Mark SkinnerMy colleague was so proud of the new brewery that he invited our whole crew to the opening. But of all the problems that could happen, there was a plumbing issue the day before the soft launch.
Apparently, a pipe under the kitchen sink burst. Soon, there was water everywhere—definitely not the vibe he was going for.
Since there were no obvious parts lost, he thought this only needed simple wrench work. He simply called a janitor to mop the mess while he followed a YouTube guide. Turns out, he didn’t have the right skills and only made the leak worse.
Desperate, he asked us for a list of the best plumbers in San Diego to choose from. We researched licensed ones and compared services, reviews, and fees. So if you’re also dealing with plumbing chaos, here’s our shortlist to save the day.
How much do plumbers charge in San Diego?
Plumbers in San Diego typically charge between $45 and $150 per hour for standard services. The final costs depend on the complexity, accessibility, materials used, home age, permit requirements, and urgency.
1. Elite Rooter Plumbers
Address: 3485 Pickwick St
Contact Details:
- +1 619 626 1272
- [email protected]
Business Hours:
- Open 24/7
Founded in 2017, Elite Rooter Plumbers is a full-service state-licensed rooter and plumbing company in San Diego. What sets them apart is that their team is highly skilled in tackling drain and sewer line problems.
They also have certified techs and a warehouse stocked with common parts and water heater sizes. For us, this helps them move fast on repairs.
But what we like most is their emergency plumbing. They are available 24/7, so you can always rely on them for burst pipes, overflowing toilets, and water heater failures.
It’s great that their crew doesn’t charge dispatch or trip fees either. Since some competitors do, we think this is a clear win for same-day callers here.
As for the rates, their drain cleaning specials start at $79. For basic clogs, the costs are significantly lower than those of other clogs.
But for advanced work like hydro-jetting, we noticed that their rates of $1,200 to $1,600 are quite high. They are double or triple those of local independent plumbers.
Keith really knows plumbing, and the work was extensive
“These guys are a bit pricey but Keith knows plumbing! I had serious water damage and drain issues. The work was extensive. They also reimbursed me for unused items, and that was pretty cool.”
-Vicky Shiokari, Google Review
Very polite, knowledgeable, and arrived right on time
“Sam was amazing!! Very polite and knowledgeable. Arrived right on time and got right to work, had us up and draining very fast. What ever your plumbing needs I highly recommend Elite Rooter and Sam. Both get 10 stars!!”
-Robin Parker, Google Review
2. Core Plumbing
Address: 7292 Opportunity Rd b
Contact Details:
- +1 858 295 7746
- [email protected]
Business Hours:
- Open 24/7
Established in 2006, Core Plumbing is a locally owned father-and-son operation that focuses on no-pressure plumbing services.
In addition to residential and commercial plumbing, the team also provides emergency repairs. Customers can call them for urgent leaks, flooded bathrooms, and drain issues.
We find it handy that you can trust them for several related concerns too. They handle tankless water heater repairs, slab leak detection, and gas line installations.
Their staff even uses a modern system to send customers text updates. This includes the technician’s name, photo, and estimated time of arrival (ETA), which we believe showcases their efficiency.
It’s great for us that they offer flat-rate pricing as well. However, they’re not the most budget-friendly option out there. For one, their basic drain cleaning was once reported at $517.
In our view, some customers might feel overcharged for hiring them to do simple or quick tasks. They are known to be inflexible with pricing too. Still, someone we interviewed reasoned that their high-caliber services can justify the premium cost.
They were informative and went above and beyond
“Micah and the boys squared me away on some plumbing rerouting I needed done before a big bathroom remodel. They were informative, and even went above and beyond by giving me advice about products and remodel ideas with their insider knowledge. I will for sure use the again in the future.”
-Christopher J Tudor, Google Review
Very friendly, professional, and efficient
“Core Plumbing responded quickly to our request for help with a broken irrigation pipe. They assessed the situation, clearly explained the options for managing it, and took care of it the same day. Joaquin was very friendly, professional and efficient. I’m very pleased with his work.”
-Raymond Lane, Google Review
3. Black Mountain Plumbing
Address: 9909 Hibert St, Suite E
Contact Details:
- +1 858 536 4161
- [email protected]
Business Hours:
- Open 24/7
Since 1993, Black Mountain Plumbing has been a long-running, family-owned plumbing company. We think their 3 decades of expertise and BBB accreditation show stability over one-man or newer shops.
They mostly provide residential and commercial repairs and repipes with same-day services. They are known for water heater installations too, as well as slab leak detection and full-scale kitchen and bathroom remodeling.
Their crew is also available 24/7, so we reckon they are usually reliable and hands-on. Additionally, we find it helpful that they use a tracking system that sends text alerts with the technician’s name and photo when they’re en route.
This company doesn’t charge by the hour either. The staff sets a price per job upfront, so you won’t need to guess how much to pay.
But while many customers commend their transparency, we still think their quotes can be much higher than those of independent contractors.
For example, one of their water heater replacement jobs was quoted at $3,600, while a rival local plumber can perform the same job for $1,800.
We advise keeping an eye out for dispatch fees with emergencies too. A client we spoke with mentioned that this wasn’t clearly disclosed during her initial phone call.
Fast, professional service on a Sunday at a good price
“We had an emergency and Daniel came within 90 minutes and had the job done in another 30. Fast professional service on a Sunday at a good price. I won’t hesitate to call Black Mountain Plumbing again.”
-James Harr, Google Review
Prompt and professional every time
“Prompt and professional, each and every time I have used them. Solomon was punctual, courteous, and knowledgeable. He walked us through the whole process of the installation and got the job done. 100% recommend and will use them again for all our future plumbing needs.”
-Peter Lee, Google Review
4. John Padilla Plumbing
Address: 4650 Santa Fe St
Contact Details:
- +1 858 905 7074
- +1 858 221 8264
Business Hours:
- Open 24/7
John Padilla Plumbing is a locally owned heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) and plumbing company. For us, their dual-trade expertise gives them an edge over their single-service competitors.
They have been in business since 2010, handling everything from repairs and water heaters to slab leaks and plumbing maintenance.
The crew is quite accessible too, offering round-the-clock emergency plumbing and drain service. This applies to leaks, clogged drains, water heater failures, and the like.
Not only that, but we also like that they specialize in high-tech solutions. This involves electronic leak detection and sewer camera inspections.
You can expect to spend $350 for a toilet fill valve replacement and over $600 for a 40-minute kitchen faucet installation. With these rates, we believe they are on the premium side in the city.
For extra value, this company even offers a priority membership program with annual water heater flushes, plumbing inspections, and 10% off repairs.
However, a client we chatted with noted that some techs here are less familiar with the specific logistical constraints of townhomes compared to detached single-family homes. We reckon this can lead to miscommunication about furniture moving or mitigation.
Extremely knowledgeable about the plumbing system
“I had a clogged shower drain and the technician Elijah responded quickly. He was extremely knowledgeable about the plumbing system in my home which was built in 1945 and not only did he fix the shower drain, he checked all the drains in my home as well as the water for chemicals. He was very helpful and efficient. I’ll definitely continue using John Padilla Plumbing for my plumbing and HVAC services. And I’ll specifically request Elijah!”
-Nancy Cohen, Google Review
Outstanding work and worth the money
“Issac and Randy were outstanding. We had an old gas line leaking under the house (built in 1912) which was accessible only via a crawl space. Randy had to crawl (literally) to reach the leaking pipe. He replaced it, and checked for leaks-there were none. Outstanding work, worth the money and we will use Padilla Plumbing in the future. These people give a darn about customers.”
-Frank Laughton, Google Review
5. Rooter Hero
Address: 9920 Scripps Lake Dr
Contact Details:
- +1 619 577 4417
- +1 510 768 7140
- [email protected]
Business Hours:
- Open 24/7
Rooter Hero has been providing drain-cleaning and plumbing services since 2011. Beyond their 45 years of combined experience, the company shines in offering 24-hour availability too.
You don’t have to worry about their punctuality too. They are known for having one of the largest fleets in San Diego, and they often boast fast arrival times.
Other than that, we love that they don’t charge extra for nights, weekends, or holidays. In our book, this makes them very handy for those with a tight budget.
Their most famous rate is a $77 to $99 drain cleaning special. It’s highly competitive against other plumbers who can charge up to 3 to 5 times more.
Plus, we appreciate their 30-day service guarantees. The crew can re-clean clogged drains without requiring additional payment.
Just note that the costs for larger repairs (like water heater installs or pipe bursts) are significantly higher than those of independent local options.
Someone we spoke with also mentioned that since they are a high-volume franchise, the skill level here can vary wildly. You might get either a seasoned journeyman or a relatively new technician.
Handled everything quickly and professionally
“Rooter Hero Plumbing & Air of San Diego were lifesavers. They cleaned our pipes before a potential flood could happen and handled everything quickly and professionally. Highly recommend their team! Joaquin is awesome!!!”
-Reynaldo Stephens, Google Review
Hands down one of the best plumbing techs I’ve worked with
“Jason was out within 90 minutes of my call and solved our plumbing problem, quickly and efficiently. He took the time to explain what was going on as well as answer all of my questions. Hands down one of the best plumbing techs I have worked with.”
-Erik Pampel, Google Review
