Service area · Hillsborough County
Plumbing and A/C service in Hillsborough County
Ground Up handles plumbing and A/C work across Hillsborough County, from Tampa and Temple Terrace out to Brandon, Riverview, and Plant City. Tampa's tap water is hard, the housing stock runs from pre-1940 homes to new subdivisions, and permits go through either the City of Tampa or the county. Call or text 727-732-4357 with your ZIP.
Updated
- 30+ years in the building industry
- 24/7 emergency line, nights, weekends, holidays
- 2 Florida state licenses: Plumbing CFC1431937, A/C CAC1817931
- Tampa Bay Plumbing and A/C, one call for both trades
01 — Local conditions
What's different about Hillsborough homes
Two homes ten miles apart in this county can have different water, different building departments, and pipes from different decades. Here is what we look at first.
-
Two big water systems
Inside the city, the Tampa Water Department treats water from the Hillsborough River at the David L. Tippin plant, which serves more than 733,000 people. In 2025 the city bought only 2.7% of its water from Tampa Bay Water. Much of unincorporated Hillsborough is served by Hillsborough County Water Resources instead, which runs 11 community systems and works with Tampa Bay Water, the region's wholesale supplier.
-
Hard water inside Tampa
The Tampa Water Department reported an average total hardness of 211 mg/L (12.3 grains per gallon) for 2025. That much mineral content builds scale in tank water heaters, clogs tankless heat exchangers, and crusts faucet aerators. A softener setting or a descaling schedule is worth talking through when we replace a heater.
-
Housing from every era
Census estimates put the county's median home at 1993, but the range is wide. About 40% of housing units were built in 2000 or later, mostly in suburbs like Riverview and Brandon. About 27% were built before 1980, which is where we expect galvanized supply lines, cast-iron drains, and A/C systems on their second or third replacement.
-
City or county permits
Permits for unincorporated Hillsborough go through Hillsborough County Development Services. Homes inside Tampa go through the City of Tampa's Construction Services Division, which lists HVAC equal change-outs as their own residential trade permit. We check which office covers your address before we quote the job.
02 — Where we go
Places we serve in Hillsborough County
We take calls from anywhere in the county, including:
- Tampa
- Temple Terrace
- Plant City
- Brandon
- Riverview
- Valrico
- Apollo Beach
- Ruskin
- Sun City Center
- Lutz
- Town 'n' Country
- Westchase
Hillsborough is in our core service area. Arrival times depend on where our crew is that day, so call or text 727-732-4357 with your ZIP to confirm timing. How scheduling works by county.
Permits
Permits in Hillsborough County
Water heater and A/C replacements are permitted work in most cases. The office depends on where you live: unincorporated areas like Brandon, Riverview, and Lutz use the county; Tampa addresses use the city.
We confirm the right office for your address, pull the permit when one is required, and schedule the inspection.
03 — Services
Services Hillsborough homes ask for most
Hard city water points at water heaters and fixtures. The pre-1980 neighborhoods point at repiping. The 2000s suburbs point at A/C systems that are reaching the age where replacement comes up.
-
Water Heater Replacement & Installation
Gas and electric tank water heater replacement in Tampa Bay, sized to your household, installed to code, with the old unit hauled away.
-
Tankless Water Heater Installation & Service
Tankless water heater installs, tank-to-tankless conversions, and descaling maintenance for hard-water homes across Tampa Bay.
-
Toilet, Faucet & Fixture Installation and Repair
Repair and installation of toilets, faucets, shutoff valves, hose bibs, and other plumbing fixtures in Tampa Bay homes.
-
Whole-House Repiping
Replacing polybutylene, galvanized, and failing copper water lines in Tampa Bay homes with PEX or copper, including drywall patching coordination.
-
A/C Replacement & New System Installation
New A/C systems for Tampa Bay homes, sized with a load calculation and installed as a matched system by a licensed contractor.
-
A/C Maintenance & Tune-Ups
Routine A/C tune-ups for Tampa Bay homes: drain line, coils, filters, and electrical checks before the summer heat sets in.
Is Tampa's water hard enough to affect my water heater?
It can be. The Tampa Water Department reported an average hardness of 211 mg/L (12.3 grains per gallon) in 2025. Over time that leaves scale in the bottom of a tank heater and inside tankless units. Flushing a tank and descaling a tankless heater on a schedule helps, and a softener is worth considering if scale keeps coming back.
My bill comes from Hillsborough County, not the City of Tampa. Is my water different?
Yes. Hillsborough County Water Resources runs 11 separate community water systems and works with Tampa Bay Water, the regional wholesale supplier, which blends groundwater, river water, and desalinated seawater. Each system publishes its own annual water quality report, and the county's website has an address lookup to find yours.
Who issues the permit for a water heater or A/C replacement in Hillsborough?
It depends on your address. Hillsborough County Development Services handles unincorporated areas. The City of Tampa's Construction Services Division handles homes inside the city. We check which one applies and pull the permit when the job requires it.
Do you cover Plant City and the east side of the county?
Yes, Plant City, Valrico, and the rest of eastern Hillsborough are in our core service area. Arrival times depend on where our crew is that day, so call or text 727-732-4357 with your ZIP and we'll tell you honestly when we can be there.
Quote request
Get a quote in Hillsborough County
Tell us what's going on and how to reach you. A licensed tech (not a call center) gets back to you.
Need help right now? Call 727-732-4357. We answer 24/7.
Want to add photos or pick a time? Use the full contact form.
Plumbing or A/C trouble in Hillsborough County?
Call or text and tell us what's going on. Not urgent? Send a quote request or pick a time that works for you.
Sources
Local facts on this page come from these public sources, checked October 3, 2026. Rules and reports change, so we confirm details for your address before any job.
- Tampa Water Department, 2025 Water Quality Report
- Hillsborough County, 2025 water quality reports available to the public (news release, June 22, 2026)
- Hillsborough County, Water Quality Reports
- Hillsborough County, Development Services
- City of Tampa Construction Services Division, Trade Permit Fee Schedule
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates, Tables B25034 and B25035 (Year Structure Built), via Census Reporter