FastPlumber near me

The 15 24/7 plumbers serving San Rafael

These 15 plumbers list 24/7 hours on their Google profiles — a claim they publish, not something we tested. We read 1,386 of their reviews for what actually happens after hours: where reviewers describe a real 2 a.m. call, that evidence is quoted below; where no review mentions after-hours response either way, the card says that too. Rankings are not for sale.

Updated Jul 11, 202620-mile radius of downtown San RafaelHow we rank
How we rank — the 60-second version

What we read: for each plumber, up to 100 recent reviews from Google, Yelp and BBB — the full text, not just the stars. For this page: 1,386 reviews across 15 businesses.

What moves a plumber up: repeated, independent evidence of showing up when promised, fair and upfront pricing, and work that holds. One glowing review counts for little; twenty that agree count for a lot.

What moves a plumber down: repeated complaint patterns — surprise fees, missed appointments, pressure sales — especially when they show up on more than one platform.

What never moves the ranking: money. One clearly labeled sponsored slot may appear above this list; it never changes the order below it.

Our take on each plumber is our opinion, grounded in the reviews we quote on this page. Full methodology ↓

Before you call anyone: shut off your main water valve. Then start at the top — every card is one tap to call. Not urgent? See all ranked plumbers in San Rafael →

Our top picks

Consistent evidence of showing up, honest pricing, and work that lasts
1

Big Smile Plumbing

Top pick24/7 per Google listing
5.0 (99 Google reviews) 19.3 mi from downtown San Rafael

Lists 24-hour service on its Google profile — and reviewers describe after-hours calls.

Our take — how we form it

Owner Rolando draws 89 of 90 reviews at 5 stars; fast_response cited 11x and weekend/emergency work confirmed, with sewer-lateral bids beating 3 competitors.

Rating mix — of the 15 reviews we analyzed99 total on Google
5★15
4★0
3★0
2★0
1★0

What reviewers keep saying

  • Rolando arrives fast and works same-visit — one caller got a quote and finished faucet job within an hour at 6pm (cited in 2 of 90 reviews)
  • Pricing beats competitors — sewer-lateral bid was significantly lower than three other bids; reasonable water-heater markup cited (cited in 3 of 90 reviews)
  • Weekend emergency capability confirmed — replaced a cast-iron pipe and patched walls over a Saturday-to-Sunday window (cited in 1 of 90 reviews)

What reviewers complain about

  • No repeated complaints found in the reviews we've read.
What reviewers praise
“Rolando was so sweet and amazing, and came to access the situation quickly. He was very understanding and helpful. He gave us tips on how to prevent any future cloggings as well! He was fast but the quality was amazing.”
abby b · ★★★★★ · Google · Dec 2024
The most critical take we found

No critical reviews among the 15 we analyzed — there is nothing negative to quote yet.

We read 90 of 99 reviews · newest from Dec 2024

(510) 999-8855
Full report →Website ↗
2

Advanced Plumbing & Drain

Top pick24/7 per Google listing
4.9 (719 Google reviews)4.6 on Yelp (100) 12.9 mi from downtown San Rafael

Lists 24-hour service on its Google profile — and reviewers describe after-hours calls.

Our take — how we form it

4.9★ Google, 719 reviews, BBB A+ accredited; professional=46 and workmanship=16 dominate 100 analyzed reviews, but 1-star ratio of 6% and 1 no-show complaint warrant attention.

Rating mix — of the 15 reviews we analyzed719 total on Google
5★11
4★0
3★0
2★1
1★3

Why we're cautious

  • No-show on two consecutive appointments without communication — small but a repeat failure pattern per 1 reviewer. (1 of 100 reviews)
  • 1 documented no-show/reschedule failure: technician missed two scheduled appointments without contacting customer. (1 of 100 reviews)
  • 1 review cites a $1,450 quote for a gutter pipe replacement described as grossly overpriced; surprise_fees flagged once. (1 of 100 reviews)

To be fair

  • professional theme in 46 of 100 analyzed reviews — by far the top theme signal; workmanship cited in 16. (cited in 3 of 100 reviews)
  • Weekend and holiday emergency response confirmed; technician arrived on-site within 5 minutes in one case. (cited in 2 of 100 reviews)
  • Transparent pricing and communication praised across multiple reviews; upfront quotes and pre-job explanation noted. (cited in 3 of 100 reviews)
What reviewers praise
“We had an issue late Sunday afternoon with our kitchen sink. We called their service, and they arrived promptly early Monday morning. The technician was knowledgeable, courteous, and thorough. He explained the problem and showed us how to prevent future …”
Danielle ML · ★★★★★ · Google · Jan 2026
The most critical take we found
“I struggled deciding whether to write this update, and ultimately decided to do so because as a homeowner, I'd like to see honest reviews to help me when needed. I initially was very happy with the service. Brian (may he RIP) was a nice guy and fixed my …”
Evelyn C. · ★★ · Yelp · Dec 2024

We read 100 of 719 reviews · newest from Jan 2026 · BBB A+ accredited

(415) 917-1088
Full report →Website ↗
3

Genteel Plumbers

Top pick24/7 per Google listing
4.8 (407 Google reviews)4.7 on Yelp (100) 18.1 mi from downtown San Rafael

Lists 24-hour service on its Google profile — and reviewers describe after-hours calls.

Our take — how we form it

Genteel Plumbers holds a 4.8 Google rating (407 reviews); 91 of 100 analyzed are 5-star, with themeCounts.fast_response=28 and themeCounts.expensive=5 — strong same-day capability but pricing complaints appear in 5 of 100 reviews including 2 with 2-star ratings.

Rating mix — of the 15 reviews we analyzed407 total on Google
5★11
4★0
3★0
2★3
1★1

Why we're cautious

  • 2 reviewers left 2-star ratings citing overpriced estimates — one stopped using Genteel entirely after feeling 'gouged'; another quoted $10,000 for a tankless upgrade (2 of 100 reviews)
  • Pricing flagged as excessive in 5 of 100 reviews (themeCounts.expensive=5); 1 reviewer cited $3,300 water heater estimate and $10,000 tankless upgrade quote (2 of 100 reviews)

To be fair

  • Fast response cited in 28 of 100 analyzed reviews (themeCounts.fast_response=28); same-day service confirmed in 12 reviews (cited in 3 of 100 reviews)
  • Emergency main line replacement mobilized mid-job when original repair exposed a failing driveway line — crew pulled same day to finish before customer's vacation (cited in 1 of 100 reviews)
  • Technicians consistently described as communicative, wearing shoe covers, and leaving work areas clean across multiple positive quotes (themeCounts.communication=9) (cited in 2 of 100 reviews)
What reviewers praise
“Genteel Plumbers is committed to doing jobs right and to having satisfied customers. I called them to fix some plumbing issues with our clothes washer (both the hot and cold lines were coming from the hot water heater). They sorted out the problem but when …”
Colleen Howell · ★★★★★ · Google · Mar 2026
The most critical take we found
“Way overpriced. I needed earthquake valves and a water meter installed and it took a few hours, but was insanely expensive. I’ve stopped using Genteel after this experience. The work was fine, but I felt gouged enough to write this review and do more …”
Christopher Van Dyke · ★★ · Google · Feb 2026

We read 100 of 407 reviews · newest from Mar 2026

(415) 968-5558
Full report →Website ↗
4

S Waters Plumbing

Top pick24/7 per Google listing
5.0 (237 Google reviews) 6.8 mi from downtown San Rafael

Lists 24-hour service on its Google profile — and reviewers describe after-hours calls.

Our take — how we form it

S Waters Plumbing posts 5.0 across 237 Google reviews with 100% positive sentiment in 91 analyzed and zero non-5-star ratings in the sample — 20-year-customer loyalty cited.

Rating mix — of the 15 reviews we analyzed237 total on Google
5★15
4★0
3★0
2★0
1★0

What reviewers keep saying

  • Sunday-night emergency response cited — diagnosed and fixed within an hour after other plumbers were unavailable (cited in 2 of 91 reviews)
  • Transparent quoting praised as 'fair and transparent' with two-option presentations before drywall opens (cited in 2 of 91 reviews)
  • Multi-decade customer retention — one reviewer cites 20+ years, another cites 3 prior jobs on a 55-year-old home (cited in 2 of 91 reviews)

What reviewers complain about

  • No repeated complaints found in the reviews we've read.
What reviewers praise
“I have used S Waters Plumbing for over 20 years and have only good things to say about them. They are prompt, polite, efficient and timely. I highly recommend them!”
Sarah Forsman · ★★★★★ · Google · Mar 2026
The most critical take we found

No critical reviews among the 15 we analyzed — there is nothing negative to quote yet.

We read 91 of 237 reviews · newest from Mar 2026

(415) 883-7168
Full report →Website ↗
5

Pipe Spy

Top pick24/7 per Google listing
4.9 (198 Google reviews)4.3 on Yelp (100) 16.2 mi from downtown San Rafael

Lists 24-hour service on its Google profile — and reviewers describe after-hours calls.

Our take — how we form it

4.9★ on 198 Google reviews with BBB A+ accredited — sewer lateral specialist handling EBMUD compliance projects; 55 sewer mentions in 100 analyzed reviews with fast_response=19 and communication=11, but 7 reviews note above-average pricing.

Rating mix — of the 15 reviews we analyzed198 total on Google
5★8
4★1
3★0
2★1
1★5

Our sample skews heavily toward critical reviews — it disagrees with the Google average shown above.

Why we're cautious

  • 1 Yelp review (2-star) describes a failed inspection requiring the entire driveway to be re-dug with a secondary crew — finish work left "terrible" with the driveway looking "almost laughable." (1 of 100 reviews)
  • Pricing runs above market — reviewer chose them over a cheaper bid and noted it was worth it, but another confirmed "more expensive" upfront; 1 of 7 cheap-plumber mentions explicitly notes cost (themeCounts.expensive=1). (1 of 100 reviews)

To be fair

  • Sewer lateral expertise recognized across 55 of 100 analyzed reviews — team navigates EBMUD compliance paperwork, HOA coordination, and hillside trench restoration while matching original stamped concrete. (cited in 2 of 100 reviews)
  • Honest diagnosis on record — Sonny declined to resell unnecessary repiping that a prior company quoted at "huge amount of money" and fixed an overflowing sewer without the unneeded work. (cited in 1 of 100 reviews)
  • Communication and site cleanup praised in multiple reviews — team informed customers daily, restored landscaping including replanting and gravel, stayed late to keep sewer running (themeCounts.communication=11). (cited in 2 of 100 reviews)
What reviewers praise
“The team is professional, communicates clearly and often about what is happening. They clean up any mess each day, leaving the house clean and accessible. They delt with our city required sewer lateral on our 130 year old house and were aware of all possible …”
Tina Kreitz · ★★★★★ · Google · Nov 2025
The most critical take we found
“We had a major job done, the entire driveway was dug up and pipes replaced, and the workers were great. BUT a bad inspection and the whole thing had to be dug back up and fixed. Then they rushed with a secondary crew and the finish is terrible. The driveway …”
Pam B. · ★★ · Yelp · Dec 2018

We read 100 of 198 reviews · newest from Nov 2025 · BBB A+ accredited

(510) 465-3000
Full report →Website ↗
6

Superior Plumbing & Drain Cleaning Services

Top pick24/7 per Google listing
4.9 (171 Google reviews)4.8 on Yelp (100) 8.5 mi from downtown San Rafael

Lists 24-hour service on its Google profile — and reviewers describe after-hours calls.

Our take — how we form it

Superior Plumbing & Drain Cleaning scores 4.9 across 171 reviews with 97% positive sentiment; fast_response in 17 of 100 sampled, fair pricing in 5, and Saturday same-day water heater repair documented.

Rating mix — of the 15 reviews we analyzed171 total on Google
5★10
4★1
3★0
2★1
1★3

What reviewers keep saying

  • Saturday same-day repair capability confirmed: water heater repaired by 1:30 PM after noon call cited in 1 of 100 reviews (cited in 1 of 100 reviews)
  • Pricing consistently described as reasonable or fair — cheap-plumber mentioned 13 times and fair_pricing theme in 5 of 100 reviews; one customer saved ~$30k vs. competitor quote on sewer lateral (cited in 3 of 100 reviews)
  • Problem-solving depth noted: fixed issue a prior plumber declared unfixable by correctly identifying cast iron pipe cap as key access point (cited in 1 of 100 reviews)

What reviewers complain about

  • Complex multi-visit jobs can drag: one shower valve install required 3 appointments and 2+ months waiting for a cover plate, though technician maintained patience throughout (1 of 100 reviews)
What reviewers praise
“Marco and Santos installed 4 new toilets. They did a fabulous job and left no mess, they even took the boxes that the new toilets came in and hauled away the old toilets. They were very professional and extremely nice. I will definitely be keeping their …”
Linda M · ★★★★★ · Google · Mar 2026
The most critical take we found
“This review meets Yelp's review standards and/or guidelines and contains opinions with facts and observations to support. No threat is intended or implied. The owners are known publicly to State of California regulators, having paid fees and registering two …”
Steve S. · ★ · Yelp · Dec 2020

We read 100 of 171 reviews · newest from Mar 2026

(510) 222-7608
Full report →Website ↗

Worth a look — with caveats

Real strengths, but read the concerns first
7

Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup

Caveats apply24/7 per Google listing
4.9 (238 Google reviews)2.5 on Yelp (100) 18.3 mi from downtown San Rafael

Lists 24-hour service on its Google profile — and reviewers describe after-hours calls.

Our take — how we form it

Tech Rich drives a 4.9★/238-review headline with 20 fast_response mentions and after-hours sewer calls, but 31 of 100 sampled reviews are 1-star over dispatch and a quoted $8–10k sewer job.

Rating mix — of the 15 reviews we analyzed238 total on Google
5★4
4★1
3★0
2★1
1★9

Our sample skews heavily toward critical reviews — it disagrees with the Google average shown above.

Why we're cautious

  • $8,000 charged for a 3.5-hour sewer job after a $10k quote; manager refused to budge citing the signed contract (1 of 100 reviews)
  • No-show on a stated 7-11pm emergency window, then cancelled near 11pm with attitude from dispatch (1 of 100 reviews)
  • Dispatch and customer service falter — an emergency window of 7-11pm ended in an 11pm cancellation, and a dispatcher was rude when a tech couldn't be located (2 of 100 reviews)

To be fair

  • Same-day and after-hours response is strong — tech Rich arrived in ~30 min and at 10pm on a Sunday for sewer backups (cited in 2 of 100 reviews)
  • Sewer and main-line diagnosis praised — technician and field supervisor explained options clearly on a backed-up main (cited in 2 of 100 reviews)
What reviewers praise
“We had a plumbing backup and subsequent leaking under our house which we wanted addressed quickly. We called Roto-Rooters and they sent their technician, Rick, out within a couple of hours. He was incredibly friendly, knowledgeable and professional. He …”
Jessie Xenakis · ★★★★★ · Google · Dec 2025
The most critical take we found
“Was told they'd arrive between 7-11pm; didn't show up and ended up canceling close to 11pm. Horrible service for an emergency situation with extremely poor customer service. Dispatcher gave me attitude when discussing the cancellation due to no technicians …”
Rhea A. · ★ · Yelp · Dec 2020

We read 100 of 238 reviews · newest from Dec 2020 · BBB A+ accredited

(510) 662-6584
Full report →Website ↗
8

Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup

Caveats apply24/7 per Google listing
4.8 (2,600 Google reviews)2.5 on Yelp (100) 17.2 mi from downtown San Rafael

Lists 24-hour service on its Google profile — and reviewers describe after-hours calls.

Our take — how we form it

4.8★ across 2,600 reviews but 32 of 100 sampled are 1-star; named techs (Sayed, Heath) earn fast after-hours praise while pricing and dispatch draw the same complaints as the sister branch.

Rating mix — of the 15 reviews we analyzed2,600 total on Google
5★3
4★1
3★0
2★1
1★10

Our sample skews heavily toward critical reviews — it disagrees with the Google average shown above.

Why we're cautious

  • $8,000 for a 3.5-hour sewer job after a $10k quote; manager held the customer to the signed contract (1 of 100 reviews)
  • No-show on a stated 7-11pm emergency window with a near-11pm cancellation and dispatcher attitude (1 of 100 reviews)
  • Dispatch and pricing complaints recur — a stated 7-11pm emergency window ended in an 11pm cancellation, and an $8k sewer quote was disputed (2 of 100 reviews)

To be fair

  • Strong after-hours emergency response — Sayed fixed an 8pm weekend issue in under 5 minutes; Heath responded on short notice to an overflowing toilet (cited in 2 of 100 reviews)
  • Same-day main-line and sewer work praised — sent someone same day with guaranteed work and clear options (cited in 2 of 100 reviews)
What reviewers praise
“Sayed did a very good and thorough job for our main line drain blockage. He was very communicative, and efficient and gave me different options on how I want to proceed. Will definitely have him again in case of any issues.”
varun agarwal · ★★★★★ · Google · Feb 2026
The most critical take we found
“Was told they'd arrive between 7-11pm; didn't show up and ended up canceling close to 11pm. Horrible service for an emergency situation with extremely poor customer service. Dispatcher gave me attitude when discussing the cancellation due to no technicians …”
Rhea A. · ★ · Yelp · Dec 2020

We read 100 of 2,600 reviews · newest from Feb 2026 · BBB A+ accredited

(510) 564-1214
Full report →Website ↗
9

Discount Plumbing Rooter Services

Caveats apply24/7 per Google listing
4.9 (2,877 Google reviews)4.7 on Yelp (100) 19.6 mi from downtown San Rafael

Lists 24-hour service on its Google profile — and reviewers describe after-hours calls.

Our take — how we form it

4.9★ across 2,877 reviews with BBB A+ accreditation; fast_response cited 31 times and professional 49 times in 100 analyzed, but 4 negative reviews flag pricing concerns and 1 mentions surprise fees.

Rating mix — of the 15 reviews we analyzed2,877 total on Google
5★11
4★1
3★0
2★1
1★2

Why we're cautious

  • 1 reviewer describes high-pressure upsell on tankless water heater conversion at $10,000; pricing felt inflated (1 of 100 reviews)
  • surprise_fees theme flagged in 1 review; price escalation after initial quote noted (1 of 100 reviews)
  • expensive theme in 4 reviews; $600 for a one-hour pipe repair and $3,300 water heater estimate flagged as high (2 of 100 reviews)

To be fair

  • fast_response cited in 31 of 100 analyzed reviews; same-day service in 12 mentions; weekend/emergency availability confirmed in 2 reviews (cited in 3 of 100 reviews)
  • fair_pricing cited in 6 reviews; one reviewer says Carlos replaced angle stops 'for half the price estimated from the other place' (cited in 2 of 100 reviews)
  • Dispatcher-to-tech communication praised across multiple reviews; Carlos Chavarria and dispatcher Magda both called out by name for flawless coordination (cited in 2 of 100 reviews)
What reviewers praise
“I had a great experience with Saul! He was very kind, helpful, and professional throughout the entire process. He took the time to answer all of my questions about the shower repair and made sure I understood everything that needed to be done. I really …”
susana cortez · ★★★★★ · Google · Mar 2026
The most critical take we found
“If you have a lot of money sure! Get them. The process over the phone was smooth. Super fast to get a person in your property The guy was ok Breyman came and said ufff the sticker with the serial number it's not here (it was in the other side the thing is …”
Andrea R. · ★★ · Yelp · Sep 2025

We read 100 of 2,877 reviews · newest from Mar 2026 · BBB A+ accredited

(650) 977-3126
Full report →Website ↗
10

Heise's Plumbing

Caveats apply24/7 per Google listing
4.9 (1,606 Google reviews)4.1 on Yelp (100) 17.4 mi from downtown San Rafael

Lists 24-hour service on its Google profile — and reviewers describe after-hours calls.

Our take — how we form it

4.9★ across 1,606 reviews; fast_response 23 times and weekend_or_emergency 10 times in 100 analyzed, but 9 one-star reviews, surprise_fees in 2, and a 1-star describing no-show and dishonesty are notable.

Rating mix — of the 15 reviews we analyzed1,606 total on Google
5★5
4★0
3★3
2★1
1★6

Our sample skews heavily toward critical reviews — it disagrees with the Google average shown above.

Why we're cautious

  • 1 reviewer describes confirmed no-show with two rounds of false ETA updates; reviewer concludes 'they aren't honest' (1 of 100 reviews)
  • Weekend pricing at $625/hr (minimum 1 hr) confirmed by long-term customer who switched to Roto-Rooter after ownership change (1 of 100 reviews)
  • expensive theme in 2 reviews; $350/hr base rate and $625/hr weekend rate flagged as high by multiple reviewers (2 of 100 reviews)

To be fair

  • weekend_or_emergency cited 10 times; one reviewer got late-Sunday service; emergency flood handled same night (cited in 2 of 100 reviews)
  • Workmanship theme in 13 reviews; Jose credited with solving a faucet problem 'another plumber said was unsolvable' (cited in 2 of 100 reviews)
  • fast_response in 23 of 100 analyzed; next-day appointments and same-day availability frequently noted (cited in 2 of 100 reviews)
What reviewers praise
“Mike, Jose and the staff at Heises plumbing are terrific. They are friendly, knowledgeable, trustworthy and always get the job done right the first time. I have used Heises plumbing for years. Thank you Mike, Jose and staff for all you do.”
Bill Ruggiero · ★★★★★ · Google · Mar 2026
The most critical take we found
“Be careful with these guys - they aren't honest. They made an appointment with me for a 2-hour service window but didn't show and didn't contact me. So at the end of the 2 hours I called them. They admitted they were late but said the service tech was 30 min …”
Jonathan L. · ★ · Yelp · Dec 2025

We read 100 of 1,606 reviews · newest from Mar 2026

(415) 333-0704
Full report →Website ↗
11

Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup

Caveats apply24/7 per Google listing
4.8 (333 Google reviews)3.0 on Yelp (100) 8.2 mi from downtown San Rafael

Lists 24-hour service on its Google profile — and reviewers describe after-hours calls.

Our take — how we form it

4.8 stars, 333 Google reviews, BBB A+ accredited; but 23 of 100 analyzed are 1-star with expensive theme in 5 and surprise_fees in 2 — strong availability and BBB standing vs. a 28% negative review tail.

Rating mix — of the 15 reviews we analyzed333 total on Google
5★3
4★1
3★0
2★4
1★7

Our sample skews heavily toward critical reviews — it disagrees with the Google average shown above.

Why we're cautious

  • Verbal estimates inflated then reduced under pressure: sewer line quote ranged $5,000–$16,000 for work a local competitor completed for under $600 — same job. (1 of 100 reviews)
  • Warranty refusal documented: technician did unauthorized work, overcharged, refused to honor warranty, then supervisor hung up on customer complaint call. (1 of 100 reviews)
  • Pricing runs 2-5x competitors on identical scopes: sewer lateral camera bid $600 vs $0 from competitor; pipe repair bid $29,800 vs $9,000; drain clearing labor cost twice the local rate. (2 of 100 reviews)

To be fair

  • Weekend and holiday emergency coverage confirmed: fast_response in 22 of 100 reviews; arrived within the hour on a Saturday of a long holiday weekend when 3 other plumbers declined. (cited in 2 of 100 reviews)
  • BBB A+ accredited; professional theme in 47 of 100 analyzed reviews — technicians described as knowledgeable and thorough across a range of jobs. (cited in 2 of 100 reviews)
What reviewers praise
“Excellent service, quality employees, more than satisfactory work!. My faucet was continually running (while shut off) on a Saturday...after making three other calls to plumbers who either do not or could not work on a Saturday of a long holiday weekend, …”
Jane Chisaki · ★★★★★ · Google · Mar 2026
The most critical take we found
“I called Roto Rooter because our sewer line needed to be snaked. They arrived within an hour. Upon arrival the technician agreed that the line needed to be snaked and said that it would cost $500. I told him that I had a coupon that was offered on RR …”
Ramona Marks · ★★ · Google · Feb 2026

We read 100 of 333 reviews · newest from Mar 2026 · BBB A+ accredited

(510) 621-1486
Full report →Website ↗

We'd keep looking

The average rating hides complaint patterns we can't ignore
12

Big Blue Plumbing

We'd call someone else first24/7 per Google listing
4.7 (573 Google reviews)3.1 on Yelp (100) 18.4 mi from downtown San Rafael

Advertises 24-hour service on its Google profile — no reviews we analyzed mention after-hours response either way.

Our take — how we form it

4.7★ across 573 reviews but 33% of sampled reviews are negative — slow_response (10) and surprise/expensive fees recur; multiple emergency appointments were cancelled last-minute.

Rating mix — of the 15 reviews we analyzed573 total on Google
5★4
4★0
3★0
2★1
1★10

Our sample skews heavily toward critical reviews — it disagrees with the Google average shown above.

Why we're cautious

  • Emergency reliability is shaky — they cancelled an overnight water-heater-flood appointment via text, citing a scheduling change (1 of 100 reviews)
  • 5-week unresolved radiant-heat failure left a customer in a freezing house after a once-trusted relationship soured (1 of 100 reviews)
  • $85 estimate fee charged just to quote a routine tankless flush — surprise_fees signal (1 of 100 reviews)

To be fair

  • fast_response cited 14x — technicians like Nate arrive on time and courteous; one 8-hour first-day job earned praise (cited in 2 of 100 reviews)
  • Large-job workmanship praised — water/gas/sewer line replacements done extraordinarily well with clean sites (cited in 1 of 100 reviews)
What reviewers praise
“I can't say enough good things about this company. They are professional, friendly, efficient, and hard working. We have a pretty serious plumbing situation that will require more work, but on day one the team came out and worked their you-know-whats off for …”
Elisabeth B. · ★★★★★ · Yelp · Dec 2017
The most critical take we found
“Do not recommend. Horrible communication. I had to repeatedly call them back to get scheduling confirmations, which kept getting delayed. It is very clear that if I had not followed up, they never would have.”
Ryan Sit · ★ · Google · Dec 2024

We read 100 of 573 reviews · newest from Dec 2024

(510) 939-7870
Full report →Website ↗
13

Albert Nahman Plumbing, Heating, and Cooling

We'd call someone else first24/7 per Google listing
4.7 (3,374 Google reviews)2.3 on Yelp (100) 15.5 mi from downtown San Rafael

Advertises 24-hour service on its Google profile — no reviews we analyzed mention after-hours response either way.

Our take — how we form it

4.7★ Google average masks reviewConsistency=0.095 — 44 one-stars vs 45 five-stars in 100 analyzed. Post-sale pattern: bait-and-switch pricing, no-shows, techs refusing jobs over parking.

Rating mix — of the 15 reviews we analyzed3,374 total on Google
5★3
4★0
3★2
2★1
1★9

Our sample skews heavily toward critical reviews — it disagrees with the Google average shown above.

Why we're cautious

  • Bait-and-switch documented: $65 emailed water heater flush offer became $550+ quote on arrival — tech shrugged and said the email 'didn't make sense' (surprise_fees=4) (1 of 100 reviews)
  • Tech refused job because he couldn't park directly outside the house — drove away mid-appointment, returned hours later with supervisor; boiler still unresolved (unprofessional=2) (1 of 100 reviews)
  • Sewer clean out left basement flooded with sewage days later — company disputed responsibility for their own work (poor_workmanship=3) (1 of 100 reviews)

To be fair

  • Technician Deandre P. arrived within 2 hours, waived travel time, and offered free diagnostic during February promotion (fast_response=24) (cited in 1 of 100 reviews)
  • Technician Christopher sourced a matched-finish faucet himself and delivered clean expert installation — customer described result as beautiful (workmanship=9) (cited in 1 of 100 reviews)
  • Water heater diagnosed promptly with no charge when repair turned out to be a simple fix (fair_pricing=1) (cited in 1 of 100 reviews)
What reviewers praise
“Highly recommend Albert Nahman Plumbing! The customer service was excellent from start to finish—from the receptionist who handled my initial call to the knowledgeable technician, Deandre P., who arrived within two hours. Unlike several other plumbing …”
Judy Sarmiento · ★★★★★ · Google · Mar 2026
The most critical take we found
“Plunged parent’s toilet $189. Five stars. Replaced parent’s broken single hole lav faucet with “like” faucet with no change to fittings $1010.95. ZERO stars. I was the contact person and they had the person with disabilities sign the contract. I would NEVER …”
v rivard · ★★ · Google · Feb 2026

We read 100 of 3,374 reviews · newest from Mar 2026 · BBB A+ accredited

(510) 408-7879
Full report →Website ↗
14

Cabrillo Plumbing, Heating & Air

We'd call someone else first24/7 per Google listing
4.9 (1,179 Google reviews) 16.9 mi from downtown San Rafael

Lists 24-hour service on its Google profile — and reviewers describe after-hours calls.

Our take — how we form it

Team shows up on time with deep expertise to solve problems other plumbers couldn't, and they'll explain everything before charging you.

Rating mix — of the 5 reviews we analyzed1,179 total on Google
5★5
4★0
3★0
2★0
1★0

Small sample — we've analyzed only 5 of 1,179 reviews so far. Treat this as a first read.

What reviewers keep saying

  • Solves complex plumbing issues that competitors have failed on—one reviewer had a clog unsolved for 6+ months until Cabrillo fixed it (cited in 1 of 5 reviews)
  • Consistently arrives on schedule and keeps customers informed throughout the job (5 of 5 reviews mention punctuality or communication) (cited in 4 of 5 reviews)
  • Transparent pricing and honest estimates—reviewers emphasize fairness and no surprise charges; one mentions water heater flush provided at no extra cost (cited in 2 of 5 reviews)

What reviewers complain about

  • No repeated complaints found in the reviews we've read.
What reviewers praise
“We talked to several AC companies but none had the expertise and professionalism of Cabrillo. They were fair, honest, on time, and did incredible work. I would work with Frank, Robert, and Javier again. Special thanks to Frank for answering many questions …”
Anna Khan · ★★★★★ · Google · Jun 2026
The most critical take we found

No critical reviews among the 5 we analyzed — there is nothing negative to quote yet.

We read 5 of 1,179 reviews · newest from Jun 2026

(415) 360-0560
Full report →Website ↗
15

24/7 Rooter & Plumbing

We'd call someone else first24/7 per Google listing
4.7 (926 Google reviews)3.9 on Yelp (100) 18.2 mi from downtown San Rafael

Lists 24-hour service on its Google profile — and reviewers describe after-hours calls.

Our take — how we form it

4.7 Google stars but 17 of 100 analyzed reviews are 1-star (reviewConsistency=0.397); expensive theme in 8 reviews and 3 Yelp reviews document hidden upsell charges mid-job, no-show 4 hours late, and alleged review-incentivization.

Rating mix — of the 15 reviews we analyzed926 total on Google
5★5
4★0
3★0
2★3
1★7

Our sample skews heavily toward critical reviews — it disagrees with the Google average shown above.

Why we're cautious

  • Yelp reviewer alleges solicitation of 5-star reviews in exchange for $25 gift card via automated text — raises authenticity concern about 4.7 Google rating (1 of 100 reviews)
  • 1 Yelp reviewer arrived 4 hours late and did not fix the issue, and 1 details hidden mid-job upcharges confirmed by other plumbers as overcharging (2 of 100 reviews)
  • expensive theme in 8 of 100 reviews; 1 Yelp reviewer paid $1,645 for a 30-minute sewer clearance ($395 + $1,250 hydro-jet), then received no promised follow-up (2 of 100 reviews)

To be fair

  • fast_response in 14 of 100 reviews; documented sub-hour dispatch (Edwin on-site within 1 hour, water heater replaced within 3 hours total) (cited in 3 of 100 reviews)
  • weekend_or_emergency capability confirmed in 9 reviews; Saturday night, holiday, and 24-hour dispatch all documented (cited in 3 of 100 reviews)
What reviewers praise
“Very prompt service. Ernesto was thorough, efficient, and he provided tips for future prevention. He was also very conscientious in cleaning up and ensuring I felt the work was complete.”
Andi Trindle Mersch · ★★★★★ · Google · Mar 2026
The most critical take we found
“Ruined the bathroom. We had some slow drains so we called 24-7 Rooter to come snake the lines. they fished the snake into a few places, notably the overflow drain in the bathtub. The problem came months later when I filled the tub for a bath (I usually …”
Ryan L. · ★★ · Yelp · Dec 2021

We read 100 of 926 reviews · newest from Mar 2026 · BBB A+ accredited

(415) 586-6851
Full report →Website ↗

How we rank the plumbers on this page

  1. We read the reviews — all of them we can get. For each plumber serving San Rafael we pulled up to 100 recent reviews from Google, Yelp and BBB and read the full text. For this page: 1,386 reviews across 15 businesses.
  2. Patterns beat anecdotes. A plumber moves up when independent reviewers keep describing the same behavior: showing up when promised, quoting before working, work that holds. One rave changes nothing.
  3. Complaints count double when they repeat.Surprise fees, missed appointments, pressure sales — when the same complaint appears across reviewers (or across platforms), it caps how high we'll rank a business regardless of its star average.
  4. Money never moves the ranking.A plumber can buy the clearly-labeled sponsored slot at the top of the page — visibility, not endorsement. A business we wouldn't recommend can't buy the slot at all, and no payment changes the ranked order.
  5. Our take is our opinion.It's grounded in the reviews we quote and count on this page — check our evidence and disagree with us if you like. That's the point of showing it.
Every quotation on this page is reproduced verbatimfrom a publicly posted review and attributed to its author, star rating, platform and date. Star averages and review counts are Google's (or Yelp's) as of our last data pull. “Rating mix” charts describe only the set of reviews we analyzed, which we state on every card. Read the full policy — including what we do not do — on our methodology page.

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