San Diego County · Service area
Plumbers in San Diego, CA
San Diego imports most of its water from the Colorado River and Northern California, and it arrives hard. Combined with the copper-under-slab construction used in the tract homes of the 1950s through 1980s, that makes leaks under the floor one of the most common plumbing calls in the county.
Serving North Park, Clairemont, Pacific Beach, La Jolla, Mira Mesa, Point Loma, Rancho Bernardo and nearby neighborhoods.
- Emergency plumbing help
- Licensed local plumbers
- Price confirmed before work
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Need a plumber in San Diego?
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- Licensed local plumbing companies
- Price confirmed before work starts
Homes and plumbing in San Diego
Neighborhoods such as Clairemont, Allied Gardens and Mira Mesa are slab-on-grade. Older areas such as North Park, South Park and Kensington have raised foundations with galvanized supply pipe and cast iron or clay drains. Near the coast, salt air corrodes exposed fittings, hose bibs and water heater connections.
Slab leaks
Hot water lines under the slab are usually the first to leak. Many owners choose a full PEX or copper repipe through the attic after the second or third leak.
Aging cast iron and clay drains
Drain lines in pre-1970 homes are reaching the end of their life, and canyon-lot laterals can be long and difficult to access.
Hard water
Scale shortens water heater life and clogs fixtures. Tankless units need yearly descaling here.
Common plumbing calls in San Diego
Slab Leak Repair
A warm spot on the floor or a climbing water bill can mean a leak under the slab.
Learn moreRepiping
Galvanized, polybutylene or failing copper pipes? See when a whole-house repipe makes sense, what it involves and how to reach a local repiping plumber..
Learn moreLeak Detection
A high water bill, a damp wall or the sound of running water can mean a hidden leak.
Learn moreWater Heater Replacement
Replacing a leaking or aging water heater? See how plumbers size, install and permit a new tank, and call to reach a local installer..
Learn moreSewer Camera Inspection
A sewer camera inspection shows roots, cracks, sags and blockages before you pay for a repair or buy a house.
Learn more
Also available in San Diego: emergency plumbing and all plumbing services.
San Diego at a glance
- Area
- San Diego, San Diego County, California
- Neighborhoods
- North Park, Clairemont, Pacific Beach, La Jolla, Mira Mesa, Point Loma, Rancho Bernardo
- Local issues
- Slab leaks; Aging cast iron and clay drains; Hard water
- Plumber licensing
- Plumbing contractors hold a C-36 license from the Contractors State License Board, and state law requires water heaters to be strapped against earthquakes.
- Office
- Service-area page. Work is done by independent local plumbing companies.
San Diego plumbing questions
Are water heaters required to be strapped in San Diego?
Yes. California law requires water heaters to be braced or strapped against earthquake movement, and it is checked when a replacement is permitted or a home is sold.
Is a repipe better than fixing slab leaks one at a time in San Diego?
After a second slab leak in the same house, a repipe is usually the better value. The copper is the same age throughout, so further leaks are likely.
Guides for San Diego homeowners
How to shut off your water in an emergency
Close the main shutoff valve, which is usually where the water line enters the house: in the basement or crawl space on the street-facing wall, in the garage, or near the water heater.
Read the guideHow long does a water heater last?
A standard tank water heater lasts about 8 to 12 years.
Read the guideSewer line repair vs. replacement: how to decide
Repair the sewer line when a camera inspection shows one or two isolated defects in pipe that is otherwise in good shape.
Read the guide
Other service areas
Need a plumber in San Diego?
Call and tell us what's going on. Calling is free, and the plumber confirms the price before any work starts.