- Family-Owned Since 1976
- Licensed: CFC019219 / CAC1822951
- BBB A+ Accredited
- Tampa's Best-Rated: 4.8★ from 2,600+ Reviews
- 24/7 Service
Ruskin plumbing & AC
Short answer: Alvarez Plumbing & AC serves all of Ruskin, from Bahia Lakes, Shell Cove and Bay Park to the older streets near US 41 and the Little Manatee River, plus nearby Apollo Beach and Sun City Center, 24/7. We're a family-owned Tampa company since 1976, with 4.8 stars from more than 2,600 Google reviews. We service new SouthShore homes, older homes and manufactured homes alike.
Local landmark
Ruskin sits on the north bank of the Little Manatee River, just before it reaches Tampa Bay. Upstream, Little Manatee River State Park protects 2,433 acres of river, woods and trails. Closer to the bay, Cockroach Bay Aquatic Preserve shelters mangroves and seagrass.
The town was founded in 1908 by Dr. George McA. Miller and Addie Dickman Miller, and named after English writer John Ruskin. It began as a college town, but Ruskin College burned in 1918, and farming took over. Rich soil and artesian wells made tomatoes the local crop, and the Ruskin Tomato Festival has been held since 1935.
Since the 1990s, new subdivisions have replaced many of those farms. Ruskin had more than 10,000 housing units by 2020, and builders were still adding homes and townhomes. Mixed in are older homes near the town center and manufactured home parks. During Hurricane Helene in 2024, flooding damaged County wastewater pump stations, and residents west of I-75 were asked to limit water use. Low-lying homes near the bay and river should have flooded equipment checked.
Know your neighborhood
Short answer: In Ruskin we see AC systems and water heaters in newer homes reaching replacement age, salt air near the bay, aging pipes in older homes, manufactured homes that need specific water heaters and AC units, slab leaks, and storm-damaged equipment.
Builder-grade AC systems and water heaters from the 2000s are now at the end of their life. AC replacement →
Mobile and manufactured homes need water heaters, AC units and piping rated for them. We repair, replace and repipe them. Mobile home repiping →
Older homes near the town center may have galvanized or polybutylene supply pipe. Repiping →
Homes close to Tampa Bay and the river see faster corrosion on outdoor AC coils. AC maintenance →
A warm floor or a high water bill can mean a leak under the slab. Leak detection →
Heavy rain and surge can cause drain backups and damage outdoor units. Drain & sewer →
Services
Short answer: Alvarez offers every plumbing and air conditioning service Ruskin homes and businesses need, 24/7: AC repair, replacement and maintenance, heating, ductwork, indoor air quality, water heaters, repiping, leak detection, drains and sewer lines, and water treatment.
Where we work
ZIP codes 33570, 33572 and 33573. Don't see your street? Call us. If it's Ruskin or SouthShore, we're there.
Ruskin FAQ
Yes. We repair and replace water heaters, AC systems and plumbing in manufactured homes, including mobile home repiping, using equipment rated for them.
Schedule service → or call (813) 655-7520
Yes. We serve Ruskin and the surrounding SouthShore communities, including Apollo Beach, Sun City Center and Wimauma.
Schedule service → or call (813) 655-7520
If it needs a major repair, replacing usually makes more sense. A 20-year-old system is near the end of its life. We'll show you both prices.
Schedule service → or call (813) 655-7520
Ruskin is in unincorporated Hillsborough County, so permits go through the County. We pull them and handle the inspection.
Schedule service → or call (813) 655-7520
We'll inspect the line with a camera. A cleanout, line repair or backwater valve can help keep storm water out.
Schedule service → or call (813) 655-7520
Yes. Call (813) 655-7520 any time for no AC, leaks, backups or no hot water.
Schedule service → or call (813) 655-7520
Current offers
Mention the coupon when you call (813) 655-7520 or enter the code when you request service. Coupons can’t be applied to estimates or the dispatch fee. Some restrictions may apply.
Why Alvarez
Looking for the best plumber and AC company in Ruskin? Alvarez technicians diagnose the real problem, show you what’s wrong, give you a fair price up front and fix it right, so you’re not calling again next week.
The Alvarez promise
The best AC company in Tampa isn’t the one with the lowest teaser price. It’s the one that does the job right, charges fairly and is still standing behind the work years later.
Alvarez has been a family-owned, veteran-owned plumbing and HVAC company serving Tampa Bay since 1976 — that’s 50 years of emergency calls answered, burst pipes fixed, and holidays interrupted to help a neighbor. We’re licensed (CFC019219 / CAC1822951) and insured, with technicians who show up in marked vehicles and explain the problem before they touch anything.
We also serve nearby Riverview, Brandon, Bradenton. See all the Tampa Bay areas we serve, or call (813) 655-7520 to schedule service in Ruskin.
