Kitchen Plumbing in Walnut Creek: Sinks, Garbage Disposals and Gas Hookups
We fix and install kitchen plumbing in Walnut Creek: clogged and leaking sinks, faucets, garbage disposals that hum or leak, dishwasher and icemaker lines, instant hot water dispensers, pot fillers, and gas hookups for cooktops, ovens and stoves. We also service grease traps for commercial kitchens downtown. We've been the local kitchen sink plumber since 1993, a real person answers 24/7, and estimates are free. Seniors get a discount. Call (925) 887-6347 and tell us what's going on in your kitchen.
- Open 24 hours, including holidays
- Licensed and insured since 1993
- Written price before any work starts
- Senior discount available
Kitchen plumbing in Walnut Creek: what we handle
We repair and install everything that brings water, gas and drainage to a Walnut Creek kitchen: sinks and faucets, garbage disposals, dishwasher and refrigerator water lines, instant hot water dispensers, pot fillers and gas hookups for cooktops, ovens and stoves. We also install and service grease traps for commercial kitchens.
The kitchen is the hardest-working room for plumbing after the bathroom. It's also where water, gas and electricity sit closest together, which is why a careful plumber matters here. Most calls are simple: a clogged sink, a jammed disposal, a leak under the cabinet. Some are bigger: a new range that needs a gas line, or a remodel that moves the sink across the room.
Sinks and faucets
Kitchen sink installation and repair, pull-down and pull-out faucets, leaking sprayers, worn cartridges, shutoff valves and supply lines under the sink.
Garbage disposals
Garbage disposal repair and installation: jams, hums, leaks from the body or drain connection, and new units sized for how you cook.
Dishwasher hookups
Water supply, drain connection and air gap or high loop so dirty water can't flow back into the dishwasher.
Refrigerator and icemaker lines
Icemaker boxes in the wall, refrigerator water hookups and repairs to leaking or kinked lines behind the fridge.
Hot water dispensers and pot fillers
Instant hot water dispensers at the sink and wall-mounted pot fillers over the range, with the supply line run and tested.
Gas cooktops, ovens and stoves
Gas appliance installation, new cooktop gas hookups, oven and stove gas lines, and converting a kitchen from electric to gas.
Signs you need a kitchen sink plumber
Call when a drain backs up, when you find water under the sink, when the disposal stops working, or any time you smell gas near the range. Here's a quick guide to common kitchen symptoms and how urgent they are.
| What you notice | What it usually means | How urgent |
|---|---|---|
| Rotten egg smell near the stove or cooktop | Possible gas leak at the appliance connector or gas line | Emergency. Leave the house, then call PG&E at 1-800-743-5000 or 911 from outside. |
| Water pooling in the sink cabinet | Leaking supply line, faucet base, disposal, dishwasher connection or P-trap | Right away. Close the shutoff valves and call. |
| Disposal hums but doesn't spin | Jammed flywheel, often from a hard object or fibrous food | Moderate. Turn it off at the switch. |
| Disposal is silent | Tripped internal reset, a breaker or a failed motor | Moderate |
| Sink drains slowly or backs up when the dishwasher runs | Grease and food buildup in the kitchen drain line | Soon, before it fully clogs |
| Water in both sink bowls won't go down | Blockage past the trap in the branch drain | Soon |
| Puddle in front of or behind the fridge | Leaking icemaker supply line or valve | Soon. These leaks spread under flooring. |
| Faucet drips or the sprayer leaks | Worn cartridge, O-rings or a split sprayer hose | Moderate |
Why kitchen drains and lines fail in Walnut Creek homes
The main causes are grease, age and the type of pipe. Many Walnut Creek homes were built during the city's big growth years in the 1950s and 1960s, when the population went from 9,903 in 1960 to 39,844 in 1970. Kitchens in those homes often have been remodeled more than once, but the drain and supply lines inside the walls may be original.
Grease and the sewer
Central San, the sanitary district serving Walnut Creek, says grease should never be poured down the drain. Hot water and detergent only break it up for a while; it cools and sticks farther down the line. Central San also notes that home garbage disposals do not keep grease out of the plumbing system. Fats, oils and grease, along with wipes, are among the causes of blockages in the sewer system. And because the homeowner is responsible for the entire private sewer lateral from the house to the Central San main, a grease clog that moves past your kitchen drain is still your problem.
Old pipe in the kitchen wall
Mid-century homes often have galvanized steel supply lines, which rust inside and reduce pressure, and galvanized or cast iron drain lines that narrow over the years as grease and scale build up. A kitchen sink that clogs every few months, even after cleaning, often has a drain line that's partly closed with buildup. In that case, cleaning helps, but replacing the line may be the lasting fix. Our drain cleaning team can clear it and inspect it with a camera.
Your water supply
Walnut Creek homes get water from either East Bay MUD or Contra Costa Water District, depending on the address. EBMUD water is soft, in the range of 1 to 7 grains per gallon. CCWD water comes mainly from the Delta, and its quality varies with the season, with higher salinity in summer. That can make a difference in how you care for faucet aerators, icemaker filters and instant hot water tanks, so we'll ask which district you're in.
Garbage disposal repair and installation in Walnut Creek
A disposal that hums is usually jammed, and a silent one usually needs a reset or has a dead motor. Jams and resets are often quick fixes. A disposal that leaks from its body, has a cracked housing or keeps tripping usually needs to be replaced.
What we check on a disposal call
- Whether the flywheel turns freely, and what jammed it
- The reset button and power supply
- Leaks at the sink flange, the dishwasher inlet and the discharge tube
- Whether the drain line after the disposal is clogged with food or grease
- The mounting assembly, so the unit isn't loose or vibrating
Repair or replace?
| Situation | Usually | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Hums, jammed by a hard object | Repair | Freeing the flywheel and removing the object usually restores it |
| Silent, reset button popped | Repair | Often just an overload; we find out what caused it |
| Leaking from the sink flange | Repair | The flange can be resealed |
| Leaking from the bottom of the unit | Replace | Internal seals have failed and the housing is usually rusting |
| Motor dead after reset and power check | Replace | Motors aren't practical to rebuild in place |
| Frequent jams with normal use | Replace or upsize | The unit may be underpowered for how you cook |
What to keep out of any disposal: grease, fats and oil, plus fibrous and starchy scraps that wrap or paste up the line. When in doubt, scrape plates into the trash or compost. A disposal is meant for small amounts of food, not the whole plate.
Kitchen sink and faucet installation and repair
A leaking kitchen faucet is usually a worn cartridge or O-rings and can often be repaired. When the faucet body is corroded, the pull-down hose keeps failing, or you're changing sinks, a new faucet is usually worth it.
Kitchen sinks come in more shapes than they used to: undermount, drop-in, farmhouse, single bowl, double bowl, and workstation styles. Each one changes the drain layout below. A deep single bowl, for instance, may need the trap and the disposal reworked so everything drains with proper slope. We look at the whole picture before we cut anything.
- New sink installation with fresh traps, tailpieces and drain connections
- Faucet installation, including pull-down, pull-out, bridge and touchless styles
- Replacing old shutoff valves that won't turn or won't fully close
- Fixing leaks at sprayers, faucet bases and supply connections
- Reworking drain lines when the sink, disposal or dishwasher moves
If you're buying a faucet yourself, check the number of holes in your sink or counter and whether you want a soap dispenser or hot water dispenser in one of them. It's easier to plan that before the faucet goes in than after.
Dishwasher, refrigerator, hot water dispenser and pot filler lines
We run and repair the water lines that feed kitchen appliances: dishwasher supply and drain, refrigerator and icemaker lines, instant hot water dispensers and pot fillers. These are small lines, but a slow leak behind a fridge or under a dishwasher can do real damage before anyone notices.
Dishwasher hookups
We connect the supply line, the drain to the disposal or sink tailpiece, and an air gap or high loop so wastewater can't siphon back into the dishwasher. If your dishwasher drains slowly or leaves dirty water, the drain hose or kitchen drain line is often the cause.
Icemaker boxes and refrigerator water
A recessed icemaker box in the wall gives the fridge a proper shutoff valve and keeps the line from being crushed when the fridge slides back. We replace old thin plastic tubing that cracks over time.
Instant hot water dispensers
A small tank under the sink feeds near-boiling water to a tap for tea, oatmeal and quick cooking. We install the dispenser, run the supply line and set it up to manufacturer instructions.
Pot fillers
A wall-mounted faucet over the range lets you fill big pots where you cook. Adding one means running a supply line into the wall behind the stove, so it is best planned during a remodel.
Hidden leaks around appliances are hard to spot until floors warp or cabinets swell. If you suspect one, our electronic leak detection can find it without tearing out more than necessary.
Gas cooktop, oven and stove hookups
We install and repair gas lines for cooktops, ovens and stoves, connect new gas appliances, and run new gas lines when a kitchen converts from electric to gas. Gas work should always be done by a licensed plumber and tested before the appliance is used.
When we hook up a range or cooktop, we check the existing gas line and shutoff valve, connect the appliance with a proper flexible connector, and leak-test every joint we touch. If the line has to be extended or moved, as when a cooktop moves to an island, we plan the route and size the pipe for the appliance and everything else on the gas system.
- Gas range, oven and cooktop installation and replacement
- New gas lines for island cooktops and relocated ranges
- Electric to gas conversions
- Replacing old appliance connectors and shutoff valves
- Gas leak detection and repair
For bigger gas projects, such as new lines through the house or outdoor connections, see our gas lines and piping page. New gas line work generally requires a permit.
Holiday kitchen clogs and how to avoid them
The days around big holiday meals are when kitchen drains get pushed hardest: more cooking, more grease, more peels, more dishwasher loads in a row. The best prevention is keeping grease and food scraps out of the drain in the first place.
Central San's advice is straightforward. Scrape plates, pots and pans into the trash before washing. Pour small amounts of cooking grease into a container like an empty milk carton, chill it so it hardens, and throw it away. Larger amounts, like oil from a turkey fryer, can go to Central San's Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility. Be skeptical of products that claim to dissolve grease, because some just push it farther down the pipe.
If the sink backs up anyway, stop running water and the dishwasher. Don't pour chemical drain cleaners into a sink full of standing water; it makes the job more dangerous for everyone. If both kitchen and bathroom drains are slow, the problem is likely farther down the main line, and our sewer line repair team can help.
Commercial kitchen grease traps for downtown restaurants
We install and repair grease traps for commercial kitchens, including the restaurants, cafes and bars in downtown Walnut Creek around Broadway Plaza and the Lesher Center. A working grease trap keeps fats, oils and grease out of the sewer and keeps your kitchen open.
Central San's grease trap maintenance guidance describes grease traps as small devices connected to the drains of sinks inside the restaurant, usually serving one fixture. Its guidance for food service businesses includes:
- Clean the trap as often as the manufacturer recommends
- Have it pumped by a licensed, permitted waste hauler at least every 90 days
- Keep the trap accessible for maintenance and inspection
- Don't connect dishwashers or food waste disposals to the trap
- Don't add enzymes, chemicals or bacteria treatments to the trap
- Keep maintenance records on site for 3 years and show them to inspectors on request
Our part is the plumbing: installing a new trap, replacing damaged baffles or lids, fixing connections, and clearing the lines between the kitchen and the trap. Central San can answer questions about its grease program at (925) 229-7310.
How a kitchen plumbing visit works
You call, we come out, we find the problem, and you get a written price before we start. Here's the process.
- Call (925) 887-6347A real person answers, day or night. Tell us what's happening and we'll tell you what to do right away, such as closing the shutoffs under the sink.
- Arrival windowWe schedule a time and let you know when the technician is on the way.
- DiagnosisWe look at the sink, disposal, appliance or gas line and find the cause, not just the symptom.
- Written priceYou get a clear written price and your options before any work starts. Estimates are free.
- The workWe protect your floors and cabinets, make the repair or installation, and replace worn shutoffs or supply lines when needed.
- Test and clean upWe run water through everything we touched, leak-test any gas joints, and leave the kitchen clean.
What affects the cost of kitchen plumbing
The price depends on the job, the access and the parts. A jammed disposal or a cartridge swap is a smaller job than moving a sink or running a gas line to an island. We give you a free written estimate before work begins.
- Repair vs replacement of the faucet, disposal or line
- Whether we supply the fixture or you do
- Access inside the sink cabinet or behind appliances
- The condition of the drain and supply lines we find
- Gas line length and routing, and whether a permit is needed
- After-hours or emergency timing
We offer a senior discount and accept Mastercard and Visa. Inside city limits, permits go through the City of Walnut Creek planning and building office at 1666 North Main Street, (925) 943-5800. Unincorporated areas like Saranap go through Contra Costa County.
Why Walnut Creek kitchens call us
We are a family business that has served Contra Costa and Alameda Counties since 1993, from our North Main Street shop. Owner Mo Williams is a Bay Area native who learned plumbing and construction products and installation at Simon's Hardware in Walnut Creek and Home Depot in Concord, so he knows faucets, disposals and fixtures from the parts counter up.
We're a California licensed C-36 plumbing contractor, licensed and insured, open 24/7, and a real person answers. We hold a 4.7 Google rating from 251 reviews as of October 2026. Thinking about the rest of the house? Our bathroom plumbing and water heater pages cover the other places hot water and drains matter most.
A family business led by Mo Williams since 1993
We are a Walnut Creek family business run from our North Main Street shop. Owner Mo Williams grew up in the Bay Area and learned plumbing products and installation from the inside out at Simon's Hardware in Walnut Creek and Home Depot in Concord. His wife Ann runs the books as CFO. We're rated 4.7 on Google from 251 reviews (October 2026). Meet Mo
Frequently asked questions
Why does my garbage disposal hum but not work?
A humming disposal almost always has a jammed flywheel, usually from a hard object like a bone, fruit pit or utensil, or from fibrous food packed around the blades. Turn it off at the wall switch right away so the motor doesn't overheat. Never put your hand inside. If the jam won't clear safely, call us and we'll free it, find out what caused it, and check the drain line.
Should I repair or replace my garbage disposal?
Repair makes sense for jams, a tripped reset or a leak at the sink flange. Replacement usually makes sense when the unit leaks from the bottom, the motor is dead after checking the reset and power, or it jams constantly with normal use. We'll check the disposal and the drain line, then give you a free written estimate for both options before doing any work.
Can I pour grease down the drain if I run hot water?
No. Central San, Walnut Creek's sanitary district, says grease should never be poured down the drain. Hot water and soap only break it up for a while; it cools and sticks farther down the pipe. Garbage disposals don't keep grease out of the plumbing either. Put small amounts in a container, chill it and throw it in the trash.
What should I do if my kitchen sink backs up?
Stop running water and turn off the dishwasher. Try a plunger on the sink, covering the second drain if you have a double bowl. Skip chemical drain cleaners, which can damage pipes and make the job dangerous. If the clog won't clear, or bathroom drains are also slow, call us at (925) 887-6347. A real person answers 24/7.
Do you install gas cooktops and ranges in Walnut Creek?
Yes. We install and repair gas lines for cooktops, ovens and ranges, connect new gas appliances, and run new gas lines for island cooktops or electric to gas conversions. Every joint we touch is leak-tested before you use the appliance. New gas line work generally requires a permit, and we'll tell you whether your project needs one.
What should I do if I smell gas in my kitchen?
Leave the house first. Don't turn on lights, use switches, light flames or use your phone inside. Once you're outside at a safe distance, call PG&E at 1-800-743-5000 or 911. After the utility has made it safe, call us to find and repair the leak at the appliance connector or gas line. Don't try to restore gas or relight pilots yourself.
Can you add a water line for my refrigerator's icemaker?
Yes. We install icemaker boxes, recessed wall boxes with their own shutoff valve, and run the supply line to the refrigerator. That keeps the line from being crushed behind the fridge and gives you a proper shutoff. We also replace old plastic tubing, which can crack and cause slow leaks that damage floors before anyone notices.
Do you install pot fillers and instant hot water dispensers?
Yes. A pot filler needs a supply line run into the wall behind the range, so it's easiest during a remodel, though it can be added later. An instant hot water dispenser mounts at the sink with a small tank in the cabinet and needs a nearby electrical outlet. We install both to manufacturer instructions and test them before we leave.
How often should a restaurant grease trap be pumped?
Central San's guidance for food service establishments says grease traps should be cleaned as often as the manufacturer recommends and pumped by a licensed, permitted waste hauler at least every 90 days. Maintenance records should be kept on site for 3 years. LeapFrog handles the plumbing side: installing traps, repairing parts and clearing lines between the kitchen and the trap.
Why does my dishwasher leave dirty water in the bottom?
Standing water in a dishwasher usually means its drain path is restricted. Common causes are a clogged filter, a kinked drain hose, a blocked air gap, or a clog in the kitchen drain line or disposal inlet. If cleaning the filter doesn't help, we can check the hose, air gap and drain line, and tell you whether the problem is plumbing or the appliance itself.
Other ways we help Walnut Creek homes
Call a Walnut Creek plumber for kitchen plumbing
A real person answers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Tell us what's happening and we'll give you an honest arrival window and a free written estimate before any work starts.
Call now, day or night
(925) 887-6347- Licensed plumber, not a salesperson
- Free written estimate before work begins
- Senior discount, ask when you call
- Mastercard and Visa accepted
- Non-urgent questions: balzaparis@gmail.com
Water or sewage spreading? Shut off the fixture or main valve, then call. Smell gas? Leave first and call PG&E at 1-800-743-5000 or 911 from outside.
2108 N. Main Street, Suite F
Walnut Creek, CA 94596
Phone: (925) 887-6347
Email: balzaparis@gmail.com
Open 24 hours, 7 days a week