Regularly inspecting your plumbing system will help you avoid major problems and catch issues before they become catastrophic.

You and a friend were planning to take a nature hike at Chinsegut last weekend, but it didn’t happen. Not only did the rain get in the way, your friend’s bathroom plumbing had a major meltdown caused by a leaking pipe. She’s still putting things back together.

You felt sympathy for her troubles and you also started worrying about your plumbing and hoping your plumbing never has a spectacular failure.

You don’t have to merely hope that your plumbing holds together. You can take steps to catch issues before they become big. At times, you can even fix those issue yourself.

“A regular inspection of your key plumbing fixtures can help you spot and correct developing problems before they become such emergencies,” thespruce.com says. “Predictably, the places where you should focus your inspection checklist are those rooms where there are many plumbing fixtures—the bathroom and kitchen. But don’t forget to check around the house for the other appliances and fixtures, ranging from the hose spigots outside the house to the water heater in the basement or utility area.”

The most likely place for plumbing problems to surface is the bathroom because it gets a lot of use. Faucets, drains, toilets and caulk seals are the most common places for bathroom plumbing woes to surface. 

When it comes to faucets, thespruce.com says, leaks are a likely problem. You should check them regularly for leaks and replace washers or cartridges as needed.

“Water supply lines hidden in the walls for tub and shower drains can be especially problematic since such hidden leaks can cause major damage before you even spot it. Hidden water pipe leaks often reveal themselves with signs of water damage in the room below the plumbing pipes,” according to thespruce.com.

Drains are another place for plumbing malfunctions. Thespruce.com says they are “especially prone to soap and hair clogs, and rather than waiting for these to become full blockages, you should periodically disassemble drain traps and remove hair and debris. At the same time, it’s a good idea to snake out the branch drains to remove clogs before they become full blockages.”

You can check your toilet by removing the lid on the back and watching what happens while you flush. If it continues to run, then you likely need to replace all or part of the flushing mechanism.

While caulk seals around the tub and elsewhere are not actual plumbing fixtures, thespruce.com points out: “When caulking fails, it can allow water from a bathtub or shower to get behind walls and under floors, and the resulting water damage can be catastrophic. Periodically check all caulk beads along floors and walls to make sure it is intact. Seal any gaps you find with fresh caulk. Every few years, it is a good idea to remove the old caulk and apply a new bead of high-quality silicone tub-and-shower caulk.”

Of course, sometimes bad things happen to your plumbing no matter how much care you take. And, some homeowners don’t feel comfortable or aren’t able to do the maintenance themselves. If you fall into either of these categories, you need a trusted plumber you can rely on to help out. You can find such a plumber at Billy the Sunshine Plumber. 

Billy the Sunshine Plumber has been the go-to company for plumbing repairs, maintenance and upgrades 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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Want to remodel your bathroom but not spend an insane amount of money? Painting the walls and upgrading the plumbing fixtures will do.

You were planning on a taking a walk along the wildlife trail in Anclote River Park over the weekend but the rainy weather got in the way. Instead, you stayed at home, much the way you have the past few months, and stared at the walls. Staring at your walls for several months has fueled a desire to remodel and renovate your home, especially when it comes to your outdated bathroom. Thing is, you don’t want to spend a ton of money doing it.

Whether you decide on a total redo that involves major construction such as ripping out walls, or adding rooms, or on a less comprehensive bathroom redo, there are ways to save money. That’s especially true for smaller remodeling projects where careful planning can give you a massive change at a smaller cost.

“You don’t need mega-bucks to transform your bathroom into a relaxing, cool space. There are plenty of ways to renovate and redesign on a budget,” moneycrashers.com says. “Determine how much you can afford to spend on your remodel to determine the extent of the changes you can make. If your budget is on the low end (i.e. $1,000 or less), you’ll want to stick to cosmetic changes, such as new fixtures or a new sink, and new paint.”

Moneycrashers.com offers several tips for saving money while remodeling a bathroom. Among them:

• Limit your tile.
• Paint. “If you don’t have a lot to spend, then repainting will be the cheapest and, perhaps, the most effective way to give your bathroom a new look,” according to moneycrashers.com.
• Go green with upgrades.
• Buy used.
• Upgrade fixtures. Updated light fixtures, sinks, toilets, faucets, shower heads and so on can provide a big impact for relatively little money, moneycrashers.com says.

If you decide to remodel – whether you go big or hold it down to paint and changed out fixtures – call Billy the Sunshine Plumber for help. In the case of a big remodel, Billy the Suunshine Plumber can run new lines, shift plumbing from one place to another, or do whatever is necessary. If your remodel is smaller, Billy the Sunshine Plumber can easily install your new fixtures. Billy the Sunshine Plumber can also help with any other plumbing needs, from fixing slow drains to re-piping your home. 

Billy the Sunshine Plumber has been the go-to company for plumbing repairs, maintenance and upgrades 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 your faucet won’t turn or it turns but doesn’t stop the water flow, you should call Billy the Sunshine Plumber for help.

When you got back from First Sunday Yoga on the Lawn, you were sopping wet from perspiration. All you could think about was taking a nice cool shower to get rid of the grunge. And that worked. Trouble was, your shower faucet didn’t work.

Oh, your shower faucet seemed to work well enough when you turned on the water and adjusted the temperature. The problem was, when you turned it off, the water kept coming.

“If the cold water will not turn off in your shower, the cause is likely a dysfunctional valve stem,” according to ehow.com. “The valve stem in a cold water handle on a shower faucet attaches to the seat of the faucet at the bottom and to the handle at the top. When the handle turns the valve stem it controls the flow of water to the faucet. One symptom of a malfunctioning valve stem is that it will no longer shut off the water properly.”

Changing the valve stem is something you might be able to do yourself. If you’re not feeling handy, you don’t have the tools, or you’d simply rather rely on someone with some plumbing know-how, then it’s time to call the shower faucet pros at Billy the Sunshine Plumber.

Billy Sunshine has been the trusted, go-to plumbing expert in Tampa Bay for almost 100 years. Billy the Sunshine Plumber, which started business in 1924, is locally owned. He’s available 24/7/365 in Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties. No matter the day, time, or plumbing problem, Billy is here for you. Billy’s got your back.

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When you turn on the faucet and no water comes out, call the plumbing pros at Billy the Sunshine Plumber for help.

You went to Starkey Park last night for the sunset hike. Of course, it was hot and muggy and you ended up drenched in perspiration. All you wanted to do when you got home was jump in a cool shower. But that didn’t happen.

When you turned the tub faucet, no water came out. You tried the other faucets in the house and got water from them. But nothing from the tub faucet.

Sfgate.com says that’s not a common happening: “Any type of faucet can leak, but it’s rare for one to stop working altogether. When that happens, the wise plumber suspects the water system.”

But, because the other faucets work, it’s not likely the water system. It’s more likely a problem with that one faucet, or with the pipes or at the water source.

“You may have low pressure at the faucet because a valve is partially closed somewhere else in the house … . The low pressure may also be the result of mineral deposits in the pipes. If the lack of pressure is primarily in the hot water faucet, deposits in the water heater may be blocking the hot water outlet. A more troublesome cause of low water pressure is a leaking or burst pipe. If you suspect one, look for soggy areas in the yard or water running along the ground to pinpoint it,” sfgate.com says.

Another possibility is that mineral deposits have blocked the aerator or clogged the notches in a ball- or cartridge-style valve.

Your best bet for tracking down the problem is to seek help from a certified, trusted plumber like the plumbing specialists at Billy the Sunshine Plumber. Billy Sunshine has been the trusted, go-to plumber in Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties since 1924. He’s done a lot of plumbing repairs in that time. Billy the Sunshine Plumber is here 24/7/365 to help you with all your plumbing woes and plumbing emergencies. Call Billy now.

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