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Magic Plumbing Heating & Cooling has been serving San Francisco and the Bay Area since 1980 — over 40 years of trusted plumbing and HVAC service. We are a family-owned business, fully licensed, bonded, and insured in California.
We serve San Francisco and the greater Bay Area including San Mateo, Oakland, Alameda, Berkeley, Daly City, South San Francisco, and surrounding communities.
Yes. Magic Plumbing Heating & Cooling is fully licensed, bonded, and insured in the state of California. Our plumbers and HVAC technicians are trained professionals with decades of combined experience.
Yes, we offer same-day service for most plumbing and HVAC needs throughout San Francisco and the Bay Area. We serve customers 7 days a week, 7AM–8PM.
Yes, we offer financing options for larger plumbing and HVAC projects including water heater replacements, furnace installations, heat pump systems, and sewer line repairs.
We accept all major credit cards including Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover. We are not cash-only.
Homeowners insurance typically covers sudden and accidental damage — like a pipe that bursts unexpectedly — but does not cover repairs due to normal wear, lack of maintenance, or gradual leaks. HVAC system replacement is generally not covered unless the damage was caused by a covered peril like fire or a fallen tree. We recommend reviewing your policy and calling your insurer before assuming coverage. Magic Plumbing provides detailed invoices and documentation that can support insurance claims when applicable.
Absolutely. We offer second-opinion consultations for homeowners who have received a diagnosis or estimate from another company and want to verify it before committing to a large repair. There is no obligation and no pressure.
Yes. We provide professional drain cleaning for kitchen drains, bathroom drains, shower drains, floor drains, and main sewer lines throughout San Francisco and the Bay Area. We use both traditional snaking and high-pressure hydro jetting depending on the severity of the clog.
Hydro jetting uses high-pressure water to clear stubborn blockages, grease buildup, and root intrusion from drain and sewer lines. It’s a more thorough and longer-lasting solution than traditional snaking. Yes, we offer hydro jetting throughout San Francisco and the Bay Area.
Yes. We perform sewer camera inspections, sewer line repair, and full sewer line replacement using both traditional and trenchless methods. Trenchless sewer repair minimizes disruption to your yard and landscaping. We serve residential and commercial properties in San Francisco and the Bay Area.
Yes, our licensed plumbers handle gas line installation, repair, and leak detection for residential and commercial properties in San Francisco and the Bay Area.
Yes. We handle emergency burst pipe repair and slab leak detection and repair throughout the San Francisco Bay Area
Yes, we provide whole-home and partial repiping services for older San Francisco homes with galvanized, lead, or deteriorating pipes. We use copper and PEX piping materials.
Low water pressure in San Francisco homes is most commonly caused by aging galvanized pipes that have narrowed due to mineral buildup, a failing pressure-reducing valve (PRV), a partially closed shutoff valve, or a leak somewhere in the system. In some cases the issue is with the city supply pressure itself. We diagnose and fix all of these — from PRV replacement to whole-home repiping — throughout San Francisco and the Bay Area.
No. Despite the label, flushable wipes do not break down in sewer lines the way toilet paper does. They are one of the leading causes of sewer clogs and fatbergs in residential and municipal systems. San Francisco’s older clay sewer laterals are particularly vulnerable. Dispose of wipes in the trash, not the toilet.
Signs of a slab leak include unexplained increases in your water bill, the sound of running water when all fixtures are off, warm spots on your floor, cracks in flooring or baseboards, or mold and mildew under carpeting. Slab leaks are common in older San Francisco homes with copper pipes and require electronic leak detection equipment to locate accurately. We detect and repair slab leaks throughout San Francisco and the Bay Area.
Yes. Water heater installation, repair, and replacement is one of our core services. We work on traditional tank water heaters and tankless (on-demand) water heaters. We service all major brands including Navien, Rinnai, Bradford White, Rheem, and A.O. Smith.
Yes, we specialize in tankless water heater installation throughout San Francisco and the Bay Area. Tankless systems provide unlimited hot water and can reduce energy costs by up to 30%. We install Navien and Rinnai tankless systems and can help you determine the right size for your home.
Most water heater installations take 2–4 hours. Tankless water heater installations may take slightly longer depending on whether gas line or venting modifications are needed.
This is usually caused by sediment buildup in the bottom of the tank, which reduces the effective capacity and forces the heating element to work harder. It can also be caused by a failing heating element (electric) or a burner issue (gas). Annual flushing of your water heater tank can prevent sediment buildup and extend the life of the unit. If flushing doesn’t help, it may be time for a replacement — especially if the unit is over 8 years old.
A tank water heater stores and continuously heats a fixed amount of water — typically 40–50 gallons — ready for use. A tankless (on-demand) water heater heats water only when you need it, eliminating standby heat loss. Tankless units cost more upfront but last longer (15–20 years vs 8–12), never run out of hot water, and can reduce water heating costs by up to 30%. For San Francisco’s older homes with high hot water demand, tankless is increasingly the preferred upgrade.
Once a year. Flushing removes sediment that accumulates at the bottom of the tank, which reduces efficiency, causes rumbling noises, and shortens the life of the unit. San Francisco’s water supply is relatively low in minerals compared to other Bay Area cities, but sediment still builds up over time. If your water heater has never been flushed and is more than 3 years old, it’s worth having a professional do it — years of compacted sediment can be difficult to clear safely.
It depends on the age and the problem. Thermostats, heating elements, pressure relief valves, and anode rods can all be replaced cost-effectively if the unit is under 8 years old. If the tank itself is leaking, corroded, or the unit is over 10 years old, replacement is almost always the better investment — repairs on an aging unit rarely prevent the next failure. We give honest assessments and won’t recommend replacement if a repair makes financial sense.
For tank water heaters, a 40-gallon unit is typically sufficient for 1–3 people; 50 gallons for 3–5 people. For tankless units, sizing is based on flow rate (gallons per minute) and how many fixtures run simultaneously. San Francisco’s incoming water temperature is cooler than inland cities, which affects tankless sizing — undersized units struggle to keep up in winter. We assess your household’s hot water usage and recommend the right size during a free estimate.
Yes. Our licensed HVAC technicians diagnose and repair all furnace brands and models, and we install new gas furnaces throughout the Bay Area. Common repairs include flame sensors, igniters, heat exchangers, blower motors, and control boards.
Yes, we install and service heat pump systems including ducted central heat pump systems and ductless mini-split heat pumps. Heat pumps are ideal for San Francisco’s climate and qualify for California rebates and federal tax credits. Call us to schedule a free estimate.
Yes. We install central air conditioning systems and ductless mini-split AC systems throughout San Francisco and the Bay Area. Given San Francisco’s climate, ductless mini-splits are often the most cost-effective solution.
Yes, our HVAC technicians repair all makes and models of central AC and ductless mini-split systems. We also offer annual maintenance plans to keep your system running efficiently.
Yes, we offer furnace tune-ups, heat pump maintenance, and AC maintenance services. Regular maintenance extends the life of your system and prevents costly breakdowns. Ask about our annual maintenance plans.
Yes — for most San Francisco homes, a heat pump is the smartest HVAC investment available right now. San Francisco’s mild climate is ideal for heat pump efficiency. Heat pumps provide both heating and cooling from a single system, use significantly less energy than gas furnaces, and currently qualify for up to $2,000 in federal IRA tax credits plus $1,500–$3,000 in BayREN/PG&E rebates. For homes without existing ductwork, ductless mini-split heat pumps are particularly cost-effective.
SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) measures how efficiently an air conditioner or heat pump cools your home over a season. The higher the SEER, the more efficient the system. California now requires a minimum SEER2 of 15 for new residential AC installations. Higher-SEER systems cost more upfront but reduce energy bills over time — in San Francisco’s mild climate, the payback period is typically 5–8 years. We install systems up to SEER2 20+ and can help you evaluate the cost-benefit for your home.
Yes — a cracked heat exchanger in a gas furnace is one of the most serious and common causes of carbon monoxide leaks in homes. CO is odorless and colorless and can be fatal. Signs of a problem include soot around the furnace, a yellow or flickering burner flame, or unexplained headaches and nausea in the home. We strongly recommend a CO detector on every level of your home and annual furnace inspections. If you suspect a CO leak, leave immediately and call 911. Call us after the all-clear to inspect your system.
Yes, for most households. Smart thermostats like Nest, Ecobee, and Honeywell Home learn your schedule and adjust heating and cooling automatically, reducing energy use when you’re away or asleep. Studies show average savings of 10–15% on heating and cooling costs annually. They also qualify for rebates through PG&E. We install and configure smart thermostats throughout San Francisco and the Bay Area — call (415) 441-2255 for details.
Yes, we provide professional air duct cleaning for residential and commercial properties in San Francisco and the Bay Area. Clean ducts improve indoor air quality and HVAC efficiency.
Yes, we install UV light air purification systems and air scrubbers that kill bacteria, mold, and viruses in your HVAC system. These are particularly beneficial for households with allergies or respiratory sensitivities.
San Francisco’s indoor air quality challenges are somewhat unique. The city’s mild, damp climate promotes mold growth in poorly ventilated homes. Wildfire smoke from Northern California fires has become a recurring seasonal concern, pushing fine particulate matter (PM2.5) to hazardous levels for days at a time. Older SF homes with aging ductwork also accumulate dust, pet dander, and allergens more readily. A combination of HEPA filtration, UV purification, and regular duct cleaning addresses all three of these local concerns effectively.
For wildfire smoke, the most effective solution is a whole-home air purifier with a HEPA filter rated for fine particulate matter (PM2.5) installed in your HVAC system. Portable room units help but only treat one space at a time. A properly rated whole-home system filters every room simultaneously whenever your HVAC runs. We also recommend sealing duct leaks, which can draw unfiltered outside air into your home during smoke events.
Yes — significantly. Wildfire smoke, dust, and airborne debris clog filters faster, reducing airflow and forcing your system to work harder. This raises energy bills, accelerates wear on the blower motor and heat exchanger, and shortens overall system life. During heavy smoke events, we recommend checking and replacing your filter more frequently than usual — every 2–4 weeks instead of every 3 months. A higher-MERV filter (MERV 11–13) catches finer particles without restricting airflow the way thicker filters can.
MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value) rates how effectively an air filter captures particles. Higher MERV = finer filtration. For most San Francisco homes we recommend MERV 11–13 — it captures dust, pollen, mold spores, and fine smoke particles without restricting airflow enough to strain your system. MERV 14+ filters provide hospital-grade filtration but require a compatible HVAC system — using one in the wrong system can reduce airflow and damage equipment. If you’re unsure what’s right for your system, call us and we’ll advise.
Still have questions? Call us at (415) 441-2255. We serve San Francisco, San Mateo, Oakland, Alameda, Berkeley, and the greater Bay Area — 7 days a week.
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