20+ Years
Serving Johnson County
Plumbing, Heating & AC
Service & Repair
De Soto, KS
Family, Women & Veteran Owned • Serving Johnson County Since 2003
We Exceed Expectations
Full Nelson has served Johnson County families since 2003. De Soto is unlike anywhere else we work in this county, and the reason is underground.
Most of Johnson County buys treated water from WaterOne. De Soto does not. The city runs its own water utility and its own sewer utility, which makes it the only city in the county operating both. It covers 11.15 square miles across Johnson and Leavenworth counties, with 6,118 residents at the 2020 census, and it is the only city in the county originally platted around the river. Learn more about our company.
- Family, Women & Veteran Owned
- Licensed & Insured Technicians
- Serving the Area Since 2003
Expert Plumbers
Plumbing Services in De Soto, KS
De Soto was founded in 1857 and laid out along the Kansas River, taking its name from Hernando de Soto. The town company formed on 3 October 1857 and the city incorporated on 1 October 1897. For most of its first century it stayed small, with 383 residents as late as 1940. Then came the war. The Sunflower Ordnance Works was built in 1942, and the city went from about 400 people to 1,000 in under a year. Sunflower Village went up in 1943 with 853 dwellings, followed by another 580 units, and even that was not enough. Residents rented out spare rooms, garages and chicken coops to house the workforce.
That history explains what our technicians find behind the walls. De Soto has a small nineteenth-century core, a large block of housing built fast under wartime pressure in the early 1940s, and now a third wave arriving with Panasonic. Three eras, three sets of materials, three sets of failure patterns. Full Nelson’s licensed plumbers read the house rather than the street.
Licensed & Insured
All work guaranteed
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Drain Cleaning
Wartime housing was built to a schedule rather than to a standard, and drain lines installed under that kind of pressure were not always laid to ideal slope. Homes from the older core have cast iron and clay that has scaled and cracked over a century. Newer subdivisions south of K-10 have modern pipe in ground that is still settling. Full Nelson provides drain cleaning services and identifies which of the three situations you are in before recommending anything.
For more serious issues, we offer:
- Drain cleaning
- Rooter services
- Clogged sinks
- Showers
- Floor drains
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Sewer Repair and Replacement
De Soto operates its own sewer collection system and treatment plant, processing roughly 550,000 gallons of sewage per day. Laterals running from your house to that system range from century-old clay tile in the original town to plastic laid last decade. Camera inspection is the only way to know which you have and what condition it is in. Full Nelson runs the camera, shows you the footage, and explains your sewer repair options before quoting work.
Our services include:
- Sewer line repair and installation
- Sewer video inspection
- Trenchless excavation using pipe bursting technology
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Sump Pumps and Battery Backup Systems
De Soto sits on the south bank of the Kansas River with four tributaries running through the city limits: Captain Creek, Kill Creek, Cedar Creek and Camp Creek. That is more moving water inside one city than anywhere else we serve in Johnson County.
The river itself has a record here. During the Great Flood of 1951 the Kansas River crested at De Soto at 42.3 feet, the highest reading recorded anywhere along that river during the flood. Full Nelson installs sump pumps and battery backup systems sized for ground that genuinely produces water, with battery backup so the pump keeps running when the storm takes the power out.
Our services include:
- Sump pumps
- Battery backup systems
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Gas Leaks and Gas Repairs
Natural gas heats most De Soto homes and feeds water heaters, ranges, dryers and outdoor grills. Housing from the wartime period often carries original black iron gas piping, and threaded joints work loose as houses settle over eighty years. Properties on acreage outside the gas service area run propane instead. If you smell the rotten egg odor of natural gas, hear hissing near an appliance, or see vegetation dying over a buried line, call immediately. Full Nelson locates the leak, repairs it, and pressure tests the system.
Our services include:
- Gas leak detection
- Gas leak repair
- Gas line testing
- Gas line installation
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Toilet Repairs and Replacements
A running toilet adds hundreds of gallons to the monthly bill. Repeated clogs usually point to the drain line or vent rather than the fixture, and in wartime-era housing that has been remodeled since, a drain rerouted without correcting slope or venting is a common cause. Full Nelson diagnoses the actual fault and completes repairs that address it.
Our services include:
- Toilet repairs & replacements
- Flapper replacements
- Toilet rebuilds
- Water-efficient toilets
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Faucets and Shower Valves
Shower valves that will not hold a steady temperature have worn cartridges, and in an original 1940s bathroom the valve body may be from a manufacturer that stopped supplying parts decades ago. Full Nelson can tell you quickly whether a valve is serviceable, and we handle faucet and shower valve work throughout the house.
Our services include:
- Kitchen faucets
- Bathroom faucets
- Shower valves
- Tub fixtures
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Water Filtration
This is where De Soto separates from the rest of Johnson County. Your neighbors in Overland Park, Prairie Village and Merriam drink treated river water from WaterOne. De Soto residents do not.
The De Soto Water Department runs its own system on groundwater, serving roughly 2,500 customers through about 1,950 service connections at around one million gallons a day. The treatment facility sits at Astra Enterprise Park, and the permanent production wells are the former Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant wells. The city’s older wells are held in reserve for emergencies.
Groundwater and treated river water are different products at the tap, and what a filtration system should target differs accordingly. Full Nelson tests your water and recommends filtration based on what your supply actually contains rather than on a county-wide assumption that does not apply here.
Our services include:
- Whole-home water filtration systems
- Water quality assessment
- Filtration solutions
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Water Softeners
Because De Soto is on its own groundwater system rather than WaterOne, the hardness reaching your tap is not the WaterOne figure, and sizing a softener to the wrong number wastes salt and money. Full Nelson measures hardness at your address and sizes a softener to your household, your usage and your actual water.
Our services include:
- Water softeners
- Water softener installation
- Water softener service
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Well Pumps and Well Tanks
The city has noted that cost kept water and sewer from reaching much of the area south of K-10 until recently, and properties beyond the mains draw from private wells. When a submersible pump fails or a pressure tank bladder ruptures, the property loses water entirely. Full Nelson diagnoses well system faults and replaces pumps, pressure tanks, pressure switches and related components.
Our services include:
- Well pumps & Well tanks
- Low water pressure issues
- Short cycling
- Pump failure
Expert Plumbers
Excavation Services De Soto, KS
At 11.15 square miles with a small population, De Soto has long buried runs between the main and the house, four creeks crossing the city, and infrastructure being extended rapidly south of K-10. Full Nelson provides excavation services and recommends trenchless methods where site conditions allow.
Licensed & Insured
All work guaranteed
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Water Main Line Repair and Replacement
The water service line from your meter to the house carries every gallon the household uses. Corrosion, root intrusion and ground movement damage it over decades, and on a larger De Soto lot that run covers real distance. Watch for a wet patch that never dries, pressure that dropped throughout the house, or a bill that rose without a change in habits. Full Nelson locates the fault and completes water main line repair or replacement.
We offer:
- Water main line repair
- Water main line replacement
- Restoring water service
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Sewer Line Repair and Replacement
When camera inspection shows collapsed sections, root masses or a belly holding standing water, spot repairs stop being economical. Full Nelson handles sewer line excavation and corrects the bedding underneath rather than laying new pipe into the conditions that failed the old one.
Our services include:
- Sewer line repair
- Sewer line replacement
- Video inspection
- Recommending a solution
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Septic Tank Repair and Replacement
Properties outside the city sewer system rely on septic tanks to treat household wastewater. Slow drains throughout the house, gurgling in the pipes, sewage odor in the yard and saturated ground over the tank all indicate a system needing attention. Full Nelson inspects septic systems and completes the repairs needed to restore function.
Our services include:
- Septic tank repair
- Septic tank replacement
- System inspection
- Identifying issues
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Septic Lateral Field Repair and Replacement
The lateral field disperses treated effluent into surrounding soil for final filtration, and it depends on that soil accepting water at a workable rate. On ground near the river and its four tributaries, seasonal groundwater rises and reduces that capacity, which is why fields that worked for years can start surfacing after a wet spring. Full Nelson evaluates lateral field damage and performs repair or complete replacement.
Our services include:
- Septic lateral field repair
- Septic lateral field replacement
- System assessment
- Restoring proper drainage
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Trenchless Sewer Repair and Replacement
On a long rural run, the length of the trench is the cost. Trenchless methods limit excavation to access pits at each end of the damaged section, which matters more the further the line has to travel. Full Nelson evaluates whether trenchless work is viable on your property and explains where it is not.
Our services include:
- Trenchless sewer repair
- Trenchless sewer replacement
- Pipe bursting
- Pipe lining
- Installing new pipes
Fast & Reliable
Water Heater Services De Soto, KS
Wartime housing was built with utility spaces sized for 1940s equipment, and modern water heaters are taller with different venting requirements. That turns an apparent straight swap into a job that needs planning. Full Nelson provides water heater repair and installation for all system types and prices the work honestly, including whatever the venting actually requires.
Gas Water Heater Repair and Replacement
Gas water heaters heat faster and cost less to operate than electric models. Pilot assemblies that will not stay lit, failed thermocouples and sediment that causes rumbling are the common failures, and sediment builds faster on groundwater carrying more mineral content. Full Nelson services all major brands and installs replacement gas units sized to your household’s actual demand.
Same Day
Service Available
Electric Water Heater Repair and Replacement
Electric water heaters serve homes where natural gas is unavailable, which includes acreage beyond the gas service area. Heating elements burn out, thermostats fail, and tank interiors corrode until they leak. Full Nelson diagnoses the fault and advises whether repair or replacement is the better decision.
Tankless Water Heater Repair and Replacement
Tankless units heat on demand, remove the standby loss of keeping forty or fifty gallons hot around the clock, and recover floor space in a tight 1940s utility area. On groundwater, heat exchangers need descaling on a schedule set by your water rather than a generic interval. Full Nelson services tankless systems from all manufacturers and installs new units.
Hybrid Water Heater Repair and Replacement
Hybrid water heaters use heat pump technology to pull warmth from surrounding air rather than generating it electrically, using far less energy than resistance elements. They need a space that stays above 40 degrees year-round with adequate air volume. Full Nelson installs and services hybrid systems and will say plainly when a utility space is too tight.
Stay Comfortable Year-Round
Heating Services
De Soto, KS
Kansas winters bring ice storms and extended cold snaps, and De Soto sits in the river valley on the western edge of the county where exposure differs from the sheltered inner suburbs. Full Nelson acquired a 25-year Kansas City HVAC company in 2019, adding decades of heating experience to our plumbing foundation.
Stay Comfortable Year-Round
HVAC expertise in Kansas City
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Furnace Repair, Installation, and Maintenance
Gas furnaces heat most De Soto homes, though properties beyond the gas service area run propane or electric heat. Wartime-era houses have had their furnaces replaced several times over, but the ductwork behind them is frequently original and was never generous to begin with. Full Nelson provides furnace repair for all makes and models and looks at the distribution system rather than only the furnace when replacement comes up.
Our services include:
- Furnace repair & replacement
- Furnace installation
- Furnace maintenance
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Heat Pump Repair, Installation, and Maintenance
Heat pumps move heat rather than generating it, delivering heating and cooling from one outdoor unit, and cold-climate models hold efficiency well below freezing. On properties without natural gas service they replace electric resistance heat at a fraction of the running cost. Full Nelson provides heat pump service for all brands.
Our services include:
- Heat pump repair and replacement
- Heat pump installation
- Heat pump service
- Heating system maintenance
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Filters, Humidifiers, UV Lights, and Indoor Air Quality
Heated winter air loses moisture rapidly, dropping indoor humidity to levels that cause static shocks, dry skin, irritated sinuses and damage to wood floors and cabinetry. Full Nelson installs whole-home humidifiers, high-efficiency filters and UV light systems in ductwork.
Our services include:
- Improving indoor air quality
- High-efficiency filters
- Humidifiers
- UV lights
- UV light installation in ductwork
Breathe Easier
Air Conditioning Services
De Soto, KS
Kansas summers run into the 90s with humidity that makes it feel hotter, and the river valley adds moisture on top. Full Nelson provides air conditioning services throughout De Soto and western Johnson County.
Stay Comfortable Year-Round
HVAC expertise in Kansas City
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Air Conditioning Repair, Replacement, and Maintenance
Refrigerant leaks cut capacity, dirty coils block heat transfer, and failing capacitors force compressors to work against themselves. Outdoor units on larger De Soto lots take in more grass clippings, cottonwood seed and field dust than units in a tight suburban yard, and a matted coil turns a maintenance item into a compressor failure. Full Nelson technicians diagnose accurately and complete AC repairs that restore cooling.
Our services include:
- Air Conditioning Repair & Replacement
- Air Conditioning Installation & Maintenance
- Refrigerant leaks
- Compressor problems
- Electrical failures
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Mini Split Repair, Replacement, and Installation
Wartime housing was built before central air, and additions made to those homes since are frequently on the end of ductwork that never reached them properly. Larger De Soto properties also carry detached garages, shops and outbuildings that are on no system at all. Mini splits handle both without reworking the main system.
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Filters, Dehumidifiers, UV Lights, and Indoor Air Quality
River valley humidity settles into basements and lower levels and moves upward through the house all summer. Whole-home dehumidifiers control it more effectively than running the air conditioner harder. Combined with upgraded filtration and UV treatment, the difference is measurable, and on property where dust load is higher, filtration earns its cost quickly.
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Duct Services
Ductwork retrofitted into wartime housing leaks at seams that were never sealed to current standards, and much of it runs through unconditioned basements and crawl spaces. Full Nelson provides duct cleaning and duct sealing.
- Power When You Need It
Generator Installation
De Soto, KS
De Soto sits at the western edge of Johnson County where feeder lines run across open country and along the river valley. Ice storms and straight-line winds bring them down, and restoration at the edge of a service territory takes longer than in the core. Properties on private wells lose water entirely during an outage, because the well pump needs power. A standby generator starts automatically within seconds and keeps the well pump, sump pump, refrigerator, HVAC system and lights running.
Whole-Home Standby Generators
- Whole-Home Standby Generators
- Automatic startup during power outages
- Keeps lights, HVAC, and appliances running
- Protects against storm-related outages
Full Nelson sizes generators to your home’s actual electrical load and handles the complete installation, including the automatic transfer switch and fuel connection.
For Local Businesses
Commercial Heating & Air Conditioning
De Soto, KS
De Soto’s commercial profile is changing faster than any city in the county. Panasonic Energy announced a $4 billion electric vehicle battery plant with 4,000 jobs at Astra Enterprise Park, the redevelopment of the 9,080-acre Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant site that operated from 1942 to 1993. The Kansas Department of Commerce described it as the largest single private investment in Kansas and Kansas City history, and the city projects $2.5 billion in annual economic activity.
Growth of that scale brings suppliers, contractors, restaurants, retail and housing services with it, all of which need climate control and refrigeration that hold through a working day. Full Nelson provides commercial HVAC services and commercial plumbing, including scheduled maintenance programs.
Commercial HVAC
Installation, Repair & Maintenance
Walk-In Coolers
Service and Repair
Freezers
Commercial Freezer Service
Refrigeration
Maintenance Programs
24/7 Emergency Service
De Soto, KS
Plumbing failures and HVAC breakdowns do not wait for business hours. A burst pipe at 3 AM or a furnace that quits during a winter storm needs attention immediately.
Full Nelson provides true 24/7 emergency service. When you call, a real person answers and dispatches a technician to your De Soto home. We respond day or night, weekends and holidays included.
The Full Nelson Difference
Why De Soto Homeowners Choose Full Nelson
Nearly 10,000 customers across the Kansas City metro use Full Nelson for plumbing and HVAC work.
Straightforward Communication
Our technicians explain what they find and present options without sales pressure. You understand what a repair involves and what it costs before we begin. No surprises when the invoice arrives.
Trained, Certified Technicians
Every team member receives ongoing training on current equipment and techniques. The technician on your site has the skills to complete the work correctly the first time.
True Local Ownership
Shawn and Heather started Full Nelson in 2003 and still own it today. We answer to our neighbors, not a corporate office in another state.
We Stand Behind Our Work
Full Nelson guarantees every job. If something is not right, we come back and make it right.
Save More Every Year
Total Home Care Club
Join our Total Home Care Club for scheduled maintenance and member benefits. Regular service keeps systems running efficiently, catches problems before they become emergencies, and extends equipment life.
Member Benefits
- 10% member rate discount
- 24/7 guaranteed service
- Plumbing & drain checkups
- Priority scheduling
- Seasonal Maintenance
- Promotional Discounts
Regular maintenance = fewer breakdowns + lower energy bills
Schedule A Service in De Soto, KS
Ready to schedule plumbing, heating or air conditioning service? Contact Full Nelson today.
Leawood Office
4901 W. 136th Street
Leawood, KS 66224
Kansas City Office
8525 Parallel Parkway
Kansas City, KS 66112
We offer financing options to help manage larger repairs and installations. Ask about current specials and coupons when you call.
Johnson County & Beyond
Service Areas Near De Soto
Full Nelson also serves Olathe, Lenexa, Shawnee and Overland Park. See all service areas.