Frozen Pipes in San Mateo, CA
Frozen pipes? Act fast to prevent a burst — here's what to do.
San Mateo County15 plumbers available
Best Frozen Pipes Pros in San Mateo
#1Strong Hire
Michael Gardner Plumbing
5Frozen Pipes: 91/100
“handled a high pressure situation with professionalism and made sure we were taken care of”
#2
Pro Rooter Inc
4.1Frozen Pipes: 91/100
“one of the most reliable and fairly priced vendors who support me”
#3Conditional Hire
Oakland Rooter Plumbing
4.9Frozen Pipes: 91/100
“Good, reliable service. Fair and reasonable”
All Frozen Pipes Pros in San Mateo
Michael Gardner Plumbing
5·98 reviews·
12 mi away — Serves your areaGoogle Verified
+5 more
Strengths
Emergency responsiveness: 31+ reviewers explicitly mention…
Honest pricing and options: 18+ reviewers praise fair pricing,…
Thorough diagnosis and transparency: 14+ reviewers mention…
Concerns
Angi listing appears incomplete or unverified: only 1 Angi entry…
Pro Rooter Inc
4.1·25 reviews·
14 mi away — Serves your areaGoogle Verified
Strengths
Richard Reyes consistently praised for punctuality, honesty, and…
Hector excels on major jobs (sewer laterals, repipes, main line…
Multiple emergency responses documented—Saturday morning…
Concerns
Hector: 5+ documented no-shows or severe tardiness with zero…
Chilo: systematic pattern of scope creep, price changes mid-job,…
Bait-and-switch pricing: multiple reviews cite lower phone quotes…
Quality variance: same company has done excellent large jobs and…
Oakland Rooter Plumbing
4.9·99 reviews·
15 mi away — Edge of service areaGoogle Verified
+3 more
Strengths
Same-day or next-day service: 40+ reviews explicitly mention…
Honest pricing and no upselling: 15+ reviews praise competitive…
Staff accountability and follow-up: Multiple reviews (including…
Concerns
Pricing inconsistency on complex jobs: 3 reviews mention…
Potential quality control gap on specialized work: 1 Yelp review…
Address/service area inconsistency: 1 Google review (1/3/2025)…
Gladiator Rooter and Plumbing
4.6·90 reviews·
13 mi away — Serves your areaGoogle Verified
+2 more
Strengths
Fast emergency response: 28+ reviews across platforms mention…
Honest diagnosis and fair pricing on major jobs: 15+ reviews…
Experienced crew handles difficult jobs: Multiple reviews…
Concerns
Price disagreement pattern: 7 reviews (Google & Yelp combined)…
No 'Fair Pricing' badge awarded despite strong reputation,…
Two estimates mention hidden 'free estimate' fees: 2 Yelp reviews…
One report of unprofessional/unsafe conduct: 1 Google review…
Costello's Plumbing
4.9·50 reviews·
13 mi away — Serves your areaGoogle Verified
+2 more
Strengths
Exceptional emergency response: 15+ Google and Yelp reviews…
Honest diagnostics that save money: 6+ reviews across platforms…
BBB A+ accreditation with zero complaints over 9 years and 140+…
Concerns
One pricing discrepancy case (Feb 2026 Yelp): phone quote $400,…
One Yelp review (4/5, June 2017, older) and one Google review…
Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup
4.8·2.6k reviews·
16 mi away — Edge of service areaGoogle Verified
+4 more
Strengths
Exceptional technician consistency: 'Sayed' is named in…
Same-day and after-hours emergency response: Multiple reviews…
Quick problem resolution: Reviewers repeatedly mention jobs…
Concerns
Pricing opacity: No phone quotes offered;
One mixed pricing sentiment: Single review mentions uncertainty…
Big Smile Plumbing
5·99 reviews·
16 mi away — Edge of service areaGoogle Verified
+5 more
Strengths
Exceptional same-day and next-day availability: 12+ reviews…
Transparent pricing and honest work: 8+ reviews specifically…
Consistent professionalism and communication: 15+ reviews mention…
Preliminary listing — full review analysis coming soon
Wizard Plumbing and Drain
4.8·1.6k reviews·
In San MateoGoogle Verified
+1 more
Strengths
Fast emergency response: Multiple reviews mention same-day or…
Individual technician quality: Specific technicians (Ammar,…
Honest diagnosis in some cases: Several reviews note technicians…
Concerns
Bait-and-switch on free estimates: Advertised 'free quote' or 'no…
Inflated estimates for major jobs: Multiple reviews cite quotes…
Ownership/management transition: Several recent reviews (Sept…
Unresolved warranty disputes: At least 3 reviews mention warranty…
JC Plumbing & Rooter
4.9·115 reviews·
14 mi away — Serves your areaGoogle Verified
+3 more
Strengths
BBB Accredited with A+ rating and zero complaints over 3…
Exceptional response time on initial contact: 15+ Google reviews…
Transparent pricing and honest diagnostics: 20+ reviewers praise…
Concerns
2 of 7 Yelp reviewers report non-responsiveness to follow-up…
1 Yelp review documents alleged unprofessional handling of…
Service Hero Plumbing & Air
4.6·1.3k reviews·
12 mi away — Serves your areaGoogle Verified
+3 more
Strengths
Fast emergency response: Multiple reviewers report arrival within…
Transparent communication and education: 18+ reviewers…
Consistent quality across named technicians: Leonard, Abel,…
Concerns
No-show and failed rescheduling communication (1 incident on…
Very small non-Google sample: Only 1 Angi review (0/5 stars,…
Clement Plumbing Alameda CA
5·12 reviews·
14 mi away — Serves your areaGoogle Verified
+3 more
Strengths
Honest about pricing and necessity
Thorough problem-solving with testing
Goes above and beyond
Concerns
Data quality issue: Reviews reference multiple business names…
One review has a future date (02/12/2026, 02/10/2026) indicating…
Not enough data to identify weaknesses
Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup
4.9·238 reviews·
15 mi away — Serves your areaGoogle Verified
+4 more
Strengths
Fast emergency response: 12+ Google reviewers explicitly mention…
Exceptional technician quality: Named technicians (Rich,…
BBB A+ accreditation and 91 years in business establish…
Concerns
Pricing disputes: 2 of 86 Google reviewers report unexpectedly…
Missing documentation: 1 reviewer unable to obtain invoice after…
High BBB complaint volume (781 total): While accredited A+, the…
Oakland Plumbing Experts
4.9·37 reviews·
16 mi away — Edge of service areaGoogle Verified
+5 more
Strengths
Same-day and after-hours emergency response: 4 reviewers…
Detailed diagnosis and explanation: 8+ reviewers praise…
High-quality workmanship: 30 of 36 Google reviews mention…
Concerns
Pricing disputes: 1 of 36 reviewers (2.8%) reported suspected…
Scheduling adherence: 1 reviewer reported 45-minute late arrival…
The Plumbing Ministry
4.5·76 reviews·
13 mi away — Serves your areaGoogle Verified
Strengths
Fast emergency response: Multiple reviews mention same-day or…
Sewer lateral expertise: Consistent praise for competent,…
Crew quality on good days: When properly supervised, field teams…
Concerns
Pattern of property damage with deflection: 4+ recent reviews…
Repeated no-shows and rescheduling: At least 6 reviews document…
Billing disputes and perceived overcharging: Multiple reviews…
Possible hiring/supervision issues: 2024-2025 reviews allege…
Big Brothers Plumbing Inc
5·151 reviews·
14 mi away — Serves your areaGoogle Verified
+5 more
Strengths
BBB A+ accredited with zero complaints in 3 years and 9 years in…
14+ Google reviewers explicitly mention same-day or next-day…
Consistent pattern of technicians (Angel, Jorge, Ruben, Jesus)…
Concerns
2 Yelp reviewers report communication breakdown after initial…
2 older Yelp reviews (2018, 2020) allege crew rudeness and…
Common Frozen Pipes Scenarios
DON'T Use Open Flames
Never use a torch, candle, or space heater directly on pipes. Use a hair dryer, heat lamp, or wrap pipes in hot towels. Open flame near pipes risks fire and can cause them to burst.
Open the Faucet
Open the faucet connected to the frozen pipe. Running water (even a trickle) helps melt ice from the inside and relieves pressure that causes bursts.
Apply Heat Slowly
Start heating from the faucet end and work toward the frozen section. This allows water to flow out as ice melts, reducing pressure.
Know When to Call a Pro
If you can't locate the frozen section, the pipe is inside a wall, or you suspect it has already burst, call a plumber immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my pipes are frozen?
Signs of frozen pipes: no water comes out when you turn on a faucet, only a trickle, frost visible on exposed pipes, or unusual odors from drains (a frozen line can cause waste backup). In San Mateo, pipes in exterior walls, unheated basements, and crawl spaces freeze first.
Will frozen pipes always burst?
No — but the risk is high. When water freezes, it expands and creates pressure between the ice blockage and the faucet. If that pressure has nowhere to go, the pipe bursts. Quick thawing reduces the risk. Copper and galvanized pipes are more vulnerable than PEX.
How much does frozen pipe repair cost in San Mateo?
Thawing a frozen pipe without damage: $100-$300. If the pipe has burst: $200-$1,000 for the pipe repair plus water damage costs. Prevention (insulation, heat tape) costs $50-$200 per pipe run — much cheaper than repair.
How do I prevent frozen pipes in San Mateo?
In San Mateo winters: insulate pipes in unheated areas, leave faucets dripping during extreme cold, keep cabinet doors open under sinks on exterior walls, maintain heat at 55°F+ even when away, and disconnect garden hoses before the first freeze.
Other Services in San Mateo
Drain Cleaning Water Heater Repair Burst Pipe Repair Repiping Bathroom Remodel Plumbing Sewer Repair Sewer Line Replacement Toilet Repair Faucet Repair Garbage Disposal Repair Sump Pump Repair Gas Line Repair Slab Leak Repair Water Line Repair Kitchen Remodel Plumbing Hydro-Jetting 24-Hour Plumber Same-Day Plumber Affordable Plumber Licensed Plumber Plumber Cost Clogged Drain No Hot Water Water Leak Low Water Pressure Sewage Backup All Emergency Plumbers
Frozen Pipes in Nearby Cities
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