Plumber in San Antonio, TX
Licensed master plumbers serving San Antonio since 1977. Two generations of the Walker family, working on everything from 1940s cast iron under historic homes to brand-new tankless heaters in Stone Oak. Phone quotes. Upfront pricing. 10% off for seniors, military, teachers, and first responders.
in San Antonio since 1977
Master Plumber
master plumbers
Neighborhood Favorite
San Antonio's Plumbing Isn't Like Anywhere Else
Russell Walker started plumbing San Antonio in 1977. Since then, he's watched the city grow from a couple hundred thousand homes to over 2 million residents, watched neighborhoods get built and rebuilt, and watched the same handful of uniquely San Antonio problems cause the same kinds of headaches decade after decade.
Three things make plumbing here different from most of the country: extremely hard water from the Edwards Aquifer, expansive clay soil that shifts with every wet-dry cycle, and a wide range of housing ages — from 1940s bungalows in King William to brand-new builds in Alamo Ranch, with mid-century homes and 1970s-80s tract houses in between. Each era has its own failure modes.
Our office is at 9355 Bandera Rd., Ste. 112 — on the NW side. We service all of San Antonio from there: the urban core, the older Loop 410 ring, the Loop 1604 suburbs, and adjacent cities like Leon Valley and Helotes. Two generations of master plumbers, one family business, and an intentionally memorable phone number so you never have to dig through a directory to find us: just dial 210-PLU-MBER.
Four Plumbing Problems San Antonio Homes Are Known For
If you live in San Antonio long enough, at least one of these will find you. We see them every week.
Very Hard Water — 15 to 20 Grains Per Gallon
Edwards Aquifer water picks up calcium and magnesium as it moves through limestone, which is why SAWS water tests between 15–20 grains per gallon — in the "very hard" category. That's what's building scale in your water heater, clogging your aerators, and making your soap refuse to lather. Solution: a water softener, ideally paired with a de-chlorinator.
Slab Leaks from Clay Soil Movement
San Antonio's clay soil expands when wet and contracts when dry. Over years of seasonal cycles, that movement stresses pipes running under your slab, and eventually something develops a pinhole leak or cracks a joint. Signs: unexplained water bill spike, warm spot on the floor, or the sound of water running when nothing's on. We use electronic leak detection to find them without tearing up your slab guessing.
Cast Iron Drain Lines in Pre-1980 Homes
If your home was built before 1980 — especially in Alamo Heights, Monte Vista, King William, Olmos Park, or Terrell Hills — your drain lines are probably cast iron. They were rated for 40–60 years. Many are now 50-80 years old and failing from the inside out. Signs: multiple slow drains, sewer smell, repeated clogs, cracks in the slab. We can run a camera inspection to tell you how much life is left.
Polybutylene Pipes in 1980s–Early 1990s Homes
Homes built from the early 1980s through the early 1990s often have polybutylene (gray plastic) supply lines. The material becomes brittle with age and chlorine exposure and develops sudden leaks — often inside walls or under slabs. If you're in a home from that era and haven't had your supply lines checked, it's worth doing before the first leak. We can identify what you have during any service call.
Our San Antonio Plumbing Services
Call us for a phone quote on most jobs — water heaters, softeners, drains, leaks, valves. No dispatch fees to find out what something costs.
Water Heaters
Tank and tankless installation, repair, and replacement. In a city with hard water, tank heaters usually need replacement 3–5 years earlier than rated unless they're behind a softener.
Learn more →Water Softeners
The single highest-return plumbing upgrade for most San Antonio homes. Reduces scale, extends fixture and appliance life, and makes your skin and hair feel dramatically better after showering.
Learn more →De-Chlorinator Systems
SAWS chlorinates all municipal water. A de-chlorinator removes that chlorine before it strips your skin and hair — and protects your water softener's resin beads so the softener lasts years longer.
Learn more →Pressure Regulating Valves
High incoming water pressure shortens the life of every fixture in your home. A properly set PRV keeps pressure in the right range and protects your entire plumbing system.
Learn more →Sewer & Drain Cleaning
Drain cleaning for everyday clogs, plus camera inspections when something keeps coming back or when you're buying an older home and need to know what's under the slab before closing.
Learn more →Yard Leak Detection
Water bill spiked with no change in use? Wet spot in the yard that never dries out? We use electronic leak detection to pinpoint underground leaks before any digging starts.
Learn more →San Antonio Neighborhoods & Nearby Cities
We super-serve several areas near our Bandera Rd. office. Click through for area-specific details, or call anywhere in San Antonio.
Leon Valley
~10 min from our office. Split water supply between Leon Valley Water System and SAWS.
Helotes
~20 min up Bandera Rd. SAWS homes and private Trinity Aquifer well homes.
Stone Oak
Edwards Aquifer recharge zone. Newer construction, often higher water pressure.
We also regularly serve: Alamo Heights, Terrell Hills, Olmos Park, Monte Vista, King William, Shavano Park, Alamo Ranch, Hollywood Park, Castle Hills, Balcones Heights, Windcrest, and surrounding areas. If you're in San Antonio or adjacent, we can get to you — call 210-PLU-MBER.
🕒 Business Hours
Monday–Thursday: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Friday: 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Saturday–Sunday: Closed
Call during business hours for fastest response and a phone quote: 210-PLU-MBER
⚠️ After-Hours & Emergencies
For after-hours plumbing emergencies (active leaks, sewer backups, no water), leave a message at 210-758-6237 and we'll return your call as soon as possible.
If water is actively damaging your home, shut off the main water valve first, then call us.
Request a Quote
Tell us what's going on and we'll call you back with a price. For same-day service, it's fastest to call us directly at 210-PLU-MBER.
San Antonio Plumbing FAQs
How hard is San Antonio water, really?
Very hard — typically 15 to 20 grains per gallon, with most recent SAWS data showing about 16.7 gpg. For reference, anything over 7 gpg is "hard" and over 10.5 gpg is "very hard." San Antonio's is roughly double the threshold. That's why scale builds up so fast on faucets, inside water heaters, and on shower doors. A water softener is one of the highest-return upgrades you can make to a San Antonio home.
I have an old house in Alamo Heights / Monte Vista / King William. Should I worry about my pipes?
If your home was built before 1980 and hasn't had its drain lines replaced, it probably has cast iron — which typically lasts 40–60 years. Many of those lines are now well past that, and we see failures regularly in the historic neighborhoods. The good news: failure is usually gradual, not catastrophic. Signs to watch for include multiple slow drains, recurring clogs, sewer smell, and floor tile cracks around fixtures. A camera inspection will tell you how much life is left before you have to decide.
What's a slab leak and how do I know if I have one?
A slab leak is a pinhole or crack in a water line running under your home's concrete foundation. They're common in San Antonio because our clay soil shifts with moisture and stresses the pipes. Warning signs: a sudden unexplained jump in your water bill, a warm spot on the floor (if it's a hot-water line), the sound of water running when everything's off, mildew smell near baseboards, or cracks forming in floor tile. If you suspect one, turn off all water inside the house and check your water meter — if it's still spinning, you likely have a leak. Call us and we'll locate it.
How much does a service call cost?
For most services, we can give you a price over the phone — no dispatch fee to find out what something costs. Water heater replacements, water softener installations, de-chlorinator systems, pressure regulating valves, and standard drain cleaning usually fit this as long as you can tell us the basics (what you have, how many bathrooms, what the symptom is). Some jobs — like slab leaks, yard leaks, or unknown drain issues — need a visit to diagnose before we can quote. Ask when you call.
How fast can you get to my home?
Our office is on Bandera Rd. on the NW side. For same-day service, call during business hours (Mon–Thu 8:00–4:30, Fri 8:00–2:00). We can usually book you within the day for most non-emergency work. For active emergencies after hours, leave a message and we'll return the call as soon as possible.
Do you do after-hours emergency plumbing?
For true emergencies — active leaks, sewer backups, no water — leave a message at 210-758-6237 after hours and we'll return your call as soon as we can. If water is actively damaging your home, shut off the main water valve before you do anything else (it's usually near the street or where the supply enters your house), then call us.
Do you give discounts to seniors, military, teachers, or first responders?
Yes — 10% off service for seniors, active-duty and veteran military, K-12 and college teachers, and first responders (police, fire, EMS). Just mention it when you call. Valid ID required.
Your San Antonio Plumber — Since 1977
Two generations. Licensed master plumbers. Family-owned. Upfront phone quotes.
Call 210-PLU-MBER Request a Quote