Works Plumbing is the family-owned plumber Foster City households call for townhomes, condos and single-family houses on the island. We are licensed and insured under CSLB #982663, offer same-day appointments and answer emergencies 24/7. Our crews work from Pacifica and a staffed Burlingame location, and every job is priced upfront before work begins.
Get a Free Estimate
Upfront pricing. Same-day service. No obligation.
"*" indicates required fields
We’ll call you back fast.
THIS MONTH’S BEST DEAL
$75
OFF
$75 OFF Any Plumbing Repair Over $500
One-time use. Combine with our 24/7 emergency service and pay only when the job is done. Mention this offer when you book.
Foster City was planned as a whole, and its plumbing shows it. Census estimates for 2020 to 2024 put the median year built at 1976, with 41.0 percent of homes from the 1970s, 20.8 percent from the 1960s and only 3.7 percent from before 1960. Townhomes make up 18.9 percent of housing, and 15.0 percent of homes are in buildings of 50 or more units. That mix shapes nearly every call: shared walls, stacked bathrooms and private sewer lines that serve several owners at once.
Private sewers are a big share of the system
The Estero Municipal Improvement District (EMID) runs the public sewer, but its 2017 management plan says about 30 percent of the system is private, maintained by homeowners or homeowners associations. The district states it is not responsible for sewer laterals. Public mains went in mostly between 1960 and 1980, and about 65 percent of gravity sewer is clay. In a townhome row, a backup in one unit can point to a shared private line, which is why toilet repair in Foster City often starts with a question about who owns the pipe.
EMID’s design standards also require a sewer backflow prevention valve on any lot whose finished pad sits lower than the street over the serving main. The owner installs and maintains it, in a valve box visible from the right-of-way. The same standards place the residential cleanout within 2 feet of the property line and mark the lateral with an “S” stamped on the curb.
Low ground behind the levees
The city sits about 7 feet above sea level behind levees, and most of it lies in very high or medium liquefaction susceptibility zones. Stormwater is held in the Foster City Lagoon, where a pump house controls the level, and low spots pond when storm drains or private drainage are undersized or not maintained. Water at the foundation calls for sump pump service in Foster City, not a sewer fix.
Leaks you cannot see
Stacked units and shared walls hide leaks until they reach a neighbor. Ground movement after shaking can also stress buried supply pipe. A meter that moves with every fixture off is the first sign worth checking. Leak detection in Foster City uses acoustic, thermal and pressure testing to find the source before anything is opened.
Why Foster City homeowners call Works Plumbing
Family-owned plumbing company operating since 2009
CSLB #982663, licensed and insured in California
Upfront pricing and BBB A+ accredited service
Same-day visits and 24/7 emergency plumbing service
Plumbing services we provide in Foster City
Foster City calls tend to land in a few groups. Each link below goes to the page for that service here. In every case we diagnose first, explain what we found and give you a price before any work starts.
The City requires a permit for a new, relocated or replacement water heater, and we handle permits and inspections. Start with water heater repair in Foster City, or read about the City’s tankless checklist on our Foster City tankless water heater page. We also install heat pump water heaters, and every install includes the seismic strapping state law requires.
We diagnose the issue and show you a flat price upfront.
You approve it, then our tech gets to work from a fully-stocked truck.
We test the fix twice and leave your space cleaner than we found it.
Works Plumbing inspecting a sewer lateral at a Foster City home.
Why homeowners choose Works
Every job comes with upfront pricing, licensed and background-checked technicians, and a 100% satisfaction guarantee . No surprises, no pressure, ever.
Pro tip
In a townhome complex, ask your association for the private sewer map before a problem starts. Knowing which line serves which units tells you whether a backup is yours to fix or a shared repair.
See how we handle it:
Prefer to listen? Catch this topic on our homeowner podcast:
▶
The Works Plumbing Podcast · Homeowner Tips
Book a Foster City plumber
From the island neighborhoods bordering the lagoon to the homes near Shorebird Park, tell us what you are seeing. We will confirm a same-day visit and an upfront price.
Foster City sits on what was Brewer Island, about 2,600 acres of tidal marsh once used for dairy farming and salt ponds. The State created EMID in 1960. The engineering firm Wilsey Ham planned to raise the island’s surface by 4 to 5 feet and dig the central drainage basin that is now the Foster City Lagoon. The city incorporated in April 1971.
What the water does inside your pipes
EMID buys all of its water from the San Francisco Regional Water System and monitors its own distribution system. Its 2025 water quality report lists pH adjustment “to reduce pipe corrosion” among the treatment steps, along with chloramination. In 2025 tap monitoring, lead measured 2.4 ppb at the 90th percentile against an action level of 15, copper measured 45 ppb, and none of 39 samples went above an action level.
The report names the likely source of both metals: internal corrosion of household water plumbing systems. What reaches your glass reflects the pipes, solder and valves inside the house as well as the water the district delivers.
How that shapes our work
Interior supply materials in 1960s and 1970s Foster City homes have not been documented citywide, so we do not assume. When we replace a valve, open a wall or swap a run of pipe, we note the pipe and fitting materials and look for green staining or pinholes at joints. We use chloramine-resistant parts when they are available. EMID’s annual report remains the place to check the latest district-wide results.
FAQ
Foster City plumbing questions.
Here are the questions we hear most. Don’t see yours? Give us a ring, a real human answers, day or night.
Every part of it, including the island neighborhoods bordering the lagoon, homes near Shorebird Park and Port Royal Avenue, and the condo and apartment buildings across the city. EMID also serves part of San Mateo, and we cover those homes too. Same-day appointments and 24/7 emergency service apply throughout.
Do you work with Foster City homeowners associations and property managers?
Yes. We serve residential and light commercial customers, including HOAs and multi-unit buildings. With private sewer lines shared between units, we often coordinate with the association before work begins so the right party approves the repair. You still get an upfront price, and we handle permits and inspections where they apply.
Is Foster City tap water hard on household pipes?
The district treats for it. EMID adjusts pH to reduce pipe corrosion, and in 2025 none of 39 tap samples exceeded the lead or copper action levels. The report points to household plumbing as the source of the metals that do appear, so the condition of your own pipes and fittings still matters.
Do you install heat pump water heaters in Foster City?
Yes, along with tank and tankless gas models. The City’s residential permit handout requires a permit for a new, relocated or replacement water heater, and we handle permits and inspections. In a garage or utility closet we check space, drainage and electrical needs before recommending a model.
Can you help with plumbing during a Foster City remodel?
Yes. The City’s permit handout lists new or relocated gas-fired appliances and replacement water heaters among the work that needs a permit. We plan the plumbing, pull the permits and schedule inspections with the Building Division so the remodel keeps moving. Financing is available for larger projects.
Do you take emergency calls in Foster City at night?
Yes. Our emergency service runs 24/7 for burst pipes, sewer backups, water heater leaks and gas concerns. If water is spreading, close the main shutoff first. In a stacked building, let the unit below know as well. Then request service and we will dispatch a licensed plumber.
Nearby Areas We Serve
Just outside Foster City.
We also serve nearby San Mateo, Belmont, San Carlos, Redwood City and Burlingame.
We’ve earned our reputation one happy homeowner at a time.
“I had a backed up kitchen drain and David from Works Plumbing came out and cleared the line in a matter of minutes. Very professional and very knowledgeable. Definitely recommend!”
GG
George G.
Daly City · Yelp Review
“Great professional and quick service! Shamir was friendly, efficient, and professional. He fixed the leaking problem in my sink and garbage disposal in under an hour. Highly recommend!”
MR
Maria R.
Oakland · Google Review
“Thank you again for another job well done, and thank you for responding right away. I will continue to recommend Works Plumbing because they respond right away and get the job done efficiently.”
DK
David K.
San Mateo · Google Review
Google reviews
Yelp reviews
A+
BBB Accredited
Pay Your Way
BIG REPAIR? SMALL PAYMENTS.
Plumbing emergencies don’t wait for payday. Spread your cost over 12, 24, or 60 months with affordable financing options through trusted partners.
A real human will answer, dispatch a stocked Works van, and get someone at your door the same day. No phone trees. No robots. No “we’ll get back to you Monday.”
Google rated. BBB A+ accredited.
TAP TO CALL • 24/7