- Family-Owned Since 1976
- Licensed: CFC019219 / CAC1822951
- BBB A+ Accredited
- Tampa's Best-Rated: 4.8★ from 2,600+ Reviews
- 24/7 Service
Tampa plumbing & AC
Short answer: Alvarez Plumbing & Air Conditioning is a Tampa company, family-owned since 1976. We serve every part of the city, from Westshore and West Tampa to Sulphur Springs, East Tampa and New Tampa, 24/7. We have 4.8 stars from more than 2,600 Google reviews, and we know how Tampa's hard water, old pipes and long cooling season wear on a house.
Local landmark
Most Tampa homes get their tap water from the Hillsborough River. The City's 2025 water quality report says the river is the main source, treated at the David L. Tippin Water Treatment Facility, with only 2.7% bought from Tampa Bay Water. The river winds right through the city, past the University of Tampa's minarets, Downtown and Lowry Park.
River water has a cost: it's hard. The same report puts average hardness at 211 mg/L, or 12.3 grains per gallon. That's high enough to leave scale inside water heaters, tankless units, faucets and shower valves. It's the reason so many Tampa water heaters wear out early and why we install so many water softeners.
The pipes under Tampa are old, too. Fort Brooke was set up at the mouth of the river in 1824, and some neighborhoods date to the 1880s. Mayor Jane Castor has said many of the city's wastewater pipes are more than 100 years old, which is why the City started its 25-to-30-year PIPES program in 2019. The City replaces the main lines. The pipes inside your home and the sewer line out to the street are yours, and that's where we come in.
Know your neighborhood
Short answer: Tampa homes deal with hard water scale, aging galvanized and cast iron pipes in older neighborhoods, polybutylene pipe in homes from about 1978 to the mid-1990s, tree roots in sewer lines, and AC systems that run almost year-round in heat and humidity.
At 12.3 grains per gallon, Tampa water coats tank bottoms and tankless heat exchangers with scale. Flushing helps, and a softener protects everything downstream. Water heaters →
Homes built before about 1960 often still have galvanized supply lines and cast iron drains. They rust and scale from the inside, causing low pressure and slow drains. Repiping →
Gray polybutylene supply pipe was used across Tampa in these years. Chlorine and chloramine in city water break it down from the inside, and it fails without warning. Whole-home repiping →
Tampa's oaks send roots into older sewer joints, causing slow drains and backups. A camera shows exactly where. Drain & sewer →
Tampa's cooling season is long, so AC systems log far more hours than up north. Clogged drain lines and worn capacitors are our most common summer calls. AC repair →
Tampa is known as the lightning capital of North America. Strikes and power surges damage AC boards and compressors. After a storm, we check the system before you run it. AC maintenance →
Services
Short answer: Alvarez offers every plumbing and air conditioning service Tampa 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
Every Tampa ZIP code, including 33602 through 33629, 33634, 33635, 33637 and 33647. Don't see your street? Call us. If it's in Tampa, we're there.
Tampa FAQ
Yes. The City of Tampa's 2025 water quality report lists average hardness of 211 mg/L, about 12.3 grains per gallon. That's considered hard. A water softener protects your water heater, fixtures and appliances from scale.
Schedule service → or call (813) 655-7520
Yes. For work that needs a permit, like water heater replacement, repiping or AC replacement, we pull the permit and handle the inspection.
Schedule service → or call (813) 655-7520
Look for gray plastic pipe near the water heater or under sinks, often stamped "PB2110." Homes built from about 1978 to the mid-1990s are the most likely to have it. We can check in a few minutes.
Schedule service → or call (813) 655-7520
Most last 10 to 15 years here because they run so many hours. Yearly maintenance helps them reach the top of that range. If yours is over 12 years old and needs a big repair, we'll show you both options.
Schedule service → or call (813) 655-7520
The most common causes are tree roots, a sagging or cracked older line, or grease buildup. A camera inspection finds the cause, and hydro jetting or a line repair fixes it.
Schedule service → or call (813) 655-7520
Yes. Call (813) 655-7520 any time for no AC, no hot water, leaks or sewer backups.
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 Tampa? 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 South Tampa, Temple Terrace, Town ‘n’ Country. See all the Tampa Bay areas we serve, or call (813) 655-7520 to schedule service in Tampa.
