Mako Plumbing and Sewer brings honest, expert water heater installation and repair to the San Francisco Bay Area — same-day service, free estimates, and no pressure to buy more than you need.
From a failing tank unit to a full tankless upgrade, Mako Plumbing and Sewer handles every step with the transparency and care of a family-owned business.
Not every water heater problem means you need a brand-new unit — and at Mako, we won't tell you otherwise. When you call us, we start with an honest assessment. Common repairable issues include a faulty pilot light, a failing heating element, a malfunctioning thermostat, or a stuck pressure relief valve. If the tank is corroding from the inside, showing its age well past the 8–12 year mark, or simply can't keep up with your household's hot water demand, replacement is usually the smarter long-term investment.
One of the most common questions we get is whether to go with a traditional tank water heater or make the switch to a tankless (on-demand) system. Here's a straightforward comparison:
| Tank Water Heater | Tankless Water Heater | |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront Cost | Lower | Higher |
| Energy Efficiency | Moderate (standby heat loss) | High (heats on demand) |
| Hot Water Supply | Limited by tank size | Continuous |
| Lifespan | 8–12 years | 15–20+ years |
| Best For | Budget-conscious replacement | Long-term savings & performance |
Our team — including brothers Chris and Jimmy and technicians like Roger and Travis — has hands-on experience installing both systems and can walk you through which option makes the most sense for your home size, usage patterns, and budget.
We keep things simple and stress-free from start to finish:
As one happy customer shared after a recent tank replacement: "You can tell they are organized and professional from how they respond to requests. On the appointment day, Chris showed up on time. The finished work looks good. The new unit is working as it should."
Mako Plumbing and Sewer is a family-owned business built on old-school values — a handshake still means a handshake here. When you call us for a water heater install or repair, you're not getting a call center or a rotating crew of strangers. You're getting a tight-knit team that treats your home the same way they'd treat their own.
Mako has earned a **4.9-star rating across 173 reviews on Yelp** — here's what real Bay Area homeowners say about their water heater experience with our team.
A track record built one honest job at a time.
Age and the nature of the problem are the two biggest factors. If your unit is under 10 years old and the issue is a component failure (thermostat, element, pilot), a repair often makes sense. If it's older, leaking from the tank itself, or consistently underperforming, replacement is usually the better value. When we visit, we'll give you an honest assessment — not an upsell.
Most standard tank water heater replacements can be completed in a few hours. Tankless installations may take longer depending on venting and gas line requirements. We'll give you a realistic time estimate before we start.
Yes. We're known for same-day responsiveness — multiple customers have noted that we showed up within an hour of their call. For urgent situations like a leaking or failed water heater, reaching out to us directly is your fastest path to hot water.
A tank water heater stores a set volume of hot water and reheats it continuously. A tankless (on-demand) heater only heats water when you need it, which is more energy-efficient and provides a continuous supply — but costs more upfront. We can help you figure out which one fits your household's needs and budget.
Absolutely. Free quotes are a core part of how we do business at Mako. One of our reviewers specifically noted, "I valued their family-owned status and free quotes which I received verbally the same day as the visit." Just give us a call and we'll get someone out to you.
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