, call Billy the Sunshine Plumber for help.

You took an early morning walk at Brooker Creek Preserve today before coming back and settling in the air conditioning with some coffee, a book and a cat.  Although you’d have preferred to spend the day being lazy, you managed to make yourself get up to do some cleaning. And that was a good thing because your toilet was clogged.

Toilets can be tempermental and picky about how they handle anything other than toilet paper and human waste. You’re aware of that and try to be very careful about not flushing things like wipes. But, you have to admit, you haven’t been as careful as you should about kitty litter.

First, you buy kitty litter that’s advertised as flushable and you do not simply dump a bunch of it down the toilet. You simply toss the kitty leavings in the toilet and, when you change out the litter box, you throw it in the trash.

Tossing the cat waste is enough to cause toilet clogging.

“Though many cat litter brands claim to be ‘flushable,’ it is never a good idea to flush waste matter and litter down the toilet, as clogs can result both from the bulk of the waste matter as well as the litter material,” according to ehow.com. “If you find yourself with a toilet clogged by cat litter, you’ll need more than a plunger to fix it.”

The degree of difficulty depends on whether your clog is in the bowl or has progressed into your system, in which case you’ll need a plumbing snake to try to dislodge things. If you try, and can’t, then it’s time to call a reliable plumber like the trusted 24-hour 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 the Fourth of July.

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Facial tissues, wipes and other similar paper products may appear to be flushable. But they’re not. If you have a clogged toilet or sewer line you can’t fix, it’s time to call the drain clearing experts at Billy the Sunshine Plumber.

You were looking for some peace after a hectic week, so you planned on heading down to Kings Bay Park for some fishing. You didn’t even care if you were going to catch anything. You just wanted some quiet time alone. But, instead of relaxation, you got even more frustration when the toilet overflowed because it was clogged.

Toilet clogs – like other plumbing problems – always seem to happen at the worst and most unexpected times. And while toilet clogs a certainty in life, they’re certainly not unusual. But many of them can be prevented if you’re careful about what you flush.

Perhaps the biggest offenders are personal and baby wipes because they’re labeled “flushable.” But flushable in that case only means they disappear from the toilet bowl. They do NOT disappear from the pipes and sewer systems.

They can clump and get stuck in your system causing your toilet to clog or backup. They can also cause problems farther down the system if they make it out of your plumbing.

The New York Times explains that natural water bodies these get into do not have the heat or micro-organism levels to effectively degrade them. Not only that, while toilet paper will break down in anywhere from a minute to four minutes, wipes take at least six hours to disintegrate. And, the pumps in municipal systems cannot shred them.

Although wipes may be the most common culprit involved in the creation of toilet clogs, other common offenders are tampons, facial tissues and paper towels, the Times says.

How do you tell what is and is not flushable? It’s easy. If it’s toilet paper, flush away. If it’s not toilet paper, don’t flush it. Why take the chance that it will clog your toilet or pipes? Instead, toss it in the trash.

If, despite your best efforts, you do get a toilet clog, a clogged pipe, or other similar problem, then it’s time to call the drain cleaning and clog clearing specialists 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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Regular maintenance is the best way to avoid clogs and other problems with your home’s sewer system. Billy the Sunshine Plumber can help you with that.

You were at the Gulfport Fresh Market this morning when you ran into a friend you hadn’t seen in awhile. When you asked her how she was doing she had a horror story to tell – the plumbing in her house had backed up because of a clog in the sewer line. Water and raw sewage seemed to be everywhere, she said.

Now you’re wondering if your home is in danger of a plumbing clog and backup. You’d hate to go through what she went through.

Your home could be in danger. According to Angie’s List, “There are many reasons why residential main sewer lines backup. Common causes are attributed to tree root intrusion, grease accumulation or pipe scale buildup.”

But there is a solution – annual maintenance, which, as Angie’s List points out is “one of the most overlooked maintenance tasks” in a home. But neglecting that task, adds Angie’s List, “has the potential to cause nasty water damage with expensive cleanup costs. Don’t wait to find out the hard way that the sewer needs to be cleaned.”

If you’re looking for a reliable plumber to evaluate your sewer system and clean it if necessary, look no further than the trustworthy plumbers at Billy the Sunshine Plumber.

Billy Sunshine has been the trusted, go-to plumber in Tampa Bay for almost a century since he opened in 1924. Billy the Sunshine Plumber is available 24/7/365 in Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties. Days, nights, weekends, holidays – Billy the Sunshine Plumber is always here for you.

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When your sewer system gets clogged up, call Billy the Sunshine Plumber to get things cleared out.

It’s that time of year when you see gremlins and other creatures everywhere. But one place you don’t want to see them is in your sewer system. But that’s what happened this morning while you were getting the kids ready for the Halloween Spooktacular at Largo Central Park. You noticed that water was backing up out of the tub drain.

Water backing up out of one ore more drains and/or the toilet is a prime indicator that you have a clog somewhere in your sewer system, according to Angie’s List.

That’s something you want to take care of right away. Waiting may give it time to make the clog worse and you could get a backup of raw sewage coming out of your drains, which, as Angie’s List says, “could lead to significant damage to the home and an expensive sewer line repair or replacement.”

The clog could be caused by many things – a buildup of stuff you shouldn’t have flushed but flushed anyway (“flushable” wipes are a prime culprit) or maybe tree roots have grown into one or more of your sewer pipes. The best way to find out is to have the clog-clearing experts at Billy the Sunshine Plumber come out to check your pipes and get them cleared and, if necessary, repaired.

Billy the Sunshine Plumber was founded in 1924 so he has A LOT of experience in unclogging pipes and, when needed, repairing or replacing damaged sewer lines. Billy the Sunshine Plumber is available 24/7/365 in Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties. Whenever you need him – nights, weekends, holidays – Billy the Sunshine Plumber is here for you.

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There are many things you should not flush down the toilet or drain. If you do and your pipes get clogged, call Billy the Sunshine Plumber for help.

When you were headed out for a bit of bicycling on the Suncoast Trail this morning, you passed some county public works employees pulling a manhole cover off a drain in the street. You briefly wondered what was wrong, then forgot about it. When you returned home several hours later they were gone.

They could have been doing many things. Among those is cleaning the sewer line to help with drainage. That’s especially important during hurricane season when you want to get the rain water moved away as fast as possible to help prevent flooding. The sewer cleaning, if that’s what it was, could have been routine or the workers could have been responding to a clog.

Yes, city and county sewer systems clog. In fact, some of the clogs are so big – like a recent one in England – that they’ve earned the name “fatberg.” When a fatberg forms, it tends to be made up of the same stuff that gums up the plumbing in your home.

“The dirty secrets of a huge fatberg discovered lurking under the seafront of a Devon town have been laid bare after scientists carried out an ‘autopsy’ of the monster,” according to a story in the Guardian. “As expected, household cooking fats, wet wipes and other hygiene products were key components of the 64 m-long beast (bigger than the Leaning Tower of Pisa) but it also contained bits of bone, twigs, string – and false teeth.

“Happily, it did not contain any detectable levels of toxic chemicals, and the scientists who examined lumps of it could not apportion blame for it to any particular businesses, neighborhoods or groups. It appears to have been very much a community effort.”

That’s a graphic lesson for home and business owners – watch what you flush. Basically, the only thing you should be flushing is toilet paper. Ignore the “flushable” promise on the package. It’s not true. And, in the kitchen, do not dump grease and such down the drain or into the garbage disposal.

On the other hand, we all do things we shouldn’t and sometimes you get a clog that you just can’t remove by yourself. In that case, call Billy the Sunshine Plumber for help. Billy Sunshine has been the plumber of choice in Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties for almost 100 years (Billy the Sunshine Plumber was founded in 1924). Billy the Sunshine Plumber is available 24/7/365 – nights, weekends, holidays, Billy is always here to help.

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When it comes to preparing for hurricanes, plumbing should be on your list. Billy the Sunshine Plumber can help with that. 

The Tampa Bay area has been incredibly lucky at avoiding a direct hit by any hurricane much less a major storm. But most experts agree we’re not going to be lucky forever. And with NOAA’s raising its prediction on the number of named storms to expect this year, it’s time for Tampa Bay home- and business owners to prepare. Just in case.

When preparing, don’t forget your plumbing. Prooudgreenhome.com offers these suggestions when it comes to getting your plumbing ready for a hurricane or flooding conditions:

• Check all downspouts and roof gutters to ensure they are securely fastened, free of debris and draining properly.
• Make sure yard culverts and street drains are free of debris and can carry water away as fast as possible.
• Consider installing a battery back-up pump that will operate in the event of a power failure.
• Inspect all floor drains throughout the house, including those in the garage, driveway, and basement.
• If there is enough advanced warning of the emergency, assure the freshest water supply by flushing the tank and allowing it to refill with clean water.

If you find clogs, or need a backup pump, or find any other issue with your plumbing (or you’d just prefer a professional do the checking for you), call the plumbing pros at Billy the Sunshine Plumber. Billy Sunshine has been clearing clogs, finding and repairing leaks, and upgrading plumbing since 1924. Billy Sunshine is available 24/7/365 – nights, weekends, holidays – in Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties. Billy is always here for you.

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If your kitchen sink is clogged with grease or other items and you can’t clear it yourself, call the drain-cleaning pros at Billy the Sunshine Plumber for help.

Before you left home last night to go to the Santana tribute concert in Gulfport, you rinsed off your dishes. You noticed that the water didn’t seem to be draining from the sink, but you didn’t think much about it in the rush to leave home. You thought a lot more about it when you got home hours later and found standing water in the kitchen sink.

You tried the plunger but that didn’t work. You even dumped some chemical cleaner down the drain and left it all night but that didn’t work either. You still had standing water when you got up today.

You definitely have a clog. Sounds as if you’ve been dumping stuff down the drain – or into the garbage disposal – that you shouldn’t pour into the drain. Stuff like grease.

“Don’t pour grease down the drain,” warns Pinellas County’s solid waste department. “Don’t believe the myth that you can wash grease down the drain with lots of soap and water! It’s a waste of water, and it will not dissolve grease. Avoid clogged pipes by disposing of cooled fats, oils, or grease in the trash can, not down the drain.”

That’s advice for the future. What you need now is drain-cleaning help. You can get that clog-clearing help from the drain-clearing experts at Billy the Sunshine Plumber.

Billy Sunshine 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 has been in business since 1924. He’s cleared A LOT of drains and eliminated millions of clogs during that almost-century in business. Billy the Sunshine Plumber has your back 24/7/365 – nights, holidays, weekends, whenever. Billy the Sunshine Plumber is always here for you.

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If the rain is playing havoc with your plumbing and pipes, it’s time to call the Tampa Bay plumbing pros at Billy the Sunshine Plumber.

You spent part of yesterday afternoon in Largo watching Young Frankenstein. You were lucky and got back before the heavy rains began, but you did notice that your drains seemed a bit slow last night. You’re wondering if the heavy rain could hurt your plumbing.

The quick answer – yes.

“Those heavy rains that drum on the roof, keep you indoors and leave you soaked no matter what precautions you take are incredible shows of the power of nature. When these rains come, they can cause a lot of disruption, not only for your daily activities, but also for your plumbing,” according to bcpsi.com plumbing experts in California. “A big downpour can cause both minor and serious plumbing troubles.”

Among the potential problems are broken pipes and blockages or clogs.

Bcpsi.com explains: “Especially if there has been a long dry spell, heavy rains can cause the ground to shift considerably, to the point that it may break pipes. Dry soil becomes quickly infused with a lot of moisture, causing it to move and expand. This movement can break brittle pipes. You’re most likely to face this problem if your pipes are older, made of galvanized steel or similar materials.”

You may notice you have discolored water or debris in your water if this happens.

“A lot of rain water brings debris with it. Twigs, leaves, trash and dirt can all get into the sewer system to the point that it clogs drains. One recommended precaution you can take is to keep your roof clean and free of debris to avoid additional clogging that could have been avoided,” bcpsi.com says. “You’ll notice your pipes are blocked if your drains seem sluggish and your water doesn’t quickly go down the drain as normal. You may also notice a smell of sewage. Your first line of defense is to try using a plunger, but if it doesn’t work, you may need the help of a professional plumber. It’s also advisable to wait a few hours before losing hope. It could be that the city’s sewers are also backed up and until things clear, your drains won’t either. If the problem persists, the problem may be more localized.”

If you have these or any other plumbing problems that you can’t fix, it’s time to call the Tampa Bay plumbing specialists at Billy the Sunshine Plumber. Billy Sunshine has been the trusted Tampa Bay plumbing expert of choice in Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties since he opened in 1924. Billy the Sunshine Plumber is open 24/7/365. Weekends, nights, holidays – no matter. Billy the Sunshine Plumber is always here for you.

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When you have a clog or blocked drain that you can’t clear, it’s time to call the drain cleaning experts at Billy the Sunshine Plumber.

You decided to brave the heat over the weekend and take a bike ride along the Pinellas Trail. It was great to get out and clear your brain, especially after the rain last week. When you got home, you were looking forward to a cool shower to wash off the perspiration and revive you from the heat.

But nothing ever seems to work out as planned.

In this case, your shower started filling up because the water wasn’t draining. You clearly have a clog somewhere in your plumbing system.

Being as it’s the shower, the most likely culprit is hair. As tunnelvision.com explains, “We’ve seen it all before, a build-up of hair that’s starting to clog your drain. Most times it’s a moderately easy task to simply ‘remove the hair’, but if it’s not cleared up straight away – it can cause a lot of issues down the line. Hair falling off the body in the shower or while getting ready over the sink and in the bathroom is one of the most common causes of blocked drains.”

If you have caught it early, you can likely solve the problem yourself.

“Small amounts of hair can be removed by pulling it out with gloved hands to avoid it getting worse. Drain cleaning devices such as drain spiders can also be purchased to help remove the hair from the drain. However, it’s important to be careful as some devices and cheap hair removal chemicals can make the problem worse,” tunnelvision.com explains. “It’s important to remove the hair before it gets clogged into the entry of the drain pipes. If you’re unable to reach the hair or the devices aren’t working as intended, it’s time to speak to a blocked drain specialist.”

If you do need a drain cleaning specialist, look no further than the reliable blocked drain pros at Billy the Sunshine Plumber. Billy Sunshine has been the trusted Tampa Bay plumber for almost 100 years – he began business in 1924. He’s cleared a lot of drains in that time. Billy is here for you 24/7/365 – he never closes, even on holidays. For a plumber you can count on, call Billy the Sunshine Plumber.

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When your washing machine becomes clogged and you can’t fix it by yourself, it’s time to call the clog and drain clearing pros at Billy the Sunshine Plumber.

When you thought about going to the home show today, you were thinking about getting renovation ideas for your home. But your washing machine had other ideas. When you tried to wash that last load last night, the washing machine wouldn’t drain. It seems obvious to you that you have a clog somewhere in the system but you’re not sure why or where or how to fix it. So, now you’re thinking you’ll be looking for new washing machine ideas at the home show.

Your washer can clog for many reasons and the clog can take place anywhere in the system from the machine itself, to the pipes leading into the machine to the plumbing outside your home. But if you’re not having drainage problems anywhere else, it’s most likely in the washer itself or the drainage pipe running from the machine.

As for why – well, there are many reasons a washer could build up a clog. One of the most common – and least thought of – is pet hair. That’s right, pet hair.