Residential plumbing for Bay Area homes — repairs, repipes, gas lines & leaks
From a dripping faucet to a whole-house copper repipe, a gas line that needs work, or a leak hiding behind a wall — the same family-owned crew that's looked after San Francisco and Peninsula homes since 1988. Real person on the phone 24/7, written price before we touch anything.
The everyday plumbing your home runs on — fixed right
Most calls aren't dramatic — they're the things that quietly cost you money and patience until they're handled. We take care of all of it, and the bigger jobs too.
- A faucet, toilet or disposal that won't behaveRunning toilets, dripping fixtures, a disposal that hums and won't turn — fast, clean repairs or replacements.
- Old or failing pipesPinhole leaks, low pressure, rusty water — we repair pipe runs or repipe a whole house in copper.
- A leak you can't findDamp spots, a water bill that jumped, the sound of running water — we trace hidden and dormant leaks before they wreck more than they have to.
- Gas line work — or a gas smellNew gas pipelines, repairs, and sourcing exterior gas leaks. Smell gas? Call (415) 758-6237 right away.
What we do in Bay Area homes
Repairs, installs, repipes and the specialty work most plumbers won't touch — all from one family-owned crew.
- Sewer & drain cleanoutsClearing clogged drains and main lines, plus our 4,000-PSI hydro jetter for the tough ones. Drain & sewer services.
- Water heatersRepair or replace tank and tankless units, every major brand, often same day. Water heater services.
- Toilets — all brandsReplacement and repair: running toilets, weak flushes, leaks at the base, full swaps.
- Faucets & fixturesInstallation and repair of kitchen, bath and laundry fixtures — new look or just fixing the drip.
- Garbage disposalsFull-service maintenance and repair — jams, leaks, replacements, the works.
- Copper repipingRepipe failing sections or a whole-house system in copper — with a written, itemized price up front.
- Gas pipelinesFull gas line installation and repair, including sourcing and fixing exterior gas leaks. Smell gas? Call (415) 758-6237 first.
- Leak detection & repairWe trace hidden, slab and behind-the-wall leaks — then fix the source, not just the symptom.
- Pipe repairsBurst, cracked, corroded or leaking lines repaired or replaced — emergency or planned.
- Preventive maintenanceDormant-leak detection and routine checks so small problems get caught before they're expensive ones.
Why homeowners keep calling us back
Thirty-five years in business doesn't happen by being second-best. Here's what you get every time a Smelly Mel's truck pulls up.
- A written price before any workFree, fully-itemized estimate you approve first — no surprise charges added on later.
- Background-checked techniciansEvery tech is trained, pre-screened and background-checked before they're sent to your door.
- Clean, respectful workCustomers say it themselves — "no mess at all," "white-glove, even with pipes." We leave it the way we found it.
- Satisfaction guaranteeEvery service contract is backed by it — if something isn't right, we come back and make it right.
Real homes, real jobs, in their own words
We had an exterior gas leak and Travis was great to work with. We sourced the leak and replaced the broken pipe. Travis and his crew are responsive, courteous, professional and neat — and their work is fairly priced.
They did the work for less than their estimate. Came in to fix my drainage in the shower — less than an hour, done. Friendly, efficient, and professional.
I've used Smelly Mel's in the past and they've always been top-notch. The service tech was on time, efficient, neat and knew exactly what he was doing — in and out fast. Next time I need a plumber I'll contact Mel's and ask for Dave.
Residential plumbing questions, answered
Bay Area homeowners have trusted us since 1988. 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.