Think you have a plumbing leak? Billy the Sunshine Plumber can help you with that!

This is your favorite time of year. It’s cooler and there are plenty of holiday related events to enjoy, like the Pioneer Christmas and Vintage Market in Dade City. But right now, you’re not so happy because your water bill is growing. You tried to brush it off as using more water because of the number of guests in your home during the holidays, but you’re worried you might have a plumbing leak somewhere.

Certainly, a water bill that shows more usage than normal is one indication of a possible leak, according to Bob Vila. But, as you thought, it might merely be a one-time spike in usage. You need to consider a lot of things when you’re trying to track down a possible leak.

Checking your water meter is the most definite way to figure out if you have a leak.

Bob Vila explains, “If you suspect a leak, monitoring your home’s water meter will give you a definitive answer. The meter is often located beneath a manhole-type cover near the street or (in areas where temperatures don’t dip below freezing) on the side or back of the house, near to where the water supply line enters the house. … Turn off all water faucets in your home and make sure the washing machine and dishwasher are not running.

“Check the water meter and make a note of the numbers you see. Come back in an hour and check again. If the numbers have changed, there’s a leak somewhere.

“To determine if the water leak is in the house or outdoors (only for homes with meters located at the street), turn off the shut-off valve on your home’s main water supply pipe. This is either located in a basement or a utility room where the water pipe enters the home.

“Check the water meter, write down the numbers, and wait another hour. When you check again, if the numbers have not changed, the water leak is inside your home. If the numbers have changed, the leak is in the buried water line that runs to the house.”

Bob Vila offers these other ways to spot a leak:

• Look for greener spots in your yard where water might be escaping from a pipe.
• See if your walls have discolored spots.
• Check to see if you have bubbling paint or wallpaper anywhere in your home.
• Sniff to see if you can detect a musty odor.
• Listen for a dripping sound.

If you find anything, or if you don’t but you’re still concerned, it’s time to call in an expert to track down the leak and repair it. You can find an experienced plumbing pro at Billy the Sunhine 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 Christmas Eve and Christmas day.

Billy the Sunshine Plumber | Leak | Leak Detection | I Need a Plumber | 24-Hour Plumber | Plumber Near Me | Plumber

#BillytheSunshinePlumber #Leak #LeakDetection #INeedaPlumber #PlumberNearMe #Plumber #24HourPlumber

Plumbing emergency? No need to worry. Billy the Sunshine Plumber is here for you 24/7/365.

When you got home from your run (you’re prepping for this weekend’s John Holmes Trail Run), you took as shower, did some chores then decided to take a nap. But your nap was disturbed when your dog woke you up. At first, you thought Bailey wanted attention or food. Then you realized Bailey was channeling Lassie and trying to tell you that your bathroom was flooded.

The water was coming from your hot water heater – the bottom had rusted out and water was overflowing the catch pan.

You managed to get the water turned off and the bathroom mopped up. Then you had to decide if you had a true plumbing emergency – one that merited calling a plumber on a Sunday – or if things could wait until Monday.

That’s a good question and one that can be hard to answer. Angie’s List suggests you ask some other questions in making your decision:

“Do you need to use the affected plumbing right away? If you have a water leak in your basement that just won’t stop, you probably can’t hold off until regular business hours. But if you have a broken toilet or sink and can avoid using it until the morning or if you have a minor leak and can shut off the water valve, you may be able to wait. Environmental factors also play a role here – if it’s the middle of summer and you need water or if the temperature outside is cold enough that frozen and burst pipes are a real issue, call for emergency repairs.

“Can you shut off the water? Do you know where to find the water shutoff valve, and do you feel comfortable using it? If there are both specific and main shutoffs, do you need to shutoff both? If you can easily stop the flow of water, you can probably wait until morning to call a professional plumber, but if turning off the water isn’t possible, you should call in help.

“Will leaving the problem alone cause more damage? Even if you can’t shut off the water, can you mitigate the damage enough to get you through until the next day? Buckets, rags and other stopgap measures can be used on a slow leak, but never let a problem go unfixed for fear of emergency repair costs if the chance of collateral damage is high. A serious leak in a bathroom, for example, can affect the floor, ceiling and walls of not just the bathroom but any rooms adjoining it.”

If you’re still not sure, call Billy the Sunshine Plumber and explain the problem. Billy Sunshine might be able to help you decide how fast you need to react. Whether you decide you need a plumber right that minute or you decide you can wait a bit, call the plumbing pros at Billy the Sunshine Plumber for reliable plumbing help.

Billy the Sunshine Plumber has been the trusted, go-to plumbing expert in Tampa Bay since he opened for business in 1924. Billy the Sunshine Plumber is always available to help you – 24/7/365 – in Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties. Billy is here for you.

Billy the Sunshine Plumber | Plumbing Emergency | Leak | Hot Water Heater | I Need a Plumber

#BillytheSunshinePlumber #PlumbingEmergency #Leak #HotWaterHeater #INeedaPlumber

Mold and mildew in your bathroom could be a sign of a plumbing leak. If you can’t find one, call the leak detection pros at Billy the Sunshine Plumber for help.

While you were dressing this morning, you were thinking about going to the drumming circle at Fort Island Gulf Beach tonight. That is, you were thinking about that until you noticed some mold on the wall of your bathroom. 

You searched for a leak but could not find one and now you’re not sure what to do. Maybe the mold is a result of the rainy weather that has doused the Tampa Bay area recently and so means nothing.

Ignoring mold and mildew is not a good idea. According to Angie’s List, “No matter how well and how often you clean your bathroom, mold or mildew can spring up if you have a hidden water leak. Mold thrives on moist, dark areas, and a pipe, which is typically hidden in a wall or under flooring, provides the perfect starting point for mold or mildew if the pipe springs a leak.

“While it’s normal for a little mildew to occur wherever water accumulates, such as in the corner of a shower, mold or mildew on non-shower walls or in corners of the bathroom is a clear sign that water is leaking somewhere and finding its way to those areas. A leaking pipe provides plenty of moisture, so the longer it takes you to detect and fix the leak, the easier and faster mold will grow.”

If you spotted mold or mildew outside the shower and can’t find a leak, you need a leak detection expert to help.

You can find a trusted leak detection expert at Billy the Sunshine Plumber. Billy the Sunshine Plumber has been in business since 1924. He’s found and repaired a lot of leaks in that almost-century of business.

Billy the Sunshine Plumber is available 24/7/365 – including nights, weekends and holidays – in Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties. Billy the Sunshine Plumber is always here for you.

Billy the Sunshine Plumber | Leak Detection | Plumbing Leak

#BillytheSunshinePlumber #LeakDetection #PlumbingLeak