Licensed & Insured · CA LIC #982663
Open 24/7 · Mon-Sun
Pacifica, San Francisco, Burlingame, CA · Serving the Bay
PACIFICA, CA • LIC #982663 • 24/7
We answer the phone day, night, weekends, and holidays, with same-day service across the Peninsula.
When the disposal hums, jams, leaks, or backs up the sink, you want it fixed today. Works Plumbing provides garbage disposal repair in San Mateo, CA for single-family homes, condos, and apartment buildings, and we check the kitchen line behind the unit while we are there.
Upfront pricing. Same-day service. No obligation.
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THIS MONTH’S BEST DEAL
One-time use. Combine with our 24/7 emergency service and pay only when the job is done. Mention this offer when you book.
Expires soon Cannot be combined
Request disposal repair from Works Plumbing and you will get an upfront price before we start.
Key Takeaways
Each symptom points to a different part of the system:
Do not put your hand in the unit. Turn it off at the switch and at the breaker before anyone looks inside.
If the clog is beyond the trap, our drain cleaning service in San Mateo clears the kitchen line and checks it for buildup.
We repair a disposal when the motor and housing are sound. Some conditions point to replacement:
| What we find | Usual recommendation |
|---|---|
| Jam, tripped reset, loose mount | Repair |
| Failed switch or cord | Repair |
| Leak at the sink flange | Reseal and repair |
| Water leaking from the bottom of the housing | Replace the unit |
| Motor hums with no jam present | Often replace |
| Unit trips the breaker immediately on every start | Replace after we rule out wiring |
When we replace a unit, we size it to your household and sink, connect the dishwasher if you have one, and test for leaks. If the sink faucet is also dripping, our faucet repair team in San Mateo can fix it on the same visit.
A disposal grinds food. It does not make every food safe for the pipes. These habits protect your unit and the line behind it:
In a multi-unit building, share these with neighbors on the same stack. The line is shared, and so is the result.
Homeowners often blame the disposal for a problem that sits further down the pipe. A few clues help sort it out:
We check each of these on the visit. Fixing a disposal and leaving a clogged line behind it only brings us back next week.
We at Works Plumbing have been family owned and operated since 2009. When you call us for a disposal, you can count on:
We work for homeowners, condo owners, property managers, and small businesses across San Mateo, from North Central and the Third Avenue and B Street area to the Hillsdale Shopping Center corridor. See all of our local work on the San Mateo plumbing services page, or read about our garbage disposal services in general.
My San Mateo apartment building had a sewer overflow from the kitchen line. What happens now?
Under SMMC 7.38.432, a lateral backup or blockage that causes a sanitary sewer overflow at a multifamily or commercial building triggers a required sewer lateral inspection. We can clear the kitchen line, repair the disposal, and explain what the inspection involves so the owner can plan it.
Does the City of San Mateo inspect my sewer lateral if the kitchen keeps clogging?
No. The City says it does not provide sewer lateral inspections and cannot recommend providers. Property owners maintain their own private lateral, so the diagnosis is the owner’s call.
My disposal and my neighbor’s both back up. Is that the disposal?
Probably not. When two units on the same stack back up together, the clog is usually in the shared line, not in either disposal. We clear the line and then test each unit.
Can I put coffee grounds and eggshells in my disposal?
We advise against it. Grounds settle in the line, and shell fragments add grit that collects with grease. Put both in the trash or compost.
Do you repair disposals for San Mateo restaurants and commercial kitchens?
We repair disposals in homes and light commercial spaces. Commercial buildings fall under the same lateral ordinance trigger for overflows, so keeping the kitchen line clear matters even more there.
How fast can you fix a jammed disposal in San Mateo?
We offer same-day service across San Mateo in most cases, and 24/7 emergency service when a backup cannot wait. Most jams are cleared in one visit.
A jammed or leaking disposal shuts down the kitchen. Book garbage disposal repair in San Mateo and we will fix the unit and check the line behind it.
We’re highly experienced with: Leak detection Drain cleaning Drain repair Rooter services Water heaters Sprinkler systems Tankless water heaters Toilet repair & installation Faucet repair & installation Shower repair & installation Trenchless sewer repairs Camera inspections Garbage disposals Gas lines Gas valves Burst pipes Pipe repair Sump pumps Sewer repairs Hydro jetting Pipelining Plumbing repairs
Garbage Disposal Clogged? We Got It Covered At Works Plumbing, Dealing with a clogged garbage disposal can be inconvenient, but our plumbing service is dedicated to resolving such issues promptly. Our skilled plumbers, known for their reliability and friendliness, arrive equipped to handle clogs in various garbage disposal makes and models. We ensure efficient repairs, leaving your appliance in optimal working condition for years to come. If you’re curious about the lifespan of your garbage disposal, our experienced team can offer insights and guidance on maintenance and potential upgrades. Wondering, ” how long does a garbage disposal last? ” With a reputation for reliable service and high-quality workmanship, we’re your trusted choice for effective and satisfactory garbage disposal solutions. If you’re searching for garbage disposal in San Mateo , count on the most trusted team in the region. We’re centrally located at 1137 Palmetto Ave, San Mateo, so you can call Works Plumbing now to schedule service. Plumbing Repair Toilet Repair Shower Repair Hydro Jetting Camera Inspection Leak Detection Gas Line Repair Trenchless Pipe Repair Water Line Repair Sump Pumps Garbage Disposal Drain Cleaning Faucet Repair Hot Water Heater Repair Tankless Water Heaters
Snap a photo of the problem before you call, it helps us bring the right parts on the first visit.
See how we handle it:
Prefer to listen? Catch this topic on our homeowner podcast:
Upfront pricing, licensed techs, and a real human on the phone 24/7 across the Peninsula.
A look at real Works jobs around the Peninsula.
San Mateo has a large share of multi-unit housing. U.S. Census data show 16.7 percent of the city’s housing units sit in buildings with 50 or more units. In those buildings, many kitchens drain into shared lines and one private lateral to the City main. That is where a local rule comes in.
The City’s Private Sewer Lateral Ordinance, San Mateo Municipal Code 7.38.432, lists the events that require a sewer lateral inspection. One of them is a lateral backup or blockage that causes a sanitary sewer overflow at a commercial or multifamily building.
Here is how disposal habits connect to that rule:
For a single kitchen, a disposal problem is a nuisance. For a building, it can become a code matter. We at Works Plumbing treat it that way. When we repair a disposal in a multi-unit property, we run water through the line afterward and watch the drain. If it is slow, we tell the owner or manager what we found and recommend line cleaning before the problem reaches the lateral.
We also serve these neighboring Peninsula towns.
We’ve earned our reputation one happy homeowner at a time.
“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.”
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Share these with a neighbor, or just mention the special when you schedule. Every offer works by phone or online.
Drain cleared or it’s free. Limit one per household.rnrn
Mention this offer when you schedule EXPIRES 12/31/2026Save $500 on a new tankless water heater install.rnrn
Mention this offer when you schedule Expires 12/31/2026With any drain cleaning service over $250. See the problem yourself.
Mention this offer when you schedule Expires 12/31/2026Thank you for your service. Ongoing: no expiration.
Mention this offer when you schedule Valid year-roundLabor only with purchase of new toilet. Includes haul-away.
Mention this offer when you schedule Expires 12/31/2026Honest pricing, no obligation. We won’t waste your time.
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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.”
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