Fast, no-mess drain cleaning and sewer service for San Rafael homes — from Gerstle Park's old laterals to Terra Linda's Eichlers.
San Rafael’s older housing stock is hard on drains: many Gerstle Park, Dominican, and downtown homes still run on clay and cast-iron sewer laterals laid decades ago, and the mature oaks and street trees that make these neighborhoods beautiful send roots straight into every cracked joint. Add the wet-winter, dry-summer swings that shift Marin’s clay soil and crack pipe, plus the shallow grades down in the flat Canal area, and slow drains and backups become a question of when, not if. John Owens Services has been clearing and repairing those lines since 1986, and we camera the pipe first so you know exactly what’s going on before anyone digs.
It depends on the cause and access — a single slow sink is straightforward, while a root-choked main lateral may need hydro jetting. We camera the line first and give you a clear price before any work, and we offer same-day service.
Many homes in Gerstle Park, Dominican, and downtown still have clay or cast-iron laterals, and roots from the area’s mature oaks and street trees invade the joints. A camera inspection finds the exact spots so the fix lasts.
Hydro jetting uses high-pressure water to scour roots, grease, and scale off the full pipe wall — far more thorough than a snake. Our licensed techs (CA #501853) camera the line first to confirm the pipe is sound before jetting.
Yes. For backups and slow drains we offer same-day service across San Rafael and Marin County, dispatched from our local office, and we clean up after every job.
From the Marin coast to Sonoma wine country, we bring honest plumbing, heating & cooling to homeowners across both counties — based locally since 1986.