R&L Plumbing: The kind of plumber you want in your phone at 2:00 a.m.
- Jan 20
- 3 min read
Property managers don’t call a plumber because it’s their idea of a fun Tuesday. They call because something is leaking, backing up, steaming, or moments away from becoming a tenant emergency.
That’s why we’re excited to feature R&L Plumbing in the Property Atlas vendor network. They’re a Bay Area team built around the things that matter most when it’s go-time: fast response, straight answers, and transparent pricing.
Who they are
R&L Plumbing is a family-founded company started by Larry Bustillos, a union plumber who built the business the old-school way: do good work, treat people fairly, and don’t upsell what isn’t needed. In the early days, Larry ran the business out of his house. Today, R&L has grown into a ~40-person team with multiple offices and a long-tenured crew, including technicians who’ve been with the company for decades.
While their roots are in plumbing, R&L has expanded into more systems - the ones property managers care about most. In 2022–2023, they joined forces with HVAC operator Bobbie Knowles after recognizing a common gap: having someone who can fix a gas line doesn’t help much if no one can service the furnace it feeds.
What they do
R&L Plumbing supports property managers and commercial buildings with:
Plumbing, including service and repairs across building types
Boilers, including annual maintenance support and reminder systems
HVAC systems, including gas heaters and electric mini-splits for modern upgrades and Title 24 compliance
Preventative maintenance, including hydrojetting to reduce major clogs
Unlike most trade crews, R&L also has a full-service maintenance division that can handle unit turnovers and patch/paint/flooring/tile work, including closing up walls after plumbing repairs. That means fewer vendors to coordinate and faster turnarounds.
They also offer lunch-and-learn training to help property management teams better understand plumbing and HVAC systems.
What makes them different
1) 24/7 coverage with a real human on the line
R&L operates around the clock with live phone coverage. Technicians are on-call for middle-of-the-night issues, especially during the rainy season.
2) Transparency over “free estimates”
R&L works on a straight hourly model - not commission - and they’re upfront about rates before they arrive. That alignment matters: no upselling, just solutions.
3) They’ll save owners unnecessary service calls
If an after-hours call turns out to be something simple, R&L will often walk clients through it by phone and schedule follow-up work during normal hours. Fewer surprise fees = more trust.
4) A long-term partner mindset
Most of R&L’s work is in commercial and property management. Their focus isn’t a one-off job, but a relationship that grows over time.
Where they work
R&L Plumbing serves the Bay Area, with a strong presence in San Francisco and an active push into the East Bay, South Bay and parts of the North Bay. With an office in San Lorenzo, they’re well positioned to support growing portfolios across the region.
When to call them
Call R&L Plumbing when you need:
Emergency response for leaks, backups, or urgent failures
Boiler maintenance and help staying ahead of renewal deadlines
HVAC and mini-split support for upgrades and compliance
Preventative hydrojetting to reduce clog emergencies
A vendor who can open the wall, fix the problem, and close the wall
Why we’re proud to have them in the Property Atlas network
At Property Atlas, our goal is to make property management less reactive: fewer surprises, faster response, and fewer “now I need another contractor” moments.
R&L fits that perfectly. They show up when it matters, they’re transparent about pricing, and they treat clients like long-term partners. Their ability to handle the full loop, from urgent plumbing work to finishing the space afterward, is exactly the kind of operational sanity we want for our customers.
If you’re a property manager looking to tighten your vendor bench, especially around boilers and HVAC, R&L Plumbing is one to know.
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