Karen H.

01/04/2010 12:00:00 SA

Water heater broke a couple of days before New Year's eve. Called the emergency number and Michael talked me through turning off the pilot light for the evening then came the next morning. He first installed something that lit the pilot but we heard water dripping on it. He was able to get us a new water heater that day and didn't charge for taking the old one. He explained everything and had me watch the first things he did so I could see what he was talking about. On top of that, he or one of his workers coiled our garden hose up neatly, unlike how it was when they came. It's the little things! I will definitely be using him again if I need a plumber!

Dan K.

1/27/2011

Had a clogged toilet, were at location within about 20 minutes after calling- Snaked the toilet and unclogged it within 10 minutes which was great. Told me it was $165 per hr and then after was charged $140 with Yelp dicount and told that is the min. charged even for 15 minutes of work. Happy with service not with price.

Amy L.

2/20/2015

Needed a plumber to fix our water heater because the pilot light was not igniting. Was able to get an appointment the next day. Their staff were friendly and professional. Although the service techs came 30 mins late, they were able to diagnose the problem and get it done. We had to order a part which arrived the next day, was able to secure another appointment to finally fix the problem. Again, 30 mins late. I didn't mind because they were able to update me the status of the tech that was coming out. The price was okay, not sure what other plumbers are charging out there. I'd definitely would call them back if I had other issues, overall service was acceptable. We now have hot water! Thank you!

Allure S.

1/30/2015

Thank god for business owners like Michael! We were charged 290 for a job that was not fixed by one step plumbing ( it was referred to us by Albion). I called Albion back telling them what had happened, Michael felt that the other company was not being fair so he came to our house after business hour to check what the problem was, he was here for more than 2 hours and did all he could for us. Found the problem and didn't not charge us a penny! Thank you again Michael!!!

Kyoko R.

7/15/2017

I wish I knew about them sooner. They came and fixed Grohe faucet that 3 other plumbers gave up and/or were afraid to touch. It only took them less than an hour, including time to clean up the area. From now on, all my plumbing needs till go to them.

Marie R.

12/19/2017

Highly recommend. My main line in the house backed up, they were able to come out and properly diagnose and fix the issue, all without overcharging. The whole team is very professional and hard working. They are always there for me in a pinch. I will recommend them to everyone I know.

Kay W.

12/10/2013 12:00:00 SA

Albion rocks! My better half stopped up the commode. We called Albion and they came out same day with several check-in calls throughout the day. Totally responsive, courteous, and efficient. We will use them again, and refer to friends and family.

Andy H.

5/31/2017

They pulled a no-show for the appointment I scheduled with them just one day earlier. When I called, they just told me matter-of-fact that it wasn't in the computer. They wanted me to explain the job all over again and pick a whole new day for it - this is after I arranged my schedule to be home for them today. No apology. When I told them I didn't think I wanted to reschedule the job or do business with them at all, they said okay.

Find someone else who can keep track of their customers and who will keep their appointments and not waste your time.

Juvie C.

07/07/2012 12:00:00 SA

I have some basic plumbing experience, but after receiving defected fixture parts from the manufacture and a persistent time crunch, I surrendered and called Albion Plumbing. I consulted with a friendly dispatcher name Raymond. I explained my situation in detail and found him to be very helpful. I 've had a small business for 24 years and worked with many plumbers and I have never come accross a honest and reliable plumber, until Albion plumbing. His plumber technician's name, Armando, was prompt, knowledgeable and obviously experienced. My plumbing problem was solve in a hour. And the cost was reasonably fair. They now have a loyal and happy customer. :)

stephanie s.

6/27/2010

After trying several home repairs, we called Michael for a big kitchen pipe clog on a Saturday and he came out and fixed it like magic. Friendly, skilled, fast, and came on short notice on the weekend! Kind of unbelievable. Hopefully we won't need a lot of plumbing repairs in the future, but if we do, he's on our speed dial.

Kendra J.

04/12/2010 12:00:00 SA

MIchael had to come back for another pretty big issue, he showed up in good time on a Saturday, fixed the issue, fixed my sink AND shower and only charged 160. They are AWESOME

Red L.

05/08/2022 12:00:00 SA

I've been working with Albion since 2017 and they have done two major projects on our main home inclusive of sewer work and installation of tankless water heater. I initially chose Albion because they were the only company who didn't talk down to me when they came for a site visit and gave us an estimate, instead they discussed logically their approach and rational in a collaborative and respectful manner. Secondly, their quotes are reasonable and their workers are very professional and sweet human beings plus they are very respectful of the home space inside and out making sure everything is clean and buttoned up after each job. Lastly, I'm very excited to support a black owned business who employees are people of color who live and work in the community that they serve. So glad Albion is thriving still today and providing wonderful service!

Bill L.

11/01/2012 12:00:00 SA

I gave Albion a call regarding water leaking from my second floor shower. I told him the situation and he quickly diagnose the problem and referred me to a tile person, John L. I didn't actually get any work done by Albion but he was so helpful over the phone, I had to give him an excellent rating.

His tile person, John L., did awesome work, can't be happier. Professional, clean, helpful, and very affordable. He ended up doing a lot more work for me besides tiles, what a well rounded guy. I guess there's a reason they work together, both excellent at what they do.

Linda L.

01/12/2017 12:00:00 SA

They called back when they said they would, they gave me a quote quickly, they showed up when they said they would, the work performed was excellent and the bill was the same as the orginal quote. Saved me time and took care of my hot water issue quickly! Will call them again if I have another plumbing issue.
Thank you to the team at Albion!

C. B.

04/04/2015 12:00:00 SA

I needed a licensed plumber to install a home water filtration system. It was hard to find one who would even return my call, as I guess not that many are experienced doing this kind of job. Two companies came and gave me an estimate, and I went with Albion because it was much more reasonable than the other company's. They also seemed to know what they were doing so I didn't hesitate. We did go back and forth a bit in getting the job actually scheduled, but when they came they were very nice and did a good job. I would definitely recommend them and would consider using them again!

Tim R.

9/17/2011

Rooter prices are all over the map. Many rooter services charge $175 or more and won't guarantee their work, even if they have to come back the next day. With the $25 Yelp discount, Albion's two guys cleared my sewer line for $140, cleaned up a godawful mess in my front yard, and gave me a written 90 day warranty. They were on time, professional and courteous. Their minimum charge is also only $65 (half hour) if your problem is really straightforward.

Alas, when I called on a Saturday morning just now, the guy said he had lost his wallet and couldn't come until Monday. Don't think I can wait that long to use the commode so I'm having to look elsewhere.

Sarah N.

9/13/2013

After a middle of the night flooding issue, I called Albion at 7:45 am and was told I'd get a call back in 25 min once the person who answered could look at the schedule...45 min later another plumber was on the way, 90 min later still no call back from Albion. If you can't do the job just say so, but the courtesy of a call back would be the professional thing to do.

Leester S.

01/11/2012 12:00:00 SA

Albion did an outstanding job replacing a broken sewer lateral pipe for me and unclogging two toilets. They were prompt, professional and did a great job on cleanup before they left. They also took the time to answer all of my questions and to explain the process. I would definitely use them again (but hopefully there won't be a need)! The only reason I didn't give them 5 stars is because the job took a few hours longer than they originally estimated.

C. G.

10/08/2011 12:00:00 SA

called based on recommendations quoted $220 and no yelp discount. said could today stuck at a job, couldn't tomorrow, and told me to call someone else.

David K.

08/05/2011 12:00:00 SA

So, how many plumbers do you know who are honest enough to take a look at what you've started yourself on a plumbing repair and tell you that you are on the right track and don't need their services? That happened this morning with Michael. Furthermore, we had a 9:00 am appointment and Albion called early and had an opening earlier so I grabbed it. We had a leaking shower valve and I had procured the correct parts to fix it and had opened the valve casing but wanted to ensure a professional was consulted to finish the job. Michael took a look at what I had done, confirmed next steps, and realized that I could handle the remaining actions, so did not charge me.

The Albion team is first-rate and they will be my first call when there is plumbing repair needed that I know i can't fix myself!

Cliff C.

12/11/2015 12:00:00 SA

Total scammers don't trust this company . The plumber that came out gave me flat rates for everything before starting the work then I agreed to let them do the work(except for the toilet removal and replacing for $250 and digging to expose the pipe then it took them three hours and a lot of head scratching and barely got my drain moving.then when it was time to pay this guy lies to me and tells me that he said $165 an hour not $165 to snake your pipe. I'm a carpenter so if he would have said that it was $165 an hour (which is ridiculous for an apprentice) I would have rented a snake for 50 bucks and done it myself. Ok now when he was doing the work he was moving pretty slow (probably overworked) and if I knew he was charging per hour I would have fired him after 1 hour.You have been warned.

Patricia S.

3/19/2010

Oh how lucky I was to find Michael on Yelp. We have a clogged drain outside the house and there's something wrong with our shower valve. Michael came the day after I called and instead of just looking and providing me with an estimate, he went to work right away. Now our pipe is already less clogged (he'd need to come back with another tool to fully unclog it) and he quickly figured out which parts we might need for our shower.
And: He didn't even want to charge me for the work he had already done!
Another nice little touch: He had shoe covers when he came into the house and said he'd treat other people's houses like his own. I thought it was great that he even thought about this and came this well prepared!

Justan C.

3/18/2021

Absolute professionals. The entire crew from the estimator to the foreman to the house fixers as my son referred to them and anyone else we spoke to were fantastic. Our sewer-lateral project included breaking up concrete and replacing a pipe in our driveway. The team was efficient and knowledgeable, and also very polite and personable. I'd work with them again in a second.

Sweets N.

06/02/2023 12:00:00 SA

I had a broken shower pipe. I did a callout to friends for reputable shops, and was most referred by previous clients of theirs. I had a great experience with them. Two of the gentlemen that assisted me (forgot their name) but were awesome! They wore masks (which I thought was really polite given that I don't want to risk being sick). Prior to calling them, I did my research and new exactly what was needed, but i didn't have the time to order special parts etc, so out of desperation, I called them. Sure enough, what I suspected was the issue and they were able to fix it in no time. I will keep them in mind for future needs!

Jerri C.

8/14/2011

Albion Plumbing did an excellent job on my clogged sink. I've been using liquid plumber on the bathroom sink and it just did not solve the problem. These guys came out, put a rod down there and pulled out a lot of unnecessary things. Well that was the problem and maybe I'll start shaving over the toilet.

Patricia W.

6/15/2018

Just had the sewer service performed by this company. It was an extensive job which took several days to complete and city permits and a number of other inspections to complete the task. The service was first class professional from beginning to end. I so appreciate the workmen. Thank you Micheal Grant and Albion Plumbing Staff.

Rose L.

03/11/2016 12:00:00 SA

One of the best plumbing experiences of my life! My sump pump stopped working and I reached out to Albion to schedule an appointment and the response was prompt. Here is the most refreshing part of it all...Michael arrived at my home early and ready to assist. He was very professional and easy to talk to. He adjusted the pump and tested it out and it kicked in promptly! He saved me a lot of money and the best part was that he didn't charge me for his troubleshooting! I have an older home and always cringe when I have to call someone in for work. Hopefully I won't have another plumbing issue, but if I do...I will definitely call Mchael at Albion Plumbing!

S Duane S.

7/13/2017

My only regret is that I can't give six stars. My toilet clogged and I was unable to unclog it. As it was my MBA toilet used during night time sleep, I was desperate to get it unclogged ASAP. Based solely on Yelp reviews and advertised 24 hour service, I called Albion and got Emilio (sp?) by phone. He was more than helpful. He was ready to send someone that afternoon, but turned out I had an appointment. So we agreed if I didn't get someone else, call the next AM and arrange a first thing in the morning appointment to unclog. I didn't get someone else so at 9 AM next day I called and he was set to send someone by noon. Turned out I also had an appointment for around then too. So he volunteered how about 3:30 to 4:30? And sure enough the Albion man showed and I have the toilet back. The job was a snap, but required a rooter that I did not have. But the six stars are for Emilio and his willingness to fit me in and his willingness to communicate with me.

Laurel L.

6/30/2011

Michael and his crew are great. Our contractor used them for a fairly large kitchen and two-bath remodel at our house. We ended up needing some extra work done (unrelated to the remodel) and Michael as prompt and very fair in his price. He even went to the City of Berkeley twice for me to deal with an inspection problem that had nothing to do with his work. Really, I can't recommend them highly enough.

Oh, and if you get a chance, ask Michael about his daughter...she is an amazing young woman.

Alemany D.

11/29/2017

Excellent work. They came out twice in the same day to make sure we were satisfied. I appreciate their hard work and accurate diagnosis.

Billy K.

07/05/2011 12:00:00 SA

Recently I just had some new tile installed in my bathroom. In order to finish the job, the contractor had to take out my toilet and then reinstall it after the tile had set. Every seemed to be working fine, but that night we noticed leaking coming from the toilet tank; the leak was coming from the part that connects the tank to the bowl. I was quite surprised and angry to see something like this happening.
In the morning, first thing I did was contact the contractor who told me that he couldn't make it until the evening. That's not gonna work, especially since my wife is pregnant and needs to go the bathroom constantly. I tried calling different plumbers hoping to get someone that could come over as soon as possible, but everyone was booked until at least noon. I couldn't wait that long, not only because of my wife, but also because I had to get to work. When I called Albion plumbing I thought I would also have to wait a long time before someone could come over. To my surprise, Mike said he could come over within half an hour since I live fairly close to his office and he had to go by there anyway.
When Mike showed up, he took a few minutes to look over the toilet and told me that the screws connecting the tank to the bowl were not tightened. Turns out the contractor didn't install the toilet properly after the tile was set. Mike used his wrench and tightened the screws for me in a minute. When he was done there was no leak whatsoever, and he checked pretty thoroughly too to make sure. I was really impressed by his speed and skill. I wouldn't hesitate for a minute to call him again if another issue came up. Mike is the real deal.

Max R.

09/12/2016 12:00:00 SA

Had a backed up kitchen sink. Came out charged more than double the going rate, snakes the sink and said everything was fine. Sink clogged right back up again.

Also, not actually 24 hours. Even at their emergency number expect to get voicemail often.

Shawn W.

12/14/2018

Called them and scheduled a sewer lateral inspection at 4:00pm. Took half a day off from work to wait for the technician to come. By 4:15pm, nobody showed up, I called them again, and they told me the time was actually a window between 4:00pm - 5:30pm. So I continued to wait, but eventually nobody showed up.

Tried to call them again to see what's going on, nobody answered the phone. Maybe the traffic was bad, maybe they were busy, but at least they should give me a call to explain it. I just don't feel this is a professional way to run business.

Kit B.

10/08/2015 12:00:00 SA

Right from the initial phone call, I knew I was in good hands with Emilio. He listened to my plumbing problem, asked good questions and was able to get me a same day appointment. Emilio and Adolfo were so professional and so clean. They took the time to explain everything and made recommendations for improvements. I live in an old house and the plumbing is in need of help so I was all ears. There was no up-selling or pressure to get more work done and I really appreciated that Emilio was willing to quote everything and put the cost in writing. Sometimes it can be so difficult to get that upfront cost and he made it so easy. I am so pleased with their efforts and all toilets and drains are flowing. Thank you Emilio and Adolfo!

Hannah D.

03/01/2012 12:00:00 SA

Michael and his team were excellent. There is a new ordinance in Oakland requiring all house sellers to attain a Private Sewer Lateral (PSL) compliance certificate. To pass the this EBMUD test - either a water or air pressure test - you need to engage a plumber to 1.do the test so that you know whether you're going to pass; and 2.come back and do the test when the inspector is present. Our first estimate was from Harry Clark. Too expensive for us. More than twice of Albion's estimate. Another company I contacted charged by the hour - but this was too risky for us because if you live in a wooded area you have no idea what problems you're going to find.

We ended up having two cracks in one section of the lateral (which was not detected in the video done by Harry Clark). The Albion team did a trenchless sewer pipe replacement. The workers were amazing. After things took longer than expected (thanks to enormous pine tree roots) they literally worked in the DARK to be ready for the 8am EBMUD test the next day - impressive work ethic (+ they knew they needed to get to another job the next day). Everything was filled in and put back (wooden stairs had to be lifted up) and tidy upon their departure.

Michael is extremely responsive on the phone. He was also very good at being patient with me when I was freaking out about costs when we found cracks and root problems etc - kudos to him.

Definitely get Albion out for an estimate on your work.

Mary F.

7/29/2023

They did a good job replacing the flow valve in my toilet, but no follow up for 2 other more complicated jobs (it's been a week).

Bowie R.

2/16/2011

Really happy with Albion Plumbing. We had a minor plumbing emergency and called these guys--they came within 2 hours and had the problem fixed within 10 minutes. Saved us a lot of work, definitely glad we called and we will use them again!

Bruce O.

02/11/2011 12:00:00 SA

A part I spent about 3 hrs trying to find was in his truck!
30 min and Mike had my leaky drain fixed.
And he walked out the door about 3 hrs after I called him the 1st time. Incredible!

Bruce O.

derek d.

3/25/2013

This is not a full customer experience, just another one of these frustrating no show experience. I set up an appointment, I called to confirm the morning of the appointment (how about that! must have had some 6th sense ...), and they still did not show up, resulting in me having left the office for no other reason than waiting 2 1/2 hours. I called to complain and they apologized politely, offering to reschedule. But sorry, I am done with Albion Plumbing.

Eric P.

2/16/2010

Great experience! I was having issues with the bathtub clogging. Michael, one of the owners showed up and solved the problem within a very reasonable time. He was courteous and very professional. He also honred the $25 discount for mentioning that I found out about his company on Yelp.

T W.

3/31/2017

We have been fortunate to find Albion Plumbing and Rooter, as a personal and professional business service provider.
Michael Grant has a unique perspective about plumbing contracting and is innovative in finding solutions to the situations that he's faced with. This company has provided simple repairs such as faucets, washers, leaking sinks, and toilet replacements. They've also handled the larger projects, such as trenchless repiping of sewer lines. We expect to have them repipe the interior water lines, for two buildings, later this summer.
The people that work for this small business are honest, knowledgeable, trustworthy, and respectful. If they encounter a challenging situation, they'll collaborate with either Michael or Raymond, to find the right solution. Other plumbing services might just rig something together until they can drive off with your money.
Albion is the only company that I, and our company, use to solve plumbing problems. Quality and Honesty still exists in the service market!!

Roberta C.

12/01/2013 12:00:00 SA

Based on the other reviews, I'm sure these are nice guys, but they made a huge mess this weekend at my duplex. The upstairs unit had a leak so they snaked it and then left without checking whether or not my downstairs unit was ok. I came home to water pouring out of my kitchen sink, standing water on the kitchen floor, soaked cabinetry, and wet hardwood floor in the surrounding hallways and rooms. We called them that night and then started calling again the next morning. We didn't hear back for hours. Another plumber is now clearing the lines from my unit, which didn't have any problems previously and the clean-up people are trying to figure out whether or not the kitchen cabinets and hardwood need replacing because they got soaked with dirty water. This is turning out to be a very expensive mistake!

Leonard C.

12/01/2015 12:00:00 SA

We had an Emergency backup of the sewer late saturday nights and they where happy to help! There communications with me and the tenants was awesome. They snake out the main and showed me on the camera all the issues with the lines! They went beyond the call of duty! Thank you Emilio!!

C A.

8/13/2020

YES. Honest/patient/reliable/prompt. I needed a faucet replaced for my kitchen sink and Emilio was incredibly kind and helpful. I really gave that guy a work-out and he was patient and professional. Sure you can go with any plumber--and hope for the best....but I really tested these guys to the limit with my needs and wants and they maintained a friendly and positive attitude. Michael has also come by our house and talked us out of a couple of projects--so they really are honest as well. Good people. Hard to find that in a plumber. So glad we found them.

E L.

09/01/2015 12:00:00 SA

These guys are great. They talked to me about other options before responding to my late night call. He was here fast, very thorough and professional. And nice while I was anxious. Don't hesitate to call them.

Toni C.

1/18/2022

I have used Albion for more than 5 years. They are extremely professional. You name the situation, I have used Albion. Once my hot water heater failed to function, Albion responded on the weekend. My last usage of this company was to ready my house to meet the city's plumbing and pipe requirements. Rather than suggest patch work that would have never meet the required standard, they were honest in their findings. Yes, the work that was required was pricy, but the g oal was met. I recommend this company to anyone in the bay area that needs quality plumbing and rooter work.

William T.

5/21/2013

Solid company - came the same day I called, and since one of the plumbers was off - the owner came. Took apart and re-installed a toilet that something had gotten stuck in, and installed a new fireplace log starter in an hour. After mentioned Yelp for a $ 25 discount - total was $ 135. Good local company that performs, highly recommend for any size job, since they do new construction as well.

Cat B.

8/27/2009

As a new homeowner, we finally had our first problem - plumbing. I called Michael early on a Saturday morning after being referred by an Oakland City Council member and he was willing to come out the same day. A minor glitch in our plans prevented it but Michael came out a few days later when my husband and I were actually going to be home.

Michael and his employee were incredibly professional and courteous. You can tell that Michael really cares about finding the root of the problem and fixing it in a timely manner.

We will not hesitate to call Michael at Albion Plumbing again if we have any other plumbing problems!

Justice Cat ..

1/20/2012

You know when you have that nagging feeling that you just got ripped off? I got that with Albion Plumbing.

Based on their great reviews, I scheduled an appointment for them to hook up a new faucet, existing garbage disposal and water filter to a new sink I just had installed. They told me it would take less then two hours + parts.

After nearly five hours they reported that the new faucet I supplied was faulty. Of course, the faulty faucet was absolutely not their fault. However, the amount of time it took them to diagnose the problem was. The plumber first started by replacing all the pipes and fittings that had worked perfectly before they were disconnected from the old sink. Then when the leaking continued, he finally determined that the new faucet was at fault.

In the end, a VERY simple job of hooking up a faucet, garbage disposal and water filter ended up costing me $600!!!

I just feel like a more experienced plumber would have figured it all out in a lot less time and for a lot less money. The next day my husband installed a replacement faucet in 20-minutes and now it all works fine.

I think the lesson here is that these guys are probably fine for a weekend emergency plumbing situation when you expect to pay a lot, but a complete ripoff for other plumbing needs.

patrick m.

2/13/2020

Michael Gant is a champ! He really knows his stuff and he team is great. They replaced all the galvanized plumbing and sewers in one of our old buildings. It wasn't cheap but the quality was great. He knows his codes better than the inspectors so you know it's only going to have to be done once and right by him on the first go around. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Albion plumbing to anyone.

Jordan W.

06/04/2011 12:00:00 SA

They may be perfectly fine plumbers, but they sure are terrible at making and keeping appointments. I called to schedule an appointment, was told we'll be there at 8:30 on [day], and then ... nothing. I called at 8:45 and was told I made a mistake and didn't make the schedule request. So I was late for work for nothing.

I figured I'd give them another chance, so I rescheduled for a Saturday morning. The day before, they called to ask if they could push it back an hour to make room for an earlier job. That was fine. Then the plumber called on Saturday morning to say This job is taking a long time. I can't be there until 11:45 or 12:00.

Not okay -- not okay for reliability reasons, and not okay because I had to go to work. End of business relationship, and beginning of my first ever Yelp review.

EXCITING UPDATE! They just called to try to apologize and (I think if I'd let them continue) talk me out of this Yelp review, which I'm not interested in. Maybe that's why their reviews are so strong: they call people and try to talk them down from the ledge -- or up from the initial rating, I guess. I appreciate the effort to make good and the apology. Doesn't really change my experience. Hopefully they'll read this, too.

Howard H.

11/29/2012

Based on 30 years of maintaining an old triplex in Berkeley, I can easily say that this is currently the BEST Plumbing outfit here.
I have been unhappy with Ehret and others, so I called Albion for the first time, for what I believed was a leak in a shower faucet handle. I set up an appointment in advance. He showed up EARLY and waited for me, He then put on booties and inspected the bathroom area. He took apart the shower valve covers, tested the valves extensively and found no leak. He carefully re caulked the fixtures, and suggested that the old glass shower doors might have caused the leak.
Very knowledgeable in water leaks.
He was on the premises for 30 minutes, and did not bill me at all. No cost ! Highly recommend.

Nikole N.

1/28/2013

Albion is the chupacabra. They are people with integrity. Our water heater went out, and we called another plumber and used cold water for a day and a half until the other plumber came. The plumber didn't even examine the problem, but shined a flashlight on some pipes and told us we needed to replace it and left.
Distraught, we called Albion for help. Amazingly, they were able to talk us through the problem by PHONE! They offered to send a repair person within 4 hours, but we ended up not needing it as they spent 20 minutes on the phone describing the system, make/model, and dials on the heater. With just a couple of switches and dial turnings, our hot water heater fired right back up. And all of this was for FREE, on the phone, just to provide service! Now that is what i call customer service. If i ever have a water heater problem or actually do need a replacement, I'm calling them. Thank you guys!

Sue L.

1/13/2011

Michael is a stand-up guy who does what he says he's going to do and really cares about getting the job done right. At first I was worried: he was supposed to come on a Friday to camera my line but never showed. Turns out he got stuck in Chicago on a flight back home. He was late the next day so I was pretty much ready to bolt. *However* I'm really glad I did wait: once Michael arrived he was *present* in every way. He got to the problem, wrote me up that Saturday, got a crew to my house promptly on Monday morning and six guys worked for 8 hours putting in a new main line. About a half hour after the crew left I heard a noise outside: it was Michael inspecting all the work. This guy doesn't mess around. He inspects everything that he's not hands on involved in. A few days later, upon completion, he came to my house and ran *everything* to make sure it all worked before considering the job to be completed. I'd strongly recommend this company and would not hesitate to have them do work on my place again.

Update: Lucky me--had to get a drain snaked (unrelated) a week later. Michael answered the phone at night, came the next morning and fixed the problem. I heart Albion and Michael!!!!!!

Sarav C.

7/28/2016

We had a sewer lateral issue. We knew this is going to cost thousands. The gentleman from Albion came in, put a tube camera into our sewer lateral and then claimed we would be spending tens of thousands. A few dings here:

1)He charged us $150 for the camera evaluation. none of the other plumbers charged this. We were fools for paying this.

2)He said he would send an estimate the next day. It took him a week! And this was after 3 or 4 phone calls. What is this - they don't want our business?

3)His tens of thousands was dead wrong. His bid came in at $12K. The other 4 plumbers came in between 6K to 8K. Go figure.

Giant thumbs down.

Lisa S.

06/01/2011 12:00:00 SA

Excellent, quick service, good prices. Very nice people at this company as well, an added bonus.

Ben W.

1/25/2013

UPDATE: we went with Albion again due to our good experience the first time (see previous review), but the results this time were definitely subpar. In a single visit to our house, Albion's plumbers installed a dryer vent backwards (which leaked condensation out both ends), fixed a leaky bathtub which continued to leak, and scratched/dented our bathtub. They ended up fixing some of the problems they caused but not all.

Additionally, to finally fix the leaky bathtub for real, Albion gave us an estimate on the project and scheduled the work. My wife and I called Raymond at Albion multiple times throughout the week to confirm the time/price and they never called back. Finally, late at night the night before the work, Raymond calls to tell us the actual price is $700 more than their original estimate.

If you do end up going with Albion, make sure you get one of their better plumbers (Armando was fine) and an agreement on an estimate ahead of time. And good luck getting ahold of them on the phone too!

William B.

12/03/2022 12:00:00 SA

The day before Thanksgiving our toilet d coded it wasn't going to function properly. I had used these guys before and gave them a call. They provided me with a reasonable response time and arrived on time. Wound up being a small stoppage. Problem was quickly solved with a reasonable charge. They will continue to be my go to when plumbing issues arise.

Carol S.

11/23/2010

Unbelievable! Came home in the evening to find the gas off in my house. Called and in less than 15 minutes a gentleman showed up, immediately fixed the problem (the auto shut-off valve had tripped somehow -- probably from the foundation work on the house next door), re-set our water heater, and made sure everything was working. Very polite, very professional, thorough & extremely quick. Love Albion!!

David B.

12/15/2011

Synopsis of my recent experience:

1. Called Monday for Tuesday afternoon appointment
2. They said they would call before 1pm on Tuesday and tell me when they would be over.
3. Angel called at 12:45 on Tuesday and said he would be at the house in 15 minutes.
4. At 1pm he was at the house.
5. At 2:30 it was all done and everything worked great.

Super!

Laurie L.

10/14/2011

Michael is the consummate professional. He came when he said he would. He completed the repair, even though he had to replace two parts, in one visit. When the project threatened to take a little more than 2 hours he offered to complete it without charging for a third hour. I will call Albion whenever I need plumbing work.

Sloane S.

11/03/2018 12:00:00 SA

Don't call them if you have an emergency. Their message tells you to call a different number if it is after hours. I called that number, and a message said to call the original number. Try someone else. They advertise 24 hours, but it isn't the truth.

Valary C.

04/09/2011 12:00:00 SA

Michael at Albion Plumbing is fantastic. I had him replace all my galvanized pipes with copper in my 100+ year old home and he did a great job. He gave me an estimate which was very reasonable for the size of the job, he and his crew showed up exactly when he said they would and they completed the job in 2 days just as he had quoted. Usually, because my house is so old when a project is started it takes twice as long and always goes over budget not on this project. When do you actually get a quote for a job and it comes in on budget and on time? Rest assured that if you have Michael at Albion Plumbing do a job for you it will be done in a very professional manner and with excellent workmanship. I'm so happy to now be able to run the dishwasher and the washing machine at the SAME time! Thank you Michael.

Lauren P.

11/23/2010

It's never a good sign when the garbage disposal starts to whine. Mine was making some pretty scary noises and just generally having issues. Michael set up a time to come over, but ended up being a couple hours late. Why the great rating, then? He stayed in touch, gave me a helluva deal and was courteous and competent throughout. Highly recommended!

bethany h.

12/21/2010

Albion plumbing came very quickly and provided great service. I'm a fan.

Beverly S.

4/17/2013

So thankful for Albion Plumbing! Water in the basement, a lot of water. Called many plumbers none had time. Albion was there in twenty minutes, crawled around under the house, looked for leaks, then deemed it was probably the sprinkler system. Sure enough the system had malfunctioned, hemorrhaging water. Problem solved. The best part: No Charge. Thank your honest plumber!

David R.

06/07/2011 12:00:00 SA

Michael from Albion came out to look at a sewer line replacement at my house. He did a camera inspection for free! Normally costs somewhere between $80 and $150. He has first rate equipment too. His price was quite reasonable. I ended up going with another guy who also had a reasonable price and who had already snaked the line for me and applied the cost of that to the sewer replacement. Michael even was decent enough to mention that the other guy is an excellent plumber!

Erik D.

12/01/2010 12:00:00 SA

Terrific experience! Clogged kitchen sink wouldn't yield to my home arsenal (Drano, plunger, and incantations). Found these guys on Yelp, and they had me back to draining bliss in no time. Very punctual, friendly, and efficient, I would definitely use them again. They also gave me the Yelp discount and a teacher discount. Double bonus.

Sara M.

05/06/2015 12:00:00 SA

We called them. They came promptly and sent service update emails (technician en route to your address). Fixed the problem. It was smaller and more localized than we had feared, but they didn't try to sell us service we didn't need. The workmen were pleasant, and knew what they were doing. Charge was quite reasonable. Would use them again.

Gary C.

11/28/2010

I just chanced upon ALBION by a random choice in the yellow pages, but am sure glad I did. Unlike my previous choice with a competitor, which I promptly canceled when they didn't show for hours,Albion came when they said they would, and during a busy, rainy holiday week at that. My hats off to Michael, Moses and Clyde who tenaciously worked toward solving my mother-in-law's difficult and complicated clog that can only be described as Plumbing From Hades. I really appreciate their punctuality, stick-to-itness and resourceful ability to clear this fat/oil/grease clogged drain that had apparently been building up for decades. The entire section involving 20 or 25 feet was almost solid with this hardened waxy mass that resisted many attempts with the snake. Then they brought in the big guns, a high-powered pressure machine that blasted the entire clog through. This was far from a typical clog. It was a worst-case-scenario. They were very pleasant to have in the house and I am so grateful to have crossed paths with them and will definitely call them again. I recommend them to all. Thanks so much, you guys.

Laura J.

2/20/2012

Giving this review for my mom: Albion arrived on time. They did a thorough assessment of the situation and fixed the problem in a reasonable amount of time, cleaned up after themselves, and even installed my new toilet! I appreciate their friendliness and excellent prices. I would definitely have them back again!

Terry P.

2/25/2010

Once again, Yelpers came to my rescue--by sending me directly to Michael. So thank you, reviewers! This guy's definitely a great find. My dishwashing sink at the commercial kitchen was backed up--and I had a corporate group of 30 coming to cook together in a couple of hours. I'd done everything I could think of to clear it, to no avail. Called, and within record time (for any plumber I've ever encountered), Michael arrived. Took a look at the problem, took control, and very efficiently and neatly fixed it in an hour's time. Charged me the Yelp rate--a nice discount--and gave me tips for keeping the drain running free. I couldn't believe, after experiences with rooter companies in the past, how great this was.

But the story doesn't end there. The group arrived, we got going on our cooking projects, and then started doing the dishes. The commercial dishwasher was also backed up. What a disaster, and by now it's nearly 8 PM, things are piling up badly. Called Michael again--and again he came within an hour or so, despite having started his day 13 hours before, and fixed the problem, which turned out to be a completely separate issue from the earlier clog.

I highly recommend Michael; my only fear is that he will get too busy helping other Yelpers to be as available next time I have an emergency. He also does bigger projects, and I am going to have him bid on one I'm working on, to replace our hot water heater with an on-demand version.

David G.

8/16/2012

These guys are incredible. I had a sump pump failure happen this past winter, leading to a flooded basement storage room where my water heater is housed. I came home late and only found this out after 10:00pm. I was freaking out, assuming I wouldn't be able to get anyone over until the morning. I called Albion, and not only did they come out immediately, Michael the owner made the trip himself. He worked for nearly 4 hours to help me drain the area and fix the problem with a temporary solution, and then his guys came back the next day and installed a permanent solution. Seriously, a lifesaver. Excellent service when I needed it, and they effectively solved the problem. Amazing, couldn't have asked for more.

Jan S.

01/10/2023 12:00:00 SA

Albion Plumbing & Rooter came to my rescue within hours of calling them during this terrible weather we've had lately. I was preparing for them to check my Sump pump and in clearing out the access area I pulled the cover and saw a swimming pool under my house. They got a pump working right away and it took several hours until they were able to crawl over to see what the problem was. A French drain was recommended due to previous drainage work that wasn't right. They set up a temporary pump to keep the water out and now I'm in the process of looking for someone to do the French drain.

I highly recommend this company. They put down plastic sheeting to protect my floors and when finished they cleaned up. Armando explained what they were doing and the possible fixes I could have done. Great job Albion Plumbing & Rooter!

Bill L.

7/26/2018

Albion Plumbing is the best! They do not overcharge nor gouge the customer. The work is excellent with wonderful employees and management. Their work is timely, clean and well constructed/installed. It is hard to find a plumbing outfit that does bigger work than just a back ed up kitchen drain. They can do that yet so much more. We feel like we have a brand new home with the piping they installed. Hats off to Albion Plumbing!!

M M.

05/10/2012 12:00:00 SA

Michael the owner is very professional and thorough!!!!! Saved us lots of cash. I own apartment buildings and I will never loose his phone number. Best plumber I have met.

Christopher A.

09/09/2011 12:00:00 SA

When I needed a plumber for the dreaded repipe project in my house, I started with Yelp. I soon discovered Albion Plumbing . We chose Albion and were pleased with their work. First, Albion offered a reasonable bid for the work. Second, Albion was punctual and dependable; they showed up as promised each day. When Albion's Owner, Michael Grant, made appointments to meet with me, he was consistently on time and prepared. Third, Albion's crews were respectful of our property and did not cause any damage. When Albion's workers arrived at my door, they promptly slipped covers over their workboots to avoid leaving footprints. During the project, they started by laying lengths of butcherpaper in all the parts of the house where they needed to walk. At the end of each work day, Albion's crew swept and vacuumed all the dust and debris in the house. Finally, Albion's work showed high quality and attention to detail. Albion installed the copper pipe in a logical and organized manner; the pipes pass through carefully drilled penetrations in joists and studs. Albion installed neat and professional valves and lines in place of the hinky work that was left by other contractors. When the City inspector came to review the work, I overheard him compliment Albion on the quality of their work. We recommend Albion for any plumbing project.

Sara Mae H.

8/19/2015

Toilet had a blockage (medicine cap bottle) in the trapway that would not clear the outlet. The plumber (Isaac) arrived and did his best with an industrial toilet augur, but to no avail. He informed me that he could get the cap out but it would be more expensive for him to remove the toilet then to get an entire new toilet installed from say, Home Depot.

Although Isaac was unable to get the cap out via snake or augur, he was honest and upfront about what I should do and how to save costs. I appreciated his honesty and would definitely use their services again if I have any plumbing issues.

Jeff S.

12/17/2010

A very professional plumbing service. Michael was a pleasure to work with. I am truly pleased with the results (shower valve replacement) and highly recommend Albion plumbing.

Richard B.

4/13/2017

I live in an apartment in Berkeley. The sewer pipe from the kitchen sinks from the apartments above me and from my kitchen sink were old and leaking. The actual pipe went under the concrete walkway along the interior courtyard of the building.

Albion came in and diagnosed the problem quickly and bid on the job. The apartment management company accepted Albion's bid and the work started. They had to cut up the concrete to get to the pipes. Then they replaced the pipes. One day I met Mike, one of the owners or top managers of Albion who came by to inspect the work being done. He was extremely thorough in his review and clearly had a commitment to quality work. I felt good seeing this approach to the work.

Albion finished the job successfully. I don't know about the pricing as that was between Albion and the apartment management company. I can only comment on the work and people. I was also impressed by the people Mike had working on the job. They were hard working and courteous.

Owen O.

04/11/2011 12:00:00 SA

I called Albion at 6am with a clogged toilet. Then at 6:20 the plunger finally worked and it came unclogged but wasn't working well. Mike from Albion still came out by 7 and took a look. He checked the mainline and wound up fixing it by just doing a better job with the plunger. After all that hassle, no charge!

Degrick M.

11/09/2009 12:00:00 SA

Greetings fellow yelpers.

HERE ARE THOUGHTS FROM THE MIND OF MINOLTA.

One of their guys just left. Literally, just left.

He took care of business. A bit slow, because he had to leave to go to a hardware store to get the correct part. I am a true fan of gray hair doing any kind of work. To me, gray hair means well-seasoned experience.

Give them a call for your plumbing needs. Its hard to find plumbers that dont have bankers hours. I call them last night about 8pm or there about. I'm impressed.

They operate like my limousine company of choice... dont act like you dont know them.... On Time Limousine 888-685-4665. If you dont know them, its your loss. Just tue same if you dont call these guys, its your loss.

There you have it...

Monica G.

01/09/2018 12:00:00 SA

Albion plumbing is the best plumbers I have ever had. I have used them exclusively for the past 2& 1/2 years. They have done about 20 different jobs for me and have done a great job every time. They are on time, professional and their prices are reasonable. I have used many other plumbers in the past 20 years to work on my buildings in Oakland and Alameda. I got lucky the first time I found Albion Plumbing on Yelp; they did a very good job, so I called them again. Each time I call them they do a good job, so now I only call Albion plumbing whenever I need a plumber. I highly recommend them.

Blake R.

05/12/2016 12:00:00 SA

After dealing with a string of plumbers that either couldn't fix our problems or in one case CREATED problems that resulted in sewage spewing under our house, we called Albion Plumbing and they saved us. They came as soon as they could, finally assessed the real problems, and fixed everything. We've learned our lesson: You can't trust every plumber you find but you can trust Albion. Thanks for the help.

Melanie G.

03/05/2012 12:00:00 SA

I can't say enough about Michael and Albion plumbing. Today Michael came to our house to fix a sewer line. He spent an hour and a half with us only to find out that the leaky line was the neighbors, not ours. He refused to take any money for his time.
We'd hired Albion plumbing before and they did a great job. I would highly recommend them. Honest, affordable, knowledgable, professional. What more can you ask for in a plumber?

Nina H.

10/12/2014 12:00:00 SA

Our garbage disposal stopped working and we called Albion plumbing. We made arrangements for the next day and the guy came right on the scheduled time. It was Albion himself! He was able to fix the problem within 10 minutes and did not try to sell me a new garburator. He also gave me tips on cleaning the garbage disposal, told me the cause of the problem, and how to fix it if it occurs again. I thought the price was pretty reasonable, at $125 for diagnosis, but would have been nice if he gave me a little discount since he was only here for such a short period of time.

Jeff K.

5/17/2010

Yelp comes through with something that's so hard to find these days: a competent contractor! I needed three new sinks hooked up and Michael came out the same day for an estimate. He made sure he was there when my countertops were installed so the holes were drilled correctly, and then he and his crew did the work a day later. They cleaned up after themselves and everything's working as it should. Michael was professional, polite, and was always on-time or even early!

sammy jean b.

10/28/2010

I had a really wonderful experience with Albion Plumbing. When we called, they were so nice on the phone and had someone at our house within an hour. Moses, Mike, and Clyde came out and fixed our stopped bath tub. They were very kind and courteous and they got the job done. After they were done, they cleaned up after themselves and left the bathroom cleaner than when they came :) I am so happy we called them, instead of another plumbing company, as I have had some really awful experiences with plumbers in the past. Thanks Albion!

Gina P.

07/09/2010 12:00:00 SA

They came thru for me today I am very pleased. They are clean and professional. Did I mention clean? They offer a great service for a great price. They were on time, well early actually. got in and got out.

Jenn M.

09/03/2014 12:00:00 SA

What do you do if you've got a plumbing emergency at 9:30 PM? (Water! Water! Everywhere!) Call these guys. They came out quickly, fixed the problem, and were super polite and nice. Can't ask for more.

Peter C.

12/03/2015 12:00:00 SA

Had a water leak start in our home and Albion was there the next day to help. Had to open a few walls, which they did methodically, and put down proper protection to keep things clean. Turned out to be a nail had punctured a water line in the wall and once we found it they had it fixed in 20mins.

Very prompt, helpful and professional.

KK Y.

2/18/2011

They came to inspect a leak in the bathroom. We weren't sure if the leak was coming from the toilet seal or the shower. After they inspected the bathroom and the basement where the water was leaking they proceeded to change the toilet seal. Initially quoted as $125 per hour labor and parts he actually wasn't working on the toillet but inspecting it and charged me for an hour and a half labor. He added caulk to the inside of the shower valve cover but the problem wasn't solved. Too much talking and not enough working I feel ripped off for $200 that I could have literally flushed down the toilet! I wouldn't recommend them to anyone who has a clue about plumbing. Upon leaving Michael suggested to call someone else to caulk the shower for $100, maybe that would work. I reminded him that the leak wasn't fixed but he just ignored me. He kept trying to guess what the problem was..maybe the roof? No, it still leaks without rain..He wasted time between phone calls with other customers all on my time/dime.
Don't be taken advantage of by this weak excuse of a plumber.
Very unprofessional and gauging the public is not acceptable.
They claim that they'll fix it the only thing they will fix is your wallet by taking your money out of your wallet!
Owners response is a lie, they never sent 2 plumbers, even the 1 plumber took 3 times the amount of time. Michael made false statements in his detailed report response to the Better Business Bureau (after I filed a case).
Now, because Michael claimed to refund the money, the BBB has closed the case. I had to pay $20 to put a stop payment on that check!
Don't be fooled, check carefully other reviews, he ripped off 2 others (and those are the ones who take the time/effort to complain. Most people feel embarrassed or ashamed and don't want to admit being made a fool of.
As a member of the Rental Housing Association of Northern California, California Apartment Association and Lower bottom Neighborhood Association I urge you not to use Albion.
Please consider using PELICAN PLUMBERS who are honest, hard working and outstanding plumbers who believe in servicing people, not their wallets.

kristen b.

1/23/2012

Oh, praise the tiny baby Jesus. Our dishwasher flooded the kitchen last night so I called 3 plumbers this morning-Albion was the only one to respond, and they were out within a few hours. Their technician Sixto had the dishwasher fixed, a tub leak repaired and a sink snaked in around 3 hours. He also gave me a quote for installing a new dishwasher if we need it and a quote for an auto shutoff gas valve for earthquakes. He was really nice, and very knowledgeable.

They charge $125-145 per hour depending on the job, not sure if that is reasonable since I don't have much experience with this, but considering the response speed, professionalism, and amount of work done, I am satisfied!

Loshar S.

8/19/2014

Excellent. Have had many others - these guys are the best. Know what to do, will talk with you and explain things, listen to what's wrong, very reasonable prices. Don't call anyone else.

katie p.

1/25/2021

I've worked with these guys for years; in fact had someone come out the other day and it was the same plumber that came out the very first time. These guys are low-key, Black-owned, honest as the day is long.

Karen I.

2/19/2010

At 4 AM, one day this week a pipe burst in my home and water was gushing out to the street. I left a message at Albion (because of the Yelp ratings), even knowing they weren't an emergency service. By 6:30 I had a return call and Michael was at my house before 7. He quickly understood the issue, explained it to me and within a few hours it was totally fixed. He also showed me where the main water valve was as well as the gas (things I should have already known). When he was finished with the pipe, he was even up for fixing a few other small plumbing issues. He had a terrific communication style. I thought they charged a very fair price and was very happy with their service. I highly recommend them.

Alan D.

8/25/2009

Call them.

My morning started out poorly. We'd moved into a new house and the previous owners had not paid their water bill. We had gone through the online signup for service, but evidently it did not take.

The water was shut off this morning. After a call and chat with EBMUD, they told me I could go turn it back on myself or wait for their service between 8am and 5pm tomorrow. Desperate for a morning shower, I went to try and threw out my previously injured back. No water, bad back. Not good.

I hobbled to the office, made it through the day and came home. My DH was not able to get the water back on either. We are somewhat tool deprived and when they turned it off it was OFF.

A call to Albion and all was well. Michael dropped by on his way home, after an hour during which one could reasonably expect quick service. He got the water back on in short order and would not charge us. I hesitate to put that in, but he didn't and he was very nice.

Now, I have had a long hot bath that has soothed some of my pain away and am enjoying a glass of ice water. Tomorrow, I can get ready for work, brush my teeth, and be ready to take on another day.

Service like this matters. I will certainly call Albion in the future for any plumbing need and recommend them to friends in the area.

Sharon S.

06/01/2014 12:00:00 SA

Our water heater quit working and our dishwasher flooded, all on the same Sunday. Michael, owner of Albion Plumbing, fixed both in the period of an hour. He was super knowledgeable, professional and friendly and his price was very reasonable. We will definitely call him next time we have plumbing problems.

Craig M.

11/12/2019 12:00:00 SA

A rental home had a couple of plumbing problems. My attempt to deal with each failed! A non working garbage disposal and a backed up shower drain needed attention. Called Albion. Within a short time Armando arrived and solved both problems quickly, much to the relief of the folks living in this house! Albion definately deserve the positive reviews they've earned here.

James D.

8/22/2012

For those of you searching for a good, reputable plumbing contractor, stop now. Call Albion.

When Albion left my home this afternoon I asked myself when was the last time I received a higher level of service? And I truthfully could not think of another time. Every business out there can learn something about fast responsive service, good follow through, and good workmanship. They really are Top Notch, Grade A from beginning to end.

I discovered a broken water pipe in my backyard that was flooding my garden. They promptly answered the phone and were able to schedule a visit this afternoon. They arrived exactly at the time they said they would -- which for me is a first for a home contractor. Michael then repaired the problem quickly and efficiently.

Once I get the opportunity to harvest my vegetables, I will definitely call Albion again to replace the pipe and definitely recommend them to anyone in need of a plumber for projects large and small.

Here are Four Reasons to call Albion:

1) Fast responsive service

2) Clean and professional

3) Outstanding workmanship

4) The right tools and equipment -- They are professionals!

Thank you Michael and Raymond. Thank you Albion!

James

Mary D.

3/21/2010

Great experience with Albion. They were timely, efficient, and positive.

E. L.

6/20/2023

Super professional, quick, and gets the job done. When you need a quick fix, Michael and Albion is the place to go. Totally recommend them for their promptness, and professional manner.

Dr. Matais P.

07/01/2009 12:00:00 SA

Excellent service. The owner is often present, which often further ensures quality workmanship. I have used this plumbing company twice and both times the workers were extremely knowledgable, efficient and professional. I was quite impressed!

MDP

Olivia D.

7/28/2011

For the second time, I've had an excellent experience with Albion Plumbing. Last December, they gave me a fair bid for replacing our sewer lateral. They scheduled the work very promptly and finished it on-time, actually working in the dark late into the night.

This past weekend, I called Michael, because our handyman discovered a large wet area under our house next to where the sewer lateral work was done 8 months ago. Michael came to our house 2 days later. It turns out that the problem was not with the sewer lateral at all but with a totally unrelated pipe coming from the upstairs which a cap had popped off of. Tons of water had been leaking into our crawl space. Even though Michael and his employee, Clive, spent an hour at my house and had to do a lot of digging, Michael did not charge me because the problem was so small. I appreciate that Michael is so on-time, answers his phone, and knows that good work and good relationships with customers keeps them coming back. I highly recommend Albion Plumbing.

Diana G.

12/01/2014 12:00:00 SA

I've had good plumbing service before from various providers, but I have never had it provided with the kindness that was shown to me a few weeks ago when I needed the plumbing under my kitchen sink fixed. Not only was the work and the service excellent, but both were delivered with genuine humanity and kindness during a time of personal tragedy. Highly recommended.

Chris L.

5/13/2010

These guys are great. Yelpers do not lie. We moved into a new home and on day 1, our water main failed. Michael sent a person out who had questions on how to repair or whether to replace. Michael himself then made the trip to our house to assess the situation. We spoke about how we had just moved in and the other guys were quoting thousands of dollars and the need to fully replace the main line.

Michael says, ...if i were you and just moved in here, i'd rather just repair this before putting in a new line. you probably would rather be buying furniture right now right? He was right on the mark. He could easily have just been like the other guys and went for the big job.

I was worried they wouldn't find the leak and I'd end up just spending more money while they dug up my yard. Michael's team found the leak, put in a new section of pipe, all within estimate, saving me the overcharged estimates of the other guys.

He has a customer for life. Why can't all contractors act this way?

UPDATE: 6 months later we recommended Albion and Michael to our neighbors. They raved about him in the same way. Husband out of town and wife unsure what to do about full system backup. Michael rushed out, calmed her, deliver quality at a good price and office staff was incredibly nice to her. She still talks about them.

SJ C.

08/03/2011 12:00:00 SA

Showed up on time, the same morning I called about a broken faucet, worked quickly and cleanly, and even chose a new faucet based on my requirements that was even better than I'd hoped for, when I had no time to run out for a new one myself. The price was reasonable and the worker was friendly without being intrusive. I would definitely call Albion again in the future.

Teresa H.

11/30/2014

I called two plumbers the Saturday after Thanksgiving to unstop a slow draining sink and bathtub in our downstairs bathroom (while hosting 3 out-of-town family members). One asked to leave a message. Women's Plumbing Repair, over the phone, stated that it was likely a massive blockage and therefore a major job....which they don't do on weekends. Now a little worried I asked who they would recommend who does work on weekends and she suggested Albion.

It turns out that was good advice! Called Albion, and they came out within an hour. After checking that the clean out was okay, they determined it was hair and a shampoo cap that was blocking the line. Fixed and out the door in 40 minutes. Friendly and straightforward. Its who we will call first the next time we need a plumber.

Sarah L.

2/25/2010

I'm writing this right after Michael left my apartment. I found him on Yelp! this afternoon and called him for a jammed disposal (probably due my own abuse of the thing...). Michael was extremely accommodating and willing to work around my busy schedule, even offering to come late tonight or early tomorrow morning. He arrived at 9:30pm and promptly solved my disposal issue. Not only was he courteous and professional, but he didn't blink an eye at all of the gunk in my sink and offered me tips for keeping the disposal clean. I am extremely impressed!! He obviously cares about plumbing, and perhaps more importantly, the PEOPLE who use it! Highly recommended!!

Cyril K.

11/27/2009

Plumbing issues always seem to happen during holidays for me- day after thanksgiving when three other calls to various plumbers went unanswered for a toilet/plumbing back up issue Michael responded promptly by phone and arrived at my house exactly when he said he would be there later on that day.
He is knowledgeable, polite and very professional. He is also willing to walk you through all the possibilities to find the solution to the problem.

Please call Albion Plumbing, I do not think you will be disappointed.

Robert K.

4/16/2010

This guy is terrific! He came out the same day afterhours, got right to work, and was done quickly. His charge was extremely reasonable given the time of day. I'd use him again and recommend him to anyone who needs a timely, polite, quick and skilled plumber.

Lauri T.

12/11/2015 12:00:00 SA

This is the best plumbing company I have ever worked with in my 14 years as a homeowner in the East Bay!
I started my work with them on Oct. 9, 2015, when I spoke to Emilio, the scheduler who was super nice, and then to Raymond, co-owner, who was also great. Michael Grant, the other co-owner, and his team have done two outside projects for me at my home in Oakland, having to do with snaking, jetting, and putting a camera in my driveway storm drain. They also have inspected my sewer lateral line.
Michael also reviewed and completed work on a sump pump project in my basement that had been done improperly (unbeknownst to me!) and left unfinished by another contractor.
I was so impressed by Michael every time he has come to my home: except for one mixup with scheduling, he and his team have arrived on time, helpful with answering questions and educating me about issues, and most impressively, all of the equipment they use is new, clean, and modern, especially compared to other plumbers I have worked whose antiquated snaking and camera and other equipment look like they had been patched together with scotch tape!
I can't recommend Albion Plumbing strongly enough!

Huey Ying H.

9/27/2009

We called them Friday afternoon. They got here a few hours later and did a great job. Michael, the owner, came. He was very friendly, patient, and thorough about explaining and doing what needed to be done. He even spoke to our landlord on the phone. His rates were reasonable. We will definitely use him for future plumbing needs. Very professional, and highly recommended!

lisa a.

8/14/2018

Albion saved the day. Our lame toilet that looked pretty, just stopped working...and it was only a year or so old, as we've just lived here 11 months. Within 2 days, we had a nice TOTO low flow toilet installed...I never knew the sound of flushing could sound so nice ~ thanks guys!

Timm Z.

6/20/2012

We had a water main break under our concrete driveway, with water bubbling up through the cracks. We called Albion (and other plumbers) to assess the situation. Michael, from Albion, was the most responsive and detail-oriented.

He was able to provide a detailed assessment and anticipated price written in an estimate for us to review. He let us know what kind of permits he would need to get and drew a picture of how the repairs would look. He considered the most efficient and low-cost solution (i.e. figuring out how to repair by not digging up the sidewalk because we'd need get an additional permit for that). Other plumbers we called gave similar price points, but not nearly as detailed - one plumber even said I'd tell you we'd get permits, but nobody does anyway.

After hiring Albion, the workers were able to start the next day with an anticipated work time of three days. They produced copies of permits, created an even break in the concrete of our driveway, and efficiently replaced the pipe with copper and a water pressure valve. They neatly filled the trench with dirt and new concrete and kept the area orderly and neat. Workers showed up on time each day and Michael stopped by periodically for quality assurance. The anticipated work time and cost were exactly as he estimated...no surprises.

Excellent customer service, professional workers, and accurate estimates would encourage me to hire Albion again for future plumbing needs!

Steve S.

12/22/2016

My basement was flooded. They were able to come on short notice to fix my leak in the hot water feeder pipes, and they did a great job! They also found some additional plumbing issues and worked on them also. They arrived within 30 minutes, and all the work was done within another hour. I recommend them highly.

Kevin W.

06/11/2019 12:00:00 SA

After scheduling them to come out for an estimate for a laundry hook-up, they canceled 10 minutes prior to the appointment time due to an employee out sick. When I then rescheduled for the following week, they were a no-show and called 20 minutes after the appointment time to say, yet again, another employee was out sick. I can't speak to the quality of their service, but their scheduling issues caused me to no longer consider them.

Salvador R.

08/10/2011 12:00:00 SA

Got in a jam as my kitchen sink got clogged and all the homemade solutions did not work. I tapped Yelp for a plumber and I found Albion.

Albion was responsive, came quickly, ascertained the issue and handled it in less than 1 hour. Could not have done better. Price was fair.

Michael was professional, courteous and friendly.

If you need a no no nonsense solution to your plumbing needs, you can count on Albion.

Kevin S.

7/18/2010

Michael and his staff are unequivocally the best plumbing crew in the Bay Area. I first used Michael's services when my garbage disposal blocked up and leaked all over the kitchen floor late on a Saturday night. Not only did Michael show up in 15 minutes, but he fixed the problem and charged a very reasonable rate, especially given that it was a Saturday night emergency call.

Since then I had him back to fix a complicated infrastructure problem with the piping in my garage and minor problems with the toilets.

What impresses me most about Michael is his courtesy and consideration with respect to cleaning up after himself. He even came into the house with plastic bags on his feet to not track in dirt.

Look no further, Michael is the best!

Kevin D.

02/03/2011 12:00:00 SA

Another year, another need for plumbing services. Called up Michael about a leak with the water heater. He came out promptly, fixed the leak and didn't ask for payment due to the simple fix! Great service. Will be the plumbing company of choice for many years to come.

Michael P.

12/02/2009 12:00:00 SA

Good experience overall, though price seemed a bit high. Michael informed us that we had an old water heater with a pilot problem, and installed a 50-gallon water heater. The retail price of the water heater (on sale from a couple of online outlets in the area) was around $600-700, and Michael charged $1160 for the unit installed plus old unit hauled away. I was expecting ~$300 for labor, rather than ~$450-500.

Aside from this issue though, good service (timely, informative, courteous).

Teg G.

8/29/2009

Michael (the owner) was very prompt, courteous, skilled, and decently priced. We called him about a sewer clog (in the sewer main outside of the house) and he fixed it for a very reasonable price. Thank you Michael!

Preston K.

07/06/2011 12:00:00 SA

Excellant all round service and prices!! Raymond was so friendly and helpful on the phone, he was able to give me an est over the phone unlike other companies. Michael just finished, he arrived on time and did an excellant job, my drain is all clear now.
I would reccomend them to anyone, they are honest, hardworking and reliable.

Barb B.

07/10/2014 12:00:00 SA

Fast service, knowledgeable staff, reasonable pricing. I seriously didn't have a clue what to say when I called these guys. They came on site, told me what I needed and other than a little negotiation on the quoted price, did a good solid job. Worth a call!

Matt K.

11/29/2011

I had an emergency and they were the only one who even answered the phone. Great company!

Lee R.

1/14/2011

This week, we found a water leak in the garage. What a disaster ... It could have been.

After calling our regular plumber and three othes we found on Yelp, none of them were available to come out right away. Too bad we found the leak at 5 pm.

Then, my husband called Mike at Albion.

He came to the rescue, literally in minutes, and he found the problem and solved it quickly. I was impressed!

For us, Albion Plumbing really made a difference and they saved the day. We will use their service again ... they were there when we needed them and they did a terrific job without breaking the bank.

Ed L.

07/02/2014 12:00:00 SA

They're good. Came out to do some work on our bathroom, scheduled ahead of time, made sure we were there, replaced our faucet cartridge, checked out a water heater leak, did everything they're supposed to do and did it well.

Would definitely recommend!

Andrew M.

06/02/2013 12:00:00 SA

Our bathroom had clogged and after trying a few home remedies and vigorous plunging I gave up. That night we gave my toddler a bath in the other bathroom and discovered that one of the bath toys, a rubber squirting frog, was missing. We asked him where it was and he said, I flushed it in the potty.

Now clearly a job for a real plumber/rooter. Albion came out the next afternoon and cleared the plumbing (and my wife's sink which has always drained slowly) and left.

The following morning I awoke to discover the entire side of the house was blocked. Apparently froggy had just worked is way down the pipe to the next junction.

I called Albion back... they returned with a scope and we were able to actually see where the frog had become lodged in a blockage about 4 ft inside the house. They routed again, this time from the street to the house and were able to free the squirt toy all the way out to the main sewer line and cleared up the blockage that had held up the frog.

I was very pleased to discover that the return trip was free of charge. (It took just as long to clear the pipes as it did the first time.) Since then we've been trouble free. They were very respectful of our home and helped clean things up before they left. I would have no hesitation in using them again.

Ned L.

03/10/2012 12:00:00 SA

I had an emergency water leak and was heading to Florida.
I called several plumbers and talked to Raymond and explained
that it was a weekend, I had a serious water leak and was on my way to the airport. I did get a chance to meet Michael before I left and he said he could get it fixed THAT SAME DAY. Albion had one crew to break up the concrete, another crew to lay the new pipe and a third crew to
put in new cement. I was also able to have Albion look into my ewer line and will have to make some repairs there. They were very thorough and explained what was needed to bring the system up to code. I recommend that anyone with a plumbing issue should consider Albion.

Richard S.

12/24/2013

They were friendly and did a good job. A quote for the hourly rate by one employee was honored by another after it was brought to their attention.

Max L.

11/21/2013

HONESTY = HUMANITY.
HIRE THEM FOR YOUR NEEDS!!!

Albion Plumbing runs a business the way a business should... I had a leaky sink... the Owner of Albion Plumbing (HIMSELF) showed up at my door... The issue I had wasn't something he thought required a Fee... he tightened a nut, and did not charge me at all... (I then immediately wrote this review)!!!... IMMEDIATELY.

Adria W.

10/22/2010

A very positive experience! Two lovely plumbers (Moses & a friend, whose name I can't remember) came over within an hour of my phone call to diagnose and fix the kitchen sink. And they cleaned up afterwards, something not all plumbers do! Much appreciated. They also showed some love to my cat. : )

Thank you!!! Sink is working again and I now have advice about how to properly use my garbage disposal -- something neither the installer nor an earlier plumber I'd seen had bothered to tell me.

: )

Haru W.

5/13/2016

We've hired Albion a number of times for big and small jobs. Most recently they replaced our sewer lateral. Their bid came in at a fraction of what the other companies quoted us, and they were on time, courteous, handled the permit, and cleaned up like they were never there. Their work has been impeccable. My husband now has them taking care of his offices in Berkeley.

Michele N.

7/25/2013

I had numerous plumbing troubles that I had delayed maintenance for money reasons. I finally got some money together and based on yelp reviews I called Albion and spoke to Michael. He came out promptly and assessed the situation. He gave me a fair price that I accepted and he started work almost immediately. A pipe that drains the bathroom into the main sewer line out of the house had been leaking at some point in it's life. A previous owner of the building taped it! So when the tape came off the micro molecule of cast iron that was left came off with it! I put in a temp repair. Michael replaced this portion and reconfigured and replaced the drain from the bathtub. NO MORE LEAKS=PEACE OF MIND! He also cut in a cleanout/flushout for the sewer line that goes through a garage and into the main. All the work was done cheerfully and completed in a timely manner. Thanks to Micheal, Raymond (I spoke to him over the phone-lovely guy) and their crew. Highly recommend Albion Plumbing and would contract with them again in the future for any plumbing issues!

Michael C.

6/20/2011

Michael and Albion Plumbing did excellent jobs for both of my large plumbing projects: 1. complete replacement of all of my aging pipes. 2. complete sewer lateral replacement. They did the jobs in a surprisingly quick manner, they did a great job cleaning up, and the prices were very reasonable. I also really appreciate how Michael convinced against doing some unneccessary work for other possible projects. I chose Albion Plumbing due to positive recommendations from folks I know, and now I've become a big fan. Thank you.

karen k.

4/29/2011

I called Albion Plumbing this morning b/c the pipe under my kitchen sink was rotting and leaking. Michael came out within a 1/2 hour. He only replaced the parts he had too, was efficient, and is a genuinely decent person. Price seemed reasonable especially with the $25 yelp discount which I appreciated. I would definitely call him again. And it felt good to support a small local business.

Derek K.

7/16/2014

They took care of a sewer lateral that had to be done when we bought our house. They were reasonably quick. The downside was that the initial quote didn't include all the work that had to be done because they didn't look under the house initially to see that the kitchen drain wasn't up to code (it obviously wasn't). So overall good, but getting hit with additional work and cost in the middle of the job is unpleasant. And the work crew left a load of dirt and debris in the back yard.

Michael S.

3/23/2011

We live on a steep hill and needed our whole sewer line replaced. Michael at Albion gave us a very competitive bid, did an outstanding job service-wise, and was very professional throughout the process. They cleaned-up well and his team were all courteous. The project was completed on budget and quickly.

Christopher A.

08/08/2014 12:00:00 SA

Water heater stopped working. I called Albion and they sent a technician the same day-on schedule. Bad news: new part is required and it must be shipped. Good news: the water heater is still under long-term warranty. No cost. I did not even know this, so it was a chance to rip me off. Part is air-shipped and arrives the next day, and the next morning, Albion is back to install. But, I need to get to work. No problem. I go and leave the technician to do his work. When I return home, everything is neat and orderly, door locked and I have hot water again. Albion rocks! Can I give six stars?

Jack K.

04/09/2012 12:00:00 SA

Albion did an excellent job on a sewer line emergency cleanout and lateral replacement for us: best bid, very professional, they dealt with crowded-sidewalk and busy-street access problems in a very thorough and expeditious manner -- on-time, on-budget as-quoted, patient & detailed explanations, courteous, couldn't ask for a better plumber.

Cindy U.

05/03/2017 12:00:00 SA

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. When a plumber is recommended by another plumber (Collins Plumbing) they must be good. Collins does not do sewer lateral which is what I needed.

The camera inspection was going to require two people, as the pipe started up on the roof. I offered to climb up there but the Albion guy said he would do it and had me hold the camera down on the ground - this saved me from having to pay for the second person.

The sewer ran from the side of the house to the back yard (not to the street). The Albion team had to dig a giant hole in the neighbors back yard and take down some some fence boards to get at the sewer line connection. Fortunately the neighbor's yard was 6 feet deep in weeds, so there was nothing important that was destroyed. The team was polite, showed up on time and worked HARD. I was told there might be an additional charge if the connection to the main had to be replaced, which it did. This is reasonable. I watched the progress of the work and the replacement of the sewer line with a trenchless sewer. Tons of work and for all they did I think the price was very reasonable: about $6000.00.

I see another reviewer says none of the other plumbers charged for this (camera evaluation) and personally I find this to be complete BS. EVERY company is going to charge for a sewer lateral! This is a lot of work setting this up, no one is going to do it for free.

Jack P.

07/10/2009 12:00:00 SA

The Best service in the World! Dependable! Honest! Service with integrity! Excellent workmanship! The man is Good.! He knows when to do it, how to do it and the work will be up code.

Ann E.

6/23/2018

Was looking for companies to replace our furnace and was bummed to find out that Albion doesn't do furnaces. We've hired Albion for two jobs (big sewer lateral job and small under sink repair), and in addition the owner showed up at our place once for an emergency that the emergency plumber couldn't handle, gratis. These guys are fast, thorough, and do not spend their time whinging that they are doing extra work, or that the job was really hard but they are expert enough to figure it out, or any other annoying and exhausting flannel.

Now on to finding a company to install a new furnace...

S Y.

02/10/2014 12:00:00 SA

After my basement flooded, I called these guys first based on their stellar Yelp reviews. The upshot is that they send inexperienced people who don't know what they're doing to do the work at high rates.

The phone was answered by someone kind of rude who promised to show up in a half an hour, and after waiting around for over two hours and two more phone calls to check their whereabouts, a very young looking guy pulls up in a fancy truck.

He takes one look at the flooded basement and says he has to pump the water out. He also said that since he had the small pump, it'd take about 2 hours @ $145/hr before any work is done. I point out that there is a drain and it's not working, could he snake it? He calls his boss who sounds less tentative and threatens higher rates if I don't make the decision on the spot as it was already after 4pm (because they showed up much later than expected).

I sent the assistant guy packing and called another plumber who immediately located the drain and ran the snake. Oh, he charged far less money than Albion would have.

Chris J.

08/03/2009 12:00:00 SA

I had a very slow tub drain and I called a couple of Plumbers and Rooter companies. Albion plumbing was able to come out the same day and for $130 they were able to take care of everything. They spent close to two hours and had to go into a tiny crawl space to look under the tub to check out the pipes and the direction they were going.

They were prompt, polite, and clean. I will call them again if I have plumbing needs.

Sam Z.

6/15/2012

GREAT telephone customer service. They scheduled and got someone out there, and got the problem solved within 3 hours. The staff who I spoke with were very friendly and professional and thorough. Great job!

Michael T.

11/13/2011

i use them they fix the issue but they charge me a little to much to fix the problem.
thanks anyways

Craig P.

11/04/2015 12:00:00 SA

Great Service, reasonable price and most important - they were able to do it shortly after I called. I had an issue with a clog in the kitchen sink. The external trap was painted shut by the prior owner. Albion snaked the line from the inside and fixed the clog. He then cut the pipe for the external trap and replaced it. Very nice service technician.

Fred K.

12/12/2011 12:00:00 SA

Small in house clog where all my limited home tools couldn't get to. Yikes family coming in two days!

1. Researched Yelp
2. Found Albion
3. Said they had someone in the neighborhood
4. Showed up to front door within the hour
5. Super polite and friendly
6. spot on estimate
7. Put on boot covers, entered house (with white carpet)
8. Asked defining questions, fine tuned estimate
9. Done in 20 minutes
10. Wouldn't accept payment until I looked at sink and tub drain completely!
11. Done and dusted in 2 hours - amazing!

Highly reccomended

C L.

05/04/2011 12:00:00 SA

We first came into contact with this company through the yellow pages about two years ago. The previous plumbers could not solve the problem at the time. We continue to call him for all kinds of jobs small to large. This company is reliable, speedy, and professional. If you want someone with work ethics....call Albion, if you tried the rest, try the best..Albion Plumbing.
obvious1000

Raz A.

09/03/2019 12:00:00 SA

I reached out to a couple plumbers on a Sat night around 5:30 after laundry and sink backed up at the same time. This one called me promptly and said he could be there in 60-90 mins. He arrived within one hour. Everyone else told me they couldn't come until Monday. Cleared the drain fast with a snake (even got on the roof to do it). Also fixed the faucet head on the sink. Definately would call again! Great service!