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HVAC and Plumbing Guides for Tampa Bay

Brand comparisons, sizing, costs and repair-or-replace decisions for air conditioners, heat pumps, water heaters, toilets, faucets, pipes and water softeners, written for Tampa Bay homes by Home Therapist Cooling, Heating, and Plumbing. If a guide does not answer your question, call or text and a licensed tech will.

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HVAC license CAC1819196
Plumbing license CFC1431159
4.8 stars from 1,300+ reviews
Hablamos español

At a glance

Topics: AC, heating, water heaters, plumbing, water quality and ducts
Preferred AC: Goodman (Value and Premium) and Daikin (Elite)
Water heaters: Rheem is our preferred brand
Other brands: We install and service every brand
Estimates: FREE, at any hour, with no after-hours fee
En español: Partes de un aire acondicionado central

The guides homeowners read most

Our most-read guides on Google over the last 12 months.

Kohler vs American Standard toiletsTwo common toilet brands compared for Tampa homes. Moen vs Delta vs Kohler faucetsThree faucet brands compared, with notes on hard water. 1.28 vs 1.6 GPF toiletsWater per flush, performance and toilet rebates. Goodman vs DaikinOur two preferred AC brands side by side. TOTO vs Kohler vs American StandardThree toilet brands compared. Florida rebates in 2026Utility rebates for AC and water heaters, and what ended. A.O. Smith vs Rheem vs Bradford WhiteThree water heater brands compared. Goodman vs Carrier vs TraneThree AC brands compared for Florida.

All our guides by topic

Every guide we have published, grouped by topic. New guides show up here as soon as they go live.

74 guides in 10 topics

Air conditioning (22)

Heating and heat pumps (6)

Water heaters (12)

Toilets, faucets and disposals (7)

Pipes and repiping (5)

Water quality and softeners (7)

Ducts, humidity and thermostats (6)

Rebates and storm prep (2)

More guides (6)

En español (1)

Partes de un Sistema de Aire Acondicionado Central

What our customers say

Recent reviews from Tampa Bay homeowners, refreshed every day from Google. See all our reviews.

★★★★★★ 4.8 (1,398 verified reviews)

Verified4.8★ · 1,398 reviews

🛡 FL Licensed: CAC1819196 · CFC1431159💼 $1M General Liability + Workers’ Comp🏠 Family-owned since 2017⚡ Same-day service

★★★★★Maintenance
Great Team. Arrive on Time and do complete maintenance on our system. Recommend to anyone looking for quality service.
Richard Myberg · October 2026 · Google

★★★★★Plumbing
Happy with the service and excellent communication with Home Therapist for help with a plumbing/ drain issue. Can recommend!
Jenn Bonilla · October 2026 · Google

★★★★★AC repair
I have the Service Maintenance Plan with them for my a/c and plumbing, their visit was pleasant making sure all was clean and functioning properly. I pay monthly $20 of which is…
Juanita Rosa · October 2026 · Google

★★★★★Plumbing
Excellent service and fair pricing from Home Therapist. Their quote was $180 less than similar plumbing company for simple disposal replacement. Plumber arrived promptly, worked efficiently, and answered all of my questions…
thomas rickard · October 2026 · Google

★★★★★Water heater
I had the best experience with this company. From the free estimate to everything in between. I have my beautiful new water heater and more room under my sink when he took…
Patti Send · October 2026 · Google

★★★★★Water heater
I had a great experience with Home Therapist Cooling, Heating, and Plumbing. We were getting our house ready to sell and the home inspection identified several plumbing issues that needed to be…
Manny Velasquez · August 2026 · Google

★★★★★AC install
I was in need of air conditioning for my detached garage. My AI search for the most trustworthy mini-split AC installer led me to Home Therapist; my expectations were exceeded. Scheduling a…
Ricardo Gonzalez, M.D. · July 2026 · Google

★★★★★AC install
Excellent service from Richard! He was professional, courteous, and very knowledgeable. He fixed my A/C problem quickly and explained everything clearly. I highly recommend Richard for anyone needing A/C service. had a…
mohammed suleiman · July 2026 · Google

★★★★★AC repair
I had a great experience with Home Therapist AC Repair. Alejandro arrived on time to diagnose why my AC wasn't cooling and quickly found the problem that the previous company had missed.…
AK · June 2026 · Google

Latest review: October 2026 · auto-refreshed daily

Call (813) 343-2212 Read all 927 on Google

The brands and materials we recommend

Our guides compare many brands. These are the ones we recommend first when we install, and we install and service every brand.

Air conditioners and heat pumpsGoodman for our Value and Premium systems and Daikin for Elite. Goodman and Daikin use R-32 refrigerant. See Goodman vs Daikin.
Water heatersRheem tank, hybrid and tankless water heaters. See tank vs tankless.
Water softenersRheem, Halo, North Star and Safety Zone, and we install softeners customers buy themselves. See Rheem vs Halo.
RepipingUponor PEX-A is our preferred pipe, with CPVC or copper when you ask or when it fits the job better. See PEX-A vs PEX-B.
EfficiencyThe minimum for most new split ACs in Florida is 14.3 SEER2. See SEER2 explained.
RebatesThe federal 25C tax credit ended for equipment installed after 2025. Utility rebates may still apply. See 2026 rebates.

Reading up before a repair or a new system?

Call or text, day or night, and a licensed tech will answer your question. Estimates and diagnosis are FREE, and you approve a written quote before any work begins.

Call (813) 343-2212 Text us

Need a fix or a price instead?

Our guides help you decide. These pages help when something is broken or you want a number.

Common problemsCauses, what you can check, and when to call. PricesWhat repairs and new systems cost in Tampa Bay. Air conditioningAC repair, tune-ups and new systems. HeatingHeat pumps and furnaces. PlumbingLeaks, drains, water heaters and more. Ductwork and air qualityDucts, dehumidifiers and UV lights. SpecialsCurrent offers and discounts. FinancingWays to pay over time.

Questions homeowners ask before they buy

Which AC brand do you recommend for a Tampa home?

Our preferred install brands are Goodman for our Value and Premium systems and Daikin for Elite. Goodman and Daikin use R-32 refrigerant. We install and service every brand, so if you want a different one we can install it too.

Should I get a tank or tankless water heater?

It depends on your hot water use, your gas or electric service and your budget. Installed Rheem tank water heaters start at $1,518 for electric and $1,845 for gas, Rheem (Premium) gas tankless units run $2,938 to $4,066, and Navien (Elite) gas tankless units run $3,660 to $4,660. Tankless units are more sensitive to hard water, so we recommend a softener with one.

Is Tampa water hard?

Yes. City of Tampa water averaged about 10.8 grains per gallon of hardness in 2024, which is very hard. Other utilities and private wells test differently, so we test the water at your tap.

Are there rebates or tax credits for a new AC or water heater in 2026?

The federal 25C tax credit ended for equipment installed after December 31, 2025. Utility rebates from TECO, Duke Energy, Peoples Gas and FPL may still apply, and Florida’s HEAR rebate program is not open yet. Our 2026 rebates guide lists the current programs.

Does Florida require 1.28 gallon per flush toilets?

No. The Florida plumbing code allows up to 1.6 gallons per flush. A 1.28 gallon toilet meets the WaterSense level and uses less water, and Tampa Bay Water Wise pays rebates on WaterSense toilets for many local water customers.

Can I talk to a tech before I decide?

Yes. Call or text (813) 343-2212, day or night. Estimates and diagnosis are FREE, and you approve a written quote before any work begins.

Ready for a FREE estimate from a licensed tech?

Open 24 hours, 7 days a week. The diagnosis and the estimate are FREE, and you approve the price before any work starts.

Call (813) 343-2212 Book a FREE estimate online Text us

Hablamos español. Llámenos o envíenos un texto al (813) 343-2212.

All HVAC and Plumbing Guides

Browse our complete library of 74 guides for Tampa Bay homeowners. Every topic includes real local pricing and FREE estimates.