Service area · Pinellas County
Plumbing and A/C service in Pinellas County
Ground Up handles plumbing and A/C work across Pinellas County, from St. Petersburg and Clearwater to Largo, Dunedin, and Tarpon Springs. Most Pinellas homes were built before 1980, the county's water is hard, and salt air reaches a lot of outdoor A/C units. Call or text 727-732-4357.
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 Pinellas homes
Pinellas is densely built, mostly older, and surrounded by salt water on three sides. That shapes almost every plumbing and A/C call here.
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Mostly pre-1980 houses
Census estimates put the median Pinellas home at 1976, and nearly 6 in 10 housing units were built before 1980. Only about 13% were built in 2000 or later. In homes that age, original galvanized supply pipe, cast-iron drains under the slab, and old shutoff valves are common, so we plan for them when we quote.
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Hard county water
Pinellas County Utilities reported an average total hardness of 217 ppm for 2025, with a range of 189 to 244 ppm. The utility gives a softener setting equal to 11.1 to 14.3 grains per gallon. Water that hard shortens the life of tank heaters and fixtures unless they're flushed and maintained.
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Where the water comes from
Pinellas County Utilities buys a blend of groundwater, treated surface water, and desalinated seawater from Tampa Bay Water, and adds groundwater from the county's own Eldridge-Wilde Wellfield. It uses chloramine as its disinfectant. Some cities run their own systems: Clearwater pumps from its own Floridan Aquifer wells and treats part of that water with reverse osmosis.
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Flood rules and salt air
In unincorporated Pinellas, a building is treated as substantially damaged when repair costs reach 49% of its value, and cities set their own plans. If your home is in a flood zone, an A/C or water heater replacement can come with elevation requirements. Homes near the Gulf and the bay also see salt air, which is hard on outdoor condenser coils and fittings. Coastal plumbing and A/C on the barrier islands.
02 — Where we go
Places we serve in Pinellas County
We take calls from anywhere in the county, including:
- St. Petersburg
- Clearwater
- Largo
- Pinellas Park
- Dunedin
- Tarpon Springs
- Seminole
- Safety Harbor
- Oldsmar
- Palm Harbor
- East Lake
- The beach communities
Pinellas 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 Pinellas County
Pinellas County Building and Development Review Services issues permits for unincorporated Pinellas plus Belleair Beach, Belleair Shore, Indian Rocks Beach, Kenneth City, Safety Harbor, and Oldsmar. St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Largo, and the other cities have their own building departments, so the rules can vary by city.
The county's permitting guide covers mechanical equal change-outs (a like-for-like A/C replacement) and flood-zone disclosures. We confirm the jurisdiction for your address, pull the permit when one is required, and help with any flood-zone paperwork the job needs.
03 — Services
Services Pinellas homes ask for most
Older pipe and older sewer laterals lead the plumbing list here. On the A/C side, salt air and long cooling seasons make coil care and timely replacement matter more.
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Whole-House Repiping
Replacing polybutylene, galvanized, and failing copper water lines in Tampa Bay homes with PEX or copper, including drywall patching coordination.
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Sewer Line Repair, Replacement & Camera Inspection
Sewer camera inspections, root and cast-iron problems, bellied lines, and sewer line repair or replacement for Tampa Bay homes and home buyers.
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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.
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Toilet, Faucet & Fixture Installation and Repair
Repair and installation of toilets, faucets, shutoff valves, hose bibs, and other plumbing fixtures in Tampa Bay homes.
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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.
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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.
My Pinellas house was built in the 1960s. Should I worry about the pipes?
Not worry, but know what you have. Nearly 6 in 10 Pinellas homes were built before 1980, and many still have galvanized supply lines or cast-iron drains. Low water pressure, rusty water, or repeated slab leaks are the usual signs. We can inspect and tell you whether repairs or a repipe make more sense.
Does salt air really shorten an A/C's life near the beach?
It speeds up corrosion on the outdoor coil and metal parts, especially on the barrier islands and along the bay. Rinsing the outdoor coil, keeping plants back from the unit, and regular maintenance help. When it's time to replace, ask about coil coatings and corrosion-resistant options.
Who issues the permit for my water heater or A/C in Pinellas?
It depends on your address. The county's Building and Development Review Services covers unincorporated Pinellas and a few smaller cities, including Safety Harbor and Oldsmar. St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Largo, and other cities run their own building departments. We confirm which one applies and pull the permit.
Is 727-732-4357 a local number?
Yes. It's our main business line and a 727 number for Pinellas and the rest of Tampa Bay. Call or text it any time; we answer 24/7 for emergencies.
Quote request
Get a quote in Pinellas 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 Pinellas 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.
- Pinellas County Utilities, 2025 Consumer Confidence Report on Drinking Water Quality
- City of Clearwater Public Utilities, Reverse Osmosis
- Pinellas County Building and Development Review Services, Permitting Guide
- Pinellas County, Substantial Damage & Storm Permits
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates, Tables B25034 and B25035 (Year Structure Built), via Census Reporter