20+ Years
Serving KC Metro
Plumbing, Heating, AC
Service & Repair
Merriam, KS
Family, Women & Veteran Owned • Serving Johnson County Since 2003
We Exceed Expectations
Full Nelson has served Johnson County families since 2003, and Merriam sits between both of our offices. This compact city holds 11,098 residents and 5,297 housing units inside 4.32 square miles, bordered by Overland Park to the east and south, Shawnee to the west and Kansas City to the north.
Merriam incorporated as a third-class city on 23 October 1950 and reached second-class status on 18 January 1957. It takes its name from Charles Merriam, once secretary and treasurer of the Kansas City, Fort Scott and Gulf railroad that ran through the area. That 1950s incorporation date tells you most of what you need to know about the housing: it is postwar stock, now roughly seventy years old, with the systems to match. Learn more about us.
- Family, Women & Veteran Owned
- Licensed & Insured Technicians
- Serving the Area Since 2003
Expert Plumbers
Plumbing Services in Merriam, KS
Merriam homes built in the 1950s carry galvanized steel supply lines that corrode from the inside and steadily reduce water pressure, cast iron drain stacks that scale and crack at the hubs, and original sewer laterals in clay tile or cast iron now well past the service life they were built for. Because the city built out over a short period, the same failures show up house after house along a street. Full Nelson’s licensed plumbers diagnose based on what the era actually used.
Licensed & Insured
All work guaranteed
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Drain Cleaning
Turkey Creek runs through Merriam on a path roughly parallel to Interstate 35, and the low ground along that corridor is where drainage problems concentrate. Homes near the creek can see the storm system surcharge during heavy rain, which pushes water back toward floor drains rather than away from them. A floor drain that backs up during a downpour and nowhere else is telling you something different than one that backs up on a dry Tuesday. Full Nelson provides drain cleaning services and identifies which situation you are actually in.
For more serious issues, we offer:
- Drain cleaning
- Rooter services
- Clogged sinks
- Showers
- Floor drains
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Sewer Repair and Replacement
Sewer laterals installed when Merriam built out in the early 1950s are now around seventy years old. Clay tile joints open as ground shifts, and mature trees planted when the subdivisions were new have had decades to find them. Full Nelson uses video camera inspection to see the actual condition of the line, shows you the footage, and explains your sewer repair options before quoting any 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
Flood risk is a real and documented factor in Merriam, not a hypothetical. The October 1998 Turkey Creek flood caused roughly $12 million in damage in 1998 dollars, and the basin saw another significant event in July 2025 that was characterized as a 25-year rainfall. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has designed a flood risk management project for the corridor, including a concrete floodwall, an earthen levee and an 11-acre detention basin, though the city has not yet approved a path forward and any construction would be years out.
For homeowners along and near the corridor, that means the basement equipment you have now is what you are relying on. Full Nelson installs sump pumps and battery backup systems sized for the volume this ground actually produces, and battery backup matters more here than almost anywhere in the county, because the storms that fill a basement are the same storms that take the power out.
Our services include:
- Sump pumps
- Battery backup systems
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Gas Leaks and Gas Repairs
Natural gas heats nearly every Merriam home and feeds water heaters, ranges, dryers and grills. Homes from the 1950s often still carry original black iron gas piping, and threaded joints loosen as houses settle over seventy years. In a home that has taken on water in the basement, gas appliances and their connections deserve inspection afterward. If you smell the rotten egg odor of natural gas, hear hissing near an appliance, or see grass dying in a line across the yard, 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 indicate a drain line or vent problem rather than a fixture problem, and in 1950s homes that have been remodeled since, the drain may have been rerouted without correcting slope or venting. Full Nelson diagnoses the actual cause 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 original 1950s bathrooms the valve body is often from a manufacturer that stopped supplying parts decades ago. Full Nelson can tell you quickly whether a valve is serviceable or needs replacing, 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
Merriam receives municipal water from WaterOne, which serves most of Johnson County and softens at the treatment plant before distribution. WaterOne water runs roughly 83 parts per million, about 4.8 grains per gallon, which is moderately hard and considerably softer than several neighboring systems. Chlorine taste and sediment picked up in distribution still reach the tap. Full Nelson tests your water and recommends filtration based on measured results rather than assumptions.
Our services include:
- Whole-home water filtration systems
- Water quality assessment
- Filtration solutions
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Water Softeners
At 4.8 grains per gallon, Merriam water still leaves scale in water heaters and spotting on glass, though more slowly than in cities on harder supply. Whether a softener earns its cost here depends on household size, water usage and what equipment you are protecting. Full Nelson measures hardness at your tap and gives you a straight answer rather than selling a softener into every house.
Our services include:
- Water softeners
- Water softener installation
- Water softener service
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Well Pumps and Well Tanks
A small number of properties around the edges of Johnson County still draw from private wells. When a submersible pump fails or a pressure tank bladder ruptures, the house loses water entirely. Full Nelson diagnoses well system problems 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 Merriam, KS
Merriam is a compact city with mature landscaping and a lot of infrastructure packed into 4.32 square miles, including roughly three miles of Interstate 35 and Shawnee Mission Parkway crossing east to west. Working underground here means working carefully around what is already there. Full Nelson provides excavation services and recommends trenchless methods wherever the site allows.
Licensed & Insured
All work guaranteed
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Water Main Line Repair and Replacement
The water service line from the meter to the house carries every gallon the household uses. Lines installed in the 1950s corrode, and roots from seventy-year-old trees press against them. Warning signs include 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
Clay tile and cast iron sewer lines from the early 1950s are past the 50 to 70 year window they were built to serve. When camera inspection shows damage beyond what spot repairs can handle, full replacement is the practical answer. Full Nelson handles sewer line excavation and installs modern materials rated for decades of service.
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 municipal sewer service rely on septic tanks to treat household wastewater. Slow drains throughout the house, gurgling in the pipes, sewage odor outdoors or 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. When distribution lines clog with biomat, crush under vehicle traffic or fail from age, wastewater surfaces in the yard or backs up into the house. Full Nelson evaluates lateral field damage and performs repair or 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 Merriam’s compact lots, a traditional sewer trench frequently takes out most of a front yard along with mature trees and driveway. Trenchless methods confine excavation to access pits at each end of the damaged run. Full Nelson evaluates whether trenchless work is viable for your property and explains the tradeoffs honestly.
Our services include:
- Trenchless sewer repair
- Trenchless sewer replacement
- Pipe bursting
- Pipe lining
- Installing new pipes
Fast & Reliable
Water Heater Services Merriam, KS
Water heaters in Merriam are usually in the basement, which in the Turkey Creek corridor means they sit in the space most exposed to water intrusion. A tank that has stood in even a few inches of water needs its burner assembly, controls and venting inspected before it goes back into normal service. Full Nelson provides water heater repair and installation for all system types, and where flooding is a known risk we can discuss elevating the installation.
Gas Water Heater Repair and Replacement
Gas water heaters heat faster and cost less to run than electric models in most Merriam homes. Pilot assemblies that will not stay lit, failed thermocouples and sediment that causes rumbling are the common failures. Full Nelson services all major brands and installs replacement gas units sized to actual household demand.
Same Day
Service Available
Electric Water Heater Repair and Replacement
Electric water heaters serve homes where extending gas is impractical, including converted spaces and additions. Heating elements burn out, thermostats drift and tank interiors corrode until they leak. Full Nelson diagnoses the fault and tells you whether repair or replacement is the better use of your money.
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 mount on the wall rather than standing on the floor. That wall mounting is worth considering in a basement with a flooding history. Full Nelson services tankless systems from all manufacturers and installs new units.
Hybrid Water Heater Repair and Replacement
Hybrid water heaters pull heat from surrounding air and move it into the tank, using far less electricity than resistance elements. They work best in spaces that stay above 40 degrees year-round with adequate air volume, which describes most Merriam basements. Full Nelson installs and services hybrid systems.
Stay Comfortable Year-Round
Heating Services
Merriam, KS
Kansas winters bring ice storms and extended cold snaps that push heating equipment hard. 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 almost every Merriam home, and in most cases they sit in the basement alongside the water heater. Common faults include ignition system failures, blower motor burnout and cracked heat exchangers that allow combustion gases into living space. Full Nelson provides furnace repair for all makes and models and sizes replacement equipment to the house rather than to the old unit’s nameplate.
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 and deliver heating and cooling from one outdoor unit. Cold-climate models hold efficiency well below freezing, which makes them a practical option in this climate. Full Nelson provides heat pump service for all brands and installs systems specified for our regional conditions.
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, and indoor humidity below 30 percent causes static shocks, dry skin and irritated sinuses while opening joints in wood floors and trim. 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
Merriam, KS
Johnson County summers run into the 90s with humidity that makes it feel hotter. Full Nelson provides air conditioning services throughout Merriam and the surrounding communities.
Stay Comfortable Year-Round
HVAC expertise in Kansas City
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Air Conditioning Repair, Replacement, and Maintenance
An air conditioner that runs constantly without cooling wastes electricity and wears out components early. Refrigerant leaks cut capacity, dirty coils block heat transfer, and failing capacitors force compressors to work against themselves. Full Nelson technicians diagnose the actual fault 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
Merriam’s 1950s homes were built before central air, and the ductwork added later rarely delivers enough air to second floors and additions. Mini splits condition those spaces without opening walls, and they work well for finished attics, sunrooms, home offices and detached garages.
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Filters, Dehumidifiers, UV Lights, and Indoor Air Quality
Basements near the Turkey Creek corridor hold moisture, and that moisture moves upward through the house all summer. Whole-home dehumidifiers control it far more effectively than running the air conditioner harder, and in a basement that has taken on water at any point, controlling humidity is what keeps mold from establishing. Combined with upgraded filtration and UV treatment, the difference is measurable.
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Duct Services
Ductwork retrofitted into 1950s homes leaks at seams that were never sealed to current standards, and much of it runs through unconditioned basements. Full Nelson provides duct cleaning and duct sealing.
- Power When You Need It
Generator Installation
Merriam, KS
The storms that matter most in Merriam do two things at once: they drop enough rain to test the Turkey Creek basin and they knock out power. A sump pump without power is a sump pump that does nothing. A standby generator starts automatically within seconds of an outage and keeps the sump pump, refrigerator, HVAC system and lights running until utility crews restore service.
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 natural gas connection.
For Local Businesses
Commercial Heating & Air Conditioning
Merriam, KS
Merriam carries far more commercial activity than its residential population would suggest, because Interstate 35 and Shawnee Mission Parkway cross here. Seaboard Corporation is headquartered in the city, and the IKEA store that opened in 2015 at Johnson Drive and I-35 brought several hundred jobs with it. Retail along the interstate frontage, restaurants, and the auto dealerships on Shawnee Mission Parkway all need climate control and refrigeration that hold through the business day. Full Nelson provides commercial HVAC services and commercial plumbing.
Commercial HVAC
Installation, Repair & Maintenance
Walk-In Coolers
Service and Repair
Freezers
Commercial Freezer Service
Refrigeration
Maintenance Programs
24/7 Emergency Service
Merriam, KS
Water in a basement does not wait for business hours, and neither does a furnace that quits during an ice storm.
Full Nelson provides true 24/7 emergency service. When you call, a real person answers and dispatches a technician to your Merriam home. We respond day or night, weekends and holidays included.
The Full Nelson Difference
Why Merriam 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 in your home 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 Merriam, 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 Merriam
Full Nelson also serves Overland Park, Shawnee, Lenexa, Leawood and Kansas City, KS. See all service areas.