R&L Plumbing
R&L Plumbing is a privately held San Francisco plumbing services firm providing residential, commercial, and property management plumbing and HVAC services across 2,000+ buildings under a non-commission, hourly-pricing model.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1999
- HeadquartersSan Francisco, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What R&L Plumbing does
R&L Plumbing is a privately held, founder-owned plumbing services company headquartered at 5425 Mission St in San Francisco, California. The company was founded circa 1999 and has operated continuously for over 25 years, building a stated portfolio of plumbing service for more than 2,000 buildings in the downtown San Francisco area. It serves three primary customer segments — residential homeowners, commercial clients (restaurants, hotels, offices, schools, and factories), and property management firms managing multifamily, high-rise, condominium, and HOA properties — with named enterprise accounts including Trinity Properties, The Academy of Art, Azari Property Management, and SC Properties.
The company delivers a broad service portfolio organized around four core categories: general plumbing (repairs, water heaters, leak detection, gas lines, fixture installation), sewer and drain services (video inspection, hydro jetting, line repair and replacement, compliance), boiler and HVAC (installation, service, preventive maintenance), and a dedicated property management service line. It operates under California C-36 plumbing and C-20 HVAC contractor licenses, employs 101-250 staff including licensed field technicians, and maintains a local warehouse to support rapid response.
Revenue is generated exclusively through hourly-based professional service fees under a non-commission compensation model, where technicians are paid hourly wages rather than earning commissions on services rendered. This structure is positioned as a core differentiator against commission-driven competitors. The go-to-market is direct-to-consumer via 24/7 phone-based dispatch, a website contact form, and inbound reputation-driven demand (5-star rating across 115+ Google and Yelp reviews). The business is privately held by co-owner and president Larry Bustillos, with no disclosed institutional investment, parent company, or external funding.
R&L Plumbing firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- R&L Plumbing
- Legal name
- R&L Plumbing, Inc.
- Website
- https://rlplumbingsanfrancisco.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1999
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- R&L Plumbing is a privately held San Francisco plumbing services firm providing residential, commercial, and property management plumbing and HVAC services across 2,000+ buildings under a non-commission, hourly-pricing model.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
R&L Plumbing industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Plumbing Services
- NAICS
- Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors (23822), Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors (238220)
- SIC
- Construction - Special Trade Contractors (1700)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Plumbing & Pipefitting Contracting (IMAFALAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Pipe Installation, Repair & Repiping (HSAOAAAB), Gas Piping Replacement & Re-Routing (HSAOAKAE), Residential Plumbing Fixture Installation & Repair (HSAOAAAA)
Keywords
Where R&L Plumbing is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Francisco
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
R&L Plumbing business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Plumbing Services: R&L Plumbing generates revenue through hourly-based plumbing service fees. They are explicitly a non-commission-based service, meaning technicians are paid hourly wages rather than earning commissions on services rendered. This model appeals to customers seeking transparent pricing without upselling pressure.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Service-based pricing with free estimates |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
R&L Plumbing product offering
Product offeringCore offering
R&L Plumbing is a San Francisco-based licensed plumbing contractor that provides residential and commercial plumbing repair and installation, sewer and drain cleaning, boiler and HVAC service, and recurring property management maintenance for multi-unit buildings. The company dispatches licensed journeyman and master plumbers and HVAC technicians across the Bay Area, with 24/7 emergency response and a dedicated property management program for commercial property owners and managers.
Product overview
R&L Plumbing is a San Francisco-based plumbing service company offering a unified suite of plumbing, sewer/drain, boiler/HVAC, and property management services. The core offering centers on four main service categories: General Plumbing (repairs, installations, water heaters, leak detection, gas lines), Sewer & Drain (video inspection, hydro jetting, line repair/replacement, compliance), Boiler & HVAC (installation, service, repair, preventive maintenance), and Property Management (specialized services for multifamily, high-rises, hotels, and commercial properties). Additional specialized services include backflow testing, bathroom/kitchen/laundry room plumbing, water filtration, and appliance installation. The company operates as a traditional service business rather than a software platform.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Plumbing Services Residential and commercial plumbing repair, installation, and diagnostic service covering leaks, fixtures, water lines, water heaters, and general plumbing work; delivered by licensed journeyman and master plumbers to homeowners and commercial property clients in the San Francisco Bay Area.
- Residential Plumbing Plumbing service line targeted at Bay Area homeowners, covering repair, installation, fixture work, and emergency response in single-family and owner-occupied residences.
- Commercial Plumbing Plumbing service line targeted at Bay Area commercial property owners and managers, covering code-compliant commercial plumbing repair, installation, and project work.
- Sewer and Drain Services Sewer and drain cleaning, unclogging, and line service for residential and commercial properties, supported by camera-based line inspection to diagnose blockages and sewer line conditions.
- Boiler and HVAC Services Boiler and HVAC repair, service, and installation delivered by licensed HVAC technicians for residential and commercial clients in the San Francisco Bay Area.
- Property Management Maintenance Services Recurring plumbing, sewer, boiler, and HVAC maintenance program for Bay Area property managers and multi-unit building owners, bundling preventive maintenance and responsive service across an entire property portfolio.
Quantifiable outcome
- Manages plumbing for over 2,000 buildings in downtown San Francisco
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use R&L Plumbing
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
R&L Plumbing technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
R&L Plumbing partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- City of San Francisco InspectorsminorR&L Plumbing maintains working relationships with local City Inspectors in San Francisco to help customers navigate the permitting process for plumbing installations and repairs.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
R&L Plumbing competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- HomeAdvisor (Angi Leads): HomeAdvisor/Angi is a home services marketplace that generates leads for plumbers and HVAC contractors. It is an ecosystem participant rather than a direct competitor; R&L could leverage or be disintermediated by such platforms for customer acquisition.
Direct peers
- Benjamin Franklin Plumbing: Benjamin Franklin Plumbing is a national franchise specializing in residential and light commercial plumbing repairs, installations, and emergency service. It is a close comparable in service breadth, customer experience emphasis, and on-time service guarantees.
- Mr. Rooter Plumbing: Mr. Rooter is a national plumbing service franchise delivering residential and commercial plumbing, drain cleaning, and sewer line services. It is a direct competitor to R&L on service mix, customer segments, and 24/7 emergency response model.
- Roto-Rooter: Roto-Rooter is the largest U.S. plumbing and drain service franchise, offering residential and commercial plumbing, sewer, and water damage restoration. It directly competes with R&L Plumbing for the same commercial and residential customer base, but with national scale and brand recognition.
Broad incumbents
- ARS / Rescue Rooter: ARS/Rescue Rooter is a large national HVAC, plumbing, and sewer services provider. It is a broad incumbent overlapping with R&L's plumbing and drain service lines, with significantly larger scale and multi-state operations.
- Bell Plumbing & Heating: Bell Plumbing & Heating is an established regional plumbing, heating, and mechanical contractor serving Colorado. It is a broad incumbent comparable to R&L in offering combined plumbing, heating, and HVAC services to residential and commercial customers.
Regional players
- Rooter Hero: Rooter Hero is a California-based plumbing and HVAC service provider covering Northern and Southern California. It competes directly with R&L in the Bay Area for residential and commercial plumbing, sewer, and HVAC work, but with broader California coverage.
- Ace Plumbing & Rooter: Ace Plumbing & Rooter is a San Francisco Bay Area plumbing and drain service provider. It directly competes with R&L for residential and commercial plumbing, sewer, and water heater work in the same metro market.
- George Salet Plumbing: George Salet Plumbing is a long-established San Francisco plumbing contractor serving residential and commercial customers. It is a direct local competitor to R&L for SF plumbing, sewer, and remodeling work in the same geography.
- Horizon Services: Horizon Services is a regional plumbing, HVAC, and drain cleaning company serving the Delaware Valley. It is a regional peer with a comparable residential and commercial service mix, hourly-pricing philosophy, and 24/7 emergency model.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
R&L Plumbing social profiles
Digital presenceR&L Plumbing financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
R&L Plumbing leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
R&L Plumbing funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
R&L Plumbing M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about R&L Plumbing
What does R&L Plumbing do?
R&L Plumbing is a San Francisco-based licensed plumbing contractor that provides residential and commercial plumbing repair and installation, sewer and drain cleaning, boiler and HVAC service, and recurring property management maintenance for multi-unit buildings. The company dispatches licensed journeyman and master plumbers and HVAC technicians across the Bay Area, with 24/7 emergency response and a dedicated property management program for commercial property owners and managers.
Is R&L Plumbing a public or private company?
R&L Plumbing is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was R&L Plumbing founded?
R&L Plumbing was founded in 1999. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is R&L Plumbing based?
R&L Plumbing is headquartered in San Francisco, United States, in the North America region.
How does R&L Plumbing make money?
One revenue line is on record: plumbing Services.
Who are R&L Plumbing's main competitors?
HomeAdvisor (Angi Leads) is listed as an others. Direct peers are Benjamin Franklin Plumbing, Mr. Rooter Plumbing and Roto-Rooter. Broad incumbents are ARS / Rescue Rooter and Bell Plumbing & Heating. Regional players are Rooter Hero, Ace Plumbing & Rooter, George Salet Plumbing and Horizon Services.
Does R&L Plumbing have an API?
No public API is recorded for R&L Plumbing.
What industry is R&L Plumbing in?
R&L Plumbing's product category is Plumbing Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAFALAC, Plumbing & Pipefitting Contracting, with a secondary code of HSAOAAAB, Pipe Installation, Repair & Repiping. Its NAICS code is 23822 and its SIC code is 1700.