Kitchen faucet started leaking. Turned out the O-ring inside the faucet failed. I went to the hardware store to get a replacement. They did not have the exact size so I bought one slightly smaller and one slightly bigger hoping one would do the trick. No joy. I called Drain Brain as I had used him about five years ago to install a toilet and he did a good job. Charged me $225 for the install and toilet as he "had one laying around." Very fair price. This time around, his tech, Gonzalo, was in my house for literally five minutes and replaced the o-ring. Worked perfectly. Then I got the bill. $165 for a 5-minute o-ring repair. I sent Ted the message below and asked a simple question: "$165 for a rubber o-ring that cost $0.25? Gonzalo was here for 5 mins. That equates to a rate of $1,980 per hour. Do you think that is a fair price?" This was his response: "That's my service call fee Ive been that for a long time. Insurance $19000 a year / gas /wages I pay him $50 to go fix your problem and if it was so easy why didnt you go buy a 25cent oring and fix it yourself . You paid for our experience. You know what keep your money And I will eat Gonzalo's wages so That I can tell you your an as.....!!!" Ted did not inform me in advance that his service call fee was $165. Instead of a reply simply informing me of his fee (and perhaps suggesting a price that is more reasonable), he insults me and calls me a name. Needless to say, I will never contact him again. Update: I responded to Ted's insulting text with this message: "I asked a simple question and this is your reaction? By the way, I did go to the hardware store and attempted to fix it myself. They did not have the correct size o-ring." This was his response: "And exactly what was that question other than why am I ripping you off. Sorry I take offense to that question! I think it would be best the next time you have a problem to just call someone else. Have a nice life!" My response back: "I intend to. Same wish to you." Perhaps Ted is having a bad day. Not sure. Regardless, insulting one's customers whilst doing business in a small beach town is probably not going to expand one's customer base. Oh well. C'est la Vie. read more

We have used them for over 30 years. Friendly and highly professional service. Immediate response to problems. read more

Ted and Rob are our go to when any plumbing or drain issue arises. They are responsive and thorough and easy to work with.

Just the Best for septic issues! Fast, professional and reasonably priced! Highly recommend!

Ted, I was able to overlook the debacle a few years ago when our kitchen sink had no water pressure and your helper came to try and fix it. The first time did not work and we were charged for a service call. The second time he came he said he thinks we need a new faucet but wanted to try one more thing. I asked him NOT to try one more thing because I was happy to buy a new faucet but he insisted and to my surprise, you billed me for this second failed attempt, even after I explained I did not want him to "try" again. I had a contractor come and put a new faucet in the next day for the same price as your two failed house calls. It fixed the problem. BUT what I find unconscionable is what happened this morning when my dear elderly neighbor called you trying to help her neighbor (who has Alzheimer's) with his garbage disposal which was inoperable. You live right in this neighborhood and it probably took you 2 minutes to drive over and another 5 minutes to realize it was unplugged by accident. Yet, even after the elderly neighbor mentioned the homeowner has memory issues, you proceeded to charge him 100.00 for that house call. Ted aka Drain Brain may be a good plumber- I have not had that experience. But what I do know is that I want to put my money into businesses that are based on some better moral and ethical principles, especially in our own neighborhood. read more

Ted and his team are the best. Look no further. Honest and always get the job done quickly

Ted is a total pro. We had a toilet that wouldn't stop running. Ted asked to text a photo of the innards so he could show up with the right parts to fix the problem. He showed up quickly and fixed the problem immediately because he was prepared. He's also a really good guy. read more

Ted is the man! Always helpful and clear communication when I'm in a bind. They have installed a new water heater and toilet for me quickly and reliably. If you're in the Malibu area and need plumbing services, definitely give Drain Brain a ring. read more

Ted at Drain Brain is the best ! Replaced our old cast Iron in record time at left the place cleaner than he found it ! 5 stars

Ted, Rob and his crew are excellent. Had a complex plumbing issue that required some ingenuity....they got it done.

Very fast service. I had an emergency toilet leak. I called them at 8:30 in the morning and they arrived by 9:15. I would definitely call them again. read more

These guys have forgotten more than most "knuckle draggers" in the business have ever known. I had an issue with a severely blocked kitchen drain that left us without the ability to use anything in our house. The owner, Ted, literally talked me through clearing it, by removing the "trap" under the sink. I don't know anyone, in business that would have spent the time to do that, when there was nothing in it for themselves. My hat goes off to The Drain Brain..........you'll be my one and only plumber when this freekin' quarantine is over. read more

Ted and Rob were great Ted arranged the service and Rob came and did it perfectly the toilet was backed up we called a few companies they didn't know what to do we got a huge estimate from another company for $1000 and I was ridiculous ted sent Rob out and they had it done in 20 minutes and the bill was very much difference in the other company wheeler and way better appreciate very much drain brain brain grateful for you guy's read more

They were hired to clear a sewer drain. Instead they broke a $2000 Kohler toilet with their snake. At first they said they would take care of it. Kohler no longer made the toilet which matched all other fixtures in the bathroom. Rather than having the expense of replacing all the other fixtures, I spent weeks finding a used toilet in good condition which was less than half the price of the original toilet. Having gone through that effort, they then said they would only pay for half and none of the shipping costs. According to one of the people who work for them, this was the second time in under a month that their company did major damage to a house when snaking a drain. The other time they got a snake stuck in the drain, tried to pull it out using their vehicle and did tremendous damage to that home and sewer system. I learned subsequently that, while they claim to be licensed plumbers, they are not. They also claimed to be a corporation but were suspended by the Franchise Tax Board for not paying taxes. When I discovered that they next claimed to be a DBA which is also untrue. The people hired to work for them complain that they are paid as independent contractors and not employees, which I believe would call into question their having workers comp insurance, so if they are hurt on someone's property the homeowner could be faced with a lawsuit for Drain Brain's injured person. read more

The Drain Brain - Plumbing Near Me - Malibu, California

Extremely good with very fair prices considering that they're in Malibu! Also, they aim to please and are very pleasant. Yay Ted et al.! You rock!! read more

Simply the best service in Malibu! Very professional and always shows up on time and able to fix the problem no matter what it was! Would recommend them to anyone! read more

The Drain Brain to the rescue. And quickly! Needed a new kitchen faucet, which was fixed in about an hour. Much less of a headache than us trying to do it ourselves. Looking forward to them coming back to replace a garbage desposal and bathroom faucet. Thank you for the quick response and friendly service! read more

If I could give a negative star to write this review, I would. Ted came several time to repair a leaking toilet and replace a kitchen faucet. He charged us once for all his work. The toilet was never repaired and we called him again and after several weeks he appeared unannounced. He looked at it and charge us again. After he left, the toilet was still leaking and we realized the faucet under the sink that he repaired was leaking as well. We called him again expecting him to make due on his PAID service and when he arrived made us pay for ANOTHER service call......The toilet is still leaking and the faucet as well. You may wonder why we kept persisting on calling him despite his TERRIBLE service, well he USED to be good and honest. Nowadays, he is the worst plumber, bordering on criminal for charging us over and over for the same work he should have completed on the first visit. NOW I understand what other reviewers and locals talk about. DO NOT USE HIM. I still need a plumber to fix my toilet and kitchen faucet read more

First experience was very good, great customer service, very friendly, on time, efficient, and considerate. Will definitely use them again.

I decided to try a new plumber...BIG mistake! We have been using A & B for years and I decided to give the Drain Brain a try. Initially it was great, called and had someone up here the next day. We had a toilet issue and a slow draining shower. The gentleman fixed the shower and then told me I needed a part for the toilet. I was told that he would get the part that evening and return the next day....nothing....the next day....nothing. When I finally called the gentleman I was assured he would be here the next day. No one had called me once to tell me what was going on. That was THREE days ago. I still have a toilet that is not working. 1 week...no toilet. Noooo Drain Brain Calling A & B in the morning read more

Ted and his crew are awesome. They always make an effort to get out ASAP. They do good work, are super friendly, and have affordable prices. read more

There are not enough stars here for me to give proper credit to this company, The Drain Brain and the owner, Ted Gillespie. Ted and his wonderful crew, to include his wonderful and talented wife, Laura, have saved me from so many different plumbing situations over the years! This company has always gone above and beyond the call of duty and has always priced each and every job more than fairly! Calling The Drain Brain for any and all of your plumbing issues will be a favor you are doing for yourself and your residence!! This is a family company. Not that all of the crew is family but they operate like one and you will be treated like one of the "family". The Drain Brain really rocks it!! :) And why not? Ted, the owner, is also a recording musician with his wife!! read more

Best plumber in town!! Always does great job and responds quickly

Drain Brain is terrific! Reasonable, friendly and knowledgeable service for all kinds of problems. Used for septic lines, clogged or dripping shower, kitchen sink issues. They actually try to save you money! Highly recommend!! read more

All the 5 star reviews are true. This guy is great. Called us back quickly, was on time the next morning and fixed two drains for us. The first I'd worked on a lot myself (kitchen drain) and just couldn't get unplugged despite buying a plumbing snake from Home Depot - no problem for him. He threw in the second drain for free. I almost look forward to having future plumbing issues as I now know there's someone good and trustworthy nearby. Thank you! read more

I've been using the Drain Brain for many years. I recently called Ted and told him I had a graywater line that was filled with roots. He told me there were no guarantees, but that if I wanted to take a chance it might work. I decided it was worth a shot, so we set up an appointment. Rob came out on time, which I appreciated. He quickly assessed the situation and got right to work. It took some diligence and finesse, but eventually Rob started pulling out a 30 foot "dreadlock" that was unbelievably huge. It was truly amazing, and worth every penny. I appreciate local people who take their work seriously and do a great job. read more

Excellent plumber. Trouble shoots the problem rather than trying to sell you things that you do not need. Answers your call and comes out to your place on time. Friendly, fast and efficient. If your looking for a plumber in Malibu call Drain Brain. read more

Finally! A plumber in Malibu who is NOT trying to rip you off! After several bad experiences with other plumbing companies, The Drain Brain (Ted) came out promptly, fixed my leak, and charged me a reasonable amount. What impressed me the most, was that he focused on fixing the problem first and making the customer happy, rather than on how and when he would be paid, and that is a mark of a true professional who is confident in the quality of his work. A+ in my book! read more

We've called on the Drain Brain twice for plumbing work at home. Both times we've been so impressed. We highly recommend them!

These guys are THE BEST! My dad used them for his house and I kept the ORIGINAL card after my dad passed away. Thank goodness I did because a certain someone (the boyfriend!) stopped up my garbage disposal and kitchen sinks, then caused a leak when he tried to fix the problem! Drain Brain, as usual, came to our rescue. Rob at The Drain Brain showed up bright and early today, snaked the drain AND did some sort of pressure thingie to clear it AND fixed the leak that was under the sink! Best of all, he was incredibly reasonable, which is important for those of us who lost our homes during the Woolsey Fire. Nice to know you can count on some of the old locals in the Bu to treat ya' right, no matter what! Thank you, Rob and Ted! read more

Ted and his crew responded quickly when I needed a plumber and did quality work. They are able to tackle small are large projects and prices are reasonable. Highly recommended. read more

The guys at Drain Brain are awesome. I've used them for many things from just needing a drain snaked to replacing pipes under ground. They can do it all, are efficient, and most of all affordable read more

Writing this review for Rob. Did not know much about them, took a chance and am very happy with his service. Had a clogged kitchen drain, I tried everything but nothing worked. Called them in desperation and boy am I glad I did. Rob went beyond the call of duty. He unclogged the drain , cleaned the floor and took care to leave everything in A 1 condition. He even fixed an annoying drip under my sink. Five stars for sure:)) read more

I am new to the neighborhood and I have called the Drain Brain a couple times already. They have been quick to respond and really quick to make it out to my house and fix the problem. I am feeling confident that I have found my "go-to" plumber in Malibu. read more

I've been calling for two full days with no answer. He called back once at 8:30am which I missed but I've been calling back all day afterwards and no answer AND the mailbox is full. What's the point of hiring a plumber if it'll take two three days just to schedule an arrival likely to be another two three days in advance. read more

Really excellent plumber- quick response time, came out the same day, fixed my problem and charged a fair price. I could not have asked for more and would use them again in an instant. I highly recommend these guys. read more

I left a message on their Voice Mail at about 9 AM and by noon they called back and had a tech here by 1 PM. While the job was small, the tech was quick and professional. Price was right too. As a first time client, I would definitely use them again. read more

Honest. On time. Great guy doing really great work. We are in a room of locals talking about him so I decided to post a great review about him. We have used him for years and he always comes as soon as he can. He has been in Malibu for years and is extremely trustworthy. Ted is also an incredible musician, so is his son! His wife is solid and has accompanied him on emergency visits to our house on their way to dinner. Now come on...how reliable is that?! read more

These guys are very helpful, and flexible. Reliable too. Fair pricing for Malibu.

I received a phone call this morning. He apologized and is on his way over to fix cracked tiles in shower.