Repairs
Plumbing Help from San Francisco to San Jose
Plumbing help is billed by the hour for fixture-level work, and most repairs take about an hour. We replace faucets and showerheads, fixes running and leaking toilets, clears slow sink and tub drains, and swaps supply lines and shutoff valves in homes from San Francisco to San Jose.
- Minimum
- 1 hour
- Typical single job
- 0.5–1 hour
- Bay Area typical price
- $180–450
- Hours
- Mon–Sun 8–8
What's included
- Kitchen and bathroom faucet replacement
- Showerheads, handheld sprayers, and tub spouts
- Toilet fill valves, flappers, wax rings, and toilet replacement
- Slow sink, tub, and shower drains cleared
- Supply lines and under-sink shutoff valves
- Garbage disposal replacement
What's referred out
- Main sewer line, drain camera, and hydro-jetting (plumber)
- Water heater replacement
- Repiping or anything behind the wall
If a job turns out to need a licensed trade or a permit, you'll hear that at the door — not after the hour has started.
Typical jobs and time
Time ranges are what these jobs usually take; you're billed for the actual hours worked, and the price is confirmed before work starts. See pricing.
| Job | Typical time |
|---|---|
| Fix a running toilet | 0.5–1 hour |
| Replace a bathroom faucet | 1 hour |
| Replace a kitchen faucet with sprayer | 1–1.5 hours |
| Clear a slow bathroom sink drain | 0.5–1 hour |
How it goes
Isolate the water
Shutoffs are checked and tested; corroded shutoffs are replaced first so the job doesn't turn into an emergency.
Remove and inspect
The old fixture or part comes out and the connections, seals, and drain are inspected.
Install and seal
New parts go in with fresh supply lines, thread sealant, and proper torque.
Test under pressure
Water is restored, connections are checked for drips, and drains are run to confirm flow.
Plumbing Help in Bay Area homes
Older homes across San Francisco, Daly City, and the mid-Peninsula often have galvanized supply lines and original shutoff valves that don't fully close. Those valves are replaced before starting a faucet job so the water can actually be turned off.
Hard water in the South Bay — San Jose, Santa Clara, Sunnyvale — scales up showerheads, faucet aerators, and toilet fill valves. Descaling or replacing those parts restores flow and stops the running-toilet cycle.
Related services
Plumbing Help: questions people ask
Can a handyman do plumbing in California?
Fixture-level work — faucets, toilets, drains, supply lines — that doesn't require a permit. Sewer lines, water heaters, and repiping go to a licensed plumber.
How much does it cost to replace a faucet?
About an hour at the hourly rate plus the faucet you've chosen. Kitchen faucets with sprayers run a bit longer.
Why does my toilet keep running?
Usually a worn flapper or a fill valve that isn't shutting off. Both are replaced in under an hour.
Can you unclog my drain?
Slow sink, tub, and shower drains are cleared with a hand auger or by cleaning the trap. Main line and repeated backups need a plumber.
Do you replace garbage disposals?
Yes, like-for-like replacement on the existing plumbing and outlet.
Plumbing Help across the corridor
Available in all 14 cities. City pages cover the local housing and what comes up most there.
Request a quote for plumbing help
Reply within 24 hours. Same-day requests are fastest by phone: (628) 277-4131.