Fast, honest plumbing for the Bay Area — trusted since 1988
★★★★★ Rated 5 stars by Bay Area homeowners — San Francisco, Daly City, Pacifica, San Bruno & San Mateo
Burst pipe at midnight, a drain that won't clear, a sewer line backing up, a water heater that quit — a real person answers the phone day or night, you get a written price before we touch anything, and our no-dig sewer tech fixes it without tearing up your yard.
Free written estimate · No obligation · Same-day service available · Background-checked technicians
Bay Area homeowners keep calling us back
Travis and the whole crew at Smelly Mel's are the best. They replaced my lateral sewer line — you could hardly tell anything had changed in my front yard.
Came in to fix my shower drain — less than an hour, done. Friendly, efficient, professional, and it cost less than the estimate.
Priced way better than I expected and fixed my leaky toilet in less time than estimated. Best after-hours service I've ever had.
Tell us what's wrong — we'll be there
Whatever's going on, a trained Smelly Mel's technician can be on the way. Pick what's happening, or just call us — a real person answers, day or night.
Not an emergency? Drain-cleaning estimates are always free, and every job gets a written, itemized price before we start.
Request a Free EstimateEvery plumbing job — one trusted Bay Area crew
Residential, commercial, emergency, and the specialty work most plumbers won't touch — all from the same family-owned team that's been doing it right since 1988.
Residential Plumbing
Toilets, faucets, garbage disposals, copper repipes, gas lines, leak detection — the everyday plumbing your home runs on, fixed right.
Residential servicesDrain, Sewer & Rooter
Cleanouts, snaking, and our 4,000-PSI hydro jetter for the clogs and roots a basic snake can't beat. Free drain-cleaning estimates.
Drain & sewer servicesTrenchless Sewer Replacement
Replace a failed sewer lateral without trenching your lawn, driveway, or foundation — backed by our damage-free guarantee.
Trenchless sewerWater Heaters
Repair or replace tank and tankless units — 30 to 100 gallon, every major brand, often the same day you call.
Water heater servicesCommercial Plumbing
Restaurants, retail, offices, entertainment venues, houses of worship — gas, water, sewer and drain work that keeps your doors open.
Commercial servicesFire Line & Backflow
Annual backflow testing and NFPA-standard fire-sprinkler install, repair and inspection — with the reports you need on file.
Fire line & backflowReplace your sewer line without digging up your yard
Most plumbers fix a failed sewer lateral by renting a backhoe and trenching across your lawn, your driveway, and sometimes your foundation. We don't. Our trenchless system replaces the line through small access points — and we back it with a damage-free guarantee on your landscaping, asphalt, concrete, and structural foundation. If we cause damage, we make it right.
- Damage-free guaranteeLandscaping, asphalt, concrete and foundation are protected — in writing.
- Exclusive digless tree-root excavationWe remove invasive roots without an open trench across your property.
- 4,000-PSI hydro jetterScours years of grease, sludge and roots out of long lines a snake can't reach.
- We handle the permit and city sign-offYou don't chase paperwork — we do.
Need a compliant sewer lateral? We handle the whole thing.
San Francisco, Pacifica, and other Peninsula cities require a private sewer lateral inspection — and often a replacement — when a home changes hands or pulls certain permits. It's stressful, it's on a deadline, and the rules keep changing. We do this every week.
- 1Camera inspection
We scope the line and tell you exactly what the city will and won't accept.
- 2Trenchless replacement
Failed sections replaced without trenching your yard — with the damage-free guarantee.
- 3Permit & paperwork
We pull the permit, schedule the inspection, and get the sign-off.
- 4Written price up front
Fully itemized — permit, materials and labor — before we start.
The reasons Bay Area homeowners pick us — and stay with us
Thirty-five years in business doesn't happen by being second-best. Here's what you get every time you call.
A written price before we start
Every job comes with a free, fully-itemized estimate. You approve it before we touch a thing — no surprise add-ons later.
Free drain-cleaning estimates
Wondering what a clog will cost? Drain-cleaning estimates are always free — no strings, no pressure.
Background-checked technicians
Every tech is trained, pre-screened and background-checked before they're sent to your door.
Answered 24/7 — even holidays
Burst pipe on a Sunday night? A real person picks up — day or night, weekends and holidays included.
Satisfaction guaranteed
Every service contract is backed by our satisfaction guarantee. We're not done until it's right.
Family-owned since 1988
Not a franchise, not a call center — the same Bay Area family business that's earned a 35-year reputation.
We leave it cleaner than we found it
Customers say it themselves: no mess in the house, no mess in the yard — "white-glove," even with pipes.
Fair, honest pricing
No upselling, no padding. Time and again, our price comes in at — or below — the estimate.
Bay Area homeowners and businesses, in their own words
Real reviews from real jobs across San Francisco and the Peninsula — sewer laterals, drain clogs, gas leaks, water heaters and more.
I'd gotten quotes from everyone, then went back to Smelly Mel's. Travis sat me down and explained exactly what the city expected, the process, the timeline — every question I had, answered. His team was professional, on time, careful with my property and my neighbors, and left the sidewalk looking brand new. I'd highly recommend anyone with a sewer lateral issue work with Travis and his team.
We had a sewer lateral done for our commercial building. I met with Travis and found him extremely knowledgeable. Professional, reasonably priced, efficient — I've used them again for a retail space in San Mateo. Highly recommend.
We had an exterior gas leak and Travis was great to work with. We sourced it and replaced the broken pipe. Responsive, courteous, professional, neat — and fairly priced.
Best plumbers and rooter service in town. They arrive quickly, don't overcharge, and no job is too big or too small — I've used them to drain a sink and for a big underground project.
I've used Smelly Mel's in the past and they've always been top-notch. On time, efficient, neat, knew exactly what he was doing — in and out fast. Next time, I'll ask for Dave.
Travis and the whole crew are the best. They replaced my lateral sewer line — no mess, you could hardly tell anything had changed in my front yard. I'll certainly use Smelly Mel's next time I need a plumber.
From your call to a clean fix — four simple steps
Call us, 24/7
Tell a real person what's going on — day, night, weekend or holiday. We'll set a time, fast.
Get a written price
We come out, diagnose it, and hand you a free, itemized estimate. You approve before any work begins.
We do the work — clean
Trained, background-checked techs fix it right, protect your property, and clean up after themselves.
Backed by our guarantee
Your job is covered by our satisfaction guarantee. If something's not right, we come back.
Run by the same family that's been on Bay Area pipes since 1988
"Smelly Mel's hasn't lasted this long by being second-best."
Owner Travis is on jobs, in consultations, and at estimates personally — the way it's been for over 35 years. When you call Smelly Mel's, you get a real Bay Area family business and a crew that's earned its reputation one careful job at a time. We're licensed, insured, and proud to be part of the neighborhoods we work in.
Serving San Francisco, the Peninsula & the North Bay
Based at 300 Shaw Rd in South San Francisco, we cover the city and the Peninsula — from Daly City and Pacifica down through San Bruno, San Mateo and Hillsborough — plus the North Bay. Not sure if you're in range? Give us a call.
Questions Bay Area homeowners ask us
Bay Area homeowners have trusted us for 35+ years. Your turn.
One call gets you a real person, a written price, and a crew that does it right the first time. Emergency or not — we're ready.
Got it — thanks!
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