A Brandon Homeowner's Plumbing Guide: What to Watch For by Decade

Brandon is an easy run east from our West Tampa shop on the Selmon Expressway or I-4, and we serve Brandon proper plus Bloomingdale, Providence Lakes, Kingsway, Valrico and Seffner. Most of the area was built from the 1980s through the 2000s, so homes here are at very different stages of their plumbing life. The decade your home was built tells you a lot about what to watch for.

Homes Built in the 1980s

Homes from the 1980s are now around 40 years old.

• Polybutylene supply pipe is the big one for late-'80s homes. Gray polybutylene can fail at the fittings without warning, and many insurers ask about it. See polybutylene pipes.
• Copper supply pipe in homes that don't have polybutylene may be developing pinhole leaks after four decades in hard water.
• Water heaters are probably on their third or fourth replacement.
• Sewer lines have had 40 years of tree growth around them. Slow drains in several fixtures point to the main line.

Homes Built in the 1990s

• Polybutylene is still possible in early-'90s homes, before it fell out of use in the mid-'90s. Check at the water heater and under sinks.
• Original shut-off valves and supply lines are 30 years old. Test the valves under sinks and behind toilets, and replace any that won't close.
• Pressure-reducing valves, if your home has one, often need replacement by now.

Homes Built in the 2000s

Bloomingdale's newer sections, parts of Valrico and much of the 2000s growth around Brandon are now about 20 years old.

• Original water heaters have almost all been replaced or are overdue. See water heater leaking.
• Faucet cartridges, toilet fill valves and flappers are wearing out. See toilet keeps running.
• Washing machine hoses that have never been replaced should be swapped for braided stainless steel.

If your home is in this range, our 25-year plumbing checklist for Westchase homes applies to you too.

Every Decade: Hard Water

Eastern Hillsborough's water is hard, like the rest of Tampa Bay. Scale shortens the life of water heaters and fixtures. Most tank water heaters here last about 8 to 12 years. Flushing yours once a year and adding a water softener help protect new equipment. See why your water heater is popping.

Clogged Drains

Kitchen grease, wipes and hair cause most household clogs. If the same drain keeps clogging, or several drains back up at once, the main line needs attention. See clogged toilets and repeat clogs.

Permits in Brandon

Brandon is unincorporated Hillsborough County, so plumbing permits go through Hillsborough County, not a city. Water heater replacements and repipes typically need one. When a job needs a permit, we pull it as part of the job.

Plumbing Help in Brandon

Believe Plumbing serves Brandon, Bloomingdale, Providence Lakes, Kingsway, Valrico and Seffner. We're licensed (CFC1429476), and estimates are free. See our Brandon plumbing page, including water heaters, repiping and drain cleaning, or contact us.