Kourosh M.

11/11/2022 12:00:00 SA

so this company just did a difficult dishwasher install for me that another company could not do. They did a great job and came back the next day to make sure it's just right because I had noticed a couple of things that could be perfected. They did a great job and more importantly, or just as important. The people that came were super super nice professional people. It was a joy doing business with them and surely I plan on doing it again nothing but positive may be the nicest and very skilled plumbers I have ever seen..

Ahryana H.

05/03/2017 12:00:00 SA

Michael H. Where to even start...first of all he saved the entire night...earlier in the day i had a handy man drill a hole in one of our pipes on accident....and after two plumbers that couldn't do the job...I finally find the one stop I should have called from the beginning. Michael was very quick, the job pretty much only took a total of 15 minutes! The other guys spent hours pondering how to fix the leak...Michael was professional, the service was fast...and I honestly don't even know what I would have done if I didn't call Bill Howe...as cliche as that may sound, I've never had to deal with plumbing issues and I felt very relieved that they were able to take care of my problem with no doubts. Thank you guys again...I can't say it enough.

Susan B.

8/26/2015

Just got my A/C fixed by two great guys Mike S. and Noe. They could tell I was a little irritated, so while we were waiting for some decisions to be made they made friendly small talk and got the job done quickly and economically. Thanks guys!

Janell M.

2/28/2013

I hesitate, always, to give anyone a one star rating because as the office manager of a (TINY) business, I understand how much it sucks to hear from disgruntled customers. This time, though; Bill Howe deserves it. Let me explain.

About 6 months ago, I tried to run my furnace. Instead of warm air, I got an ice cold breeze and it reeked of propane. I tried it several times over the course of the next few months and finally decided I needed to call a professional out. The proverbial poop hit the fan, my husband (who was then & is still deployed) received orders to the east coast, and I had to deal with all of the planning of an entire household move (while working full time + with two little kiddos in the house) on my own. So, the furnace was pushed to the back burner while I dealt with all of that. I'm an excellent procrastinator.

Now my home is vacant and awaiting tenants, my husband hasn't been home in over a year, and I'm down to brass tacks. I HAVE to get it fixed. So I call someone I think is fair and reliable: Bill Howe. I had flipped on the furnace again a month ago to confirm it was still dead, and damned if I didn't get the same thing: propane smelling air and no heat.

The rep I spoke to on the phone told me up front, Just so you know, our policy is $150 an hour for repair. That's fine.

The tech arrived to my house on time (kudos), walked in, flipped on my furnace, and it fired up like a champ. He turned it off, turned it back on, and it worked just fine again. Zero issues. Color me surprised, but doesn't that just figure? The tech says to me: Well, the problem isn't presenting itself now. But it could be a bad circuit board. I could replace that.
I declined and said we'd see what happened.
Well it could also be a bad ignition, I could replace that, too.
No, really, I'm fine, I'll wait to see if it happens with my tenants.
Well then I guess I'll go - you just owe the service charge.
Okie dokie. What's the service charge?
$150.

Now, perhaps this is ignorant of me, but I see repair as the actual repair job - someone rooting around in my furnace, replacing parts, etc. -- not standing there for a grand total of 3 minutes flipping a furnace that appears to be working just fine on and off.

I feel like I got completely screwed out of $150. The tech did absolutely no work. Is there no contingency plan for things like this? When the device in question appears to be just fine? How 'bout a service fee that isn't equal to an hour of repair work? I don't mind covering your gas to get there, but I should not have to pair for an hour of your time when you literally stood there gnawing on the end of your pen for 180 seconds.

Ridiculous. Highway robbery. I will not be using Bill Howe for anything in the future, and I plan on sharing my experience with as many people as possible. Starting with Yelp & Facebook!

Mel C.

2/22/2016

Came out to fix a leak upstairs, charged 475 dollars to replace a supposedly broken P trap. Next day the leak was still there, small and taking a while to start dripping but still there. When another plumber came out to check it didn't start leaking immediately, so the plumber tried to claim it was probably the position of our shower curtain. Utterly ridiculous. When my wife called him out on this he got mad, didn't want to fix anything, and left. I'm out 500 bucks and for what? Looking at the old P trap, it probably wasn't even leaking. Keith Ressler

Rick M.

1/19/2017

Very happy with our first experience with Bill Howe Plumbing. They sent Ron to take a look at replacing a couple of older Price pfister bath faucets because of a leak. He gave us options to replace or repair. He had the cartridges to repair in his truck so we opted for that MUCH cheaper fix. Very friendly, very thoughtful, very professional! Thanks Ron. Will definitely recommend to others.

angie k.

11/01/2011 12:00:00 SA

I am updating my review a star as after I posted the previous review I was contacted by Bill Howe and issued a refund for the poor service I received. I am happy that they tried to make it right.

Linda E.

10/06/2020 12:00:00 SA

Maybe I got a lemon service but I spent 5 months with this company last year for a leak in my bathroom. No, it did not take 5 months to fix the leak but 5 months to fix all the mistakes and a year later, I noted water in the same area. Last year, not thinking to check for moisture into the tile after a leaky toilet ring until almost ready to seal it up again, not installing the toilet correctly after the leak was fixed requiring a second plumber to come out and reinstall, asking which grout I wanted when replacing after repair and then knowingly using the wrong one because they were out at the store they went to, placing a cheap plastic threshold on my wood floors.
With what looked like the same leak, I called and restoration came out to asses and said a plumber would be out tomorrow to assess. Five days later after no calls, I spoke to restoration and he said he didn't know why they didn't come out and I needed to call them myself. Can they communicate within the company? Finally with a knowledgeable technician, Carlos discovered the leak and it was minor and unrelated. They did do the best to help with a dehumidifier.

Tomas A.

8/28/2023

Just a piece of advice for anyone working with BH for a lengthy project: DON'T PAY THEM IN FULL! Once they get their money, you fall off their radar. I've always heard this about contractors, but I stupidly thought BH was different. Right now I'm looking at a dangerously unfinished part of my reno, and the project manager has ghosted me. They're the same as any other contractor, just don't make the mistake of trusting them like I did.

Vivienne C.

8/23/2022

I've been using all their services for many years for my plumbing, air/heating, and restoration needs. They are always able to send someone out the next day and sometimes even the same day. Mike Reif came to my house yesterday and serviced my a/c units and he's very knowledgeable on both central and ductless products. What's very impressive with Mike is he remembers my home from a previous visit a few years ago and know where to find everything without having to ask me and that worked perfect for me as I was on the phone working at home and didn't have to walk him around. Ask for Mike Reif the next time you need service, repair, or a quote to replace a unit. He's my go-to guy now!!

Jackie P.

06/04/2022 12:00:00 SA

We had a plumbing emergency on the weekend with a 6 foot crack in one of our interior pipes. Bill Howe was the only service we called that could come out on a Saturday night. Our plumber Chris S. explained exactly what was needed and worked quickly to solve our issue. We will definitely use Howe again for all our plumbing needs.

Danny W.

08/10/2023 12:00:00 SA

We had Asher come to our home and snaked out a clogged line that serves the washing machine in the garage. He was very professional, knowledgeable and made all repairs. Also, Bill Howe plumbing sent out their plumber same day and only took an hour to respond to my property. Thanks and I would recommend Bill Howe for clogged sewer lines.

Julie C.

10/21/2020

What a fantastic experience (and I say this even though my shower problem hasn't been fixed yet). Michael Hoover was great! He came over in a mask, put on gloves, and booties over his shoes, and went to work! He gave a best and worst case scenario and spent more time than was necessary, and probably more time than he had, to try to find parts and contact my landlords. Although many obstacles were thrown at him, I now know the plan and I know that my shower will be fixed properly as soon as the parts are found to do so.

Rob Paradise ..

11/03/2014 12:00:00 SA

I had a clogged drain cleared today by Alan from Bill Howe Plumping. Alan spent the necessary time w/o rushing, updated me frequently, checked for my approval on next steps. While it took awhile, I was very satisfied with specifically Alan 1st and 2nd the quality of work performed. Good service just doesn't exist today as it did decades ago and thats what made this a good experience.

RF L.

8/23/2020

Great company. Started off to a rocky start with the dispatch cancelling my appointment due to a misunderstanding with another customer. However, they impressed me much on the rescheduled appt. The tech arrived precisely on time and did a great job. The price was very good for the work I had done. I had searched for a good plumber for weeks and had been disappointed time and again. Bill Howe was great, took proper safety precautions during Covid19, and even extended a discount for the mistake on the first appointment. Glad to recommend them to family and friends. If the initial mix-up hadn't happened it would have been a five-star review.

ADDENDUM: They had to send a tech back to take care of a minor issue from the original installation, but they came next day and it was literally a 5-minute repair. Under warranty. No cost. Great customer service to fix an unfortunate mistake.

Gina M.

12/22/2018

We were in need of a plumbing repair in our kitchen and were really pleased to be scheduled for service the next day, especially considering the proximity of Christmas! Steven knew immediately what needed to be done to get us operational again and had the repair done in no time. He also cleaned up a bit of work from others that left our under-sink area in better shape for the long haul. Thanks to Steven for the excellent service with a smile and Bill Howe Plumbing for getting us scheduled so quickly!

Kristian D.

1/16/2012

Always quick to respond and flexible to take care of all of your plumbing needs. I've used them many times over the past few years to snake out drains, install kitchen fixtures, and fix toilets. The technicians are always polite and knowledgeable.

Shastie C.

4/26/2022

My shower was clogged .two lovely men from Bill Howe arrived just on time. Rico cleared it quickly and expertly. I cannot praise his work, his professionalism and kindness enough. i would never call another plumber should I need service again. And Rico is the BEST! Jill Green

Gregg R.

8/18/2023

I called up Bill Howe in desperation, since I already had a Drain Service visit the house and they told me that they could not clean out the drain until they cut into my wall. Fortunately, on my phone call with Bill Howe, they assured me that they would come out and assess the situation first. They showed up on time, the crew was extremely clean and courteous, and respectful of my property, They brought a camera scope, and saw what needed to be done and proceeded to do it very quickly. Wowza! I would never call another company other than Bill Howe!

Thomas S.

9/26/2022

Prompt efficient service. We had never used Bill Howe before but hired them to fix a gas leak at a rental property. The service tech came out the same day, diagnosed the problem and changed out the pipe for us.
excellent communication by the technician. Very satisfied.

Armando U.

9/29/2016

Great service. Gabriel went the extra mile to find and reconnect the water source to our new fridge.

Robin H.

4/26/2019

I work for a Commercial Property Management company and we use Bill Howe Plumbing on the daily. Their service deserves a 10 star review! Fast response, knowledgeable technicians and 100% dependable. I would recommend using Bill Howe for residential and commercial properties. A few shout outs:
Luis Paredes, Reconstruction Estimator
Brittany Schultz, Customer Service Representative
Mauricio Cervantes, Jr., Plumbing Technician

I know I am missing a few names, everyone there has been a pleasure to work with.

Thank you again to the Bill Howe Plumbing Team!

Tuanne M.

5/19/2015

A very bad experience not recommend. Say and do are different thing charge terrible service $450 for two hours to repair.
Last week my water heater was brook. I called them come to checked the leak. The representative said. They won't charge first visit for the inspection.
The guy come see and said the unit out the warranty need to order the part will be $450. He order it for me.
Next day I called the water heater company directly. They said to me you are unit still under warranty. You just pay for the labor.
I called back to Billhowe Plumbing explain the all detail and why lie didn't cover and why charged $450. They representative said and change the story , we charged first visit and charge $150 an hour. That is why charge $450. Never ever call they again.

Next day a local guy called recommend from water & heater company. He help fixed only charged $75 an hour. He just charged $150 for two hours.

Christy B.

05/07/2016 12:00:00 SA

Ask for Saul best plumber in San Diego. He knows just what to do for any plumbing problem you may have, also very pleasant.
I will ask for Saul when my apartment building has a problem.
Really 5 star service !!!!!!

B M.

6/18/2014

I have had good experience with the quality of their work, and their pleasant plumbers. They are on the high side of price, which I was aware since I have had two $1000+ jobs done by them recently. However, my call yesterday was a small maintenance issue which took under a half hour. He replaced a $2.00 washer on my sink faucet. That was it. $147.00 was the bill. That just seems silly stupid high. I guess its back to Craigslist, as BH has hit my tipping point. Thx.

Yvonne G.

8/21/2021

My garbage disposal/kitchen sink was clogged. I called People Helping Others (rental company) about the problem. They called Bill Howe Plumbing of the issue. Within an hour, appt was set up to arrive that evening. Brandon contacted me he was coming when he finished another job. He came earlier (which I was glad) and I explained what happened. He was efficient fixing the problem. Experienced & knowledgeable explaining what he was doing every step of the way. His professionalism was impressive. Job well done! Thank you Brandon!

Erica A.

2/28/2011

When I sprang another leak under my toilet I knew it was finally time to get all of my plumbing problems solved. I had some long overdue repairs to my bathrooms and kitchen that needed attention and my water heater was barely putting out any hot water anymore. I had my Dad coming to San Diego for a visit in 4 days so I had to get things taken care of right away. I did my research on Yelp and decided to have Bill Howe Plumbing come out to give me a quote as well as the other highly reviewed plumbing company on Yelp. I had the great fortune of having Rick Diamond come to my home to give me a quote for Howe Plumbing. I was impressed with his knowledge and professionalism from the moment he entered my home. On went the shoe covers and we began the tour of the many, many things that needed fixing. I was very impressed that he looked at what I explained needed fixing and then thoroughly explained all of my options with regards to possible repairs. He provided me with the knowledge that I needed, to make good decisions as to how to proceed within my budget. We went through all of my rooms and he addressed each repair individually and offered suggestions which were extremely helpful to me. In the end I had my water heater replaced with copper supply lines, had a new kitchen faucet installed, a new garbage disposal unit installed, had shut off valves and risers installed on all the plumbing fixtures, new tub plugs installed, as well as new toilet flappers on my toilets. After coming to my home to see the proposed work, he promised to have my estimate ready to go that same day, and as promised, he provided me with a typewritten estimate that very same day.

I had the other company come over to quote the same work and my experience was vastly different. Contrary to my experience with Rick, they had me writing down the pricing with my pen in hand and only offered me ballpark figures for low and high end pricing. The estimate that was given by the other company was vague and overpriced. It was immediately obvious to me that the service person from the competing company did not have the knowledge and professionalism that Rick Diamond so obviously had. I decided to go with Howe Plumbing and I am very, very glad that I did. We arranged for the repair to be done two days later since I had to notify my HOA that the water would need to be turned off. On the designated day, Rick showed up on time and began the extensive work that we had scheduled. He did a wonderful job installing my garbage disposal unit and new kitchen faucet. He even scraped off the calcium that had built up on my sink over many years so that my faucet and sink look like new. He did an amazing job installing 8 shut off valves throughout my condo under tight time constraints, and efficiently installed my water heater with safety straps. I was impressed with the pride that Rick takes in the work that he does and in the quality of his work. With Rick, you get what you pay for - and more! He is five stars all the way --- I'd give him an even higher rating if I could. Whether it was the smallest repair or the biggest repair, he gave each project his full attention and did a beautiful job. I just can't say enough about how wonderful he was to work with.

My experience with Howe Plumbing and Rick Diamond in particular was great. I will definitely use this company again for all of my plumbing needs. It is nice to know that there are professionals out there that take pride in their work and deliver what they promise....and more. My experience with this company, and Rick in particular, was great, don't hesitate to call them, you won't be sorry that you did.

Siri H.

12/08/2009 12:00:00 SA

It's 7pm and I'm waiting for an appointment that was to be between 3-5pm for someone to look at the venting on my gas wall heater. I had to take time off work for this appointment and then at 6pm (after being called at 5pm to say they were running late) got a call saying they didn't have anyone qualified to look at heaters at this hour. I told them I was capable of turning the heater on but needed someone to get on the roof. The person on the phone was rude. I'm not impressed.

peggy m.

4/17/2012

We have a problematic pump system in our house and Dana Parks really went out of his way to fix it correctly. We've used Bill Howe since moving into this house, 8 years ago, and have nothing but good things to say about them. Excellent and quick service. Thanks

Darci P.

8/25/2020

Tommy from Bill Howe came out to help repair a leaking pipe in our garage. He was so pleasant and personable right from the start. He attempted to patch the pipe, but it didn't take, unfortunately. He gave us options to reduce the cost of the repair and was very honest about how much time it would take to replace the pipe. He sent the estimate within minutes of leaving. I have used Bill Howe before and have been very happy with their customer service.

Tony B.

12/27/2012

Ok, plumbing fans so here is my Bill Howe journey. Called them this morning, they were friendly enough- but non committal on cost until their guy was on site. They did say charges didn't start until the tools came out, so I could turn him away after discussing price if need be. Time frame 10am to 1pm

Arrival = 12:20. I right away note that he is fairly surely. I give him a brief history & show him the problem areas. He agrees, the problem = main line, with no real clean out to speak of he quickly declares that this is a roof job. He then tells me that if he uses less than 100 of line the charge is $100 & more than 100 is $264. I felt I might be attached to another object by an inclined plane, wrapped helically around an axis-- I don't like that feeling.

We talked down to $200 *if* it went over 100. (Was there really a question it would?)

Up he goes. Half an hour of racket, personal phone calls, a trip in to check water levels. He ignores my questions, etc. As he is packing up his gear it sounds like he is tearing up my roof... (I'm having a friend come check my roof as it was replaced brand new when we moved in 4 years ago so should have no damage what so ever.) I come out the front door as he is quickly pulling his ladder together & throwing it on his van, he turns to me and says...

You need to stop flushing tampons and wipes. That's your problem.

I replied Excuse me.

Him You heard me, stop flushing the tampons & wipes. That's what I pulled out.

Me, I'd like to see that, please show me.

Him I can do that, it's up on the roof. Thanks for reminding me. (He starts getting the ladder *back* off the van.)

Me Wait, you're saying you left tampons and wipes on my roof?

Him I'm going to get it if you'd just calm down. (He kept making comments up the ladder, but I think you get the idea.)

So he goes back over the rise of the roof and then back as he gets to the ladder he throws --from the roof-- this clump of wet grey mess at (me) my feet. I calmly went inside, unplugged his cord, gathered it up and asked for a receipt. I then told him he had 2 minutes to get off my property.

I called the offices of BHP and did my best to remain calm and go all belligerent postal customer on someone. Luckily there was Amber. She took the brunt of my wrath. She was apologetic, and seemed very genuine in her concern and frankly embarrassment over what had happened at my home. I very much appreciate the steps she took/offered to restore/rebuild my trust in the company. It is solely based on her efforts that I would consider giving BHP a second chance.

Overall would I recommend BHP? If dealing with Amber, yes! If Shawn Ford, Tech 459 shows up at your door, ask him to leave your property before something unpleasant happens.

*** I would like to add that since my original post I received a very genuine letter of apology from Amber and BHP. It was based on our phone conversation, NOT the yelp review. At every point during the process Amber has taken full accountability for the actions of the technician, and made every effort to mend the relationship. I am very impressed! Based on the follow through and efforts of Amber I am revising my original 2 stars to 4 stars.

Alfredo D.

7/18/2017

I called Bill Howe Plumbing and requested service to service my toilet my toilet because of overflowing issue. The employee Louie Sepulveda of Bill Howe Plumbing was sent and I want to compliment this excellent employee. He was absolutely professional and an expert in his field and he solved the problem quickly and efficiently. I recommend him wholeheartedly and congratulate Bill Howe in employing such an expert plumber.... He knows How

Thank you,

Dr A. de Alba ( Bonita, CA )

Sang D.

12/06/2013 12:00:00 SA

I feel ripped off. The company' charges me $ 150 for just resetting the know. There was no problem with the heater at all. I will not recommend this company at all.

Kathryn Y.

6/24/2020

In the process of selling a home in San Diego, we had maintenance work performed by Bill Howe. When the buyer's agent become overly concerned regarding a potential problem, Rudy not only performed the maintenance in a highly professional, conscientious and expedient manner, but went the extra mile by talking to the buyer's agent and answering all of his questions. He then stayed even later to meet with the buyer to personally educate him, explaining proper care for maintaining pipes. He gave the buyer detailed camera views of the sewer lines. He was thoughtful, professional and patient with all parties. His expertise and enthusiasm made a tense situation end positively for all of us. Rudy is a huge asset and one of the reasons we will continue to use Bill Howe for our future plumbing needs.

Maria M.

04/04/2016 12:00:00 SA

Excellent service and very knowledgeable!! Clarence Davis jr did a great job and is a really nice person!

Wesley K.

10/26/2022

We've unfortunately had very poor experiences with this company's customer service and reliability. My partner and I have spent many long days calling this company over and over trying to have estimates and bids changed and adjusted, to only find that this information was not communicated to the proper parties.

We've had multiple experiences where technicians are scheduled and don't show up; which has delayed multiple parts of our home renovation.

In addition, the prices have been pretty steep given the amount of work we have had to put in to calling this company over and over again just to complete our originally agreed upon products.

The work they did once they were here was fine; but the headache of the poor customer service and prices hasn't been enough to justify the work done. We've given this company a lot of chances in the last couple months, and honestly we are just very glad to be done with them at this point. We didn't deal with any mean people, but there was a significant lack of responsibility on their end handling communication between technicians, operators, supervisors, and other necessary parties.

Dave N.

05/10/2023 12:00:00 SA

I had a great very Jeremy G come to my home for a ac tune up it was so professional early and very informative 10 out of 10 for sure he explained what he was doing I felt I was in good hands customer for life

Cuong T.

5/25/2018

I'm writing this review at 2AM to say that for all your emergency plumbing needs, call these professional and highly skilled folks. The emergency shut off valve running into my toilet bowl broke completely spraying high pressured water into the apartment. The main shut off valve shuts off the entire building of eight units. After apologizing to my neighbors, we frantically called many 24 hour or emergency plumbers. Either they don't pick up, or they dispatch the call to a technician who never called back. I received professional customer service when I called Bill Howe. Their tech, Armando, gave us a call shortly and drove a long distance to get to our place. The valve to be replaced was completely rusted and all the parts were stuck. Fearless Armando used a myriad of tools to remove those parts and install the new valves without leaks. The main valve is now turned on and my neighbors can finally have a hot shower before work. Crisis averted thanks to the ONLY plumbing company willing to help out. Armando deserves all the best in life. I don't write alot of reviews on Yelp, so trust that this was something that stressed me out tremendously and the relief of good work from Armando is insurmountable.

Christina Z.

12/20/2010

extremely responsive and very professional. Patrick was very respectful and helpful. Absolutely would use them again. The 30 days guarantee was a welcome surprise.

Chrissy M.

04/02/2018 12:00:00 SA

I had a pluming disaster. I wanted to say Luis and Rick were so awesome . They eased all my worries and were very professional. I would recommend these two over and over. Exceptional

Creative N.

08/05/2017 12:00:00 SA

I'll spare the details, but the jist is that we needed a late night plumber ASAP! Bill Howe got back to us first (we tried as many plumbers as possible) and sent Jeff (tech #523). He was polite, friendly and super patient with our 9,000 questions. He didn't get it fixed the first night but was helpful, communicative and still polite and friendly (the second and third day's he was out). Long story longer, it got fixed and Jeff is rad. I hope I never need a plumber again, but if I do, I hope it's Jeff!

Elizabeth Clare W.

10/30/2015

You guys are the best, always here right away when we need you!! Thank you!

When I called yesterday to set up an appointment, Monty was so upbeat and friendly as well as having my previous information handy. He asked me if the situation was urgent with repair needed immediately. When I said no, he asked for my preference on appointment time , with my appointment set up for the next afternoon per my request.

Today, Lance called to say he was on his way, was here right on time and fixed our drain quickly and efficiently. The cost was extremely reasonable. Lance was very nice and professional. He also had suggestions to help keep our drain clearer in the future.

Rachel E.

5/22/2023

My water pressure valve went out & so was concerned with a high reading & inconsistent water pressure. The owner was quick to respond with a fair price quote and service appt. The tech ended up having to get some additional parts to complete the job so took him longer than expected but he did so without losing his focus, patience & in a timely fashion.

David B.

11/02/2022 12:00:00 SA

Dan and Joel came out today to address issues with the wall heater and water heater of my very old home. They worked with the old hardware and were able to resolve the wall heater issue with some simple maintenance and did an efficient replacement of my 20-year old water heater. The price was more than reasonable and they were both great communicators. My family have been fans of Bill Howe for years and today our fandom was confirmed going forward. Thanks guys!

Frank A.

8/30/2019

A very nice experience with Martin, as he got our charcoal filter under the kitchen sink operating without a leak. We will use Bill Howe Plumbing again next time. Thanks!

Jean K.

9/16/2014

I'm glad that others had success with 24/7 service, we weren't so lucky when we called at 8:30 pm about a sad AC system. With temps over 100, and more of the same predicted, we knew we needed to do something quickly. Called Bill Howe and was told the technician was already finished for the evening, call back tomorrow during business hours. Guess I'm confused about what 24/7 means.

Sandy B.

6/16/2021

We had our Navien tankless water heater nstalled today! Tris Coffin did a terrific job on the installation. He's nice, dependable, efficient and very knowledgable on everything tankless! From requesting a quote to the installation -- it was a breeze! Thank you Howe Plumbing!

Johnny R.

1/27/2017

Had two plumbing issues in my condo that needed to be addressed and Bill Howe plumbing responded in a timely fashion and conducted the work with no issues. The cost of parts and labor were reasonable and I would recommend them to anyone and will use their services again if need be.

Nazir F.

7/24/2017

We had a water leak we called Bill Howe plumbing and restoration to get an estimate for repairs. The gentleman named Moses came to our house took pictures but no estimate was sent. I called left messages he didn't call me back. The third time I called he answered, He told me he will send an estimate in two days. It's been 20 days that I haven't got anything from him. Very unprofessional. I do not recommend them at all. They could have made a lot of money from this job.

Robert H.

03/11/2020 12:00:00 SA

Thank you to Bill Howe for coming over to my house and fixing the slab leak. Supervisor Raul, Sam and Rick did a great job. They were all very professional and knowledgeable regarding the difficult job of rerouting the hot and cold water lines to the house. I have peace of mind knowing that my house is back to normal.

-Thanks
Ed and Robert H.

Bobby R.

10/12/2020 12:00:00 SA

I had Eddie L. from Bill Howe come out and give our 106 year old home a new A.C. when our old one died on us. He came out and evaluated the house to best give us the airflow we wanted, he also taught me a lot about air conditioners. He had Samuel R. and Carlos C. come out and follow his plan. Everyone was professional and updated me on everything they saw and did in our crawl space. Bill Howe Thank You for giving me these 3! All 3 of these men deserve a raise for working during this heatwave. BEST SERVICE EVER.

D B.

10/05/2022 12:00:00 SA

Bill Howe, you have a great team. We had Mike Reif over at the house today, to look at our system in a new home we just purchased. I have had other quotes on updating this system, and Mike was the most genuine and honest person of them all. He was helpful in educating me on what the issues are and could be. We will be working with Bill Howe going forward when we decide on the system we want. Thank you and thank you Mike.

Eve L.

06/09/2013 12:00:00 SA

Let me clarify....

Customer service: Definite 4 stars
Work: 2.5-3 stars

Bill Howe came out and gave me a quote on installing a kitchen sink, and also hooking up a hot-water circulator onto our water heater. They estimated that the sink would be about 3-4 hours, and the hot water heater would be about 1. Their technician said they like to give generous estimates, meaning that they were honest about the high-end $ figure-they don't want any surprises. I really appreciated that, and booked them to do the work.

They arrived on time, and set to work. The hot water heater did take them about an hour-maybe a touch longer-and I had high hopes that they'd do the sink within 4 hours and leave. They arrived around 9, and didn't leave until close to 6 PM. There were two men working, and they kept exclaiming what a difficult job it was. I'm not going to argue with them-they had to remove an old sink and install a new one-but since one of the guys working was the same guy who did the estimate, I didn't really understand his surprise. They also took a lunch break (totally deserved and understandable), but whether or not that was wrapped into the time they spent is a little hazy.

At the end of the day, they were over $150 over their originally price. The guy made it seem like that was the absolute lowest he could go-as though it actually should have been more, but this was the best he could do. I was very, very unhappy. However, this is where customer service comes in-I called and told them that although the sink was well installed, it took *way* too long, and was way more expensive than it should have been. They promptly issued a refund check for the overage ($150), which I really appreciated. Because of this, I'd use them again-although I'd request another technician for sure.

Kim P.

3/22/2022

we had a senior plumber who retired some years back Since then we went through quite a few plumbers on our house that no one could fix properly yet charged us for fixing. Until bill howe sent Eric M. Who inspected and correctly fixed the problem!!!
We have used bill howe ever since.
last week we asked for a experienced person to come out for a rusted broken toilet bolts under Italian tile in concreate. This was very quickly replaced with professionalism and skill by Louis!!! Thank you if your tired of paying for lack of experience and shorty work and plumbers who charge a simple shut off valve as though it was gold try an old fashioned honest family owned business=Bill Howe!

Stephen L.

09/05/2017 12:00:00 SA

Sent a rookie plumber twice to unclog my kitchen sink but is not fixed properly. Later I found he snaked only 45 feet instead on 75 feet my house required. Next time I have to call independent plumber who has a better equipment and knowledge and KNOW HOW.

Christopher D.

2/20/2020

Were able to accommodate me on a day they were already booked and would have had to pay for overtime. They came out and fixed the issue. Would recommend again. Their customer service has always been top-notch as well. This is the second time I have used them, the first to replace a main line break. Fast and affordable. Would recommend!

Jim H.

2/18/2020

I'm 5 weeks into a water damage and restoration property claim. I can't speak to the quality of work because I had to go with Same Day Restoration to restore the bathroom. The Water mitigation was neat and quick but after that everything went south and extremely sloooow. It took a week to get a response from Edgar, the project planner for restoration. It takes 4 transfers of call Bill Howe to get to the right person. I asked to talk to his manager and never got a call back. I can't recommend using them for your claim unless you have months to get a solution in place.

Mitra G.

3/25/2023

Had a bathroom backup on a Saturday afternoon. Called at 1:30 and Frank showed up within a few hours. He was so polite but also very thorough. He checked the piping in the crawl space which is not easy to get to and once everything was cleared out, he checked and checked again to make sure it was all running smoothly. They charge by the project not by the hour, so him staying to ensure it was all clear was going the extra mile. No messes left behind. I will be using them again for any future plumbing needs.

David V.

9/26/2019

Our two-year-old Ruud water heater stopped producing water over a Saturday night, so we had no hot water on Sunday morning, 9/22/2019. I went to the garage to investigate, and heard a loud high-pitched alarm going off. We called Bill Howe Plumbing and asked if we could get an emergency visit. The person who answered the phone made note of my wife's name and the address. She said she would page an on-call plumber.

The plumber called us back in a few minutes. He was courteous and friendly. With his help over the phone, I discovered that the alarm was coming from a simple electronic flood sensor. When I picked the sensor up, the alarm stopped. (The sensor has a Bill Howe logo printed on its side.) There was a small amount of clear water pooled up in the catch pan at the base of the water heater.

The plumber said that the water heater was flooded out, and that even if we could get it restarted the warranty would be void, therefore he said it would have to be replaced. He asked me for the manufacturing date and serial number. I got a flashlight and retrieved that information from the rating plate. I also noticed that the water was all coming from a leaking Grundfos hot water recirculating pump above the water heater, and informed the plumber of my observation.

The plumber said he would call back with an estimate. But when he called several minutes later, he informed us that someone in the company office directed him not to come to our house or provide any service to us. He apologized but said he could not explain why he was forbidden to do the work.

My wife told me the water heater and pump were installed by Bill Howe Plumbing shortly before we started dating in September 2017. (We got married in November 2018.) She said that Bill Howe Plumbing told her at that time that the recirculating pump retrofit system was legally required.

I found another licensed plumber close to our home, who was open on Sunday. Because the control box on the water heater did not appear to have gotten wet, I asked him if it might be possible to save the water heater by fixing the dripping water issue and drying out the small amount of water that was puddled in the catch pan. He said that it might work, and agreed to come to our home and just remove the leaky pump.

I put a cup under the pump to catch the drips, and dried up the water in the catch pan. By the time our plumber arrived , the water heater was running normally. The plumber charged us less than 1/10 what having Bill Howe Plumbing swap out the water heater (and presumably the pump as well) would have cost. He said that he did not believe a recirculating pump was either needed or appropriate for our house.

From my perspective as a newcomer husband, here is what it appears to me that Bill Howe Plumbing did:

1. Convinced a widow who was living alone to buy a retrofit recirculating pump system that she may not have needed - They told her that it was required without having taken any measurements to verify that her plumbing exceeded the 50-foot threshold specified in the code.

2. Configured the pump to turn on and off at 15-minute intervals for most of the day, which is inconsistent with typical pump operations: Normally in a single-family home they are configured to run only when hot water usage is expected. I'm attaching a photo of the failed pump showing how the timer was configured. The plumber who fixed our problem said that configuration would use an excessive amount of electrical power without saving much water.

3. Refused to back up their own work. The leaking pump, which Bill Howe Plumbing installed, caused the water heater that they installed, to shut down.

I found it troubling that Bill Howe Plumbing decided to refuse to serve us only AFTER they became aware that our problem was caused by a failed pump that they had installed. I have a suspicion that they were trying to avoid liability for a failed water heater that might not have been covered by warranty. A plumber on site could have easily determined that the water heater was actually OK and did not need to be replaced.

We gave Bill Howe Plumbing a fair chance to look at our problem and correct any damage that they might have caused. Fortunately there was no damage, just a failed pump that was beyond its 2-year warranty. But this experience has taught me that Bill Howe Plumbing is not a business that I can trust. Rather than a one-star rating, I'm giving the business two stars because of the friendly and helpful attitude of the people we spoke with, and the fact that the water heater they installed in 2017 was installed properly. I think the problem we experienced has to do with the company's management rather than workers.

Chris R.

12/06/2017 12:00:00 SA

We had a technician come out to install our kitchen faucet. He took a while to install but other than that he did a decent job. About 9 months went by and now the faucet is extremely loose. You can tell they didn't secure it properly. I called to ask if they would come out to tighten the bolt and they wanted to charge me $165/hr to have someone fix it. Yes that's right, they want to charge me a lot of money to fix bad work. If It were my business, I would've sent someone out for free to ensure the customer would return.

Chris H.

12/29/2022

Our water main broke and it was a crisis. Dave at Bill Howe was clearly the best among the four bids we got - not just on price but competence, game plan, time to completion, etc. so we chose their bid and they did not disappoint. Got the job done not only as they promised, but better thought out, quicker and cheaper than promised by the other bidders (in whom I had less confidence). We won't use anyone else in the future. Thanks Dave, Bill and the rest.

Supreme S.

09/12/2012 12:00:00 SA

We had a leaking A/C in the garage. The service man was on time, friendly, and competent. The nice thing about a big company is you know you can trust a brand, and their insured and bonded. In about 1.5 hours the issue was fixed.

Dave A.

04/04/2019 12:00:00 SA

We had a plugged drain and decided to try Bill Howe. I had an excellent initial start by going to web site and being provided a variety of ways to make contact. I opted to use on-line message feature, was contacted within 30 mins, and was provided a variety of possible time windows for same-day service. Whoopee!
Josh was our assigned plumber and was excellent from the time he rang the doorbell until he petted our dog (new best friend) as he left. Josh provided everything we needed in a timely and friendly manner; could not have asked for more. Absolutely no question ... Bill Howe has a new customer!

Kate H.

5/13/2011

We had Bill Howe Plumbing come out for a leak issue and garbage disposal issue on the same sink. I was able to get a plumber for just about any day I wanted and the earliest appointment of the day, just two days ahead of time (it was not an emergency situation). So scheduling was friendly and convenient.

Our plumber came out and inspected the sink and had the leak diagnosed and the disposal issue figured out w/in 15 minutes. The garbage disposal (12+ years old) needed a replacement, no surprise there. The leak was from a hose due to a prior purchase of a cheapie sink fixure. Since it was a no name brand, a new hose likely would not have been available separate from a new faucet, but he offered that we could check on it and he would be happy to install whatever we decided to go and purchase. The tech did not push their fixures or their garbage disposals, and only offhandedly mention that they could get both items so that I didn't have to and did mention that there was a markup. Full disclosure is nice. Long story short, my time was more valuable than going down to Home Depot or Lowe's myself to get either item, so we looked at their catalogs, showed him what we wanted and an hour and a half later (he went to get the parts, came back and installed), we had a new sink fixture and disposal. They may not be the cheapest in either parts or labor, but they did a quality, quick job and showed up on time. Our tech was also friendly and respectful of our home.

Melanie P.

05/05/2023 12:00:00 SA

We had had a leak behind our bathroom wall and it has been a very stressful experience. Thankfully, we called Bill Howe and they were able to come out and fix the issue. I was very happy to hear that they could do all the work from the plumbing to the restoration to putting the drywall and cabinets back in. After dealing with this situation before and having to go through multiple companies to resolve everything, I'm happy to work with a company that can handle it from top to bottom.

The plumber who did the work, Juan, was friendly and worked until early evening to complete the job. Thank you Bill Howe! I hope to not need your services for a long time, but if I do, I know who to call!

SF Native M.

7/26/2016

i just want to thank your representatives who came out and assisted our immediate plumbing needs. having recently moved into a rental unit that has been run down, we looked to Bill Howe to bring things back to order. Our plumber technicians were ron rigs who came out june 21 and early july, christian arguildz (july 21) and jimmy cook (june 22nd). Each plumber was professional and timely. They were ontop of the problem, and fixed it quickly. I can't say how much i appreciated your services. i have 100% trust in this company and those that are employed by it. i couldn't tell you anything about pricing however because it was all taken care of by our landlord.

Ken R.

4/27/2020

We had John Fried help us out in La Jolla! Thank you for being so kind and helpful!! He was organized and had everything we needed! Thanks John!

Tiffany B.

07/05/2023 12:00:00 SA

Juan Lopez did an excellent and fast job replacing our water heater the same day it was leaking. He was patient, answered all our questions, and didn't pressure us into services. We will use this company again. I highly recommend this technician for his level of competency and master of craft. In this business, you get what you pay for, so beware of prices out there that are too good to be true. This company was reasonably priced for the area the work was done.

Wayne B.

1/16/2023

In the past I have used Bill Howe for a number of things and always found them to be good quality and reliable. However my most recent experience with Bill Howe for a drain issue was a costly no result. From the start things did not go well, I scheduled an appointment for a 3 hour time window, only to get a call telling me they would be late. While this was slightly irritating the fact that this happened again on the follow up appointment tells me they have a significant scheduling issue. the first visit was to snake the drain, which did not resolve the issue so the follow-up was for a hydro jet. When the tech got there, late as the scheduler call indicated, he set up and used the camera to examine the drain and then set up to do the jetting only to have the jet not work. So another appointment was scheduled and the tech actually showed up on time, used the camera and then set up to do the jetting. He then spent over an hour working to get the jetter to stop leaking/spraying water everywhere. Eventually the tech used the jetter and camera multiple times but was unable to resolve the issue. So I end up out over $500 and no result. I will have to say that the techs I dealt with were good guys trying to their best, unfortunately that was the only positive for this.

Charles T.

4/26/2016

Everything was awesome from scheduling the appointment to the service tech, Brian #50, who completed the work requested. He was very professional, communicative, efficient and answered all my questions.

Bill Howe Plumbing is amazing!!

Diane G.

8/22/2016

Josh came within half an hour of my call (yay!) when the shower and tub backed up this morning. He was personable, friendly, knowledgeable and did his job just fine! Bill Howe is my go-to company for drain emergencies in this old house. Haven't let me down yet.

Lynda D.

11/10/2014 12:00:00 SA

They are the worst! Run and run fast. Plumbers are on commission and will not have your best interest in mind. Black Mountain Plumbing did the work that Bill Howe quoted for $21,000 less. Yes, I said $21.000! How sad. Probably, at one time this company was good when they started. How do you think they pay for those ubiquitous TV advertisements?

A K.

08/09/2021 12:00:00 SA

Only cold water was coming out of our shower and we called Bill Howe. I was hesitant because I didn't want to pay astronomical prices for what could be something simple. The technician that came was very polite, and looked at the problem. He told me to order the parts myself as they were Kohler and I would get them for free. Then call Bill Howe back and have them install. I did. The price was so nominal for their labor. And the technician didn't charge me for the initial assessment. They didn't gouge us and they were extremely professional and more than courteous. Plus, they were able to come the same day for the first appointment and within two days for the second appointment that required the work. I would definitely call them again if we need

Michael C.

4/25/2023

Scheduled water heater flush and recirc pump install. Asked Matt to fix two other jobs the water heater installer had messed up. All jobs completed above board! Matt was thoughtful, knowledgeable, and very professional! So grateful to him for his efforts to get the job done right. Highly recommended for all your plumbing needs.

Arnold Q.

2/14/2023

Bill Howe recently installed a new HVAC system in our home. The techs worked with us, answered our questions, and delivered great results. Very happy with the installation and our choice to go with Bill Howe.

Linda C.

07/01/2023 12:00:00 SA

Absolutely amazing customer service and service. Hector came out and was very professional. I was absolutely impressed by the service and professionalism of Hector. He came in and did his job very straightforwardly. He is absolutely a keeper. Thank you so much, Bill Howe!

Jennifer R.

6/15/2009

I've used Bill Howe several times for large and small plumbing jobs. I like the fact they are large enough to respond quickly when needed. I've had several different plumbers come out and they have all been friendly, professional, and got the job done quickly.

A recent gas leak in our 1920's house required several days of labor, digging, and hours of time in the crawlspace under our house. They were great - kept me informed of what they were doing, cost options, etc.

Today they were out to repair a leaking faucet. The plumber told me that it would be cheaper to replace the faucet, but I like the old style, so he tracked down the needed part and got it fixed quickly.

Overall, I've be happy with Bill Howe and would recommend them.

Gina M.

08/01/2013 12:00:00 SA

UPDATE to last post....
A Bill Howe representative contacted us immediately after the bad review on Yelp to follow up. Since then, BH is making every effort to make it right. As it turns out, the technician who came out to our house was at fault for not quoting the extra charges. BH is sending out a higher level tech and offering to comp the charges. We appreciate that and have updated rating. After our appt next week, I will give another review.
******
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HORRIBLE SERVICE! Confirmed cost of appointment/issue over the phone: quoted $85-100. Service guy comes out, snakes the drain on the roof & says sorry, no issue.... Then charges me $130 + $70 for going on the roof.

We are disputing the cost of the bill and will NEVER use their services again. Too many other decent plumbers that charge fairly.

Kathy H.

9/22/2019

Had a leak in a frig line Saturday evening. When I called I spoke with a person not a machine, the tech called right back & was here within a half hour. Fixed it quickly. Prompt, efficient, friendly, & knew what he was doing. Can't ask for more

Justin H.

04/04/2017 12:00:00 SA

We came home from vacation to find a leak in our apartment. Unfortunately, this is not our first leak in this apartment, those were fixed by other plumbing companies...FINALLY the apartment manager called Bill Howe this time (Thank Goodness).
We had plumber VICTOR SANTANA, who was professional, experienced, knowledgeable, and patient. Victor was awesome!! He really took the time to communicate, and answer all questions we had. I really hope that Mr. Santana is appreciated for not only his work ethic, but as well as his customer service!! Thanks for being awesome Victor!!!!

Fred M.

4/19/2011

I've not used Bill Howe Plumbing in over a year, so maybe things have changed, but the last time I did use them they charged an inordinately high price to install a new showerhead and water knobs in my bathroom. I e mailed the company and asked why the price was so high. I got no response to my e mail, so I tried again. Again, no response. Any company that doesn't reply to its customers questions will never get any more business from me.

David K.

08/12/2010 12:00:00 SA

Excellent and thoroughly professional company. I have used them on several occasions and their work is very good; their rates are reasonable; and they back up their work with a limited warranty.

phil c.

03/12/2019 12:00:00 SA

Fast, efficient, professional, and honest. I've used these guys twice and they've always helped me when we've flushed something we shouldn't have.

Michelle R.

7/30/2013

We want to thank Bill Howe Plumbing for the excellent service provided by Justin and Patrick. They relined about 24 feet of cast iron drain pipe under a slab. They were there for approximately 2 days and exhibited the utmost care for the property and professionalism, in the way they explained the job, showing us the monitor, as they camera'd the pipe and letting us know exactly what they were going to do and why. We would recommend their services to anyone. Thank you so much for a job well done.

Pks L.

12/30/2016

Great service! I called Bill Howe Plumbing and they were able to come out they were able to come out the next morning. I believe his name was Patrick, he cam out and his service went above and beyond expectations! Thanks Bill Howe Plumbing!

K G.

5/31/2015

We contacted Bill Howe Plumbing to come out and check out a water leak that occurred on Sunday, May 23rd. Monday was Memorial Day so we were told that someone would come out on Tuesday to do the work. Mauricio came, inspected the issue and gave us scenarios and estimates. There were some delays but Mauricio kept us updated. The work was completed on Friday, May 29th BELOW the initial estimate. I arrived home from work that evening and my mom told me that the washer wasn't working Insufficient Water was the error code. She called the customer service hotline and was asked Was the work completed? She stated that it was and the customer service rep said, Well, then that wouldn't be an issue. The rep didn't offer any other solutions and basically left it at that. I checked our water throughout the house and found that the hot water was working however in my 2nd master bedroom (addition to the house) there was no hot water coming from the sinks or the shower. I took a video of the issue and sent it to Mauricio. He contacted me and was very apologetic about our problems. He came back on Saturday morning to fix the issue. If ratings were based on the customer service rep that my mom contacted on Friday, they would have received 1 star. However, Mauricio kept us updated, apologized for the problems and delays and came back to fix the issue as soon as possible on a Saturday morning. He was honest, ethical, apologized for the issues that came up and fixed them quickly with minimal hassle. Because of his EXCELLENT customer service, I rate Bill Howe Plumbing 5 stars and especially recommend Mauricio to my friends and family.

Miki V.

09/01/2014 12:00:00 SA

Called Howe on Labor Day because our AC wasn't working. I had an electrician out to check power to the system, and that was fine, but the compressor wasn't coming on.

I called Bill Howe Plumbing/AC, and gave them the scenario. A technician called right back, and after going through the situation with me, he said it'd probably be a $300+ visit if he had to come out and crack open the compressor to check it out. But first he led me through an inspection of the rest of the system, over the phone.

He was super patient and very clear with his instructions. Long story short, cleaning out the water drainage pipe with my shop vac and replacing the air filter did the trick.

I really appreciate that sort of on the spot problem solving, and it was free! Will definitely call Howe next time we have a plumbing or AC issue!

Trang N.

4/15/2022

Called them to fix my two broken hot water shut off valves and replace my sink faucet. The lady scheduled someone to give me an estimate. They texted me and gave me a pic of the technician beforehand. Once I accepted the estimate, I was scheduled for work a few days after. Day of, it was supposed to be 184 an hr but he worked faster and they gave me a discount. Will definitely go to them again.

Joe B.

3/22/2016

We are a property management company with over 100 residential homes. We exclusively prefer to use Pattric who is hands-down the best technician we have ever had. Not only is he dependable, trustworthy, and good at what he does, he always makes sure to go above and beyond the call of duty to make sure we as well as our guests are completely satisfied. I know I can trust him to interact with our guests in a courteous and professional manner to where I do not need to be on site when he is on the job. He is the reason we use Bill Howe exclusively. Oh, and this part is for Bill Howe himself... This guy deserves a raise! Thanks.

Dave K.

11/09/2017 12:00:00 SA

Purchased a new water heater including installation from Bill Howe Plumbing. I checked other water heater installers reviewed by Yelp and Bill Howe's pricing was competitive. I have been using Bill Howe Plumbing for over 20 plus years and always request Ron Riggs from their staff. Ron does an exceptional job and I am very pleased with his work.

Stin M.

6/20/2023

Thank you, Bill Howe Plumbing, for sending Joel C. over to help with my water emergency. He was out to my home within an hour and a half. He found the culprit right away and repaired it as fast as he found it. Every penny spent was worth it. Also, thank you to Matt P. for assisting with his services. I would definitely use Bill Howe Plumbing for any future plumbing issues I run into!

Audrey A.

12/10/2018 12:00:00 SA

Fantastic service! We called during the heavy rains last week in need of a submersible pump. At the time of the call, Bill Howe was very busy and they thought at the time they could not service us. 30 minutes later received a call from Eric that in fact they could send someone over to provide us a pump at no charge. Although the next day we received a call to pay the trip charge, we were so thankful for their help we just called it a pump rental fee. Thanks so much Eric and Fabian saved the day. I would call them again!

Brad G.

12/01/2022 12:00:00 SA

Second time Bill Howe has bailed us out! Living in an older Clairemont neighborhood has its advantages but the disadvantage is that we are living in homes with cast iron and clay plumbing that is over 60 years old.

This time our shower and bathtub (both bathrooms) were backing up and not draining at all. Called Bill Howe Plumbing at 7:30am and someone answered! The person who assisted us was super friendly and she let me know someone would be out between 2-5pm but she would work to see if anyone could swing by earlier between jobs. I am bummed I didn't write down the lady's name who answered the call because she was amazing!

By 7:48am we received a text that Robby S was on his way! Robby called shortly after the text to let us know he was about 15 minutes away and would be at our home soon. Robby listened to what wet had tried and then explained his plan to clear the drain. Super professional and really nice. By 845am our clog was cleared and drains open and operating as necessary!

And the cost for this service was affordable and well worth paying!

Highly recommend Bill Howe plumbing and if you live in Clairemont might want to have their number tucked away as it's kinda what we have to deal with :-)

Thanks Robby and the person who helped this AM, you both are truly assets and amazing to work with.

J. P.

03/11/2022 12:00:00 SA

Summary: 3-hour next day service turned into a job done poorly after 9 hours and 2 days, and incompletely repaired after 2 weeks.

Our water heater went out on the weekend and we contacted a few plumbers about replacement. Bill Howe said they could be there the next day and quoted us a price to deliver and install the same model of Ruud gas heater that we had before. Their price was on par with other plumbers that were able to show up in one day and more than the ones who were booked 3 or 4 days out. We sent in photos of our existing heater and everything seemed copacetic. They promised to show up with replacement heater on the truck and get everything done within 3 hours.

When the technician showed up he did not have a heater on the truck and then said it would have to be a Bradford White because they did not have the Ruud in stock. He also said we needed to add an expansion tank (our house is old and doesn't have one yet) and raised the price of the quote by $300. We acquiesced because we wanted to just get things done.

On the next day, the technician showed up again, got the first heater detached, and with the help of a couple of other employees was able to drag the existing tank off of the raised platform and out to their truck. It was an ugly process, with no lifting tools or mechanical advantages applied. Just a bunch of muscle with not very much brainpower. The same process was used to push the new tank up onto the platform, and resulted in a crushed drain pan and a whole lot of dings and denting of the new tank enclosure. Doesn't this company own any lifting equipment? Things stalled for an hour or so while they sourced a replacement drain pan.

The installation ended up taking about 8 hours on this second day, a heck of a lot longer than the promised 3 hours. The quality of the install was just horrible. The recirculation line was plumbed in a manner that encouraged air to collect in the recirc pump, the outer cover for the burner area could not be installed because it collided with both the drain pain and the recirculating line, and the promised flex lines for hot and cold supply lines were not installed. Also the hot water had a horrible smell for about 2 weeks, despite my draining the water heater 3 times in an attempt to flush things out.

We contacted Bill Howe right after the job was complete and spoke with their quality control person. He came out about 3 days later and looked at things, and agreed to re-route the recirculating line and put in the flex lines if we really wanted that. Um, yeah I do want that. It was on all the estimates that you provided.

The repair technician came out 10 days later and did a great job of re-routing the recirc line so that it did not conflict with the burner cover. He also had to cut away some of the burner cover so that it would not intersect the drain pain. He was quick, polite, tidy, and produced much cleaner solder joints than the original installer. He was not prepared or willing to put in the flex lines for the water supply and output. And he just laughed when I asked if they had any of the thermal pipe insulation for the hot water lines, saying yeah, we don't do that.

I figured out later that the replacement drain pain was 2 smaller in diameter over what had been destroyed, which is why there wasn't enough room between the heater cover and the pan.

I've also learned that the water soluble flux causes a bad smell in the water, especially when too much is used, i.e. from technicians applying loads of it to the insides of the joints rather than using just enough.

Flex lines are recommended for the hot and cold connections between your house and the water heater, to prevent pipes from breaking in an earthquake (even with earthquake straps).

Insulating your hot output pipe and your recirc lines just makes sense. Not hard to do by yourself, but c'mon man, the plumber should be on top of this!

In the past, I've had good experiences with Bill Howe snaking out drains. But this has soured me on them. Quality was lacking and they simply did not do what they promised.

Andrew C.

12/21/2010

Rick from Bill Howe went out of his way to help me out. My older outside water heater was out with a bad pilot light. Rick could have sold me a new water heater but instead went all around town to locate the hard to get parts and then fitted them in the pouring rain. Thanks a lot!

Jeff L.

04/11/2023 12:00:00 SA

A lot went right with this service call; on time, done right, fair price. But what I really want to write about, and what earned Bill Howe Plumbing a 5 star rating, is the professionalism of technician (Austin Postel 2064). Austin is very knowledgeable. Better still, Austin diagnosed our water heater as old but in great running condition. Austin did not take advantage of us and sell us a newer product that we didn't need. Customer service at its finest.

Brenda M.

1/18/2014

Great Company--Excelllent Service. Excellent Communication. Professional People. I manage a Specialty Retail Mall in Old Town. We had a leak, but where? Juan located it. Louie confirmed it. Alex and Louie came back after we closed, fixed the leak with minimal destruction of our concrete Courtyard and then....They patched the concrete to match so I don't have to call anyone out to re-do the job!
I don't want any more plumbing issues, but if issues appear, the first call i make is to Bill Howe Group of Companies! Bravo!

The S.

07/07/2017 12:00:00 SA

Technician: Mr Michael Plata. Excellent customer service and work efficient. Water leak detection and inspection; and installed H2O Pressure Regulator Valve. I would recommend Bill Howe for any plumbing,HVAC, and related work--and highly recommend asking for Michael Plata.

Don F.

2/23/2016

Corey Koenen, Plumbing Technician, replaced our old water heater and water pressure value. Corey did an outstanding job. We highly recommend Bill Howe Plumbing and Corey to anyone needing a plumbing contractor.

L S.

11/04/2015 12:00:00 SA

Brian came by today and installed a new hot water heater after our old one stopped getting hot. We had a little scheduling snafu but he handled it great! Brian is professional and a pleasure to work with. Now we have hot water. Yay! Bill Howe comes thru again!

Christine C.

12/28/2013

We have used Bill Howe a couple times and the techs have always been fair and professional. Nate took care of a clogged kitchen sink issue for us today and he was outstanding. The price was very fair considering it was a last minute appointment on a Saturday. I will continue to use them whenever I need plumbing work done. Thanks again, Nate!

Diedra R.

4/30/2019

I had my washing machine drain back up on me. Unfortunately, I called a different company first who came out and completely scammed me. They charged my $389.00 to try and snake the drain which did not work. I suggested that the plumber go to the roof and snake from the vent. (A few years back a plumber did this and fixed the same problem.) He said that his company did not have the insurance to cover him on the roof. It seemed like a big plumbing Co. He still wanted to be paid $389.00 with problem unsolved. Minutes after he left I called Bill Howe who sent over Charles within 30 minutes. After explaining the situation to Charles, he went onto my roof and snaked the vent which cleared my drain and issue was solved within 20 minutes for $125.00. I HIGHLY recommend Bill Howe Plumbing and Charles who was super friendly!

Kara S.

6/16/2020

I had a slow leak related to moving my washer and dryer and ultimately needed to have some repiping work done on my house. I was initially a little reluctant to go with a big company, thinking they would be more expensive.
At first I got a quote from a smaller company and I'll just say I was unimpressed. They were hard to reach, didn't return my phone calls when I told them I had additional info that might impact quote, and even though there was an active leak, they still didn't call me back and over a week to respond. While waiting for the first quote, and at the enthusiastic recommendations of my neighbor, I decided to call Bill Howe. From the get go, overall the team far exceeded my prior experiences both in communication, professionalism, and consideration of my time and project needs. They worked with my schedule. Walked me through my options and followed up with phone calls and quotes on the timeline they said they would. In addition their total cost came in at half the price of the other company and were able to schedule time for the technician to come out within a timeframe that worked for me. But what made the experience even better was the technician that did the work ( as well as initial intake) Christian Arguilez. Christian was a great representative for the company, courteous, knowledgeable, communicates throughout the entire process, explains things well, and pays attention to the little things. Overall I felt I was in great hands and that I could trust him and thus using bill Howe again for future work.

Eric C.

08/10/2017 12:00:00 SA

Tony was professional and courteous. He did a great job!! Efficiently cleaned and cleared clog.
Much appreciated.
Thanks.

Connie B.

11/30/2016

Great job by HADI installing a new garbage disposal and kitchen sink faucet. It was extremely corroded and hard to remove. He was courteous and professional and got it done in 1.5 hours. He thought he would have to use one if their disposal power cords but ended up using our old one and I appreciated him not taking advantage of charging us for a new one. The only reason for a 4 star rating is because the first guy who came out yesterday didn't have a disposal in his truck even tho I'd told the scheduler that I though that was what was leaking. So our appointment got postponed one day. It actually gave me an extra day to go buy a disposal so it ended up saving us money in the long run. I'm happy.

Chuck L.

1/16/2017

First, let me say that the guy who did the actual work was friendly, professional and did a great job. However, he's still part of a trade that preys on homeowners in need by providing inaccurate and incomplete information. My job seemed incredibly simple - replace a Rheem water heater that was within warranty. As you'll see below, Bill Howe Plumbing made a number of claims in bidding the job that simply didn't hold water (couldn't resist the pun). The only good thing that I can say about the process is that they provided a discount and did a good job with the clean up.

CLAIM: Rheem requires a $180 upcharge for a warranty replacement with a current model and to provide a new, full 6 year warranty - rather than reassigning the remaining portion of the existing 6 year warranty.
FACT: Rheem says there is no such policy. A water heater replaced under warranty with a brand new equivalent model would automatically have full term warranty of that model without additional charges.

CLAIM: The $180 upcharge also(?) covers replacement of the existing older discontinued model with a more current equivalent model.
FACT: 42VR50-40F is not discontinued. Home Depot offers the Performance 50Gal 6yr 40kBTU for $548-$579, while the 48Gal 6yr 40kBTU Ultra-Low NOx version is $595 - a difference of $16-$47. However, Home Depot sells the Performance line while plumbers install the Professional Classic (which has same EF of 0.62 and seems to differ only by a couple of metal fittings).

CLAIM: You need to pull a permit and have an inspection when replacing a water heater ($250 upcharge).
FACT: True, but the fee is $115 and San Diego permits a no plan online filing by the homeowner.
sandiego.gov/sites/defau…
sandiego.gov/development…

CLAIM: Building code requires that you install an expansion tank ($100 upcharge).
FACT: True for new construction, but conditional for replacements based on details of existing construction ($40 at Home Depot).
iccsandiego.org/text/SD-…

CLAIM: Code requires that the relief valve outlet have a metal drain pipe extending outside the building.
FACT: True, with a number of complicating caveats on their design and output.

CLAIM: It costs $1500-$2000 to replace an existing gas water heater with a new unit, so charging $900 is a good deal to replace a unit under warranty (with an expansion tank, but no permit).
FACT: Brand new heaters are readily available for under $600. Replacement labor is about $500 (3 hours). Add another $100 for an expansion tank, new lines, etc. for a total of $1200. A warranty replacement is better, but not a good, deal - unless you're paying the inflated plumber rate.

BOTTOM LINE: Don't try to figure this out when your water heater dies. Make a cheat sheet of what needs to be done (permits, unit type/model, additional parts, etc.) and require your plumber to give you a detailed estimate for the entire job with all costs broken out by line item. These units are designed to fail, so pay extra for the longer warranty and budget to replace the unit as soon as the warranty ends.

Margot H.

3/13/2015

I am a single female in my first home and had a water heater that burst in my garage.I called Bill Howe and spoke to an amazingly nice receptionist. The next AM Dana Parks was at my home and was incredibly pleasant, professional and PATIENT! He explained things so I could understand what was going on and what my options were. He was very calming.Next the Bill Howe restoration people came out and again were professional and understanding. I can't say enough nice things about these people....it is refreshing because you always hear such negative things about plumbers! I highly commend Dana Parks on his professionalism and exceptional service !!!

Nicole S.

05/11/2019 12:00:00 SA

This is the second time the amazing people at Bill Howe have saved the day for our family. Our sump-pump stoped working and the technician was there within hours. A new pump wasn't in stock but an incredible employee, Karla, researched all of our options and had perfect communication with the team. Even more wonderful, the technician Charles repaired our original pump and got it working without replacement. This group of individuals are professional, caring, timely and made our family feel like were their only customers. The Brookshire Family will always choose Bill Howe!

nonya b.

05/06/2015 12:00:00 SA

I had 2 different issues occurring. One issue, they said all was good. They completely missed the problem. The second issue in a completely different area is definitely much worse since they tampered with it. That I was charged for this is a joke. I won't be calling these guys back. I won't be recommending them to any of my friends either but warning them instead.

Update: Here are more details
I called them to repair a leak. They told me there was no leak. I was being charged for the hour for this, like $150 dollars an hour, and it only took a few minutes so I had them check a toilet that was running spontaneously about 5% of the time. As it turns out, there is an active leak still occurring and the toilet is worse. It now runs 95% of the time and won't flush all the way. Now, I have remove the toilet tank cover and fiddle with it for a while to get it to flush. Really?!! Talk about some drama.

For the second issue, I had them come out for water damage. They tested an area and said it was good. Evidently it was not. If they would have detected the moisture properly, I could have done something about it in time. Now all the stuff in an entire bedroom is completely ruined and I have to have some serious mold removal process done. I can't tell you the total loss yet but I had some valuable things there. In the first hour of cleaning up this mess, I had to throw away at least $5000 worth of stuff. This was while wearing a mask and gloves as there is now a much of mold growing in there. You can call them for restoration and flood services but I wouldn't count on them being reliable. Not sure how they missed some serious water still lurking, drenching my walls and floor under my carpet but then again they couldn't fix a simple toilet but instead made that worse.

Cecilia A.

11/10/2017 12:00:00 SA

My old water heater broke and needed to be replaced the following day I called 4 plumbing companies who gave me quotes and all could only change it the followin day. Raul from Bill Howe came in the afternoon, gave me a quote, made some phone calls and said he could change it the same day! How could I say no to that? The service was professional and the quote very competitive. Bill Howe will be the one to go from here on. I'm super thankful to the kindness and resourfulness of Raul to help tight then!

Suzanne Q.

2/16/2017

Had a gas leak & between a 3 hr window someone appeared. Receptionist had assured me he was notified & would have the parts. No way & rescheduled for 5 days later. Took off from work & no one came. Called & they couldn't even find him. He finally called & said he was on a long job & it wouldn't happen btw this was a gas leak also wouldn't give me an estimate

Anne H.

11/19/2010

I called on my way home from work to see if I could get my clogged drians fixed. Within 30min I had a plumber at my house within the hour my drains were fixed and a new pipe was fitted for under my sink. Fast. Efficent. No stress. For two drains unclogged and a new pipe under my sink it cost $168. Not cheap but not too bad. I only wish that I had seen the coupon provided on this yelp site (10% off!) Thanks Bill Howe

Sheila D.

7/26/2019

First of all I never usually write reviews but this one I want people to know how this maintenance agreement works, we paid 138.00 for spring and fall they never called us about our spring checkup we had to call when they finally came out they charged us 71.00 for recharging air conditioner, last year was 55.00
When we asked about the fall checkup she said that expired.

Bottom line they tell you about the maintenance agreement you pay for it and you don't hear from them again, that's wrong we paid for 2 service calls and only got 1

Eugene L.

09/09/2020 12:00:00 SA

This is WORST company ever. Communication is horrible. They trying up sale everything cold pushy sales. Tech shows true nature by blaming others and talking crap about other companies. Not professional at all.

Justin M.

05/08/2023 12:00:00 SA

We had a shower drain that drained slowly. We called Bill Howe. Their technician, Rico Rivera, called prior to arrival and arrived on-time. Rico quoted the cost to repair prior to starting the work. Upon approval to start the quoted work, Rico completed the task and solved the drainage issue. Our shower is now draining without issues. Thank you Rico and Bill Howe!

Julie Y.

09/11/2019 12:00:00 SA

I highly recommend Bill Howe, and will use their services again if needed. We had to call on a Friday, when it's unexpected and bad timing. Adam Williams came to the house and was able to take care of the plumbing issues that were a concern promptly and efficiently. He was professional and reassuring that the issues would be resolved and they were.
Thank you for the peace of mind and great work!

S P.

3/31/2016

Clarence was fast knowledgeable pleasant and kind. And water now drains from my tub appropriately. Thanks.

David L.

07/03/2012 12:00:00 SA

Called at 10:15 a.m. and had a plumber in my house at 11:30 a.m., which was great. The tech, John Edwards, went right to work on a clogged drain and had it resolved in less than an hour. Very polite and knowledgeable. Left my house clean. Definitely would call these guys back if I had a need.

Gail R.

01/07/2014 12:00:00 SA

My house was partially flooded by a running toilet and a slow drain. I called Bill Howe to look at the drain line and take care of water damage mediation. I paid $250 for a video-camera inspection of the drain to see if there was an obstruction. I received a call and was told the front yard cleanout was completely frozen, he couldn't access it and it would have to be replaced. He ran the camera from another cleanout, but could only get it as far as a tee in the front yard where the drain line dropped down to the City's main line, so he couldn't determine if the drain was obstructed between the main and my front yard. He said the line had heavy lime and sediment, that I needed to have the tee replaced, which would require digging down 18 in the front yard and replacing the tee and drain line to the City main. $4,600. Yikes. I never received the video of the inspection.

I called Blue Planet Plumbing for a 2nd opinion. Rod had no problem opening the cleanout in the front yard, or running a video camera all the way to the City main, past the tee in the front yard. There was some lime and sediment, but it was not heavy. They told me I didn't need the tee replaced, nor excavation to access the drain line and they flushed it for $235.00.

Let's see: $4600 for Bill Howe vs. $235 for Blue Planet. Hmmmm. That's a tough call.

I called Bill Howe and said that I fully understood the concept of upselling, but recommending $4600 of work that didn't need to be done was FRAUD. My father had used Bill Howe for years and I thought they could be trusted. I would hate to think that my gender was a factor in this attempt to sell me thousands of dollars of unnecessary plumbing repairs.

Dawn H.

4/16/2016

Had to call Bill Howes Saturday night at 11pm. Every shower, toilet, sink, was backing up. We had to turn off all the water in every bathroom. Louie, Tech 367, came out right away, and in 30 minutes had us back and running! He was so professional, courteous, and an absolute angel. Thanks Louie!

Michelle H.

11/02/2017 12:00:00 SA

I can't even express my gratitude towards Giovanny and Douglas and their exceptional work. We had roots in our main sewage pipe and they came in and found the problem, offered a solution, and fixed everything. They were kind, knowledgeable, friendly, and all around good human beings. I would highly recommend them and this company to everyone and anyone that needs plumbing services. I will let the photos speak for themselves. They are now our go to plumbers :) sooooo happy!

Nickel M.

12/16/2014

The owner of the house we rent left us Bill Howe's number in case of an emergency, unfortunately. The water heater crapped out on a Saturday, and no technicians were available until Sunday which would incur overtime. Fine, so be it. I then got a call Sunday from a technician, sent him some photos, and we confirmed they heater needs to be replaced. He talked me into saving a few hundred dollars by waiting a day. So, cool, I can do that for the owners. He told me to call the main number to get on the schedule for Monday, as he couldn't schedule the work himself. I call and ask for Monday service apt., they say fine and we'll call you Monday morning with a window of time we will be at your house. By 10am Monday, no call. I call their main number and ask when to expect a tech at the house, as I will be leaving work to meet them. She rudely tells me I am NOT on the schedule and they are booking people for over time calls today. Um, hold up! I'm on day 2 of no hot water, as I was told a Monday apt would avoid overtime. And now you're too busy to get me in today?

I tell her who I spoke with Sunday, and she says I can go ahead and 'squeeze you in this afternoon', like she's doing me a favor when THEY did not have my in the schedule for the day. She blamed it on their answering service. The tech doesn't get here until 2:30 and would you believe he couldn't do the work today in time and will need to come back first thing in the morning?!?! I think they sent him to appease me full knowing the work would not happen today. He also said if he did the work, it would go into overtime. So, now we are onto day 3 with no hot water. The tech came back today and finished in the morning, requiring more time away from work. He was, however, excellent, knowledgeable, courteous and prompt. He gets 5 stars.

I will be telling the owners of the house also all my home owner friends my experience, so they can avoid using Bill Howe in the future. When you treat your customers like an inconvenience and forget your are in business to help others, then you're in the wrong business.

Chris l.

8/26/2020

My advice is to shop around bill Howe trains the techs to up sell you they make a commission on everything the sell you.Case and point I had a clogged drain which they wanted my to pay 700 to clear the main .. I said no thanks called another company and had it done for 90$ they are crooks do not trust them in your home.

Alicia J.

3/29/2013

After hiring a different plumber and firing him because he was not competent, we finally hired Bill Howe. John came to my house, was on time and brought everything he needed. He fixed our leaky shower quickly. He also educated me so that we could possibly prevent any future, similar problems. He was kind, courteous and very professional. I was very pleased with their service and work done. Next time I will call them first!!

Christina W.

8/26/2023

Feeling a bit frustrated... we had a birthday party to attend tonight, we called Bill Howe earlier and was told they would have a technician here between 3-6, which was doable. It is now almost 8pm and still no one has arrived. We have called back twice and keep being told the technician will contact us shortly, but we still have not heard from anyone.

Lois D.

3/20/2018

We scheduled Bill Howe Plumbing to open up 2 drains and install a new kitchen faucet. The two men who came over were very nice and friendly--Joel and his partner, an Irishman from Galway (didn't get his name)--and the items were efficiently and expertly unplugged and installed. We did some comparison shopping and their labor cost was definitely reasonable. If we have need of a plumbing company again, we'll be sure to request this team!

Charlotte B.

02/10/2017 12:00:00 SA

Giovanny Martinez did a fantastic job today! Very efficient! Cleared our Main line! Great Job!

Valerie T.

05/03/2023 12:00:00 SA

The technician, Jesus, was prompt and helpful. He gave us several options and told us the worst-case scenario. Jesus was able to finish everything in a timely manner and got us up and running quickly.

Weber R.

1/26/2016

We had a leak from the shower. Was able to get an appointment day of on a Saturday. Plumber was nice, but he was here for 4 hours and not able to fix it. They came back out on a Tuesday. Again here for multiple hours, said they fixed it. Next morning, my neighbor said it was still leaking. They came back on a Thursday, this time they said it was a bigger issue and would need to replace the pipes. I am a tenant so they needed to talk with the landlord regarding the price. One of the plumbers made a comment about my dog under his breath. I get he can be annoying, random people coming in and out of his house, but there wasn't anywhere to put him since they were using both rooms and he didn't go after them. Went to take a shower that evening in the shower that wasn't leaking, they put the knob on wrong. To me that is just sloppy work. I called Friday to have them fix it and they didn't know if they could get someone out here. No, your mistake, someone should fix it now. Every time they were scheduled to come out, I was told I would be called when they were on their way. Never happened, even after I made it a point to say how important this was for me. The last time they came on Friday one of the plumbers smelled of cigarette smoke bad. I am a non-smoker and am very sensitive to it, but that is just very unprofessional to me when coming into someones home. When I called the girl was nice and said she understood, but due to California law they can't tell them what they can and can't do on their breaks, fair enough, but it was gross.

Erin E.

6/21/2023

We have used Bill Howe for many plumbing , heating and air conditioning issues and have always been impressed with their efficiency and customer service. We had a flood at our home and needed their flood and restoration services. We were very impressed with the promptness of their service and how quickly they were to restore our home. Deborah Fox was our project manager. She has a real eye for detail, and design helping us with the selection of materials such as tile and carpet. She was always readily available to answer any questions or concerns and provided us with excellent customer service. Working with Bill Howe Flood and Restoration Services made the process of dealing with the flood so much easier and bearable during a stressful time.We highly recommend them for any of your plumbing / flood and restoration needs.

Carolyn O.

11/10/2022 12:00:00 SA

We are grateful to Bill Howe & especially Saul for OUTSTANDING service! After a unpleasant experience with a different plumbing company, (who made several errors, didn't show), we relied on Bill Howe to correct the issues. Once we got to Bill Howe, Saul genuinely cared about our project, wanted to get things done correctly, and communicated extremely well with us! He is an amazing ambassador to your company, reliable & trustworthy! We will call you FIRST from now on!

Kelly C.

07/05/2014 12:00:00 SA

Super poor service. Was going to pay double time for weekend but they never showed up called several times but never came or came back. Calling a different company who maybe actually responds to customers. Not sure how they keep customers with such poor service.

Erin R.

7/13/2023

I rent the front of my house out as an Air Bnb and a previous guest must've flushed or disposed of something that wasn't drain friendly. The new guests arrived and within 3 hours of their arrival the toilet and tub were filled with waste water and were bubbling. Not the best experience so needed someone ASAP. Called around and Bill Howe was the company that came through at 11:30 at night. They arrived quickly considering the short notice and late timing. Michael G. the plumber who arrived for the late night job was extremely friendly, calm and determined. The main line was indeed clogged. Michael was able to resolve the issue and walked me through each step as he went along. Great sense humor and attitude and great work. Thanks again for saving the evening Bill Howe appreciate the job well done!

Marilyn B.

7/19/2019

This past June Luis R. installed the plumbing for a bathroom sink for me, and did an excellent job.
I highly recommend Luis R. as a plumber who works for Bill Howe.
Great job.

V K.

4/13/2023

Our bathtub on the second floor was a leaking from overflow. Called BHP to schedule an appointment, promised to send a tech the next morning (Tuesday). So far so good. In the morning the guy shows up, cuts a hole in the ceiling in the room below the tub, says that he needs to replace the gasket, but doesn't have the right parts with him. OK.

Now it gets interesting. He quotes $1,250 (for a new rubber gasket, $10 part!!) and says that he needs two days to locate the parts. Unfortunately, he is not available for the remainder of the week - the earliest he can come back is next Monday. Wife reluctantly agrees (what a mistake...). We wait, living with a hole in the celing and no functioning bath for a week. Next Monday, two hours before the scheduled repair, get a call from the office saying that the tech will not be available, need to re-schedule! Offers a new appointment timeslot on Wednesday (two more days of waiting!). Wife says no, send someone else ASAP. They promise to send another tech within two hours. Two hours pass, no tech. Call the office to inquire status, says that the tech is delayed and will be coming in two hours. At this point, insulted and frustrated, we cancel the appointment and call another plumber. Over a week after the initial contact NOTHING gets done. To cap it off, BHP have the audacity to email wife a bill for $195 for the initial visit (all that was done was the gaping hole in the ceiling!).

DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME WITH BILL HOWE! THEY MAY HAVE CAPABLE PLUMBERS (WE WILL NEVER KNOW), BUT THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE IS HORRIBLE!

Lee S.

8/27/2015

These idiots came out and quoted me $1200 on a leaky faucet head in the garage. It had rust damage and was leaking out the top (not even the pipe). Courtesy Plumbing came in and did it for $150 and wouldn't accept a tip.

R R.

03/10/2017 12:00:00 SA

Great service, quality technician. Jimmie arrived on time, early actually but he called to see if that was ok. Yes! Super fast, super clean and super friendly. $96 per toilet to clear a problem we had for many months. Problem solved in minutes.

Bonnie O.

5/20/2018

I want to share a positive plumbing experience we recently had with Bill Howe. We had a plumbing issue and a blocked drain. The problems arose on a weekend and it was difficult to find a company who worked on a Saturday who could take care of both the plumbing problem and to clear out the drain. On the Nextdoor app Bill Howe was highly recommended by my neighbors so I gave them a call. After discussing the issues with the customer representative, who was quite knowledgeable on plumbing matters, we were told a technician would be to the house that afternoon. We had the good fortune to meet Giovanny who took care of both issues quickly and smoothly. The bill was quite reasonable considering the emergency weekend type situation and he left the bathroom very clean and with everything working perfectly. He was a pro and obviously very experienced. I definitely recommend Bill Howe (and Giovanny) for your plumbing needs.

Mark V.

4/26/2019

A special shoutout to Hadi, thank you for taking care of our Plumbing needs. He was patient, and explain everything thing he was going to do. He listened to our concerns, and was very personable!
We will definitely recommend to family and friends.
5 stars!!

T D.

09/08/2023 12:00:00 SA

Hi had a rough clogged line do to the property not being maintained before I bought it. I called and got a same day appointment. The issue was worse than expected but the technician came back and finished the job and communicated all the way as he worked through the issue. Bill Howe has a large team and that allowed them to see my home right away.

Roselle E.

09/05/2010 12:00:00 SA

Bill Howe Plumbing is honest. Used them twice and received excellent service. Second time they suggested that the fix was something my husband can do, being the handyman that he is and didn't charge us for the call.

S D.

03/08/2011 12:00:00 SA

Fabulous! What can I say. A last minute call and arrival within 2 hours. A quote that seemed fair and honest. A water heater replacement for a 12 y/o house $1300. Compared to 2 other companies this was a fair and in range price. This company has a BBB A+ rating, the other 2 did not, another company with the same BBB A+ rating gave a $3700 quote. Needless to say we went with Bill Howe. Called before coming just as told, arrived on time. The work was excellent as well as the clean up. Will use again if needed( hopefully not)

France S.

9/20/2019

After seeing their ads on TV I decided to give Bill Howe Plumbing a call. I am so glad I did!!! I had 2 issues, one a solar water storage system that I wanted removed and the other issue was, somewhere the hot water was crossing over into my cold water line. I was unable to get cold (not ice cold, just cold) water in any of my faucets. The water seemed to always be tepid. Well, bring in the experts, John F. and Tom, and voila all is the way it should be. A big THANK YOU to Bill Howe Plumbing!!!!

Darin J.

03/02/2016 12:00:00 SA

We used Bill Howe 3 years ago to complete plumbing on a master bathroom remodel and could not have been more pleased. They were polite, professional, clean and courteous. Most importantly the job was done right and perfect.

More recently we had the misfortune of a water heater leak that caused damage in several areas not the least of which was our brand new kitchen cabinets on the interior side of the garage wall. Once again we called Bill Howe.

Bill sent out Corey Koenen who was simply amazing. He had the old heater out and a new 75 gallon heater installed the next day. We were not without hot water for even a single morning. Additionally he was able to swap out our old undermount granite sink for a new porcelain overmount which required some technique altering the size of our granite counter top withouot damaging it and reworking the plumbing and fixtures. All of this done new cabintes in and we could not be more pleased with the outcome. Highly recommend Bill Howe and Corey Koenen, I wouldn't even think of calling anyone else....call 1-800-bill-howe cause it tunrs out they do know Howe!!

All right we wont hold the commercials against you Bill (but at least you know they are catchy)

stephen p.

3/25/2022

Quick/responsive, friendly and professional. Juan was great to explain in English and Spanish what needed to be done to bring our water heater system up to code. Will use again if service needed in future. Thanks

Adrian C.

06/11/2019 12:00:00 SA

I've used this company before to replace the water heater. Now we had a running toilet and a wobbly toilet. After my home warranty company (First American Home Warranty) referred me to a plumbing contractor that didn't show up in the time they gave me and wouldn't answer their phone when I called (On the Go plumbing), I said screw them and wanted it to be done on time and competently. Even though I had to pay it all out of pocket and arrange it myself, I knew Bill Howe wouldn't disappoint. Since it wasn't an emergency, Bill Howe gave me a 3 hour window three days later. The technician (Brandon) arrived in the first hour. He was super nice and professional. Everything was fixed in less than an hour. Count me as another satisfied customer.

Ralph G.

07/03/2018 12:00:00 SA

My wife and I moved to Texas a few weeks ago and our Oceanside house went into escrow soon after. Buyers had a video inspection of the sewer line which disclosed breaks and root incursion.

BIll Howe Plumbing was recommended to us and we got a very detailed bid at a fair price. Sean Jenkins, the project executive, walked us through every step of the repair and managed to suggest ways to do the work that would result in minimum (actually no damage) to the s urrounding pavers and palm trees. Sean was very quick to return our calls and e-mails, never letting us linger without a response.

Repairs were scheduled to begin on 7/3 and be completed on 7/5. Sean knew of our anxiety as our closing date loomed and he moved our job up a day to 7/2and the work was done in that one day. We were awed by this performance and we received a very detailed set of photos and a video of our entire 84' sewer line when the work was completed.

I cannot say enough words of praise re Sean Jenkins and Bill Howe plumbing.

Ralph

Sally C.

9/13/2023

Fix slow / clogged output pipe that had root intrusion.

Charles Lopez did a wonderful job. I could tell he's in demand.

He clearly explained the problem and alternative solutions, and patiently answered my follow-up questions.

Charles is both friendly & professional; he got straight to work in order to minimize the downtime.

On day 2, Juan assisted, and the team installed a new pipe in reduced time. And the bill was reasonable.

Thank you!

Traci S.

1/27/2012

These guys are the BEST! We had a clogged main sewer line. Originally tried to go through our home warranty company -and even though we classified this as an emergency - they took 24 hours to get a small local plumbing company to come out. What a nightmare! Because the plumber noted the clog was due to tree roots they wouldnt cover it - and because the plumbing company didnt do the job correctly, within 36 hours our line was clogged again. The home warranty refused to cover it, and the plumbing company refused to come back out and fix it again! NIGHTMARE!
My husband called Bill Howe and explained the situation. Within 1-2 hours we had a tech out - very nice guy named Charlie, tech #355 - and he listened to my complaints, explained what he needed to do, had the RIGHT equipment, and within 30 minutes had unclogged the line. He explained the next steps to follow, cleaned up, was friendly & professional. Ryan was great on the phone the night we called & explained our nightmare too. Everyone there was terrific. I will use them again instead of fighting with the home warranty company. We highly recommend them!

Pam B.

6/18/2013

Quick service. Cleaned up after themselves and fixed our problem pronto. Reasonable rates. I especially appreciate the quick response to our call. When you want/need a plumber that can be pretty important.

N C.

11/14/2018

Sadly, I have had to replace three leaking water heaters in the past eight years. Each time I have called Bill Howe, and they have sent me fantastic plumbers: Raul, Alex, Chris, and the latest awesome ones, Armando and Will. All of them were knowledgeable and very skilled, and obviously cared about completing the at times difficult jobs correctly and fully. Their professionalism and attention to detail were truly comforting. They were flexible, accommodating, and communicated well with me.

I must also add that they saved me a lot of money by advising and helping me to get two of the expensive water heaters replaced via the manufacturer's warranty.

While I don't really want to even think of needing to call a plumber again anytime soon, I am thankful that if and when needed, I can rely on Bill Howe again!

Lisa B.

8/24/2023

UPDATE - I'm updating our original review from one star to three stars. After my original review, we received a call and a refund of the $79 along with an apology for our experience. The person who called stated she had listened to the original call and apologized for the service we received. My husband called three different times before I posted a review, so not sure why they didn't listen to the original call one of those times. However, we are glad they have refunded us and apologized for our bad experience.

Betsy B.

4/21/2022

I reread the ad I responded to for the $79 Air Conditioning Tuneup. Per the ad, it was supposed to include a 10 point inspection and a standard filter replacement. We replaced our filter recently, but still - did not receive a report or a filter, so make of this what you will. I am not knowledgeable about A/C units, so I followed the technician around for a bit. He took photos and pointed out that our A/C is very old (yup, it's 20 years old) and lots of debris and dirt around the various components (didn't clean or remove - except for a dead frog - ewww). From the word tuneup, I thought some positive action would be taken to help our unit stay healthy - you know, like a car tuneup. Nope. Just an invoice and a vague estimate of $13,000 to swap out our old unit for a new one. The guy was nice enough. I don't blame him; I blame the company for a misleading offer. I recommend that they change this offer to $79 Air Conditioning Review and also remove the 10 point inspection detail. If you don't tune anything up and you don't give a report, just call it a review... This was not at all useful for us and was a waste of $79.

Bob W.

12/20/2018

We called Bill Howe Plumbing because of our leaky water heater.
Victor Santana was out the next day. He was professional and polite.
He replaced the water heater and showed us the controls and recommended annual maintenance. We are very pleased and will request Victor whenever we need a plumber.

Gina H.

08/12/2017 12:00:00 SA

Thanks to Armando's hard work and good nature, our leaky pipe is a thing of the past. We sure appreciated the time and effort he put in as well as Alex's advice. Hopefully we won't get another outrageous water bill, but if we are in need of help, we know who to call. THANKS!!!

Khrissie R.

4/28/2014

This company is scandalous and a rip off
And it makes me even happier to know they didn't get a dime out of me. The only reason I gave them one star is because I can't give them anything less.
I called Bill Howe plumbing because my hallway carpet was soaking wet.
After waiting most of my day. The plumber shows up looks at the water on the carpet and tells me that my main sewer line that has busted under my slab.
I was horrified. He informed me that I have contaminated sewer water on my carpet and that he's going to need a camera to find out exactly where the break is at. The cost of the camera $ 275.00 which will be taken off of the bill if they do the work.
However the camera was not available that day. So I made an appointment for the next day (for them to start the work). In the mean time Bill Howe restoration crew contacted me and made it to my house lickety split. They came in looking at everything by this time my bathroom floor was all wet. The restoration crew told me that my floors and my walls were contaminated with raw sewage. I was beside myself. I made a commemt about contacting my homeowners insurance and they told me no don't contact them just yet.
So while the two restoration crew guys were huddled in my bathroom talking so I could not hear them. My friend calls me and when i tell her what's going on she put her boyfriend on the phone who is a Plummer. He said you called Bill Howe?
He then said GET THEM OUT OF YOUR HOUSE NOW! They are a rip off and they work on commission. Find another company or wait till Saturday and I will come down and look at it and call your homeowners insurance right now.
Thank god for him. The two restoration guys came into my living room to tell me they would give me an writen estimate tomorrow when the plummers return to do the work.
The next day I cancel my appointment with Bill Howe plumbing and contacted another plumbing company that I found on YELP.
They were wonderful and honest. They found what the problem was. My hot water heater had exploded.
So much for a busted main sewer line under my slab and my floor having contaminated sewage water all over it. I will never use this lieing cheating company. They get away with this because they leave you no paperwork.
This was the reason why the restoration crew didn't wanna leave me a written estimate right then.

Clarence T.

08/02/2018 12:00:00 SA

We really appreciate the service that Javier provided. We recently purchased a home and the first day in the home one of the toliets backed up and almost over flowed. That day I purchased new toilets for each of the bathrooms. I called Bill Howe and they assigned Javier to install the toliets. He did a wonderful job. Prior to departure he checked the pressure for the home and it was extremely high. He returned a couple days later and replaced the regulator. Great service for a reasonable price. Thank you Bill Howe for hiring people like Javier.

sue w.

5/20/2016

i am not having a very good week as far as plumbing issues with my home. What has made it easier to deal with is Bill Howe Plumbing's superior work and employees. Sunday night our kitchen sinks started backing up into each other. Called Tuesday morning, the repair happened about 4 hours later ( great response time and earlier than scheduled). Javier was pleasant, professional, had great customer service skills and had the sink fixed in no time. Thursday morning we discovered we had a leak at our water meter. Called Bill Howe and asked for a plumber on Friday morning to fix it. The water meter was running, so we knew the problem was on the our side of the meter.Louie is fantastic!!!! They called about 30 minutes prior to the scheduled appointment and diagnosed the problem right away. The water is flowing in my home again, thanks to Louie!

Every time I have called Bill Howe Plumbing they have offered superior, professional service. I have tried other plumbing companies, as well as heating and air conditioning and Bill Howe is by far the best.

Beth F.

2/15/2013

We scheduled with Bill Howe and today Roman came out to check out our hit and miss heating system. He did a thorough review of what the problems were and gave us the options in a very professional, concise and friendly way. Plus he handled our dog barking at him exceptionally well. A quote promised by Monday arrived by email today the same day. He listened to us and recommended based on our needs.
Thanks Roman!

Melissa L.

12/22/2016

We had 2 bathrooms completely remodeled. We are very pleased with the work. It was refreshing to have a contractor show up on time every day, as scheduled. Amber did a great job organizing the project and she was a pleasure to work with. Jose and Michael did outstanding work on the framing, painting and tile. Everyone was so professional and even my husband commented that this is the best contractor we have ever worked with (and he's very picky). Thanks Bill Howe. We absolutely LOVE our new bathrooms.

June N.

08/04/2020 12:00:00 SA

One of Bill Howe's Technician, Tris came to replace our ancient hot water heater tank with a tankless water heater. He explained the steps to maintain the water heater, the technology available to start the water heater, and other useful information. He even helped us out with the gas line in the kitchen. He' was very courteous, professional, took a great deal of time and effort to remove/install the water heater for our house. Bill Howe's team has exceeded our expectations and we will go back to Bill Howe's again for any future plumbing needs.

Aj M.

09/11/2022 12:00:00 SA

Our shower faucet pressure cartridge was faulty and I couldn't close the faucet. Had to turn off the main water supply. Bill Howe was the only plumbing company who could send me a plumber on Sunday evening on short notice . The plumber (Asher) showed up ahead of schedule and fixed the problem. Very courteous and prompt.

Tamara C.

3/31/2011

Quality Work! We had to get our kitchen sink de-clogged and our 1st garbage disposal installed. It's about time!

The sink was pretty backed up, so the technician had to bring out the big machine from his van and that took care of it.

They offer Insinkerator Badger Garbage Diposals which are on the lower end and pretty outdated, so I would suggest making a trip over to Home Depot or Lowes and picking up one of the new Insinkerator models.

The plumber was efficient and we are very pleased with his work!

- Lawyer Tamara Cross San Diego

Sharon M.

7/28/2012

Last year I had Bill Howe fixed a broken pipe under my kitchen and replaced many of the 80 yr old pipes. This year they remodled my entire bathroom. Each time the technicians were prompt and polite. They explained all their work, the time and supplies needed. They gave very accurate quotes and with few exceptions they never changed. They were very nice; we even received a small reduction in one of the estimates. They did a great job each time. Very pleased with their service.

Mark B.

11/24/2020

Ignacio from Bill Howe plumbing gave some good advice on where to place a clean out drain . I appreciate speaking to experts like him Good job

Phil S.

10/28/2019

Brandon came out and replaced out water heater. He showed up earlier than expected (a big plus). We discussed what I wanted, he gave me a estimated I agreed with and by noon the new one was up and running. Brandon was polite, informed and extremely capable.

This is the third time we have used Bill Howe for plumbing issues and it's employees like Brandon that keep us coming back!

Phil

Yolanda C.

6/30/2022

We had a pipe burst and needed emergency services! Called Bill Howe and they gave us a three hour window. Was told a technician will call when in route. Received a call within 30 minutes...WOW!
Our technician was Kris Kalaf and we now call him Superman ! He was very professional, knowledgeable and friendly! He made sure to explain step by step of what was to be done and what was done. He went above and beyond to help us and we will definitely request and recommend him for any future services! Thank you very much Kris for all your help!

Marilyn B.

8/22/2018

Tris, our technician, did a great job explaining what had gone wrong with our tankless water heater. He walked me through the process while he did the trouble-shooting, explained our options and got back with us immediately, once we had made our decision to buy a new one. He was back within a couple days and had the new one installed within a couple of hours. Everyone was very professional and customer focused.

Mike R.

12/10/2021 12:00:00 SA

I called to ask for an estimate to replace a shower valve. The lady who took my call gave me their hourly rate + parts. I asked how long does it take to replace a single shower valve and the response is I don't know and a technician has to come out to assess. I can't believe they could not give an estimate on how long it takes to replace a single shower valve.

Karen O.

11/29/2011

UPDATE: I originally posted the following info. below, however, I am pleased to report that Bill Howe fixed the situation. I was contacted by Stephanie and was apparently was misquoted on my initial phone call. Since I was misquoted and received poor service they honored my original quote and came again with a much nicer technician. Had I received this service in the beginning I would have not have given one star to start, but can't give 5 stars because of it.

So, I decided to use Bill Howe because that is who my condo complex uses. I called today and was quoted $82-102 to clean 3 bathroom drains & was told if it goes over an hour I would be charged the hourly rate of $135.00. When the guy got here I showed him what needed to be done. He said they told you about the charges, right? i said yes, & told him what I was quoted. He went on to inform me that the first set of sinks (double) would be $96 and then it would be an additional $82 for the third. I explained that this is not what I was quoted. I could tell that he was done for the day and really didn't want to be bothered as I was making my decision. I asked if he could hang on for a minute so I could check out something on the computer (wanted to compare an ad I saw) and he seemed bothered by this. I decided I didn't want to submit to the bait and switch pricing that I was being offered. I asked him if he could talk to someone at the office to clear it up and he said he would because he drove out here for nothing. Well excuse me, not my fault they couldn't quote me the right price. I wasn't thrilled I had to leave my job early to get home in time for nothing to happen. VERY DISAPPOINTING! Apparently, they don't know Howe to give good customer service.

Trish C.

11/14/2017

Josh was the technician who helped us out today. He immediately spotted the problem and fixed the hose of our dishwasher. Then he made sure all was working properly. Excellent workmanship and friendly personality. Job well done!

Brandon F.

05/11/2010 12:00:00 SA

These guys are the Best! My furnace would not start and I called out a number of for a diagnosis. When Bill Howe arrived, I was certain I called the right guys. They are clean and courteous and proceeded to inform me of my choices. I ended up replacing the furnace and upgraded the air conditioning system as well. By doing so, I qualified for a large federal tax credit and a SDG&E rebate, keeping the installation of a new system at a very affordable cost. I was pleased with their work and they provided me with same day service. I highly recommend them for any service in the future!

Thanks Bill Howe and thank you Tommy for all of your suggestions and great service! You guys are the best!!!

Trina G.

3/16/2019

Our first experience with Bill Howe Plumbing has been a positive one. Plumbing technician Raul Miranda worked for two days replacing and rerouting our hot water pipes. He answered all my questions and explained everything he was doing in detail. We discussed the cost of the job before he began and he stayed on budget. Plumbing work is never cheap but we feel we got a professional job done at a pretty fair price. I would recommend Bill Howe Plumbing to a friend and would also suggest you request they send technician Raul Miranda over to discuss your plumbing problem.

Ruben M.

8/26/2013

150.00/ hr just to look at my a/c system and then charge more for consumables. Real FAMILY BUSINESS!!!

Siddharth M.

03/08/2022 12:00:00 SA

Water heater stopped working and needed to urgently get someone to repair it. The lady who was booking the appointment was amazing and very calm and answered all my question. The next day, Tris (the technician) called in advance and discussed in detail all the potential things that could be causing issues and prepared me mentally for various scenarios. While I wasn't there during the visit, he called me and updated me on the situation and luckily the fix was quick. He realized the renters had a baby, hence went out of his way to quickly go and buy the part and get the unit working the same day! Overall great experience and highly recommended!

niki s.

03/09/2017 12:00:00 SA

We have used Bill Howe's services for years, and never had a bad experience. Recently, we received particularly excellent service from two Bill Howe employees. We want to thank and acknowledge the hard work and professional excellence of both Jason Bolas and Jonathan Dickerson. In February, we needed a new water heater, and Jason came out to the house to help advise us. He explained we could get hot water more quickly at certain locations in the house if we simultaneously purchased and had installed a circulation pump along with the new water heater. Bill Howe's offer for the new parts and the installation work was reasonable, so we made an appt. to get the job done. Jason is a very hard and courteous worker and got the new heater and pump installed in a couple of hours. Later, it turned out that the installation of the pump under our old sink caused some leaking (from the angle stops?) Jason came back out twice to investigate the cause of the problem and worked tirelessly to fix it. He told me he wouldn't leave until he had the problem corrected to our satisfaction, and that is exactly what he did. Even though it ended up taking more time, labor and parts to solve the problem than was included in the original estimate, there was no additional charge. Jason is a very dedicated professional, and we recommend him unequivocally. A few weeks after the water heater episode, we found an unrelated leak showing up in the exterior stucco of our home. We again called Bill Howe, and this time Jonathan (JD) Dickersen came to our rescue. JD worked hard to find the source of the leak, and eventually tracked it down to a pinhole leak in the piping in our master bathroom. In order to repair this leak, he had to cut some tile. JD was very respectful of our budget, and offered to let us have someone else (cheaper) come and cut the tile, but we told him we'd rather have him do the work because we trusted him. JD was very careful to cut the minimum tile he needed to get to the leak and repair it. He cleaned up the work area as best he could after the job was done. JD was very patient and helpful in answering my questions about pinhole leaks in general, and he checked the water pressure in our house to make sure that it had not contributed to the problem. We were very satisfied with the great work of both Jason and JD, and recommend them highly. Thank you very much!!

Paolo P.

12/24/2018

I had some issues with dishwashers and plumbing for my shut-off valve. No functioning dishwasher for over 1 week with 3 kids and a newborn in the house. I got a new dishwasher in between swapping out the corroded shut-off valve. My dishwasher wasn't getting the proposer flow, if you will. Very frustrating, I had Home Depot deliver the new dishwasher and their appliance installers left me hanging with no actual working dishwasher. The power was on and cycling but it wasn't cycling properly with water. Thus not cleaning.

The only reason I'm writing this review is for Bill Howe technician: DANA PARKS. WOW. Someone get this guy a frosty Gatorade and a raise!! After having a few plumbers and appliance guys come over, I'm onto my 5th appointment trying to get plumbing and dishwasher to play nice. I had the first open appointment on Christmas Eve morning, 8AM-11AM slot. Dana calls me at 7:30AM and says Morning! I will be there at 8AM sharp! He shows up at 7:55 AM with a smile and super positivity. His greatest asset and skill besides his personality and experience is his TROUBLESHOOTING ability. After 20 mins of hearing my synopsis and him troubleshooting plumbing and supply water, he had my dishwasher working like a charm. It went from California Drought to Niagara Falls, real quick! Dana beams with confidence in a humble way. He's clean, thorough, intelligent and polite. Very efficient. Best plumber I've had in a long time, if not ever. Cheers, Dana! Thank you and Merry Christmas!

Y H.

1/14/2021

My 14 year old water heater stopped working recently and I called Bill Howe Plumbing. I was scheduled for an appointment two days later. They were very busy. The technician was running late and they let me know. Brandon came by in the late afternoon and I was worried that it would be another day before getting a new water heater installed. I was very happy that he was able to call in and have someone else cover his next appointment and have one delivered while he dismantled the old one and install the new one all on the same day. He was very helpful and courteous and took the old water heater away.

Robin S.

09/04/2019 12:00:00 SA

Bill Howe's plumber's are the best trained of any we have ever used. They aren't the least expensive but they guarantee their work, are polite, show up on time and if they miss something they make it right. We wouldn't use any other company.

Amruta J.

10/05/2014 12:00:00 SA

I called Bill Howe Plumbing/AC, and gave them the scenario. Monty, was very helpful and knowledgeable.
Saul, who came to do the job was also very knowledgeable. He even drew us a diagram to explain the problem...that really helped us understand the issue.
However, I felt glad that I was firm with what I wanted done or I would have bee led to commit to more work being done by them. Felt a bit manipulated...but I guess that's something that a lot of service providers get away with! :(
Overall, I felt they did a great job and do quality work. But beware...these guys are pricey!!!! They charge $151/hr as labor charges. That's mighty steep...
Will I call them again- certainly!!...as they do quality work and are very knowledgeable,
but I'll be on my alert as to what and how much work they convince me to get done...

Daniel K.

9/17/2019

Bill Howe was upfront about the leak between my water meter and my house. They provided honest feedback which led me to go with them in the end. I ended up doing all of the excavating and searching for the leak myself, and Bill Howe's plumber fixed the leak within a couple hours. Their cost was a bit more than a local irrigation expert but this is a licensed, insured organization instead of a one man show.

Deborah M.

04/03/2017 12:00:00 SA

I walked into my bathroom in the morning to soaking wet carpet that occurred overnight. I could not find a leak anywhere, the shower, tub, sinks, toilet were all dry. I called Bill Howe plumbing on a friend's recommendation and their responsiveness and service exceeded all my expectations. This is a nightmare for any homeowner but they were so responsive, professional, competent and reassuring that I felt relieved. Within a few hours Luis was here to detect a slab leak which he quickly determined was not the problem. He personally called John E. of the flood and restoration division who came immediately. He worked diligently for hours with moisture meters and listening devices and localized the leak behind the tile wall of the shower. This was bad news and would require removal of the tile shower. He recommended having my insurance adjuster see the damage before work started and he spoke with him on the phone explaining the problem. Then they began removing carpet, baseboards and starting the drying process. John called the Bill Howe

estimator Moises who also came right away to assess the damages. This is a full service company who works as a team to get the job done. I plan to use them for the restoration work as well. They are exceedingly competent, responsive, and professional. Would give them 10 stars!

Pamela L.

06/09/2017 12:00:00 SA

I have used Bill Howe services twice in the past year. Both times I have had excellent experiences. Plummer JD Dickerson did my most recent repairs and was awesome. I will use them in the future because of their professionalism and integrity.

Gary

Wendy P.

11/26/2016

Avoid, if at all possible. I found myself with a broken pipe on a holiday weekend and had no other options that I could find. They ended up costing me thousands of dollars and after talking to a few contractors I realized what a total scam the restoration business is. I had a similar situation happen in my own condo in LA and was able to get way better service because it wasn't on a weekend and I was able to be there to oversee the work. Setting up all of the fans and sending a couple of guys who have no idea what they are doing once or twice a day is just a scam and they seem to be in cahoots with insurance companies and will suck up all of your insurance coverage on this nonsense and will rip out floors and cupboards that don't even need it.

They were always polite which is why I gave them two stars instead of one, but apparently they are known all around San Diego as untrustworthy.

Grant W.

03/05/2015 12:00:00 SA

Unlike with their competitor, I have to comment that we've just had a very good experience with Bill Howe Plumbing and their Plumber, Matt Tolar. Matt arrived in a shorter window, on time and with the promised heads up phone call. The truck didn't drip oil, friendly and professional Matt didn't try to upsell me anything but just went to work efficiently and competently right then and there.

Turns out we needed an unusual part for one of the showers that was not normally carried on his truck. So he drove to get said part, came back quickly and finished the job and even a few other things I thought of once he was there. All for a fair price not ridiculously inflated like their competitor had quoted - after they'd wasted my time the day prior having me wait for a half day window only to no show.

Kudos to Bill Howe Plumbing and their plumber Matt!!

Russ H.

01/06/2017 12:00:00 SA

Polite, but untrustworthy. I called and spoke with Julie to schedule a repair estimate for a leaking pipe in my attic. She was courteous and was able to book an appointment for the very next day. I was told the industry standard yet frustrating sometime between 8 and 11 a.m. The Bill Howe plumber never showed up. Now I am out a half-a-day's work and scrambling to find a same-day plumber before I leave on travel tomorrow. Perhaps they are too big or too busy and I'm the only potential customer this has happened to. I am disappointed because according to the Yelp reviews it looks like they do good work ...if they show up. Julie politely offered to reschedule but why should I when there are plenty of other reliable plumbing services in San Diego to choose from.

tricia h.

5/26/2011

These guys are always available almost immediately - they do the job properly, clean up, they're efficient and the prices are fair. I'll call them again for sure. - :) - Tricia

Emily L.

1/25/2022

We will recommend Bill Howe and our technician Ignacio Perez 839 to everyone!! We had a major kitchen sink drainage emergency and were told by other companies that someone couldn't come out for a week or longer. Bill Howe was able to send Ignacio out the very next day, he arrived early and was so efficient. He explained what was needed and executed the repairs in just a couple of hours. Everything looks so nice and new and Ignacio was so friendly. Thank you Bill Howe!

Rudena C.

12/23/2015

Never fails when you have guests! Always a plumbing issue pops up! First time I have called Bill Howes. Showere knob was frozen & we couldn't budge it. Really nice looking & polite young man named Marcus showed up promptly. He proceeded to look at problem. He explained problem & possible options if part was not easily replaceable. Fortunately the faucet was fixed with a replacement part without complications. Great news since the shower is 43 yrs. old!! Experience was very positive & I highly recommend this company!! Young repairman could not have been nicer or more professional. Will definitely recommend them.

Steve M.

03/12/2015 12:00:00 SA

I'm very happy with the recent install of a Fujitsu mini split system. From the sales guy, Bruce, to the install team, Bruce and Ulysses, I couldn't be more pleased. Bruce (sales) was knowledgeable, listened to my concerns, and worked with me to meet my needs.
The install team (Bruce, Ulysses) was careful, courteous, didn't mind my frequent questions. They also left my place as clean as they found it! I'm a BH fan now!

Doug G.

8/17/2016

I would never recommend them to anyone. They are not honest in their advertising and do not have speedy service. We called them and had to wait 3 weeks for our appointment. We could have seen them sooner if we wanted to pay double their rate. So we waited the entire 3 weeks and two days prior to our appointment our ac went out, during a heat wave. Our appointment was scheduled between 2-5. At 2:50 we received a call stating their driver was about an hour out. At 5 my husband called and was told they were finishing up a job in la Mesa and would be on their way to us in El Cajon. At 6:30 I called them, pretty irritated obviously for wasting my day and I was assured the driver was in route and approximately 5 minutes away. The driver called my husband 30 minutes later saying he had problems with his truck and was 7 minutes out. At that point we decided to use a different company . Their commercials are deceiving and they were not honest with us about arrival time on each occasion that we called. If they can't be honest about simple basic stuff, why would we trust them to be honest in their diagnostics of our ac. Instead of putting in all that money into false advertising, maybe they should invest it in reliable workers and better time management.

Chris K.

6/29/2014

Great customer service !!! The technicians are great at getting it fixed the first time out. I use them for my home, rental properties, and business. Thank you Bill Howe Plumbing.

Jeffrey M.

8/17/2011

Update. After I posted my Yelp review they responded that I was right, that they should have fixed it right the first time and they sent me a full refund check for the second day visit. Should never have billed me for the followup visit, but it was refreshing that once management became aware of what happened, they did their best to make it right. With this company if you are not satisfied with your bill or service, go to top management and air your beef. It worked for me.

Karen H.

4/30/2016

I had a leak pop up in my toilet pipe on a Saturday. Gustavo arrived within about 30 minutes of my call and replaced the pipe in under an hour. Emergency/weekend labor pricing ($225/hr.) made it a more expensive job than a routine scheduled call, but it was worth it for the peace of mind. Gustavo was expert, professional, and friendly. I would recommend Bill Howe.

Lynn C.

10/21/2015

We had a leak within a wall which had spread to our wood flooring. we called Bill Howe in the late afternoon and they came out the next morning. They readily discovered the source of the leak and made a quick repair for the plumbing part. They also worked with our insurance company to coordinate billing for damage to drywall and flooring. Prices were reasonable and the insurance company okayed working with them. Thanks for the quick and professional work, Bill Howe!

Phachareeya R.

2/13/2017

I have a tankless water heater that began to leak. I called around and settled on bill howe. Jason came out on Monday and immediately pinpointed the issue. He called the manufacturer, explained what he saw, took a couple of pictures and said he will be back in a couple of days with replacement parts.

A few days later Jason called to say he was on his way. He showed up and completed the work in about an hour.

I am really happy with Jasons' service. Instead of selling me a new tankless, he checked the warranty first (I didn't know it was still under warranty at 10 years). It was a straight forward transaction that ended up saving me thousands of dollars for a new unit+installation.

Awesome work Jason and Bill Howe!

Aimee H.

01/06/2016 12:00:00 SA

We are renters who never had to hire a plumbing service before. Bill Howe was suggested by a friend, and she told us to ask for Corey. He was very friendly from the first phone call. Even came out near the end of his shift on short notice to check out our problem. He fixed a nasty leak in our shower, and identified the same problem in our second bathroom. He contacted our Landlord to get approval for the work, and was able to get a hold of our Homeowners Association (who usually don't respond to phone calls at all) for permission or access to the building's water. He was able to handle all of this the day before and the day after Thanksgiving. He was very respectful of our home, my family, and of our time. Our plumbing issue was a mess but he fixed it and did a great job. Very professional, would highly recommend Corey and Bill Howe. Thanks for helping us fix our shower!

Victoria G.

10/09/2019 12:00:00 SA

Just wanted to stop by and say THANK YOU to Syddell, Jaime, Elizabeth and Tom who went above and beyond to help me get some important paperwork/permits to the HOA of one of the properties we manage. They had previously replaced the water heater and the HOA requested we send them some paperwork or we'd get fined. These guys were super fast in helping me get what I needed. Thanks guys!

Cindy T.

8/29/2021

The technician from Bill Howe Plumbing, Alan, was amazing! He called before he arrived, was super professional yet friendly and worked hard and diligently to repair our pipes below our sink and install a new kitchen faucet in a very timely manner. We have always used Bill Howe for both our plumbing and air conditioning needs, and we have found them so reliable and trustworthy. We will continue using them from here on out. Thanks again Alan for your amazing hard work!!!

Rob S.

5/17/2019

Error. Meant for water heater manufacturer. Sorry to all readers.

Ashlyn C.

6/22/2012

No! ... Bill Howe does NOT KNOW HOW! If I could give a rating of Zero stars - I would .... I was Charged $100 dollars and the next day it was clogged worse. They also didn't bother to tell me ( or they probably didn't even notice due to inexperience ) that there was an incorrect washer on the main drain pipe ! I called Goerge Baird whom pointed it out to me; only charged $20 bucks and got it done in 20 minutes !!! I only used Bill Don't Know Howe because my property manager has a contract with them (unfortunately) ... But that won't happen again. I should call to get my $100 Bucks back !! I think I will now!!!!

Lauren F.

4/19/2015

We had an issue with our air conditioner leaking. We called a few places for quotes and it seemed Bill Howe would be the cheapest. But they never showed for our appointment! We called to see where or when the repairman would arrive, and all they could say is.. We aren't sure why he isn't there. Maybe they should keep track of their employees and stick to their appointment times...

Paul L.

10/23/2017

Our AC unit began to run intermittently, and I called several repair services. One would not give me any pricing information over the phone. When I called Bill Howe, the representative was friendly and candidly answered my questions about service and costs. When the technician arrived, he went through the system, and explained the tests to me. He answered all my questions, and was able to fix the system by changing a single capacitor. They charged a fair price for the service. This is- no kidding- the most honest experience I have had with a repair service in San Diego. Well done.

Liz J.

8/27/2015

I tried to schedule an emergency ( no A/C) appointment and was told VERY RUDELY, and UNSYMPATHETICALLY that they would come out 'Next week. When I said you're not very encouraging- what day can you actually schedule me on? and he said September 10th. CLICK- wow, if you're that busy hire some more people and while you're at it hire another person to answer your phone!!!!

Stuart T.

10/21/2015

Dana Parks from Bill Howe Plumbing was completely professional in his work. He installed a new gas valve for a new kitchen range in a unit of an apartment building I own. He did the work quickly and expertly. Very friendly service.
Thank you Dana!
Stuart T.

Jamie D.

4/13/2018

Bill Howe came out to run a camera scope on my sewer lines to my septic system, which they did. For some reason, despite several calls and assurances that I'll email it by the end of the day I have not received the results or a list of recommended repairs. I fully intend to have the repair work done so I am surprised that they don't seem to want the business. To be fair, they did a similar inspection during escrow when I purchased the home a year ago and said they were never paid. I offered to pay them and they declined. Anyhow, I've decided to look for another plumbing company to do this work and would not recommend Bill Howe based on this experience.

Mort S.

7/27/2023

The work was competent enough but they SUCK at processing the payment. He swiped my credit card and didn't give any indication that it was declined (CU portal doesn't say declined), so I received an endless barrage of emails about unpaid balance. I logged in and the portal accepted my card immediately. They only gave me a couple of days to resolve it, I just got out of the hospital so this was not convenient in the slightest, but I mentioned it to them and they did not care one bit.

Sheryl K.

9/22/2017

My plumbing problem was discovered late on a Friday morning. Called three companies. One went to a voice mail, the next felt that they did not have the skill set to do the job and the last was unavailable until Monday. Went into planning mode for a weekend with water issues. Decided to ask Siri for a list of local plumbers and then recalled seeing/heaing the Bill Howe advertisement. Somebody answered the phone and much to my surprise my issue was address and repaired by 4p Friday afternoon. I am so grateful and Bill Howe will be the company for my plumbing issues. Thank you Bill Howe!

Greg W.

8/23/2014

While on vacation my tenants chose to take matters into their own hands and unfortunately chose this company to replace a 50 gal water heater on July 4, 2014. The bill? A whopping $1,600. They installed the most expensive water heater/parts for $860 and labor was $750 or $375/hr. Granted it was a holiday but I don't know of any trade that charges that rate, heck, my attorney doesn't even charge that much. I believe they ripped me off because it was a tenant situation-similar to what other Yelpers have mentioned. Likewise, I will never use them again.

In addition, they had my tenant sign so that he waived all rights to cancel the sale in 3 days. Why would any legitimate company even have this clause on their invoice? STAY AWAY.

I recommend when dealing with tenants that your company make an effort to contact the owner(s) and perhaps you will get fewer 1 star reviews. I was always available by phone and email while in Florida.

Update 9/29/2014

There is one bright spot at Bill Howe, their customer service manager, Julie Riddle. My settlement offer was accepted and a check sent as promised. Aside from the time and effort I needed to rectify the problem, I have no other issues. Julie was my single point of contact and we kept in constant contact until the issue was satisfactorily resolved.
Bill Howe can earn 5 stars if they work toward making their customers happy the first time around rather then after.

Matt S.

5/26/2022

I had what I thought was just going to be an easy snake of a blockage in our kitchen sink. We live in a condo and everyone above us dumps whatever down the drain and we pay the price. It turns out it was something (or an accumulation of a bunch of stuff) in the lines running above our parking garage. AJ (Alan) and a couple of his guys--over three days mind you--worked to unclog what turned out to be a massively clogged drain pipe. Snaking didn't do the job, nor did hydro/water jetting at my sing. Not to be deterred, AJ unfastened the massive pipes in the garage and blasted out GALLONS of black nasty sludge. He even got covered in it requiring a shirt change. The guy just beat away at the problem like a prize fighter and I'm so glad he did. I had two other companies give up on this job before Bill Howe/AJ got involved. Thanks AJ, I was getting tired of bailing water out of my sink and THANK YOU to you for getting this job done. It was a beast.

Emily M.

01/07/2019 12:00:00 SA

This weekend as I was in the middle of throwing a 30th birthday party for my boyfriend (with 30+ people at my house), the toilet would not flush and started backing up into the bathtub. We then heard some weird noises from the kitchen sink and before we knew it, our neighbor's bathroom in the back house started flooding. I called Bill Howe at about 4:15pm and Patrick was at our house a little after 6. He immediately identified the problem as a clogged main drain, and minutes later he pulled out the tree roots that had blocked the drain, and my guests were able to use the toilet once again! Patrick was kind and professional and worked efficiently! I would definitely use Bill Howe Plumbing again!

Senaida C.

12/12/2018 12:00:00 SA

I would just like to say how amazing the employees at the company are, especially Jimmy and Alejandro. We contract Bill Howe when we have issues with plumbing; however, this time they really went out of their way and my hats off to them. Super awesome human being with a kind soul and amazing attitude and perspective in life. I had got a horrible flat tire this morning on the 15 North and they had no idea who I was but they pulled over and asked if I needed any help and immediately started changing my tire. They really saved the day because I got to work and still my road side assistance had not called me back with an ETA for assisting. Thank you so much you guys you really saved my day and made it so much better, there is good people still out their in this world and today I encountered 2 of them. I can not explain how grateful I am because they are out of this world.

Paul M.

5/30/2016

I had a pretty standard issue as far as plumbing goes, a leaky shower. Corey Koenen came by and fixed it with no hassle or fuss. He was courteous and treated my house as if it was his own. I would recommend him to anyone using Bill Howe.

Beatrice M.

4/30/2019

I work at a property that uses Bill Howe occasionally and I just wanted to say how wonderful it is working with Syddell when I call in! It is always nice calling vendors who are not rude on the phone. Syddell answers and I can tell she's happy and ready to help. Thank you Syddell and Bill Howe!

Kim F.

8/30/2017

Bill Howe plumbing is very professional and provides the best service. My plumber, Matthew, was very efficient and thorough. Not only did he repair a leaky hot water line located in the ceiling btw 2 rooms, which was very hard to reach, but he also put up with my HOA president trying to tell him how to do his job. He very patiently listened to him criticize and insult his expertise without getting upset or arguing. Then he quickly completed the job at minimal cost and clean up. Thanks Matthew.

Mike L.

10/14/2014

I had them out for drain cleaning and they did a great job. The tech was very nice and professional. Good company that cares

R A.

03/01/2019 12:00:00 SA

A great big thank you to Bill Howe plumbing. After contacting 2 different plumbers to fix our clogged drains and with poor results and rude employees, we contacted the Howe team. An exceptional employee, Brandon, discussed our issues and expectations in depth and ultimately fixed our problem! Great price, great service. They do know Howe

C T.

7/22/2020

Overpriced for their services, couldn't get the job done as necessary despite spending hours on the job. Would go with another service in the future.

Marcia B.

8/17/2017

I have an old house in La Mesa and the plumbing is sort of quirky so when my dishwasher line caused a mini flood, I felt more secure using Michael from Bill Howe than the guys from Sears
to install the new dishwasher. He got the job done asap within an hour. He was able to crawl around in the lower revolving cupboards without losing his smile or his good nature. And it didn't cost any more than Sears would have.

Jane G.

09/05/2016 12:00:00 SA

Oh. My. Goodness. I can't believe what a great job R.J. did! He found the leaks under the kitchen sink and hooked up the new faucet in no time at all. He was polite and extremely knowledgeable about the complicated plumbing at my condo complex. He did this on a hot summer Sunday for a very reasonable price- we couldn't live without a working kitchen faucet and he totally understood this. RJ, you are the best! Once more, this highly professional company came through for us. *This* is the company you want to call first!

P H.

5/21/2014

Couldn't be happier with the work done by Bill Howe.

I have a 30's Spanish with crawlspace. Luis and staff ran a gas line in the crawlspace from the meter to the fireplace at the far end of the house. As my first concern was the integrity of the fireplace and house remain intact, when they found what they originally thought was going on inside the fireplace wasn't true, Luis came up with a solution that maintained the integrity and still honored the original quote. When they left, there wasn't any sign they had been there. Again, couldn't be happier.

Joy B.

10/26/2016

I've hired Bill Howe for two listings for cigarette smoke smell removal. One home was a gut/remodel brand new inside but the cigarette smoke kept creeping back through the walls. We had the ozone treatment run twice and it was noticeably better after the second treatment. The second time the damage was isolated in the garage and after one treatment it was perfect. Be aware neighbors will be alarmed because no humans can enter during treatment. They put up yellow tape across the door warning do not enter.

Johnny A.

11/10/2017 12:00:00 SA

Loved the service. I am the president of the HOA and they are on call for us. Today I had the pleasure to work with Dougles Higee and he provided AAA Star service. I will continue to ask for him always.

Blue E.

3/18/2020

We always call Bill Howe for any plumbing issues.
They do great work with fair prices. Ask for Chris Sullivan for a job well done.

Michael H.

10/29/2019

I called for both a quote on replacing my insinkerator disposal and A/C duct work. Both technicians showed up on time - one where the office called to confirm they could even come early. Neither tech tried to sell anything and both were up front about saving me money such as buying the disposal myself and only paying for them to install, and how the A/C inspection fee could be applied to future services. The A/C guy was great about options and didn't quote anything unnecessary. Plumber tech came back next day to install. Paid exactly what was quoted from both. Thank you guys!!!

Mark O.

1/21/2019

Awful! We had a hose bib break and water was rushing out the pipe causing property damage. We needed a plumber to come turn off the valve at the main. The dispatcher initially told me they don't do that. She then said they could send someone tomorrow or the day after. Terrible response, no service. I won't use Bill Howe ever again.

Steven B.

08/07/2018 12:00:00 SA

Had a problem where the hot water throughout the house was not getting as hot as it used to...called Bill Howe (who had already done an excellent job installing A/C in my house) and they were able to come out the next day (could have some day, but I couldn't). John Friend arrived with his partner and rather than immediately jumping to you need a new water heater, they quickly diagnosed that it was a faulty gas control valve. They gave me pricing options for both, knowing the water heater will likely need to be replaced over the next year or two. I actually called around and Bill Howe's pricing was very competitive, and lower than others in most cases.

John came out the next day and installed the new valve. Very fast, very honest, great service. I highly recommend them (and John) if you have plumbing, or other, issue.

debra d.

03/02/2023 12:00:00 SA

Wow. We moved into a new home with no hot water in half the house. First plumber was from independent company #1 who had no clue. So we thought Bill Howe has to have advanced plumbers, called them and they sent a supposedly senior Guy #2 who located the problem, but he couldn't do the work... Days later Guy #3 arrives, looks around and said he couldn't do the job because HIS LADDER WAS TOO WET! Yes his ladder was too wet! Guys #4 and 5 from ONYX Plumbing (8587229630) came and in one trip made it look simple. I think the difference was in the telephone call that was listened to when setting the appointment. The person who made the appt listened and understood what was needed and sent the right guys the first time with the expertise to do the job....

Sue F.

7/21/2017

Tris (Tech # 566) has been out to our house several times. He is an excellent plumber, on time, courteous, professional, cleans up and is very helpful. Whenever we have an issue, we specifically request Tris. He has fixed our main water line that cracked and was leaking everywhere, changed out kitchen faucets, unclogged dishwasher drain tubes, hooked up our natural gas fireplace & BBQ and spent hours trying to match and replace broken master bath jacuzzi tub faucets for us. Thank you Tris! And thank you Bill Howe for having Tris on your team.

Andreas B.

08/03/2018 12:00:00 SA

I will not bother calling this company again. My AC broke yesterday and they offered to come out NINE days later (seven days if I was willing to pay overtime). We called another company that showed up at our house two hours later and fixed the problem.

Blair A.

6/17/2013

I think these guys are A-1. I had service done by another company whose name we all see on tv constantly. That company inspected my furnace and told me my furnace was shot and needed a new one. I then called Howe for an estimate on replacement. The salesman came out, looked at my furnace for 5 minutes and said, that other firm is trying to sell you a furnace. Your unit is only 8 years old and in excellent condition. Their honesty saved me!

Burke M.

9/16/2020

Desperately needed a shower fixed (cartridge, valve, etc.). Also needed the regulator looked at and replaced. Bill Howe scheduled us immediately, called us and texted us when Allan (technician) was en route. Allan was awesome! He was professional, efficient, and very helpful in explaining what he did. We've called Bill Howe in the past and each time we have a plumbing or water related issue, they're there. Call them!

Paige W.

5/18/2019

Excellent service and knowledge. The service guy had to work on my old cast iron tub that appeared to be a very simple fix, but he said he would double check all to be on the safe side and discovered the drain and drain cover had not been properly addressed or maintained by the former tenant. It took a bit of work to clear the stopper, and get it back up and running as usual, but he did it quickly and efficiently.

Erin C.

04/08/2008 12:00:00 SA

I had major plumbing problems and these guys can do it all. They have all the latest and greatest equipment known to the plumbing world. They came out at the last minute and stayed for about 7 hours and didn't charge me overtime. The guys I had were really funny. I would definitely say they are trustworthy. They are not cheap however. Hence the 4 star rating.

Jim N.

2/13/2014

I've had three appointments with Bill Howe Plumbing, all three times they have failed to arrive during the time period quoted. The work when performed has been satisfactory, but I would not recommend them unless you can devote the entire day from your quoted time to waiting.

Amanda H.

6/15/2022

Writing an estimate for a cracked garbage disposal takes 24 hours. Horrible communication, thought they were coming back after writhing the estimate, I waited at my house for 3 hours. No phone call. I have called 3 times and still no estimate has been sent and water is leaking into my neighbors home. They don't care, isn't a priority. Worst company, service.

Update: the garbage disposal was fixed today and the gentleman Alex that came out was awesome. I appreciate the owner reaching out on here too! It was a rocky start but they were great when I let them know how frustrated I was on the phone this morning. The repair/replacement looks perfect thanks to Alex!

Toni G.

5/13/2017

If I could give the company 10 stars I would! After careful analysis of 10 San Diego companies that I investigated, met with and all information on each of these companies placed into a binder for further evaluation. I found that Bill Howes company had the best product, best value, best warranty, years of service in the business, and MANY MANY yelp reviews! When you have that many reviews that means quite alot of people have worked with Bill Howe! I met with Richard and we discussed a more efficient heater and air units and the guys came did their work and do these guys work hard! I was so very happy at how organized each step was as well as how organized these guys were! You absolutely NEED to talk with and get the work to be done in a PRINTED CONTRACT because each company works differently and LEAVES information OUT that costs you more than on that contract and that was what I found out about each one! NOT SO with Bill Howes team! I was EXTREMELY happy that the choice I picked for the company to purchase and install a new heater and air in my mom's home was the RIGHT choice!

Mary Y.

3/29/2014

I called a few places to get quotes and Bill Howe had the most reasonable price for what I needed to be done. I needed my guest bathroom shower drain to be cleaned out. The price range for this job went from below other quotes to above other quotes. But because I know my job was simple, I figured it would be at the low end, which is exactly what it ended up costing me. The guy was very friendly, maybe a bit too much, and chatty. BUT, he did the work and was on his way. I know their prices are high most of the time, but this time it was an easy, cheaper fix. I had an independent guy come to do the same to my toilet and he charged me twice: once to come out and once for the actual work. That's why I called Bill Howe - it was one charge as far as I could tell.

Meghan K.

11/11/2021 12:00:00 SA

DJ came out and helped me with a punch list of plumbing items in our new house. On time, courteous, intelligent, brisk, a pleasure to work with. I highly recommend these folks. No nonsense. I would hire again.

Charles G.

09/09/2023 12:00:00 SA

They did a really good job fixing my thermostat, and even lent me a portable AC while they were waiting for parts to be delivered. Great service. Eduardo was quick and efficient and did a fantastic job.

Diane C.

3/17/2010

I want to thank the crew (Hector and Lonnie) that came to my house today to clear a clogged landscape drain on the side of my house. They were professional (explaining what they were going to do), courteous, efficient, clean and were respectful of my landscaping. The price was fair and they did an excellent job. The pipe has been compromised by roots - the problem areas were located. The drain is not perfect because all the roots were not able to be totally snaked out but the water will not back up any longer. I have time to decide whether to have the drains under concrete repaired or have the crew come out periodically to snake the drain. Thank you again.

Saya G.

10/28/2016

My experience was great with Bill Howe. From setting up the appointment to the technician, Brandon, arriving early. He's very courteous courteous and knowledgeable and took his time explaining everything. He did a great job and I would definitely recommend Bill Howe.

Philip K.

4/18/2016

We've come to expect the best service from Bill Howe because they have consistently offered the best service and support for our plumbing needs. The last visit was with Steven who actually installed a new wall heater. He performed the work with great care and professionalism.

Mary F.

6/30/2011

Gilbert just left my place after fixing my disposal problem in record time! He is a very personable man, very considerate and just a pleasure to have in my home. No mess, no fuss and a very happy homeowner. Thanks, Gilbert!!

A C.

10/06/2017 12:00:00 SA

Howe was the 3rd plumber I called when the only toilet and the only shower at our rental condo stopped draining. They were the only company that could help me on short notice.

Brian Brandt arrived within 3 hours. Our unit is 50 years old and the roots clogging the pipes were almost 100 feet down the line. Brian worked diligently for 3 hours and eventually was able to snake out the clog. I was so thankful he didn't give up and leave our tenant without a toilet. We didn't have a plan B. The cost for his efforts was very reasonable.

Great service. Personable and diligent. Very fairly priced. I couldn't ask for more.

Wayne S.

8/24/2022

This is an update to a review I left about 20 days ago. Since that review, BHP completed the job at my home on 8/18. It is unfortunate that it took a negative review and a 'Karen Move' on my part to get any attention.
To recap, this job started in late May and went on way too long. There were multiple issues along the way that I won't belabor here.
Full transparency, none of this has ever been about the team members who do the actual work. I would give every plumber, tile guy, demolition crew, dry out crew, etc. 10 stars if I could. These guys do so solid work. Francisco, Arturo, Javier, Fidel...all of the guys that worked on my place were awesome.
The problem lies with management and the project coordinator teams. They need to do better and, in all honesty, it is all related to plain old good customer service. If you give someone a schedule, stick to it. If times/days change, be transparent about it and communicate. If a customer provides you with exact product info like websites/vendors/stores, product names, numbers, SKUs, etc., just procure that material. If substitutions are necessary, again, be transparent, be honest and communicate, but do not take it upon yourself to make decisions about my home's design on your own while saving yourself money that my insurance company is paying you.
Lastly, to the BHP management team: If a customer is reaching out to you (Haley Grande) asking for a call, or at a minimum, an email, pick up the phone, take a minute to respond to that email. That's just customer service 101. It would have been nice to have heard from you on any one of the multiple messages I sent you.
Bottom line, I would use BHP again for smaller jobs. I hope that I never have to go through another major disaster like this one. If I did, I would use BHP for the dry out. For major reconstruction though, there is zero possibility of ever using BHP again.

Allen S.

11/21/2022

Update. Historically BH was one of my two favorite plumbers. Don't know what happened.
The described leak is visible because the damaged wall is
now gone.
The fourth plumber (4th trip) just left the property. And the leak is still there. I called the tech. No answer. I called the office and asked for the plumber to return.
Hope the fifth repair is the last. BTW the plumber parked in a reserved parking space instead of a guest space. The reserved space owner called the tow truck. The tow truck driver called the BH phone number. The plumber got to the truck in time to prevent towing.
For the fifth repair, the plumber put glue on the leak and said to not use the plumbing for 2 hours.
The next day, today, the leak is still there. I called Bill Howe and asked to speak to a manager. The person taking the call said that the manager would call right back.
It is now 3 hours later. No call back from Bill Howe.
Bathroom is still leaking after 18 days of repairs.
The repair people seem to be motivated to do the job as fast as possible and move on to the next job, meaning put in a new part, send an invoice, if it leaks, put glue on it, send an invoice, if it still leaks, put in a different new part, send an invoice, and on and on. It appears all of the drain parts are now changed. What is left is more glue or the bathtub. Still no call from Bill Howe.

Rosemary M.

3/21/2016

I own a condo. on the third floor at Monarch. Bill Howe was contracted by the HOA to snake the drains on all second and first floor units as part of routine maintenance. My tenant noticed that all of her drains were clogged. The HOA told me I would have to take the issue up with Bill Howe. My tenant called to make an appointment but was told the owner had to call. I was told Bill Howe would contact me. That was several days ago. I called them this morning and was told that the manager needs to talk with the technician to see what he did. I said I need an answer asap since my tenant is unable to use her condo. I have not received a call. It has been several days and no call back. I have used Bill Howe in the past and have always been satisfied, but this is very frustrating. Better to fix the problem and be done with it than to ignore a repeat customer. That is what integrity and honesty in business is all about.

Bobbi S.

03/08/2020 12:00:00 SA

We had an emergency pack out for a small water leak that probably had been happening for months.. Bill Howe came in and literally took care of everything! We were out of our condo for 9 weeks and came back to an amazing space! Jaime our project manager gave us numerous suggestions for upgrading our place and everything he suggested came to fruition! This company is amazing! Not only did they do literally an overall of our place they made us feel special! Like this was their only job but of course it wasn't! I recommend this company 100% !

Fin P.

02/09/2017 12:00:00 SA

Excellent, friendly, prompt and professional service!. Had a problem with suspected water leak from line behind water meter. The technician, Hadi, assessed the situation and provided a clear explanation on the options for dealing with the problem, which I am now considering. I can definitely recommend Howe Plumbing and will certainly use their services, hopefully with Hadi) if I have future plumbing problems.

Jeff C.

3/30/2017

We had a nagging gas odor that wasn't found immediately, and resulted in SDG+E locking off our meter after discovering the leak finally on my side of the meter. Bill Howe sent Rick out, and he decided immediately on a plan and put it in to action. He returned the next day with Louis, and they hammered out a gas line replacement in short order. These two technicians worked very well together, and got a lot done. I particularly enjoyed listening to their laughter as the work progressed. I have always thought a happy crew is an efficient crew. I recommend this company and these two men highly.

Don H.

12/06/2011 12:00:00 SA

Proceed with CAUTION. Had a foundation water leak on a Sat. - Howe came over and pin-pointed the leak area charging overtime (which I knew about). But he charge at normal rate was twice what I found elsewhere. Should have shopped around. Then they sent over flood control who said plumbers couldn't fix till the mold was contained....I was having a hard time containing my temper. The mold was practically non-existent and not even in the room the plumber was going to be working. So I cut Bill Howe loose and went elsewhere for 50% less what their bid was....these guys have to pay for overhead costs and advertizing some how.

David B.

8/15/2023

I recently hired Bill Howe to install a new A/C. They did an outstanding job with the installation. There was some confusion about the membership offered during the sales process, but that has been rectified. They offered me a membership agreement, which they viewed as an extended service agreement. The two documents/services differ, and their sales and customer service reps should understand the differences. Consider requiring documentation on their sales offering before purchasing their services.

Steven C.

5/17/2016

Our plumber, Michael Plata, went above-and-beyond to help us out of a very bad situation. Throughout the course of about a week, Michael was very responsive via text and made several visits, including one night when I called him after-hours with a off-hand concern and he responded by showing up at my door shortly after... he was in plain clothes and on his way to a movie! I told him to go and enjoy his time off, but he insisted on taking a quick look at the issue I was having. Overall, Michael seemed genuinely and sincerely interested in solving my problem and helping me out. I have his information saved in my phone and will definitely contact him the next time we need a plumber.

Also, there was a day where one of our pipes required a quick repair job, so another technician, Steven Winset, was called out to help. He was quick and friendly and solved the problem in less than 30 minutes. Overall, a very positive experience.

Paul C.

07/01/2023 12:00:00 SA

On a holiday weekend, we were not expecting the need of a plumber! Hector called ahead and arrived quickly. Professional, courteous, and friendly first impression for sure. After a brief discussion on the issue ( stubborn master bathroom sink ), which I attempted to clear but failed, he got to work. Before we knew it, he was done and cleaning up. No games or trying to up sell additional costs or services. Great technician, representing a great company. Bill and Tina have a good one. Totally satisfied.

Angela G.

6/13/2010

I highly recomend Bill Howe Plumbing. They were fast and efficient. Ken was courteous and got the job done in a timely fashion. He worked diligently to make sure my shower was fixed properly. I had called several plumbing companies before deciding on Bill Howe. This company called me back immediately and had many open time slots to fit me in right away. Their prices were reasonable and explained prior to starting the job. All in all, Bill Howe is a reliable company with excellent customer service.

Susan K.

12/08/2017 12:00:00 SA

Nothing worse than waking up on a cold morning and finding out that there's no hot water! I called Bill Howe plumbing and they promptly scheduled me for a visit. Our plumber, Mike H, was fantastic. He called ahead of time so we knew when he was going to show up. He identified the problem and repaired it all in the same visit. While there, I picked his brain on a few other weird plumbing things, which he gladly took a look at and gave his professional advice. Mike is knowledgeable, courteous, and a true professional. He explained the problem and the solution thoroughly so I understood the options. He even gave me rough estimates for the other items that we had questions about. We have a few other plumbing improvements that we want to address in the future, and we will surely request him when we call Bill Howe. Thanks Mike, and thanks Bill Howe!

Frank Q.

04/01/2015 12:00:00 SA

The people at Bill Howe are very professional. I needed a quote to have centralized heat and a/c. Their representative ERIC JOHNSON was punctual and very knowledgeable. He explained how the systems work and answered all my questions. I liked the fact that he did not try to push items I didn't need. Although I chose to go with a different company (only because of the standard equipment used) I was completely pleased with the level of professionalism. Thanks for your time Bill Howe and Eric Johnson.

Danny E.

5/19/2010

Was a good experience overall. Even though they had to come back again to fix the problem. The service guy was very knowledgeable and friendly. If it wasnt for the fact that they had to come back an hour later they would have gotten a four or five star review from me.

Jeffrey N.

12/01/2020 12:00:00 SA

Ignacio arrived early, and calmly determined our plumbing issue amidst the post Thanksgiving chaos. His confidence was comforting, his work methodical, and his calm demeanor reassuring. It wasn't long before everything was resolved. Thank you for taking such good care of our family. Happy Holidays!

Amy A.

10/15/2016

Our ac wasn't working about a year ago. We called Bill Howe and 400 and some change later, our ac was working again. Yay! Until a couple of months later it broke again. We weren't too eager to get it fixed again because the guy who came to fix it the first time told us that if he had to fix it again, it was likely the compressor (which is kinda pricey). Soo, fast forward to today- we were expecting another lengthy and expensive visit but had decided on another company. Well, as it turns out, the guy who came to fix our ac the last time used the wrong size wires and that's why it stopped working the second time. It took this other company 15 minutes and it cost a fraction what Bill Howe charged us.

Because they know Howe (how to charge too much for a shotty repair)!

Aron D.

01/06/2013 12:00:00 SA

My wife dealt with Bruce to do the estimate for our property and she stated that he was honest and prompt with estimate for our A/C install. We had Bill Howe install a dual zone Fujitsu unit for our house and they came in with the best estimate. We waited for the day to have them install the unit and Miguel arrived promptly and he was very professional. He installed the unit and showed us how to operate and clean it. The only issue would be they charge $135 an hour to give me an estimate to confirm that I need to change out the old wall heaters that I have in my property. Other than that I don't have issue with it and could recommend the company and their employees (Bruce and Miguel) to others. Thanks again and the unit is running so quiet and smooth.

Lance W.

10/31/2017

We hired these guys at $165/hr to do a few minor repairs around the house. 3 hours later and and $500 they retrieved part numbers from their time taking apart my plumbing which I paid for. They acquired the part numbers on my time and money and now refuse to provide those part numbers to me or even better customer service, though they refused, to order the part for me with my verifying I would use them at double the next plumbers price to install them. So basically, they stole my money then used the information to extort me for yet even a more outrageous bill.

Never use these guys. The deeper in you get the more it will cost you.

Lisa W.

11/09/2018 12:00:00 SA

Dealing with plumbing issues is not my idea of fun. In fact if you have fun doing it, I'd like to meet you. But wash your hands first!

Love the online schedule option. They then called to confirm a next day appointment.

Luis, plumber, called 40 minutes before 1100 and stated he was 20 minutes away! So, he arrived EARLIER than the 1100-1400 appointment period. Awesome.

Finally, his diagnosis was that there isn't anything wrong! And he charged me nothing. I expected to pay *something* for a house call.

Now that's a total service package!

Thank you Bill, Luis and the Howe team.

Tammy K.

8/15/2016

We had an emergency at 11PM; sewage was backing up into our bathroom. We called Bill Howe and Louis Zimmerman called us back right away. After discussing rates and services we asked Louis to fix our problem. He arrived promptly and explained in great detail his approach to diagnosing and fixing the problem. A couple hours later Louis fixed our problem. All along the way he kept us appraised and consulted us whenever he needed to take the next step. We found Louis to be a true professional. He worked quickly and efficiently. Louis patiently explained his findings and answered all our questions. We would not hesitate to use Bill Howe Plumbing again.

Lori N.

4/19/2011

We have use this company a few times--some technicians better that others, but the last time, the technician came out and used a different clean out on the kitchen sink that no one had used in the past. We now have a leak in that pipe and they refuse to acknowledge that they did it or to even fix it. Will never use again.

Mari W.

4/19/2021

We had a kitchen sink garbage disposal/clogged drain issue and made a late night appointment with Bill Howe. Ignacio Perez showed up the next morning. He was on time, friendly, professional, and extremely helpful. We ended up not needing further assistance, but we will definitely keep him and Bill Howe in mind for future reference.

Rosary B.

11/03/2019 12:00:00 SA

We called to get estimate on a new AC unit to be installed. I was scheduled for Nov. 2nd with a window of 12-3p. We contacted customer service to confirm ETA of my appointment minutes later we received a call back stating weekend appointments are for emergency calls only also we were going to be charged $150 to come out when we were informed free estimates. Lack of customer service knowledge. We cancelled! Bad bad bad! I will definitely pass this along and not recommend!!

Mark D.

11/26/2019

We had a leaking shower valve. One technician came out and quoted a $605 repair as being necessary. We were shocked and turned him away. I spoke with Alex at Bill Howe. He sent out Isaiah Maher to fix our situation. Isaiah came out promptly the next morning and quickly resolved the problem. He was professional, timely, personable and respectful.

Jen W.

04/06/2015 12:00:00 SA

Had a problem with a running toilet. As always prompt service at a reasonable rate from Bill Howe Plumbing and their technician DJ. Have used them for over 20 years. They are the best!

Julia H.

10/15/2015

Excellent professional service. Ron gave us options to repair our kitchen sink faucet with a new unit because the parts for our faucet weren't available. When he went to purchase a newer unit, he found out parts were available at the warehouse to repair our original faucet. This saved us time and money! Also allowed us to keep our retro faucet. Will ask for the same technician for any future plumbing work we may need. Shout out to Ron!!

Leese Y.

04/08/2021 12:00:00 SA

Talked to someone over the phone about a quote for some work I wanted done. The employee was extremely sexist and condescending, telling me that my husband or boyfriend wouldn't be able to do the maintenance involved with the work.

1. Why do you assume I (as a woman) wouldn't be attempting the maintenance myself?

2. Why do you assume I'm in a relationship at all?

Safe to say, I will not be using Bill Howe for this reason.

Chris L.

2/27/2023

For starters, I'm a pretty patient guy and it takes a lot for me to leave a terrible review.

Situation - I had a large tree on my property that caused a root to grow into my neighbors main water line. I immediately called Bill Howe and after explaining the situation, asked if they could fix it before end of week (it was Wednesday). They said yes, as long as I approve the estimate the technician can get to work - that's the only reason I went with them, given the gravity of the situation (neighbor was without water until repair was done, and I was also in escrow on selling my home, and the buyer was trying to schedule home inspection) so there was a strong sense of urgency that I communicated to Bill Howe.

Earliest they had was Friday morning from 9-12 so I took it. In the meantime, I scheduled a tree removal service to take tree out which cost me $2500 but now both mine and neighbor's main lines were exposed. Needed Bill Howe to repair neighbors and bury lines under ground (to code). Important to note the lines were no more than 6 foot long exposed.

Technician didn't show until 2pm on Friday, well after the window. At this point he said he didn't have time to do work, and he would have to come back the following week if I approved estimates. I explained I'd need the estimate before end of day to review. I also called Bill Howe and explained the situation again, to ensure they quickly sent over estimates and could guarantee work beginning of the week.

Never received estimate over the weekend. Called Bill Howe first thing Monday morning and they said they'd reach out to technician and get back to me. By 1pm I never received a call back, or an estimate so I called back and the lady put me on hold to call technician. He is driving right now but said he would pull over and send it to you immediately. Great! But hadn't received. Now it's end of day Monday, neighbor had been without water for nearly 11 days, my buyer had an inspection scheduled but could not complete because the water was shut off, and the pipes weren't repaired, and I still have not received even an estimate after countless calls to the company.

At this point I called someone another company and before the end of the day had gone to my property and provided an estimate and guaranteed work the next day.

Of course I explained this via text to Bill Howe and they had an estimate over to me shortly after (imagine that)... But the estimate came in at $3600 just to trench one main water line (neighbor was paying for her own water line to be repaired and trenched so that wasn't included). In the estimate the technician noted roots were in the ground from the tree I had removed, but I confirmed with the tree removal company that they had dug everything out (I stopped by when they were working and they had multiple men and heavy equipment and they clearly removed everything). I had another small job for them to repair a minor leak in my crawl space under the home, but that also came in at $1800 (no trenching, just replacing exposed pipe). So after all of this, they want me to pay them $5000 for these two small/minor jobs? Out of their minds. And was the technician lying about the roots just to inflate the estimate? Seems like it.

Given Bill Howe's lack of urgency and action on the very sensitive matters (a house without water and a pending sale which could fall through at any moment due to delays), and the over-inflated estimates, I will not be doing any more business with this company.

Dave S.

4/24/2022

We had Andersen come out first. They tried to rip off my 94 and 87 year old parents. Said they needed new heater as this one had orange/yellow flame and was emitting carbon monoxide. The tech claimed he had 42 years experience with all kinds of heaters, yet wouldn't even give us a ballpark estimate. Instead they sent an estimator who was actually a sales closer. We called BILL HOWE. He showed me that the flame was blue and the carbon monoxide detector showed 0. He said we needed new ducting, which I already knew. BILL HOWE completed the work as promised with zero problems and a fair price. The techs were very professional and friendly. Go with BILL HOWE. I have nothing but good things to say about them. Avoid Andersen at all costs.

Stephanie N.

5/26/2016

We have been a loyal Bill Howe customer for quite some time now, so when choosing a company to install Air Conditioning in our home, it wasn't really a choice at all. The entire process was very easy and every technician along the way was professional, made sure we knew what to expect and took the time to answer any question we had. Angel Rodriguez and Christian (didn't get his last name) did the install and they were fantastic. They went out of their way to make sure my entire house stayed clean and made the whole thing look easy ( although I know they worked VERY hard). . I kept anticipating they were going to tell me that they had run into a problem, but thankfully that never happened. They had the entire system up and running in 2 days, the same timeline we were given in our estimate. Thank you Bill Howe for treating us so well.

Bob K.

4/14/2016

Steven and Daniel helped fix our 80 year old gas pipe that was leaking. Great service. They were very professional and they worked hard for 3 days to get everything up to code and installed correctly and efficiently. Great work guys.

Kristy B.

6/14/2023

Bill Howe Plumbing should be the bench mark for all companies when it comes to excellent customer service and professional plumbing services.
The young woman who answered my call was friendly and after a few quick questions booked my appointment. I received a text message with my technician's name and photo, as well as, a phone call prior to his arrival. Isaiah is probably the most efficient, personable, dedicated technician I have ever had the pleasure to meet. He explained step by step what was needed in the repair and even went so far as to leave to purchase the required part and returned to complete the work.
I truly believe someone else would have said they couldn't fix it, left me to find the part and then had to schedule a subsequent repair call.
Isaiah is a true professional and an incredible asset to Bill Howe Plumbing. I won't hesitate to ask for him the next time we require plumbing repairs.

Debbie S.

06/07/2016 12:00:00 SA

BIll Howe has always provided top notch service and attention to my plumbing needs. They are honest and most importantly there to fix something - not trying up sell you on yearly service contracts that supposedly give you future discounts but on jacked up pricing - been there done that and my business will stay here. I always request Jason who is the BEST and one of the main reasons for using Bill Howe. Ask for Jason ! He is my go to man!

Philip B.

6/20/2017

Update: I took three stars away and stopped using them when I found out they charge property managers more than residential customers.

I've been using Bill Howe for my home and rental properties for almost 10 years, and I have always been happy with their service. Tris Coffin replaced a shower mixing valve for me yesterday. He was very professional, friendly, and did a great job!

P R.

4/21/2017

Dana at Bill Howe was amazing. He let me know exactly what he thought the problem was and fixed it in a timely manner. Dana was professional and kind. Thanks Bill Howe!

David S.

11/27/2020

We unfortunately had to have our heater replaced and was out of hot water for 3 days due to a very inept worker from another company giving us the run around and not able to fix the situation.

We felt very frustrated and marginalized over the service we received from that company.

We got recommended to try Bill Howe. l.

Our technicians name was Travis Raynor and I must say he put us at ease with his knowledge, his professionalism and his reassuring attitude. Being a military veteran that has traveled all over the world, Travis was head and shoulders above the many techs I have had work done for me.

He was very genuine and I felt like he was a friend.

Our heater was installed and he educated us on very helpful things about the operations and maintenance of heaters.

I would give this company a 100 if I could.

luann e.

06/06/2017 12:00:00 SA

I have SO MANY POSITIVE THINGS TO SAY!! I'm not one to write feedbacks But THIS TIME I Absolutely Had Too!! I had The Best Experience with Daniel H. I had just purchased a condo, and couple days in, a small but Definite STREAM of water began POURING from my CEILING Switch?! I had NO idea who to call (Normally it would be my Land Lady!) SOO I went to Yelp, and Bill Howe had the Best Consistent Reviews AND NOW I KNOW WHY!!
Normally I feel uncomfortable when Strangers enter my home to work on stuff but Daniele was So Nice, Professional AND SO INCREDIBLY INFORMATIVE!! I felt Completely Comfortable, I even Sat there and observed and asked questions, and He didn't seem to Mind One Bit!! The Opposite, He Explained SO Much. Another thing, there was ZERO PRESSURE. It was Obvious I was Clueless about Everything,
I asked if things needed to be done that weren't 100% necessary at that time, and He explained exactly that!! THAT right there, Speaks VOLUMES!!!! I was in a venerable position, It was clear I knew Nothing!:) I had purchased a condo with problems that weren't disclosed to me, But This Visit Renewed my faith in People:)) When You're in a scary or venerable position, it makes Kind people/gestures stand out that much more. He earned my Trust and Since He's a representative of your Company, then I trust Your A Good Honest Reputable Business.
And That's NOT a Reputation easily Come by- where you can TRUST the person coming into your home to be Incredibly Competent, and to give Honest Advice. He Even Drew Me a PICTURE so I could Fully Understand what was going on!!! And when I offered, he wouldn't even accept a Tip!! He said he was just doing his Job!! I appreciated Everything he did, I honestly just can't say enough.
I'm a nurse, So I know the value of Good Customer Service. I've Actually Told EVERYONE at work the next day about My Experience!!

Janice K.

03/07/2012 12:00:00 SA

Shawn came out to my home to investigate the drains from our backyard landscaping. He was VERY professional and helpful. Most importantly, he was totally honest about the situation and did not try to sell me more work than I needed, in contrast to another plumber I had out the previous week. Honesty and integrity are sometimes hard to come by in these types of businesses, but he exemplified all that we as consumers should expect from ethical, above-board businesses. Howe made a great hire with him and I sure hope they keep him as a happy, satisfied employee for a long time to come. I will request him again.

Patrick M.

12/08/2015 12:00:00 SA

Excellent service....honest appraisal ....reasonable price.......very neat appearance....very good work.

adrian T.

3/30/2021

Quick response and a fair estimate. Came out at the beginning of the appointment window and did a great job.

Cindy Z.

02/02/2010 12:00:00 SA

I was very disappointed in my dealing with this company. I called them for a slab leak. Water was pouring into my garage below at a very fast rate. They came to evaluate and had to turn off the main water line. We found the actual location with a microphone. They gave me a rediculous ballpark figure of more than $7k - $10k estimate to start the job and that would NOT include putting the floor back together, just ripping it out and leaving me to hire another contractor. I said that it was a lot of money so I would need to talk with my dear husband. They said that they were available to start tomorrow maybe.
Well, they never followed up. They left us high and dry, literally, without water and never did follow up.
I had to call someone else that did it for about $3k but that included fixing the floor.
I will never call them again.

Shawn R.

10/27/2017

I'd give them a zero if i could. Our condenser unit was leaking on our second floor and they sent their tech Ernie out. Unfortunately all this happened while i was out of the county, so my wife was handling the situation. Got home to look at the bill and saw that Ernie had found a duct that had become disconnected from the air supply hose, which he fixed with a zip tie....that only cost me $300. He then found that the auxiliary drain supply line was clogged....another $250 and that it had also become unconnected....another $325. When I went up to check his work, the line he connected was still not connected. Bill Howe sent two more techs back to correct the situation. they said they would need a whole day to fix the situation. Never heard back from them to reschedule and i had them refund the $900 back to my wife's credit card.....Bill Does Not Know Howe should be their slogan....

p.s. Love they responded below, where were they when I really needed them to fix my problem. Refunding my money is not the solutions....unacceptable....

Patti L.

9/16/2023

We have used Bill Howe Plumbing in the past and received good service from them - so when we had a clog in the pipes from our kitchen and garage we called them again! After doing a camera scan it was determined that we had a broken pipe - three feet into our living room - under the cement slab.
To say this created a massive anxiety attack - would have been an understatement!!
Within days they sent out our technician Rico Rivera 945.
Rico was awesome!
(As was his assistant Dil)
Rico was always punctual - and always let me know by text - or a call when he would be arriving.
Rico was very knowledgeable. He was very patient when answering all of my many many questions - and dealing with my increasing hysteria....!
(I was washing dishes in the bathtub!!)
Rico kept me informed of each step of the process and I felt like he and his assistant Dil were very respectful of our property and time - and they tried to cause us as little inconvenience as possible while they worked on our pipes.
There were times they went above and beyond - like bringing in Amazon packages that were delivered to our house!
I also appreciated how they made sure things were left nice and neat when they left for the day.
Our job was completed in the time window we were given - and they did a beautiful and meticulous job!
Rico and his assistant Dil were both awesome workers - and we couldn't be more grateful!!!
Plumbing is one of those things you take for granted - until you don't have it!
I am so happy to be able to do dishes in the kitchen sink again!!!

Leslye D.

7/21/2017

I am not happy with their service. I called them to fix a toilet back in March; the installer that came was not very professional and dirty uniforms that left my house smelly. He spent 1/2 hour and change a part that costs at the hardware store $12.00 and proceed to charge me $160.00. Outrageous!!!
Now the toilet is not working again and the worst part is that we do not even use that bathroom because that is in our guest bedroom. I am very unhappy with their service and they only deserve two stars perhaps one.

Diane E.

1/31/2011

We had Rick Diamond of Bill Howe Plumbing out to our home today. He did a very thorough job, taking the time to explain everything, and gave us estimates on both options that were available. He was kind enough to take the time to phone my husband and go over the details with him after explaining everything to me. He did an excellent job, and we are very pleased with his professionalism and courtesy on the job. And-a very nice touch-he put little socks on over his work boots when I invited him into the house so that I could sign papers and make payment! This is the second time we have had Bill Howe to our home this month (we have a very old house!) and we will be calling them again, should we require any further plumbing assistance. Thank you!

Leila R.

11/11/2019 12:00:00 SA

Not a reliable company, and overpriced. They don't deliver what they charge. Do not recommend it.

Diana G.

03/02/2019 12:00:00 SA

We had an unexpected plumbing issue, of course on a Friday evening. We opted to wait till the Saturday to have it fixed. Bill Howe were onsite within the window we were given. The plumber who came out, Sadi, was friendly, helpful and optimistic he could fix our issue on the same day. He did and was done within an hour. We did pay extra because it was the weekend, but at that point we were paying for peace of mind. Sadi even gave us some friendly advice in regards to our water heater. We're so grateful Bill Howe could get our plumbing issue resolved quickly and efficiently.

Gordon H.

05/12/2017 12:00:00 SA

I called Howe plumbing a week ago to fix my Rheem house furnace.
The tech said they would mail order the part, but I talk to a different person every time I call Howe.

They seem to be a bunch of individual plumbers with no office records.

If you want your house to stay freezing for weeks without a working furnace, call Bill Howe !!

Reena R.

12/09/2013 12:00:00 SA

We have used Bill Howe Plumbing for plumbing issues as well as for a new HVAC system. We own rental properties and have found them to be very responsive and reasonably priced. The technicians are all extremely courteous, knowledgable, and and seem to care about our needs. We would highly recommend them and in fact we have many times!

Curtis S.

08/03/2021 12:00:00 SA

Came home a bit ago to find a 15 foot geyser on our roof - crazy. I had no idea how to turn off the main water, but had great experience for our plumbing needs from Bill Howe. So, I frantically called them. Although all scheduled and emergency slots were booked, the receptionist had Steven (supervisor) call me back and walk thru the process to turn the off the water - turns out it was our pool's solar heating system. And, Steven, walked me thru turning everything back on and lighting the water heaters. It is this type of above and beyond behavior that will keep us both coming back and recommending Bill Howe!!!

David A.

12/17/2015

Poor scheduling, I waited for 4 hours for the plumber to replace one angle stop - very expensive just to walk in the door was $151 very unhappy with this company - i wont use them again

Caryn W.

05/04/2017 12:00:00 SA

Just had my HVAC system replaced in my townhouse and I must have won the HVAC Install lottery with the team that I got from Bill Howe.

First where was Issas that provided me a quote on the same day I talked to a technician about possibly replacing my system. Within hours of the request he was there giving me all the information I needed to make a decision. He answered all my questions with professionalism and patience. GREAT JOB!

Then came the install a week later by Jose and Mario. They went above and beyond when the AC unit was bigger than expected (since it sits under my front window) and contacted Issas about possible alternatives. We settled on a different unit and Issas picked it up and delivered it personally.

After that Jose and Mario did and excellent job completing the task in a timely and professional manner and provided me with instruction on the new units - safety features, location of filters, how tos of my new thermostat and more.

All three gentlemen are excellent representatives of customer service, skill, knowledge and pride in the work they do. I was lucky to work with them and hope my experience with other Bill Howe employees in the future is equally as satisfying - but they will be hard to top.

Thank you - Issas Jose and Mario.

K F.

11/07/2017 12:00:00 SA

We had a clogged toilet. Javier came out and snaked the toilet. He was done in less than 20 minutes. No mess, no fuss. Very courteous and helpful. We will absolutely call them next time we need a plumber!

Lian S.

4/20/2017

I had a mysterious leak near my just-replaced water heater. Miguel from Bill Howe was very professional and clear about the cause and remedy. He also educated me about how water pressure impacts home plumbing, and suggested other necessary fixes. He was honest and accurate in his estimate for price, and I was very satisfied with his work. Besides being an excellent plumber, Miguel is also a very nice guy! I'll always call Bill Howe first for plumbing!

Steven P.

07/05/2017 12:00:00 SA

Tris Coffin with Bill Howe did a great job descaling tankless hot water heater and installing our 4 new replacement faucets. On time and very good job.

William A.

08/02/2011 12:00:00 SA

I still feel these guys are very good and very professional. But I've learned that Bill Howe often hires private plumbers in the area to represent Bill Howe. The company makes sure the plumber is excellent, and they stand behind the work. And the plumbers, of course, are not allowed to say anything about their private business.

Bill Howe is expensive. Sometimes I feel the price is justified for the quality of work and/ or significance of our plumbing needs. Other times I try to cut out the middle man and hire an individual (again, Bill Howe's private plumber can't talk about her or his other work. I can't contact a contract employee directly. I am left to find a good one myself. K?).

So far my experiences working with individuals have been great. Ironically I hope to write a review of a different plumber experience soon.

Anyway, that's why I'm following up.

Michael C.

12/08/2011 12:00:00 SA

Needed a new furnace. HVAC complicated in our house because it started as a small 900 square foot cottage and we've added a large addition and a second story. Uses two furnaces, main furnace is above the first floor, but ducts then run down under the house to heat the large additional space.
Bill Howe's bid was reasonable, we got four, their's was next to lowest. They were nearby and we'd used them before for small fixes, so we went with them.
Supervisor doing the job seemed unhappy, kept wanting to change job and required repeated discussions with his boss and original estimator. Although probably not happy, company lived up to its deal and did a good job. Job might have been underbid, it was particularly difficult because of unusual structure.
We got a high efficiency furnace with SDG&E rebate, but Bill Howe forgot to submit the paperwork. When we discovered the oversight, we contacted the company. They apologized and immediately sent us their check for the amount of the lost rebate.
Company was very professional and showed the highest integrity under challenging circumstances.

Vin S.

9/14/2023

Bill Howe does a great job by providing superior service at a competative price. The technicians are always friendly, and their goal is to fix the problem quickly and efficiently.

I have used Bill Howe over the years for jobs big and small. I highly recommend then - they have been around for decades and won't disappoint you.

Steven R.

01/12/2020 12:00:00 SA

Contacted this company at 4:53pm tonight for service for heater repair. I was told by dispatch theta technician would come out tonight and call to confirm. It's been 1 hour and I have yet to receive a call. I contacted company again and they didn't have an answer to why 1 hour has gone by and not even a call. So much for emergency service. I decided to cancel as I've already wasted time waiting for them. I am giving 1 star for customer service and reliability. As for work, didn't event get that far.

Hopefully Bill Howe plumbing will correct and provide the technician tasked with my account a refresher in customer service.

DJ F.

09/07/2017 12:00:00 SA

First off I apologize in advance for the long story, however it it pretty pivotal in my experience with Bill Howe and co. July 3rd we had a major mainline backup and the next day being 4th of July we knew we were in for it. I waited until the 5th to call another company to help us clean the blockage out. My wife left work early and met this other company at the house. The proceeded to charge us $300 to clean out what appeared to be a root invasion in our mainline, and scope the pipes. They told us they drilled a hole in the root ball. That's it, no clearing of the roots. They left them in the line!!! (Essentially forcing us into a quick decision and scarring us into using them) They also told us we had a broeken pipe and had a Max of 3 days to fix it otherwise we'd be in for $30,000 repair bill. They gave us 3 estimates ranging from $8700 to almost $18,000. Luckily I called a plumber friend of.mine and he advised me to wait until he can talk to some people. Later that day he directed me to Melissa at bill Howe. Melissa said they would send a tech out to scope the line and see what's going on. She called me later that day and told me that there was a part of pipe that was bad and we were going to need roughly 10 feet of lining and a new PVC pipe. I asked if there was any issue with the root.invasion and she said oh we cleaned that out for you at no charge. I was speechless.... I than asked what the bill for the recommended work was going to be and she quoted me $2800. She than offered to save me $700 by digging the little trench myself. So needless to say my son and I spend half a day digging a ditch. Here i was thinking i was going to have to get a small loan out to fix my plumbing... Only to find out the other company not only scammed me, took my money and not doing the job, but used scare tactics to get me to spend a lot of money. On top of being honest with me, Melissa was very friendly and always a pleasure to talk to. She was patient with all my questions as (I'm not well versed In plumbing) The tech that fixed my pipe was also very patient with all my questions as well. Thank you to Melissa and every one at bill Howe for their kindness and honesty.

Daniel O.

07/12/2021 12:00:00 SA

Christopher and Roman are working on my neighbor's sewer pipe. I explained to them that previous plumbers had worked on this same pipe and there was little of no effort to protect my brick driveway and several occasions I had cleaned up their mess. They promptly laid down 2 sheets of thick plastic and taped the ends. I really appreciated that! Thanks guys!

Javier O.

8/17/2017

I have had Bill Howe come out twice in the last six months and both times I was more than satisfied with the job that was done. Thank you to Victor and Michael for a great job.

Both technicians were extremely professional and courteous.
Both gave a phone call prior to heading over and showed up within the window.
Both gave a respectable estimate and the jobs ended up costing around the estimate.
Both corrected the issues I had. ( One drain issue and one pipe leak).
Lastly, both left the place in the same shape than when they first got there.

Next time I have a plumbing issue, I will call Bill Howe first.

Rhonda B.

11/08/2016 12:00:00 SA

After receiving an outrageous estimate and given false information about work that needed to be done on my main line, I contacted Bill Howe for a second opinion. What a difference. They were friendly, experienced, and very knowledgeable . After inspecting the main line pipes they were able to fix the problem for one tenth the other quoted price and they did not try to scare me into doing more work than was necessary. I highly recommend them to anyone who doesn't know who to trust.

Jonathan B.

03/06/2022 12:00:00 SA

We own a condo in Imperial Beach. We had a group staying for a week from the United Kingdom. Sunday morning 8 AM we get a call that the toilet has plugged. I tried for an hour to clear it and finally gave up and called Bill Howe. Michael McGlory from Bill Howe plumbing came down within an hour. He was very nice, extremely knowledgeable and had it cleared in about five minutes. I am extremely pleased with their service. I highly recommend them.

Colleen F.

8/25/2022

While Bill Howe had the quickest response time, I was underwhelmed by their service.

The rep ended up charging me $80 just to dump some water out of my overflow valve. He offered to wetvac the system for $500 (so it would have been $580 total) which I declined.

A few weeks later I worked with a different company who cleared the whole system for $250 total.

Kathy J.

6/26/2019

I recently completed a project with Bill Howe Plumbing. It involved restoration and reconstruction of my bathroom. It started with a bad odor and turned out that the flange in the toilet had been leaking for quite awhile without me knowing. It caused a lot of the floor underneath the tile and parts of the walls to be contaminated and damaged.

I called Howe after my regular plumber told me he wouldn't be able to look at it for days. Howe sent their EMS Lead Technician, Carlos Paredes out within hours. Carlos told me what he proposed would need to happen in order to get it dried out, sanitized and ready for the next step which would be reconstruction. I liked Carlos and what he proposed. I was happy to know that, if I decided to go further, that Howe would continue the project through restoration. Since I recently had a contractor run off with $1600, I didn't want to deal with trying to find random people to help me with so many different pieces of the project. I liked that everything could be completed as a package. I am so happy that I made that decision. Carlos immediately brought machinery and people to do the job. He even did much of it himself!!

Howe then sent out their reconstruction estimator, Luis Paredes, who just happens to be Carlos' brother. I liked the fact that they are brothers and I liked Luis. He and I seemed to have similar taste in how we would redo my bathroom. He heard what I said and sent me an estimate that contained all the elements that I wanted. I decided to do it all as long as I could have Luis as my project manager even though that isn't part of what he does. My request was granted by his supervisor and we got to work. Luis coordinated the project and advised me along the way with decisions that I just couldn't seem to make myself.

I really enjoyed working with these brothers and I just can't say which one I liked better!!

I LOVE my new little bathroom!! There were so many people who made it happen.

DJ Williams is one of the plumbers who had worked for me once before on my old floor furnace. I have had lots of people work on it but it was never done right until DJ came along. He even came back a year later when I had a question about it. It was a minor thing. He showed me how to deal with it and didn't charge me for his time. He also did a great job with my new bathroom plumbing. I like that he is always happy and smiling.

Jose and Vi Duran were the tile installers. They worked for days and did a beautiful job on all the tile in the shower and on the floor.

Gerardo Cervantes removed the old wallpaper. Alfred Adams is an excellent painter did a great job. The final plumbing was done by Christian (who needed to modify the sink hookup) and Mauricio. Also the original plumber was Brandon Gomez.

Unfortunately I don't have the names of everyone involved, but they were all friendly and professional. They would ask me if there was anything else that they could do for me while they were here and they did whatever I asked!!! Great company. I will definitely use them again.

Anita E.

7/14/2016

We had both our lav sinks and tubs back up on a Friday, and called a plumber (not Bill Howe). The earliest they could get there was Saturday morning. 1 hour later after he got there, we had a broken trap under the sink and none of the problems solved. I called Bill Howe and less than an hour later, Pattric shows up. The sinks are unplugged within minutes. However, the tubs are REALLY plugged. But Pattric had the equipment and the determination--2 hours of grind, grind, grind, blood, sweat and tears, and he had everything running great!! Thank you, thank you Pattric!!

Janet B.

10/08/2018 12:00:00 SA

Best plumber we have ever hired!

Before contacting Bill Howe, we had enlisted another plumbing service to clean our drain and unclog 2 sinks. They were not able to fix the problem and even suggested that we had a collapsed pipe which would cost us $$$ to repair.
We opted for a 2nd opinion and are very glad that we did! Saul Serrano came out from Bill Howe, and after thoroughly assessing the situation with our drains/pipes, proceeded to clear the drains in a remarkably short amount of time! All, while being extremely patient training his new co worker Dwayne!
Our laundry room basin drains better now than it did when we first bought our house 19 years ago!!

Bill Howe will continue to have our business!!
Many thanks!!
Mike B

Mike M.

3/26/2020

I'm giving this review 2 stars because they responded quickly when I called. The issue I had was that we had a main sewer line in our office that was an 80 year old cast iron that was corroded from the top and leaking stuff out. The good thing is that the pipe is in the basement and not underground so no digging was needed. When plumbing tech showed up and I we found the issue he said he would replace 10-12 feet of the pipe with PVC and clamp together. I asked what the charge would be and he said $1700/day and would need 2-3 days to finish and about $750 in material. Because we were in a pinch I almost agreed to do it but I thought let me call one or two other places just to see if it's a significant price difference.

I Was referred to demman plumbing Ayoub and his son Jesse, they came out within 2 hours and quoted 4 hours ($500)of work and $83 in material to do the same exact job. I was honestly really leery at first because of the huge price difference but I thought I can afford to take my chances with such a low price I mean it's a PVC pipe what could go wrong. They came out the next day made the repair and didn't charge me a penny more than $582 total. Cleaned up the place and we're done and gone.

I would expect it to be more with Bill Howe because it's a bigger operation and there are that core with that but honestly I feel like they were taking my situation and using it against me to charge way more.

Edit Z.

10/25/2016

My laundry room flooded in the evening pouring water into my living room and kitchen. I called Bill Howe and they dispatched Brandon. When he called to let me know his arrival time he was very patient despite how stressed and irritated I was. Brandon was on time, polite, and friendly. He worked quickly and quietly. He cleaned up after himself and no more water in the laundry room. He stuck to the price quote he gave me over the phone. Thank you Brandon at Bill Howe.

Nicole D.

01/08/2018 12:00:00 SA

I'm really impressed with this company. After a minor issue, Bill Howe went out of its way to make things right. It is obvious that this company cares about its customers. We had technicians install new ducts for us, and they were outstanding. They went out of their way to keep us informed about what they were doing, and to make sure we were satisfied with their work. The technicians also made sure that the house was as clean (if not cleaner) after they were done. True professionals. I am very satisfied with their work and would highly recommend this company.

Marilyn M.

07/09/2014 12:00:00 SA

We've used Bill Howe several times and they have always been prompt, professional and fixed the problem at a reasonable cost. Just today, Brian Rice came to the house, recognized the cause of the issue - made a quick fix and was very polite. I will definitely call them again if I have any other problems.

George H.

6/23/2017

I happened to walk by our water heater last weekend when I heard a strange sound followed by water flowing from the tank. How lucky I was there to close a valve and prevent any flood damage.
The original installation involved a contractor is no longer servicing residences; so I checked the Internet to find plumbers who represented the water heater's manufacturer (Bradford-White). There are several to choose from, but Bill Howe was the obvious choice since they are the favorite of many neighbors.
Their technician, Michael, hooked up a small temporary electric water heater for the weekend, so there was almost no inconvenience and minimal overtime charges. He completed the warranty exchange with a local distributor and finished the job in a friendly, competent, professional manner.
Thanks Bill Howe, glad to have you on my side!

Tyson R.

5/30/2019

I have had this company service my HVAC and help me determine what size piping was needed to accommodate additional natural gas demand for a new pool heater. Scheduling the appointments was very easy and I was pleasantly surprised how responsive they were. The technicians displayed good workmanship and I plan continuing to use them for any future HVAC or plumbing needs.

Marxsen J.

12/15/2012

Fast and friendly. I had a backed up main line. Took less than 30 minutes. $400. It was Saturday so rates were higher. Job Done! Very reliable. They're the only ones I'll call for plumbing.

Stephanie G.

5/31/2022

We had a toilet flood that caused a bunch of water damage to our down stairs bathroom. Lindel came right out and fixed the issue and replaced the toilet. He explained his findings and then all of my options in great depth. It was a long day for him, but he did a great job and kept a great attitude. I appreciate the time and dedication he had to his work.

Meta N.

07/02/2014 12:00:00 SA

I've had a few experiences with Bill Howe and have always been impressed by the service I've received from them. My first experience was when I had a main water leak under my LONG driveway that 3 other plumbers passed on because the job was too big for them to handle. Luckily, the last plumber had previous experience with Bill Howe and called them for me. They indeed had the manpower and equipment to take care of my problem, a leak in the main, 6' under my driveway. They repaired the leak, replaced 20' of the driveway's concrete. A few days later, a new leak popped up! They came out, and after Jorge talked with their office, informed me that rather than rip up my driveway further, they were just going to replace the entire main line from my meter all the way up to my house, for FREE!! They did too! The work that they did was beautiful and my water bill literally was cut in half!
My most recent experience was when I decided that I was NOT going to endure another 100 degree plus Spring Valley summer without some type of cooling in my house. Tommy from HVAC sales came by to help me out. Since my house has no attic a ductless split system was the answer. Brian and Bruce finished the installation today. They did an absolutely beautiful job!! I just had to turn the temp up in my room because I was getting too cold. It's amazingly quiet, energy efficient, and WORKS in my old house. I couldn't be happier!! {:)

Andrew J.

09/02/2017 12:00:00 SA

Don't bother calling on a weekend, they have an answering service that cannot book appointments when they are busy. You have to call back 24-48 hours later. They literally do not have the ability to make appointments.

Teri F.

9/14/2021

Danny Bravo knows plumbing for all facets of a home. He explained how the connections work in both my bathroom and kitchen. He cleared my tub. Danny was very patient. Great communication. He found my place right away even though it's difficult to find. Great person to deal with. And he provided an invoice right away. The best service. Ivory too on the phone is fantastic, as are the other ladies who help with scheduling.

Matt H.

1/26/2021

Manuel showed up and was a complete lifesaver. I was expecting to have to redo my whole shower plumbing but he was able to fix the issue while 3 other companies were unable to fix it.

My experience was great. Manuel is thorough, honest, and dedicated to providing high quality workmanship.

P.C. K.

01/11/2020 12:00:00 SA

We've used Bill Howe in the past so I called them when our water heater in our garage started leaking. Don and Abraham arrived in just a few hours after my call. They arrived on time and were professional. Don was excellent at explaining what he was doing. They took away the water heater and the old stand. They cleaned the area before they left. A positive experience and I would definitely recommend!!!

Russ S.

11/23/2021

Why am I not surprised to see so many poor reviews for Bill Howe? Probably because they have the worst service and customer service in San Diego.

They called to confirm an appointment a week ago and I called them back, left a message to confirm, only to find out today (when they were supposed to be here) that they said they never got my voicemail and now expect me to wait another week. UNACCEPTABLE!

This is not the first time we have experienced such poor customer service from this company. Quite frankly, the only reason they are still in business is because San Diego doesn't have a ton of plumbing services that don't rip you off. But any price is worth paying to avoid Bill Howe.

Their slogan should be Bill How, cuz we don't know how. HORRIBLE.

Sharon V.

10/08/2010 12:00:00 SA

Whenever we have plumbing issues, we call Bill Howe. They're trustworthy, reliable and their associates are always professional.

This time, we called them out to do repairs on my MIL sink. We had anticipated that the garbage disposal was the only thing that needed to be replaced but turns out, her faucet rubber stopper was in bad shape and we needed to also needed to swap out the faucet. It was good that he looked into that otherwise, an undetected link could've caused unwanted water damage.

Bill Howe may not be the cheapest of options out there but we've used them nearly half a dozen times and we've NEVER had a problem with them. They get the job done and they get it done right. If they're a couple bucks more than a competitor, I'd pay it in a heartbeat because of these reasons.

If you're in need of any plumbing work, I'd highly recommend Bill Howe Plumbing.

Robert C.

04/05/2023 12:00:00 SA

Another good experience with Bill Howe. This visit was to replace the water shut off valve in front of my house and to free up the shut off valve at the street meter which I couldn't turn. The technician for this repair was Doug Bock who did a very clean job of soldering the new valve in place and freed up the street valve for a very reasonable cost. Thanks to Doug. My first choice will always be Bill Howe.

Marie C.

3/25/2020

This is a review to commend BILL HOWE PLUMBING...in particular PLUMBER ISAIAH.
He changed our shower valve this morning (3-24-20) which had been dripping for months. He was polite, efficient and professional.

He worked steadily and left the work space and surrounding area neat and clean. He was eager to answer all our questions and we appreciated his advice.

My wife and I found him to be an interesting and pleasant person who took pride in his work. We will surely ask for Isaiah by name whenever we need plumbing assistance.

Thank you ISAIAH and BILL HOWE PLUMBING.
Submitted by Henry and Marie Chargualaf

Modu B.

11/25/2015

Plumber is not here yet.
So this review is about their admin department. We were told plumber was going to be here between 9:00-11:00. they just called (at 11:00 am) saying he would be here 11:30. So now its 2.30 hrs just waiting for they guy, plus the time he actually takes doing his job.

Really? you guys are not capable of scheduling APPOINTMENTS? I haven't waited 2:30 hours for a doctor, much less a plumber.

Worst part is they blame it on the customer... no, we have a 3 hour window.... but since I was told otherwise over the phone, no way to prove this....

Not that I want to argue with them, plenty of other plumbers out there.

Carlos N.

5/18/2017

Jorge came out to give me advice on a few natural gas appliances and install one. He was excellent. Knowledgeable guy, very friendly, and and he saved me some money with his advice. I'd call 'em again.

Molly D.

09/03/2019 12:00:00 SA

Bill Howe replaced our entire HVAC system. They were professional, efficient, friendly and just plain awesome. The cost was reasonable and I would use them again in a second. They will always be my first call for plumbing and heating needs. If I could give more than 5 stars, I would.

David A.

9/19/2023

Eric Gavin was very professional, knowledgeable, courteous and fast with his installation of a new water heater. Great value .

Sarah A.

3/17/2018

Bill Howe came to the rescue. We had a refrigerator water valve break on us. Called them after hours and within an hour they were there. Thank you so much for your support Brandon!

Kelly Y.

07/08/2022 12:00:00 SA

We submitted a request to get the dishwasher line replaced. Only part that was not favorable for this request was after we received the estimate, we never received a call from the front office to schedule the service. Luckily, when I called, was able to book for the next day.

Service wise, Darryl and Dilshare arrived earlier than projected (win!). They were in and out of here in under an hour! Swift and excellent service. They walked us through what was done. Above all, they were fun to chat with. Thanks for the great service and making this an easy transaction for us.

Melissa M.

10/06/2013 12:00:00 SA

I live in Chicago. I had a water heater installed in my new (old) house, and came home late that night to find that some of the new pipes were leaking onto the new water heater.

I googled to see what to do in a situation like this at 11pm, but the only websites I could find were oh no my water heater is leaking, not oh no there's water leaking onto my water heater.

A few pages into my clicking, I came across Bill Howe's page... and just as I was thinking man! Can't there be, like, some ask-a-nurse number but for plumbing, up pops the window offering just that.

So I called, spoke with a nice woman who took my information and was genuinely flummoxed when I said my zip code was 60651 (Six-oh... [long pause]... six-oh-six? I'm sorry, I need your ZIP code. What's your zip code?)

Anyhow, she said someone would call back within 20 minutes. Six minutes later, Steven called - and he talked me through what I needed to do, and reassured me that it was not necessary to push the panic button -- and he had a good belly laugh when he learned that I was calling all the way from Chicago.

But I must say: huge props to this company's employees, who could have said wait. Chicago? Nah, good luck, and goodbye. They didn't have to help me, but they did - and I think that says a lot.

I probably won't be using their plumbing services first-hand, given the unreasonably long commute that would involve, but I will certainly vouch for them :)

A V.

11/22/2021

Their scheduling department is not organized. After I explained the exact date they scheduled a different day. I was unaware. Normally I would not leave a negative review however when I called them after no service was provided there was no priority given. I was added to the bottom of the list. They never showed up or called. This is a reflection of their ability to manage. Business must be good. Im sure this review will not discourage business. Just want to inform potential customers.

Suzanne I.

4/20/2016

We contacted Bill Howe Plumbing to service our central air. They scheduled service for the next morning. Just like promised, the tech called before arriving and within the time frame expected. Our service tech, Michael Saborit, was worth the effort to Yelp about. He was professional and personable. He did his trouble shooting, informed us of the repair, completed the work and offered to tidy up a little dust. We are very satisfied with all aspects of this service call.

Tricia K.

9/26/2020

You guys are simply theeeee best!! Deshawn came out this morning to help w/clogged everything and was thee nicest dude ever.
Thank you for always bringing the best and most accommodating service.

Barbara K.

06/11/2020 12:00:00 SA

I received quotes from 7 good listings on YELP. This was BY FAR the highest. They quoted next to $10,000 and I finally went with a company that quoted me $5500. It's been several months now and all is going great ... they did a fantastic job!!

Addy D.

5/25/2012

Every experience I've had with Bill Howe Plumbing has been a 5-star rating, and I've had to use them quite a bit the last couple of months. Today, Juan showed up and as he started working on issues with two toilets in the house that seemed to be flushing poorly, deeper issues showed up. He helped identify the root of the problem and fixed those along with other potential problems he saw might soon show up (I have 12-year old toilets), so he did some preventive work as well. It may sound like I was upsold unnecessarily, but I don't believe that to be the case. I've used other plumbing companies before who came in, were cheap, took care of the symptom, and left. A month later, I was calling them again only to find out the second call could have been prevented if they were proactive and just fixed it the first time they came out.

Juan was friendly and very helpful. The service is much appreciated.

Scott S.

11/27/2012

This company quickly and professionally pulled us out of a very bad situation created by another plumbing company, and we were quite happy that we contacted them. They can get someone dispatched to you rapidly and reliably, and their staff is very professional and friendly. They may not be the cheapest outfit, but with plumbing there is a real value in reliability and having an established organization that will stand behind their work. If you want it done right, don't mess around with some of the amateurs you may stumble upon in the Yellow Pages. Trust me...you don't want to go down that road!

Jazsper S.

05/05/2019 12:00:00 SA

My Shower was out of Service for about 2 weeks due to Clogging in the Drain... A Different plumber came by and worked on it and said he Fixed it but the next day it was even Worse! I called Bill Howe and the Service Was Outstanding. Mauricio Jr was the Plumber on the Job and he was Very Courteous and Honest about the Problem and After just a Few Minutes he had already solved the Issue!!! Finally I can Use my Shower again and if I ever have any troubles in the Future I will call Bill Howe without a doubt and ask for Mauricio!! Thank you Again!!

Michael R.

01/04/2013 12:00:00 SA

Thanks for reminding me to get everything in writing before allowing any work to be done! I was told roughly $300 for 1.5 hours of work and parts. Your employee completed the job in well under an hour and still quoted me the same price even when he admitted he worked for 30 minutes less than he quoted. If an hourly rate applies then it should reflect in the final cost! I'm sure if it took two hours the bill would have gone up. In addition, nobody called me 30 minutes prior to arrival. The plumber said the office usually handles that. After I called the office the price miraculously dropped almost $70!

Jonathan D.

08/02/2018 12:00:00 SA

Bill Howe is a neighborhood plumber that has great service, the right pricing and friendly staff that want to help you live better in your home.
I have had zero issues with the service.

Amy P.

4/25/2011

We have used Bill Howe before, and they are always pleasant and accomodating, however, the true difference this time was the technician, Rick Diamond. He went out of his way to get the work done in a timely fashion, as I was a day away from a scheduled c section with my 3rd child, and he knew the importance of what needed to be done. He was friendly, pleasant and truly went out of his way to make sure that the job was completed in a reasonable amount of time, even saving me some money on labor costs. Rick was a pleasure to work with and I will definitely request him again.

Nikki H.

1/15/2023

All of our water pressure was low and we had no idea what was wrong. Doug came out, assessed the problem and fixed it! I never new our water pressure could be so strong!!!

Pete R.

03/01/2013 12:00:00 SA

I own a commercial multi unit building in San Diego. The heater went out in one of the units. I called Bill Howe Plumbing and AC for a repair estimate. They said that the units are over 20 years old (true) and the manufacturer no longer exists so they could no longer get the required parts to repair this unit. The presented me with a quote to replace the entire unit for just over $10,000.

Within one week, I called another company for a second opinion. They called me after inspecting the unit with a very different diagnosis. They said parts for this old unit are still available as the manufacturer is still around and he can have it repaired and serviced for about $700. Furthermore, they let me know that the screws securing the housing for the unit have not been touched in years. Bill Howe did not even inspect the unit! What a Cheat!
But this is not the end. The $700 or so quote from the second company turned into an invoice of only$543!!
Guess who just earned my business for good? They saved me over $9400!!

Beware of BILL HOWE Plumbing & AC. I figured as large as they are, they would be reputable and honest. Not so. Bill Howe LIES, they CHEAT, they SCAM.

I am thinking about calling the BBB on them!

Andra D.

05/10/2016 12:00:00 SA

I am so impressed with the level of competence and the level of transparency I observed, that I have to comment. I was told i had two breaks in my sewer lateral. Almost $7000 to excavate and reline. Eric came and told me they have a better technique and could do it for half. Sold. When they got there, they discovered the pipe length was shorter than expected. I would never have had any way of knowing this; but they voluntarily told me AND reduced the price accordingly by $1000. This showing of integrity is not something often seen

Kiki H.

07/01/2018 12:00:00 SA

We were shocked how many 24 hour and emergency service plumbers either never returned our call or told us they couldn't fit us in for days. When you have a clogged toilet and no hot water in a shower, you don't have days to wait! Luckily Bill Howe got someone out the very next morning without hassle. Mike was awesome! Despite the high rate for overtime we were paying (maybe because it was a weekend or it was considered emergency service, I don't know), he worked really fast and didn't milk it. He explained everything he was doing and fixed both of our problems within a few hours. He was really professional and were just so happy the issues are fixed! I definitely will call Bill Howe again because they've proven to be reliable and experienced.

Dan R.

9/26/2014

Scheduled a technician and waited 3 hours. He never showed. What a waste and worst of all they lied about calling me to tell me they were running late. I have to say I am glad I didn't actually use them given their lack of integrity.

Lori B.

9/22/2021

I had a toilet that kept mysteriously running at different times of the day. I called Bill Howe and they sent Ignacio out and he played with the insides of the toilet and we think it's all fixed!!! He's a genius!!! Very friendly and right on time. I will definitely call again if I have a problem.

Lori Burke

Jamie K.

10/19/2016

They did refund me my money for the 2nd visit. Thank you for making it right.

Matthew M.

08/07/2015 12:00:00 SA

Gilbert was a pleasure to work with. He came in, fixed my bathtub issue right away. He was able to provide me with great information and I felt comfortable having him in my home.

His colleague, Marcus, came by to look over my stove and heater. There were a few issues with the stove, and he recommended it be reviewed along with the heater. He was very professional, provided me with his number if I needed any additional help.

I had a great overall experience, they were very efficient and timely.

I would recommend them to everyone I know!

Maria M.

2/17/2020

We had someone come to give us a quote on a big plumbing project at our place. The technician arrived on time and was very pleasant. He looked at the piping through out the house and made some great suggestions. Bill howe is a big company so their prices are higher than smaller or family owned companies. If my budget wasn't as retrained I would have hired them for the work.

Larry P.

1/26/2023

The guy showed up and un stopped our sink one two three. The price was $125.00. Fast and reliable service and thats' hard to find out here

Erik W.

08/12/2023 12:00:00 SA

Can't say enough about Alvin! The system was installed 6 years ago and it has never cooled properly. Alvin had come several times though the years and replaced several parts, but it never worked right. I'm happy to say that Today I'm sitting here in the A/C and it's cold! It's only about 75 degrees outside, so we will see how it holds up next week when it's supposed to get in the 80's. Very happy that Bill Howe has continued to work this issue and hopefully it's fixed! Thanks again!

Douglas S.

11/10/2016 12:00:00 SA

Tris at bill Howe is a fantastic plumber with tankless hot water heaters. He really knows his stuff. Super friendly and fast effective work!

Carla B.

7/13/2023

I discovered yesterday that my AC wasn't working. It was the beginning of a heat wave and I was taken by surprise. I had used Bill Howe before and had such a good experience that I called right away. The next appointment was one week out. But, I took it and was told that they would wait list me if anything opened earlier. Well, got a call this morning that someone could come today between 2-5:00. I got a text at 1:56 that a tech was in the way. Job completed in a short amount of time, at a very reasonable price! Thank you Jeremy G for your GREAT service...you're an asset to the company. After 2 great experiences, Bill Howe will ALWAYS be my Go-To!

Doug E.

1/18/2016

Our bathroom shower pan was redone because it leaked. Different Bill Howe departments were well coordinated in their efforts. Having access to a restoration Department allowed all tasks to be completed by just this one company. We appreciate the careful work done by Pedro and the tiler Michael.

Brianna L.

12/28/2014

We had a pretty bad leak on Saturday and called Bill Howe. The dispatcher was very polite and had a technician get back to us right away. After about an hour, Steven showed up. We were already impressed since he had originally told us he wouldn't be able to make it until the following morning. He fixed the leak pretty quickly, even with the setback of someone accidentally turning on the water valve and flooding the bathroom...

Steven was very professional, courteous, and even tried to make the person (who flooded the room) feel better. Thanks Bill Howe and Steven!

Mac Y.

04/04/2019 12:00:00 SA

My water heater has some issues causing the pressure of hot water is extremely low. I contact several companies, but their focus are on changing and selling me the water heater except Bill Howe. Bill Howe sent me Hadi, one of their experienced technicians, who helps me clean and flush the water heater. He did not give me the pressure on switching a new water heater. Instead, he provided me some suggestions to extend my water heater life span even with 18 years old. I love the honestness from Bill Howe, and at the mean time I learn a lot and will know what I need to do once the same issue comes back again. Therefore, Hadi and Bill Howe deserves my full score.

Karina C.

11/14/2016

Giovanny did a great job! He was very nice. Our toilet ended up being fine but he was still willing to check for any additional problems.
He arrived early but waited almost an hour for me to get arrive once I got off work. I really appreciated his patience

Michael M.

06/06/2019 12:00:00 SA

Had a leak in the kitchen coming from the upstairs shower some how. They came out, tore up the kitchen, thought they had fixed it, but after restoration and reconstruction the leak was back so it was not fixed where they thought that it maybe leaking from. They came right back out, no questions asked and discovered the source of the leak after tearing up the kitchen and the stucco in the backyard! They took care of it all from top to bottom. They owned their first mistake and were so proactive in correcting it in just a few days. From top to bottom this company is 5 stars. Every employee who stepped foot in my house was competent and ultra professional. The customer service was top notch and the scheduling with a sense of urgency was prompt and basically just awesome. I highly recommend Bill Howe plumbing for all of your plumbing needs. So refreshing to see a big company have happy employees and do a superb job! Thanks Bill Howe!

ben j.

12/30/2008

Go to Bill Howe Plumbing for all your plumbing and heating needs. Friendly, fast service that cares about getting the job done for you right.

Scott J.

03/10/2023 12:00:00 SA

i called to get my drains cleaned, I have a toliet and tub that are not draining efectivily, other toliets and showers and sink are draining. They called this a main line problme and they would have to snake to the street, thus costing us more money.. The have different breakdowns for pricing depending on what they consider needing to be cleaned out. The charge was double that of other Plumbing companies for clearing of the drains in my home. Be carefull about the rates they charge for services and whcih type of service they are doing on your house. In most cases they probably will determine your main line is clogged and charge you a more expensive rate. They told me if it was just my toliet it would be the $89 and if it a main line it a $159 dollars. Main to me means entire homeis not draining.

Oakkar A.

6/22/2022

Really bad communication, their most experienced technicians will scare you to death to do more expensive job. And their asking price is overpriced, I did replace the the faucet as they recommended with OTHER company with only 2/3 of the price they asked. Ridiculous, oh, the company I chose did not scare me and tell me the options and ask the right price right away.

Amy W.

02/11/2020 12:00:00 SA

An honest company.
There was dampness near my hot water heater. They got a tech out the very next business day to take a look and quote replacing the water heater. Within minutes the tech determined my heater was not leaking, instead, the drain valve was slightly open causing the dampness. He tightened the valve until it was fully closed and that was it. He was very honest and could have tried to sell me a whole new water heater. I appreciate their honesty.

Evelyn G.

2/26/2022

A sudden leak on a Friday night. I was immediately scheduled and Jose came within an hour. He was very friendly and calm, assessed my problem efficiency and professionally. I was very gratified by his helpfulness and professionalism. No doubt I would call Bill Howe and would definitely ask if Jose could come again. He is an excellent diagnostician and very diligent.

Jennifer L.

9/20/2013

I called Bill Howe on a Sunday to deal with a sink that wouldn't drain at an apt building. The sent someone out in less than an hour. Tyler came out and diagnosed the issue as a drain pipe that had deteriorated under the cement foundation. After I moved the tenant out temporarily RJ and Tyler showed up and started jackhammering up the concrete foundation in the bedroom. This was during a heatwave and the conditions they had to work in were horrible! After pulling up the floor it was discovered that the collapsed pipe was also an issue under the kitchen so it had to be jackhammered and repaired too. RJ and Tyler did an amazing repair job. They were courteous, professional, and explained what they needed to do in terms that I could understand.

When there was an issue with billing I spoke with Victor. He handled the issue quickly and left me more than satisfied with the resolution.

I would call Bill Howe again to deal with plumbing issues.

Julia C.

8/15/2013

I love Bill Howe Plumbing! We have used them for years both at our home and rental units. Their staff is very professional and their prices are fair.

Tristan V.

04/09/2019 12:00:00 SA

These guys are amazing. It's clear from the time they arrive that they know what they are doing. After using them once you will never use another company in San Diego. They are knowledgeable and very affordable for the high level of service you are getting and they are very flexible with there hours. Permanent customer right there. Thanks Bill Howe. Oh and the plumber I've always had is Miguel, so he is highly recommended ( just try not to overwork him lol )

Judy Riley K.

09/03/2021 12:00:00 SA

I'm writing about Danny Moreno. He was a pleasure having him in our home.
He's very polite, clean and very personable. As we went along in the bathrooms
he was good at explaining everything to us. He spent a great deal of time with us. He didn't hurry. I know if we have problems in the future we'd be in good hand with Danny. Because of him we will us Bill Howe again if we need a pluming company. We feel Danny and Bill Howe are very honest

Kenneth O.

3/20/2016

These guys are true professionals. I needed a plumber to fix a toilet which had continuously been backing up. Called on a Sunday after a couple other recommendations gave me a 1 day ETA. Miguel called me back within 30 minutes and was at our house in another 30. Not only did he stay to ensure our sewage pipes were cleared long term, but he did a great job explaining root cause and remediation and also insisted he would clean up for us. Pricing is fair and up front...I would highly recommend them to anyone in need of plumbing services, not to mention my wife's work uses them all the time as well. Thanks Bill Howe!!

Terry K.

06/08/2023 12:00:00 SA

They have some very professional and talented technicians and VERY POOR project management. They say they will do things. And not come through... many times during our 6 week Restoration and Flood project. Their business model seems much more oriented to getting all they can from the insurance company than serving the customer. We will not do business with Bill Howe again and cannot recommend them. Bill Howe may know how but they don't deliver. Clearly a leadership issue.

Pens K.

2/28/2023

Circling back. I was able to order the circuit board from eBay for ~$100.00 and replaced the faulty board myself. It took about 10 minutes to do the job and it has been working flawlessly for past 3-4 years. That saved me from replacing the furnace. Apparently they don't make that exact circuit board any longer, but you can find refurbished one on eBay.

Why didn't Bill Howe do what I did to fix the furnace and instead wanted to sell me a new furnace.

Jeff G.

3/19/2016

I contacted Bill Howe Plumbing for a second opinion on repairs to my main drain from my house to the sewer. The initial company had quoted me about $9K in 2 separate repairs (this after a $3K repair of one section to clear a complete blockage). BHP came out, ran their camera, and found only one repair to be needed, and quoted me a price of $1800 to reline one section, rather than digging it up and replacing it for $4000. A free estimate. We thought about it for about a month, with no follow up calls or pressure. We then scheduled the re-lining, and it was performed on time and within the parameters promised. Today I received a USB drive in the mail from them containing all of the camera footage, before for both sections, and after for the newly lined section. I did not ask for this, but, as a hospital maintenance worker who has seen my share of drain line videos, it is most appreciated. Thank you Melissa, Eric, and Mike for your excellent service!

Joe R.

05/08/2019 12:00:00 SA

We had a great experience with Bill Howe. Our technicians name was Joel and he went above and beyond to make sure our toilet was fixed. Joel was very friendly, he put up with and happily answered all my questions as he was working. He didn't just leave when the toilet was fixed, he double checked his work and cleaned the bathroom. On his way out Joel noticed that the latch on our front gate was broken so he fixed that as well. Like I said this was an amazing experience, and the company gives you a warranty on all of their work. We will definitely use Bill Howe again and again. ASK FOR JOEL!!!

Rich V.

4/13/2014

I called at 9pm on Saturday night because my main drain line was backed up. Another company quoted me $485.00. Marcus Jackson came out snaked the line and $185.00 later I was in the clear. He was quick and honest. Thank you Bill Howe for helping me and not gouging me.

Maryjo H.

3/21/2016

Marcus did a great job....Would highly recommend him to anyone with a plumbing issue.

Ryan m.

12/05/2016 12:00:00 SA

Called Bill Howe pluming because I had a leak under my kitchen sink and they arranged for a repair person to come over. The technician showed up on time and noticed that the facet was loose and he tightened it.. All in all it took 30 seconds maybe a minute to fix.. Total cost $ 159.00!!!!!!!! Which he said was the minimum his company charged and there was nothing he could do about the price.. The technician even felt bad to charge me that amount for 30 seconds. Next time I will call a .regular plumber who will be more flexible with prices and not charge an arm and a leg. Too bad that they are more about money and not about keeping customers.

Patricia Patti P W.

11/25/2017

My husband and I are grateful to Bill Howe and Company for their professionalism and prompt service when our water heater broke on Thanksgiving Day. We called really late in the evening after we went out to eat, couldn't cook because we wouldn't be able to do dishes. They called us promptly at 8:00 am Friday and then sent a technician out in an hour. We love our new water heater and are grateful for their great workmanship. It was very expensive but neither of us know how to do this type of repair so we had to bite the bullet. Thank you Douglas my stylist and thank you Yelp for recommending Bill Howe.

Lindsay L.

7/19/2021

Bill Howe Plumbing and Restoration company came in to my unit after a flood happened from the neighbor upstairs putting bacon grease in their kitchen drain repeatedly. A wonderful plumber, Troy Fletcher, came and unclogged the drain. He was professional, personable, and efficient.
There was resulting damage from the sewer water that flooded out and so Bill Howe Restoration came in and cleaned and dried everything up and put my condo back in order.
There were a few hiccups along the way but Moises, the supervisor, came out and made things right and we finalized the final invoice.
Good customer service is very rare these days but this company did what was right by me and I appreciate it very much.

Katie B.

2/16/2015

We just moved into a new house and found some plumbing issues which we alerted our landlord to. He scheduled Bill Howe to take care of them and I am 100% satisfied with the work they did. The technician, Charles Lopez, arrived on time, was extremely helpful and professional, and fixed everything in about half an hour. I appreciate that Charles took the time to answer my questions and explain the work he was going to perform. Afterwards, he demonstrated to me that everything had been resolved. I'm really happy with my experience and wholeheartedly recommend this company.

Glen W.

10/22/2018

Our water heater failed sometime in the middle of the night, so early Friday morning the carpets were all soaked. I managed to vacuum up the water and call Bill Howe Plumbing.
They sent a tech named Tris out.
He assessed the issue, removed the old 40 gallon water heater and installed a small electric water heater temporarily, he brought an air blower with him to force air under the carpets. He was done and gone in an hour or so.
We decided to install a new tankless water heater and scheduled an installation on Tuesday.
The tech arrived on time and fully prepared with all the parts and pieces.
First he plumbed water to and from the new water heater bringing it to a level more accessible.
Next he crawled under the house and ran a new 3/4 natural gas line from the meter to the heater, about 30'.
He started at 8:00 and was finished by 4:00.
The job required cutting drywall and Tris scheduled the drywall repair with the Bill Howe Restoration crew for Monday at 12:00.
Restoration sent Alfred to repair the drywall.
Alfred arrived promptly at 12:00 quickly assessed the situation and got right to work.
He was done in 2 hours.
Both of these techs were not only knowledgeable but they were very professional and take great pride in their work, clean up their messes and are very respectful of your home.
Switching to tankless can be complicated like in our case (running new gas lines) or sometimes it can be more simple.
If you're thinking of going tankless, call Bill Howe, they really do know how.
Special thanks to Tris and Alfred for a job well done.

A S.

02/09/2012 12:00:00 SA

Forced air heater in townhome working intermittently. Technician came out and fixed connections between programmable thermostat and wiring in wall. There was no charge! A few weeks later there were problems again; tech came out again and found that the transformer in the heater itself that wasn't outputting the right voltage. He replaced it and charged a very reasonable fee.

Jennifer C.

02/04/2012 12:00:00 SA

My landlord sent these people out to fix a blockage,it took an extremely long time to diagnose the issue.VERY unfriendly people working for this company.I felt VERY uncomfortable letting them in my home,and by the way,they haven't fixed the problem yet.I am glad I am not paying the bill and I would never recommend this company,you are better off calling Allied, plumbing,way better people.

John B.

10/01/2017 12:00:00 SA

Water main line problem. Fixed in two days. Technicians knowledgeable, professional and prompt. Only problem I had was that on jobs of this type they only quote a bundled cost, not an itemized cost. No breakout of labor, parts, etc. They evidently do itemize for minor repairs. This makes zero sense to me as they throw out a big number for a large job, but detail costs for small jobs. This lacks transparency IMHO.

P.S. And the guys who can trace leaks only work Monday-Friday. WTF?

Tyler J.

5/22/2012

We had a backed-up dishwasher due to something overlooked by a contractor who installed our garbage disposal. We called Bill Howe Plumbing and the technician Daniel Reyes came out and fixed our issue quickly. He was very professional, clean and friendly. We are preparing to install a whole-home water filtration system and will definitely be calling Daniel back out for this job. A+ from us.

R L.

6/26/2017

Last year we finally decided to enter the 21st century and get a/c installed at our house. Bill Howe had the best pricing by THOUSANDS of dollars, and we got estimates from about 10 places. The a/c worked great last year but this year when we went to turn it on we had an awful smell. It was so bad we had to run it with the windows open. Initially we thought maybe we just needed to turn it on for a few hours and it would go away but it didn't.

We decided to call them for our free a/c tune-up within a year of the install and find out the problem with the smell. They told us sometimes moisture can get stuck in the system and the only way to fix it is to install a UV light for $1100. We were extremely upset because we never knew we might have to do this (I grew up with Central A/C and we didn't have one). Bill Howe did us right plus some by installing it free of charge!!!!!!!! We know we'll have to replace the bulb every 2 years for about $250 but that's nothing compared to the $1100 we thought we'd have to pay to make the system useable.

Bill Howe you have a customer for life!!!!!!!!

J. C.

11/03/2017 12:00:00 SA

Can't recommend this company enough. Andrew and Deshawn are very professional and hard working. Andrew went above and beyond with his service. He helped give us recommendations on other contractors and gave us advice on dealing with the city to get our restaurant opened. We will definitely use this company again in the future!

Barney M.

02/12/2023 12:00:00 SA

My landlord has paid these guys thousands of dollars for decades and they can't seem to get my very simple wall heater to work. It was apparently once a great company, but now I would never use them.

Jen R.

11/11/2019 12:00:00 SA

This team saved the day! Mike C. and his lining crew went above and beyond to make sure a job was done on time. I had a home sale that was hanging in the balance of the re-lining job and Mike C. and his crew didn't leave until the job was done right, even if it meant staying longer than they normally would (on a Friday night!). Thank you for caring as much as I did about the job! Rudy and his crew also did a great job on the drain line work we needed to have done - he was prompt, courteous and made sure everything was done right the first time! Thank you!

Derek C.

12/17/2019

Isaiah showed up on time, installed a water pressure regulator in a timely manner but most importantly was professional, personable and friendly.

David S.

8/29/2017

Bill Howe did an awesome job installing a ductless air conditioning system. The HVAC technicians Eddie and Carlos were punctual, professional, polite, hard working, thorough and did a great job. Even their supervisor came by to check on them and he was polite as well. Everyone from the salesman Steve and everyone in their office are polite and professional. There is a night and day difference between Bill Howe and other HVAC technicians we have dealt with. Our AC is working great thanks to Bill Howe. They really focus on the customer and provide great workmanship and a fine product. Thanks again.

Beverly K.

10/08/2020 12:00:00 SA

UPDATE: We had an issue with the repair to our a/c unit. As I stated in an earlier post, BH replaced an a/c part in June. But in Aug/Sept it stopped working again. We called BH but we were told they could not come out until a week out (that was that horribly hot week). The lady we spoke to on the phone informed us that the work which was performed in June carried no warranty! Being customers since 1998, we knew she was wrong; but we did expect them to checkout their own work sooner than over a week out.
UPDATE: BH has been more than gracious and courteous after we complained; and stated that they do guarantee their work. We had to use a different company to correct the work BH did in June, but BH came through with a mutually satisfactory monetary agreement with us. I must say that the BH company really shines when it comes to rectifying an issue and listening to an unhappy customer. They do respond in a timely manner and make every effort to make things right.

Jen H.

6/19/2020

My water heater started to leak and I called Bill Howe for an estimate since I've had great experiences with them and know they are trustworthy. Miguel came out and brought a new water heater in case the estimate was accepted which was amazing. I thought I'd have to wait another day for installation. Miguel had great communication and explained the changes needed. He moved the straps around the water heater to a position that was safer. The level of professionalism from Miguel as well as other reps from Bill Howe can't be beat. I always feel they go above and beyond. They are the first company I think of when something goes wrong.

Alan D.

1/20/2020

They always get it done. I had a leak in my ceiling and then a plumbing issue.

Excellent customer service over the phone and in person.

Theresa J.

4/28/2016

Had another plumbing problem in our renovation. Patric was amazing and came out and helped at he last minute. He fixed work that another company did and got our new bathtub in and set. He will always be my go to guy for any issues!

Katie D.

3/30/2021

Tony and Rico from Bill Howe are awesome!! We live in a high rise HOA and only had four hours of water shut off time to change out 11 angle stops- definitely a tight deadline, but they made it happen! They also helped us with installing a new garbage disposal, faucet, dishwasher, and sink hookups. Would definitely call them again for any plumbing projects. Thank you!!

Brent V.

4/26/2023

Excellent service and very fair pricing. We got plumbing estimates and plumbing work for our drains under our patio. This is a great company to do business with. Can't give them a better recommendation. Very professional, and very responsive.

Connie G.

9/14/2017

Difficult plumbing job. Leak in small crawl space under corner of house. Asked Bill Howe for a skinny plumber who could get the job done. Brandon arrived and he found the problem leak under the house that another plumber who I called would not touch. Brandon knew what to do and with no complaints. Very professional. Bill Howe is lucky to have an employee like Brandon. Highly recommend this company. Good work and fair price. They live up to their advertising.

John F.

03/12/2011 12:00:00 SA

You know how it goes... you go to replace a faucet, then you find a stuck valve, a leaking pipe, a warn out bushing, and then your main shutoff valve snaps off. Saturday 6pm of course. Well, I called Bill Howe tonight in this exact scenario, Edgar was here less than an hour later and in 50 mins had completely replaced my main shutoff assembly with a nice new 1/4 turn lever and sweat soldered everything in the right way. He checked my pressure, made some adjustments and we talked about replacing the pressure valve down the road which I can do myself. It cost me $200 with parts and overtime labor but it was well worth it and I will use them again.

Stephanie S.

10/14/2018

This was our first time using Bill Howe. We had a clog in one of the drain lines. Pattric arrived on time and was awesome! He was friendly, very knowledgeable, and efficient. He helped us understand what the problem was and gave us great tips. Pricing was very reasonable especially for a same day after hours call. We will definitely use Bill Howe in the future for all plumbing needs and request Pattric!

Michelle F.

5/23/2016

Quick response, thorough inspection, parts on hand readily available, expert professional plumber (Dana), fully equipped and prepared to resolve any issues. Also, restoration (John) equally knowledgable in his expertise, was thorough and great at explaining situation at hand and options. Genuine people who care--considering what I was going through they made me feel like family. Not just 'another customer' or 'job'. Exceeded all my expectations, won't be going any where else for services. They exceeded my expectations in all areas! Love these guys!!

Joy H.

12/03/2019 12:00:00 SA

Martin, the water filtration system specialist was AMAZING. We have a complicated Radiant Life water system that we LOVE, but the only challenge is finding a specialist to work on it when you need filters changes. Martin to the rescue! He spent time on the phone with the manufacturer double checking how to handle the issue.

What was stunning was that although he suspected the repair should be done one way and the manufacturer suggested another, he put his ego aside and tested both ways and was happy to defer to their method when it proved best.

All too often, 'experts' can be so stuck in their ways that they don't open up to input from others but Martin was patient, open and kind. He got the job done amazingly well and even called me the next day to remind me to check to see that there was no ongoing problem.

Person to person he was a pleasure to be around, light hearted and funny while totally efficient. I would HIGHLY suggest Bill Howe for any plumbing issues and - if you need help with filtration - ask for Martin. He's the best.

Matt W.

1/18/2018

I had to have my water heater replaced and after multiple estimates, I chose to go with Bill Howe. The experience was superb from beginning to end.

Louie was extremely helpful and knowledgable over the phone. He answered all my questions clearly and was able to get me set up with an installation appointment next day. Eric installed my new water heater and did a fantastic job. He was personable, answered all my questions, and left me feeling great about the decision to use Bill Howe.

These guys are great. I strongly recommend them to anyone in the market for a water heater or plumbing needs. Thanks very much for the great work.

Jill S.

5/15/2012

The company I work for had a plumbing emergency, and Bill Howe Plumbing sent someone out within 45 minutes of my call. I was very impressed by the response time!

John was the Drain Technician, and he could not have been more professional, personable, or helpful. He thoroughly explained everything, and was very efficient. The problem ended up being a backup in the sewage line outside, and he and his partner did an excellent job of cleaning up the area after fixing it. He even went so far as to gather some wood chips from another part of the parking lot to lay over the area he had worked on to help it blend back in! I also thought the price was very reasonable for the emergency service and all that they did while they were here.

5 stars for everything here. Thank you John and Bill Howe!

Peter W.

6/28/2020

I called Bill Howe to have my washer hot and cold water shutoffs replaced and the main water regulator was leaking on the home we just moved into. Bill Howe was able to schedule an appointment next day. Isaiah arrived on time and was professional, friendly and knowledgeable. He quickly provided a quote that I agreed upon and he started the work immediately. Isaiah was simply awesome and knocked out the work in under an hour and also connected all the plumbing to my washer and dryer. Thank you very much for the excellent customer service and responsiveness.

Jeff S.

3/30/2020

Both bathrooms in our home flooded with category 3 sewage. YUCK! We called Bill Howe and they came out right away. The technician they sent went by the name of John Friend. Wow, and I'll tell you he was a Friend indeed. John helped us with snaking the whole system and then ran a camera through the line. When the camera made it down to the property line close to the street he found the problem. There were tree roots growing through our pipes! John not only gave me a reasonable quote to do the job, but he actually went so far above and beyond that it made me want to get off my butt and right a review to tell the world about it.

John explained to me that the two 60' foot trees would have to come down for safety, and then we'd have to dig 6 feet down to expose the pipe and complete the repair. This was no small job.

I'm sort of a thrifty person, you could say. John advised me, and then I decided to cut down the trees the following weekend, and dug the hole too. This technician John came back at 8am as promised to complete the work. not only did he do an incredible job, but afterwards, he spent 3 hours of his own time helping me dig out the whole trunk of the tree, and then load it in my truck to dispose of it. I have never in all my life seen such customer service. This guy John Friend needs to be promoted! I will continue to call Bill Howe Plumbing whenever I am in need of a plumber. They are honest, and knowledgeable, and they truly care about their customers.
Thanks Bill Howe Plumbing!

Brandon Q.

5/20/2020

Bill Howe is great, I don't know why I even wasted my time bothering with Mauzy who wanted an arm and a leg. I had my AC unit moved to the side of my home, my technician Eduardo handled it in a timely matter and it looks great. They were able to get this done within a week of me contacting them, which is fast considering we were in a heat wave and the whole Covid 19 scare.

Keke J.

12/26/2010

Had a nasty sink clog on Christmas Eve. We tried everything to avoid calling a plumber...bleach, drano, snake...no luck. We called Pattric Nealy at Bill Howe Plumbing. He was professional, quick and friendly. Turns out it was a clog below us.....problem solved! Thanks Pattric

J J.

7/29/2016

We usually use a different local plumber but when I saw the truck at our neighbor's home, I walked over there and asked if he could fix a running toilet for us. Jesus cleared it with his office and came over in a few minutes. He inspected the toilet and installed the part very quickly and expertly. He was very friendly and I would highly recommend this company if all the employees are of the caliber of Jesus.

Jarred P.

12/08/2015 12:00:00 SA

Excellent so far! The technician just left, and I am impressed! I've dealt with plumbers in the past, and they were usually late and unprofessional at their craft. NOT THIS TIME. My technician was great. After a FREE estimate yesterday, work was scheduled today at 8:00. Sharply at 7:58, the van pulled up and out he came, ready to get to work. Very expeditious and educated me on all things going on with my system. I will definitely be using these guys again. Thanks BH!

Brett Thomas B.

9/28/2016

Water heater blew up & didn't hesitate to call Bill Howe Plumbing as they had been so helpful on previous occasions. The trouble call was handled very professionally and the technician - Tris C.(#566) - was prompt, courteous and very skilled. Tris did a terrific job! Job was done very well...new lines, valves, proper venting (previous installation done incorrectly by another firm) and everything left shipshape. Great service, we'll done!

Lori J.

6/28/2019

Piece of Mind, Excellent Service! Thank You to Chad for your his honest opinion on my heating and air systems. I'm a caregiver for my husband who used to do Everything in our home. When Chad reviewed my heater, there was nothing wrong with it and is very old. He cleaned the filter and showed me how to do this for future. He also checked a few other things that were ok. He also checked our AC and showed me a capacitor that may need to be replaced in the future. Bottom line, he didn't try to over sell anything. He was honest & friendly. I've used Bill Howe in the past for out plumbing as well and had the same great service. Thank You for the Great Service.

Oscar R.

9/18/2019

This outfit is a joke they are not professional and didn't keep my appointment stood me up, and cost is way too high home owner beware they will lie about a cost then bring it way up once they start!!!! I did not use them.....

Dale H.

10/30/2016

I called Bill Howe out to give us an estimate on replacing two bathroom faucets and a garbage disposal. We've used Bill Howe in the past and that's why I called them again. We needed new traps, angle stops, and hoses along with the disposal and faucets. The tech who came out seemed knowledgeable enough. He said he would draw up an estimate and e-mail it back. Well, three days later we received the estimate. I about fell off my chair. They wanted close to $2500 to do the job. And they didn't bother to itemize the list of parts or labor.

I'm not doubting their work because like I said, we've used them before to re route our mainline which wasn't nearly the cost of what they want this time around. I mean WTH, are the faucets made of gold?

As it turns out, there's a local handyman who lives close to me who said he would do it for way, way, way less than Bill Howe. And he's licensed and insured.

I guess I'll be using the local handyman from now on. These companies love taking advantage of seniors. Don't fall prey to them. $2500 my butt.

Joseph G.

5/24/2023

Gabe Gomez correctly diagnosed and treated our problems with a tankless hot water heater which a previous plumber failed in three visit. We were delighted that we now have reliable hot water but a loud clanging noise due to defective valve function is no longer present and does not imply the need to strap pipes in the wall. He was prompt, courteous and helped with some other minor issues and gave advice regarding other issues. Cleanup was spotless.

Dan C.

12/30/2019

Great work by a professional team of HVAC pros. Started last week with Mike the estimator/sales rep coming to our home and was genuinely honest and professional. He thoroughly explained the entire process. They were able to fit us in much earlier than expected as they had a cancellation opening today. Jeff and Andres arrived on time and did a fantastic job. Again thoroughly explained what was to be done and got it done with great professionalism and expertise. Cleaned up when finished and explained operation of our new unit...highly recommend for heater replacement! Great job!

Matthew G.

05/11/2021 12:00:00 SA

Bill Howe fixed a leak in my front yard. A pipe was busted underneath my lawn, near the water meter and leaking water onto the sidewalk.

Very stressful problem to have!

It required a lot of labor (and money) to fix it, but that was the nature of the beast. I got what I paid for as the leak was fixed, and got an upgrade to the piping to hopefully prevent this from happening again.

The two technicians who fixed this for me were both very professional and friendly. Arrived on time, finished when they said they would.

I will definitely call Bill Howe if i experience another plumbing emergency!

James K.

12/14/2018

Had a home flood this year and called Bill Howe. A team was at my house very quickly and the person who showed up let me know what needed to be done and they got to work immediately with the demolition phase. For that, I have no complaints and in fact, they were outstanding.

The negative part of this review is regarding the 'restoration' portion. Initially, they assigned someone who clearly had never done this before. There was a woman assisting him, but she was more interested in giving work to her friends; I had wood floors and wanted to replace what I had. She had me go to a store way out in El Cajon, more than 30 miles from my house, when there were plenty of flooring stores less than a third the distance from my home and they carried the same wood. And she went with her friend for my cabinets but it took her cabinet person more than a week to get me an estimate and when he showed up at the house, he complained about just getting into town and didn't bring his samples.

I contacted Bill Howe and expressed my displeasure with the people handling the restoration phase of my home and wanted someone like the person who took care of the demolition. They assigned someone else to take care of the restoration and I'll try and summarize what transpired:

- their team left two pipes disconnected and re-flooded a portion of my house requiring them to rip out recently placed dry-wall and extending the entire job by weeks; initially tried to blame me but I had photos to prove they disconnected the pipes
- while working in my kitchen, they unplugged my refrigerator and destroyed more than $200 worth of groceries and the freezer smelled of ice until a professional had to come in and do a deep cleaning
- they threw out a custom built cabinet in my garage; they rebuilt a new cabinet but it wasn't of the same quality. The cabinets I have in my garage are very solid and they used something very flimsy. When I pointed out to the person managing the whole job... he just looked at me and shrugged his shoulders
- had a granite counter top installed and when it arrived, it had a 3 inch chip on one of the edges (the Bill Howe people delivered it)
- they didn't seal the sink when they put the granite counter top in place; there was water leaking all over the place until we realized there was no sealant between the sink and the counter top (they use subcontractors)
- the upstairs was functional and they used the bathroom in the guest room. Every day they would trash out the bathroom with the waste basket full of tissue and the floor was filthy. They even broke the toilet seat.
- the pipes THEY disconnected when they had to remove the sink in the bathroom, they told me I had to pay for a special sealant when the pipes were connected?!? A guy from Bill Howe came out, sprayed something blue on the pipe connection and told me I owed him $165. Then he started laughing at me saying I could have done it myself. But since they disconnected the pipe... still don't know why I had to pay for this
- cabinets installed in garage were placed in correctly and when you open the cabinet doors, they open halfway and get stuck on the ceiling
- after I had partially moved back into the house, they decided to do some work on a Sunday one weekend at 8am. Even though there is a city ordinance against work such as this on a Sunday, they argued with me when I said they could never do it again
- broke the lock on the door going from the garage to the house; pointed it out to them but again, they just shrugged their shoulders
- they lost a smoke alarm and the cover to the door chimes - had to replace them at my own expense
- they used my garage as a work space and were supposed to clean it after the job was complete but they never did and it was full of sawdust and other debris I had to have someone come and clean it
- the first weekend they worked, I wanted to help and bought them pizza and soda. Came to the house later that day and there were empty pizza boxes all over, half eaten pizza lying around and half empty soda cans lying about
- I had purchased new appliances for the restoration and I had everything sitting in the garage for more than 4 weeks before the install. I had given them the make/model of all the appliances along with the schematics. Yet, when it came to install everything, they realized they needed to put in a new gas line, the range hood wasn't going to fit and to date, I can't open my refrigerator/freezer doors fully without hitting something.

The list goes on, but I'm limited by space. They kept saying we don't want to finish until you are satisfied but that just isn't true. They may do good work as plumbers, but DON'T use them if your home needs extensive work. You'll regret it.

Update 12/17/18: this may not be the experience BH promises to deliver as per Stacey, but BH does not keep their promises. Maybe she did share the information with the owners but I've yet to hear from anyone but Stacey.

C G.

8/31/2017

If I could give them no stars I would. My toilet flooded this evening in my master bathroom with water everywhere. I turned off the water and called Bill Howe plumbing as it was the first company I thought of. This was at 1744. I spoke with some woman on the emergency number and she was very abrasive which should have told me everything I needed to know. She took my number and details and said a plummer would call me back. 45 minutes later with no response I called and cancelled. Their definition of an emergency is obviously not good enough and their customer service is lacking.
Update:
I appreciate you following up on this. I checked my phone records and I called your company at 1744 as stated and again at 1826. Thankfully the second company I called responded and it's now fixed.

Joe L.

01/01/2019 12:00:00 SA

When I scheduled an appointment with Bill Howe Plumbing, they showed up over 90 min late. And when I called customer service, the woman on the phone was rude. No need to call this company in the future.

Robert A.

07/02/2017 12:00:00 SA

We had a main line blockage
Bought all the toys, snakes, power snakes, ect
After over 5 hours i gave up and called Bill!!
Tech Joel Pearson showed up early, hit the roof vent and had it cleared in 10 min!!!
Guess some things need to be handled by the Pros :)
Joel is the BEST and if i ever bought a company, he would be my First Hire!!!
Thanks Again!!!!

Terry A.

07/09/2017 12:00:00 SA

My father in law got his water heater replaced on July 5th and I was there and asked for a business card since I anticipated my water heater to need replacement in a year or so. The guy Rick gave me his card and I sure am glad. My water heater started dumping water from the bottom 3days later. It was around midnight and I didn't need any hot water that late so I shut the water/gas off and waited until the morning to call. I called and they sent Don out with a new water heater in about an hour and a half. He installed my new water heater and hauled away the old one in no time. No major issues and gave me a reasonable price. Thanks for the great service.

Luanne K.

12/03/2012 12:00:00 SA

Bill Howe Plumbing has earned this negative review. We were charged outlandish prices for parts. Those prices were not divulged prior to the work being done. The kicker was when we were charged for the plumber's driving time to pick up the parts in Chula Vista. The company has tried to gain back our confidence but we are beyond repair.

Katie M.

5/29/2023

Thanks Bryan Casillas for coming out on a holiday to fix our clogged kitchen sink! He was out here very shortly after we called. He did a great job at explaining the issue, was fast to resolve it, and throughly checked to ensure it was indeed resolved!

Robert W.

09/08/2013 12:00:00 SA

Had an issue with toilet leak. I went on this company's website because they had good rating. After leaving a message on their contact us section of their website, I got a call from a representative promptly. Well, they send their guys towards the end of the day.

Those guys told me it would be $145/hr (plus overtime fee since it's already pretty late) unless I choose to sign up for their special deal...which is $500 for a complete toilet replacement with only 1 year warranty. (And the toilet would be some exclusive brand). They were not even interested in giving me a diagnosis. I said I'll think about it.

Anyhow, I was referred to another plumber by family member. He came Sunday, changed the wax seal, snaked the pipe...and I did not need to change the toilet. All this for less than $130.

So, no thanks Bill Howe. I understand they have to upsell to get the business. Learn from my experience. Always get a second opinion...it will save you big money.

Don M.

05/01/2013 12:00:00 SA

I've used Bill Howe a number of times over the last 5 or so years. They are very responsive and very reliable. They call ahead to let you know they're on their way (after giving a window when we placed our order). They aren't cheap but I feel worth the money because they do such a good job and are so reliable.

Claudia Y.

09/01/2017 12:00:00 SA

September 1, 2017, We got A/C installed by lead installer Eddie and Carlos. Both gentlemen were personable, explained the process every step of the way and were invested in working long hours into the day until completion. Thus far our experience has been plesant and professional. We recommend Bill How and its lead installers.
Mr. Mrs. M. Williams

Chris P.

02/12/2020 12:00:00 SA

I've had good experiences with Bill Howe, but was particularly impressed by Isaiah's work, personality, and knowledge sharing. Isaiah not only did the job, but shared a lot of helpful information along the way. He's exactly the kind of plumber I want to 1) let in my house and 2) do my plumbing.

Cynthia D.

10/17/2021

Bill Howe came out today, Scott Bonilla. He did a great job with a plumbing issue. His customer service was outstanding and he took the time to explain to me what occurred and how to prevent in the future.

Thank you Scott!

Leslie M.

12/02/2018 12:00:00 SA

I called early on Sunday morning and Chris was here by 10 as promised and out the door, clogged drain repairs within 30-mins. Very professional and on-time. Would definitely recommend Bill Howe for a quick Plumbing repair.

jennifer m.

04/09/2015 12:00:00 SA

I have a house built in the 30's; sewage back up problems. Justin was the ONLY technician that could get the camera through to the sewer. I had $20,000 bids from other reputable plumbing and sewer experts.
He did my job for $2500.00; with the recommendation of further work to be done in the future.
He relined my sewer pipe; and also placed new pvc pipe from the kitchen.
I have been problem free for 4 years! He is personable, honest, and an expert at what he does.
I highly recommend and would only use Justin from Bill Howe for any sewer problems.

Eric L.

3/23/2011

Work + cold = terrible time to be able to address the large backlog of reviews. But hey, I put the effort of telling a horrible story for this company, and they took a lot of effort to make things right.

After I posted the 2-star review, Bill Howe called me. No, not Bill Howe Plumbing, but Bill from Bill Howe. As in the big cheese. You can probably tell from my older reviews that if an owner takes the time to make you feel welcome and make you feel right, it's a HUGE A+. And that's exactly what they did.

Bill asked for a summary of what happened from my end. I told him and his records supported everything I said, at least I think it did. He told me that he wanted to make sure that I was happy and asked what how he could do such.

What we agreed on was he gave me the extra half hour back. Unfortunately, since the charge went through already, they cut me a check. To be honest, I wasn't expecting this. After all that had happened, I was ready to walk away and just leave it as is. They went an extra mile and made things right.

Also, their PR person msg'ed me on Yelp too. So 2 atta boys for the communication. I'd give it 3.5 stars but well... yelp is yelp.

Amy M.

12/15/2021

Jeremy was THE BEST! He was right on time, polite, organized, efficient, informative and just overall personable. He talked me through my heater problems, how he fixed it, what to look for in the future, AND fixed a previously damaged thermostat. He was respectful of my space and stepped outside to call my property manager. I'm no longer wearing 3 layers inside so PLEASE give that man a holiday bonus!!!

Steve M.

6/26/2019

Excellent service!!!

Miguel was prompt and professional!
I am going to recommend him and the Bill Howe Plumbing Co. to friends and neighbors! Bill Howe has an excellent employee which transcends into a great company!

Ryan B.

06/03/2020 12:00:00 SA

Our bathtub was draining slowly for a few weeks, Troy came out and with in 15 mins the drain was working.

Monica R.

03/08/2017 12:00:00 SA

Just had the best experience with a crappy situation. I have been a loyal Bill Howe customer for 23 years and they never have failed to provide excellent service. This visit was no different, but a very unique situation. I hope you never have to know the horror of your sewer backing up into your bathtub at 9:00 pm at night - but it does happen. I called Bill Howe and they took the information and said someone would call at 8:00 to schedule a time to come out the next day. That was great - it was not an emergency that had to be resolved right then (and I wanted to sleep). At 7:45am they called and said that they would be out between 1-4 and would call when they were coming and it could be earlier. I was so pleased when Pattric (yes that is spelled right) called around 10 to say they were on their way. When Pattric and Brian arrived they were very polite and reassured me that they would take care of me. My house is old and built oddly so the access to clean out the drains was not easily accessible, but the guys took the time to assess everything and found the problem (a very weird one). A rag had somehow gotten into my sewer and was blocking it, 35 feet out from the house! It took some creative thinking to get the item out as the traditional methods were not working. Now everything is working perfectly! They even cleaned up my stinky bathtub (much appreciated!) I appreciated how they consulted with me and showed me what was occurring every step of the way. I felt well informed and was able to make decisions that worked for me and my pocket book. As a single woman you always worry about being taken advantage of but with Bill Howe, Pattric and Brian I felt comfortable and confident having them in my home. Thank you very much!

s l.

7/26/2017

Yes, the technicians of Bill Howe Plumbing, Heating & Air do know HOWe. We selected the company after meeting with three other vendors . The final decision was boosted further by a close friend's personal recommendation of BH after their successful AC system installation just recently.
Our salesman Steve was well informed, experienced and a good listener. Since our other quotes chose different size units for our mini split systems, we were somewhat hesitant to go ahead without getting more input. Steve came back to our home a second time with the lead manager, Sean, who validated all of Steve's input and addressed some questions that came up for us after our initial meeting.

Once we chose B.H. our job was scheduled for two business days later--they showed up on that day just as promised. We received a courtesy call on day 1 to say the crew was on their way. We were very impressed with the understated respectful demeanor of both Andris and Dalton towards us and our home. In fact, they felt like houseguests grateful to be at our home, more considerate than many we've actually had here!! Even when they interacted with each other it was with mutual respect. We thought and were told it would take 1.5 to 2 days. But with some structural challenges and tight spaces to negotiate they didn't finish until late on Day 3, leaving here well past 6PM. But not before they helped move our dresser (so we could clean behind it after drilling debris had fallen back there) , and not before they picked up any the smallest remnants of their presence in our driveway. And only after all mini ac units were go ....and we finally had air con in our hot hot hot upstairs.

As a final note, over the years of home ownership, dealing with contractors, suffering real nightmares several times, we're glad this went smoothly and are comfortable recommending the company. Go For It!!! SUSI & PETER

Jennifer B.

10/01/2019 12:00:00 SA

I can't say enough about the service i received recently! I was at the end of my rope after 5pm on Friday night after I had been dealing with a fraudulent plumbing company last week and was without functioning plumbing for four days. They called me right back and had someone out at my house by 9am on Saturday morning! Brandon spent 90 minutes diagnosing the problem (this guy is smart!) and came back on Monday and got me back in service for a fair price.

Bill Howe - you were a lifesaver and have earned a lifetime customer! Can't recommend you more!!

Keith C.

10/15/2019

Had a great experience today with these guys. After having issues with my HOAs plumber, we called Howe. Just a shower drain issue, so they confirmed an appt window within an hour, and were over by the early part of that window. The guy tested the drain and then snaked it clear within 10 mins. Also comes with a 30 day warranty if it backs up again. Reasonably priced too!

Mark M.

11/21/2011

I had to call a plumber for 2 different apartment units in less than a week. Both times I called Bill Howe. Both times they came at the beginning of the 2 hour window and did great work. Fast response time and excellent service! Thanks Bill Howe!!!

R.J. K.

4/22/2021

I want to give a shout out to Leslie S.. She turned what was a bitter taste in my mouth into wanting to recommend this company again. Also would like to thank Gage S. for his expertise and explanation of the issues of my water heater problems

Spring S.

03/07/2020 12:00:00 SA

Just had service on clogged drain on a weekend. Checked around, and the weekend price at Bill Howe was very reasonable. Our technician, Brandon, was great -- very professional, answered questions thoroughly, and very quick at fixing our problem! The online chat service as well as the call back I received were also great. All-around excellent service for our first time with Bill Howe Plumbing!

Kristin M.

12/08/2019 12:00:00 SA

I highly recommend this company and technician Isaiah. As always happens the toilet started leaking on a Saturday during the rain. Bill Howe was very responsive and sent Isaiah first thing Sunday morning. He quickly figured out the issue and replaced the parts. He took pictures and explained to me in novice terms what was happening. He was very efficient, professional, knowledgeable and personable. When I called around there were a few other companies that were cheaper, but were not able to respond until the following week even though they advertised weekend hours. The office staff was also very efficient and communicated the schedule with myself and the owner of the condo. Bill Howe was worth the extra amount so get things fixed quickly and not create more damage to my floor and allow me to use the toilet quickly (I only have one bathroom).

Eric H.

09/01/2014 12:00:00 SA

Great Sunday night response by Chris O. near the end of his 24 hour shift on call. Both plumber and dispatcher were courteous and professional.

Chris stopped a bad shower leak and communicated the larger valve situation to my property manager the next morning. It took just an hour of overtime rate (not a cheap rate, but how many plumbers will cheerfully stop by Sunday night on labor day weekend?)

Cindy P.

04/09/2021 12:00:00 SA

One star is EXTREMELY GENEROUS!!!

Terrible, Horiffic Service. Do NOT use this company NO MATTER WHAT!!!! This company has caused so much unnecessary pain and anxiety in our family.

We hired them because of a leak we noticed downstairs. For an entire YEAR, yes an entire year, their lack of communication and unresponsiveness has been appalling. Finally as the project came to an end, we finally enjoyed a mere few months of having our house back to ourselves...

Imagine the shock and horror when we came downstairs and saw the same exact leak as before. More than half of the visits made are uncoordinated and a waste of time, as the work that is necessary requires multiple steps ahead of time and nobody seems to care.

They might have a licensed contractor on staff but they clearly do not have their hand on any part of this business. They designed the shower so that the sloping retained water instead of proper sloping towards the drain (amateur hour) They destroyed the slab for the threshold which was very expensive, and they did not hot mop underneath the threshold which they claim is the cause of the second leak. I have been in the construction industry for 20 years and have never seen such blatant disregard. We still have not been given a SOW or a timeline and we are over a year into this process.

FREE would be to expensive for what this company will do to try and destroy your lives, with their slow Chinese Torture approach to plumbing and communication.

Janine D.

5/22/2018

I wasn't fully believing what the Bill Howe plumber told me so I called and asked some other plumbers questions. It didn't add up what the Bill Howe plumber told me.
I then called a small plumbing company who came and fixed my issue. My issue was not what Bill Howe's plumber had told me. I will never be calling Bill Howe back again.

Sam H.

6/24/2013

I do not like giving anyone a 1 Star review. In fact, I really have to be so upset about something before I even bother with a review.

About 10 days ago, we had a bit of a flood in the garage and water was backing up in the kitchen sink and the guest bath tub. It wasn't pretty but we got it cleaned up and Bill Howe came out to take care of the pipes. I showed the guy they sent where the leak in the garage was coming from, where the clean-out tap in the garage was located, and explained the entire problem to him. He was going to go on the roof and snake the pipe but I asked why he couldn't do it from the garage tap. He said, 'Oh yeah, I could do that.' So he proceeded to snake it and said the problem was taken care of. Less then a week later, both toilets back up and overflow with sewage and the same with the guest tub and master shower. Again Bill Howe comes out and it's the same guy. He agrees to cover the call under the 30 day warranty. He finds the two taps in the front yard and proceeds to snake out the main. I'm wondering why he didn't do that during the first visit when he knew the tub had backed up in addition to the garage. He tells me the main was filled with years of sludge and that the problem was now taken care of. He leaves and when I go to take a shower, after having already cleaned the shower from the first mess, it backs up again with even more nasty sewage. At this point I'm plain pissed. How can this be?? I call Bill Howe again, the gal tells me that this time they're going to send someone else besides our first guy and several hours later, it's the same dude! I ask him to put on booties which he does, he goes into the master shower, and he comes out nearly a half hour later to tell me that the problem was hair. Hair!! How did a hair clog in the shower drain make crap come up from the main sewage line? And why did it take him nearly half an hour to figure that out? And can I just ask one more time how in the world a hair clog in a drain caused crap to flow back from the main sewage line? And if the clog was down deep in the main why didn't he nail it during his second visit when he presumably had snaked the main? I ask him if it's just coincidence that the hair clog happened at the exact same time as the other problems and he said that the backflow of sewage during the second incident could have caused much of the sewage to cling on to the hair and that would have caused a clog. OK, I could buy that, sort of. But when he talks to the landlord, he tells him that this is a new charge and that it was a hair problem and the landlord wants me to pay it. I remind him of what he told me and he then denies it, saying it was just a hair problem. I'd already been dealing with crap ALL DAY long and didn't any of this bulls__t so I gave him my credit card, paid the bill, and bid him farewell, thinking this would be the last time I'd have to see him. Well, so much for high hopes.

A few days later, the guest toilet starts gurgling, spurting, and a few other things. I hear it and go to see what's going on. A little while earlier we'd started the washing machine and dishwasher. I flushed the toilet in hopes that it was nothing and boom, it backs up, the tub fills half way up with raw sewage, and the same in both the toilet and shower in the master. This was in the morning. The kids hadn't even gotten up to use the bathroom, yet, and we were hosting a birthday party later in the afternoon. No bathrooms, no showers, no party. We pack up and go to my family's house but first a quick stop at Starbucks for coffee (and, yes, I admit it - a bathroom visit for the family!). Bill Howe sends out a new guy who says he's read the previous paperwork and won't touch anything until the landlord, who met him there, signs the paperwork saying this is a new service call and is billable. Why would they do that?? He goes and has a look and tells our landlord, 'I've been doing this a long time and I can tell it's not the same problem (what the hell??!!) and it's probably a feminine pad issue (huh??).' He says that since there aren't the usual two taps in the yard he'll have to snake out the pipes from the roof (now, I wasn't there and couldn't tell him that he's a moron and didn't read the previous reports and is full of more crap than my shower) so he goes up on the roof and proceeds to snake out the main pipe and comes up with, guess what, 'evidence' of a feminine pad!! He insists to our landlord that he's been doing this for a long time and he knows what a dirty, twisted, crud-infused, tampon looks like after it's been drilled with a snake (I know how that sounds, hush.). Our landlord pays the bill then hits us up for reimbursement. He tells me that the guy had to go on the roof to snake it out and once I show him the front yard taps, he agrees to make a phone call. Four visits to fix one problem and lots of excuses and bills.

Seriously?! You can do better than Bill Howe!

Andrew R.

12/26/2022

Our water blew, and Howe was the only plumber able to come out and replace it on the weekend. They came and did an estimate of the water damage, and they had everything demoed and repaired in a couple of months. Communication was good, the workers were efficient, and they all followed COVID protocols on request. Nice work.

Pat B.

12/18/2020

My entire 200 foot long water pipe from the water meter to my house needed replacing and Bill Howe took care of the project efficiently with wonderful customer service! It was an expensive project, but I felt well taken care of along the way. Alex in the office made sure that I had access to water through a 200' long hose while the new copper pipe was being laid which took several days. Armando and Jason in the field always called ahead to let me know they were on the way. They communicated on the job whenever I had questions. They did their best to repair the landscaping that had to be dug up for the trench and I am very pleased with the result. If you want professionals who know what they're doing, make you feel like a valued customer, and communicate well, give your business to Bill Howe.

Larry S.

12/18/2020

I would like to thank everyone at Bill Howe for such a great job and putting our house back together after a very rough time. We had a flood under our house they came out they fixed everything made it look like nothing Had ever been wrong. The house looks great Cassandra and her team including Travis the plumber jimmy the reclamation supervisor that came out as well as many others too many to list. They all did a great job putting everything back together as well did a great job. I highly recommend Bill Howe to anyone and everyone. thank you again for all the hard work and putting our home back together

Vivienne B.

6/16/2023

After a couple of times that sewage backed up into my downstairs bathroom, I realized that I needed a company to sneak a camera through the sewer line under the house and give me advice. Bill Howe was able to schedule me quickly. The technician who came to inspect the line with the camera was extremely thorough, and he patiently answered all my questions with a lot of detail, professionalism, and knowledge. Once I saw the state of the sewer line, I knew I had to get it lined. The scheduler was able to set it up for the next week and the crew just finished the four day job. Isidro and Angel were absolutely fantastic. From start to finish they handled every aspect of the lining project with care, professionalism, competence, and expertise. Because I was interested, I asked a lot of questions, and Isidro explained everything so clearly and thoroughly. Both of them were punctual, communicated with me throughout the process, and cleaned up each day perfectly. I couldn't be happier and I'm now going to have Bill Howe send the technician back to look at the pipes inside my house itself. If I decide to do an interior lining job, I will request Isidro and Angel .

Helen L.

10/28/2021

The drain for my washer slowed up again. I called other companies (see review for Baird Drains). I then called Bill Howe Plumbing. They set an appointment for the same afternoon. They called when they were 10 minutes away. They were polite and efficient. They did not try to upsell me. I have been a customer for a few years and will not call anyone else again. If they do not have a solution, the call for help and find one.

Traci I.

4/14/2016

Our water heater went out today and I immediately called Bill Howe because we had used them in the past. Tris C. was out within one hour of my call. We weren't sure if we wanted to go tankless, and he discussed both options with us. We decided on a regular water heater and he went back to the office, picked one up and it was installed by 4:30 pm. I was very impressed with Tis. He was very knowledgable and professional.

If I need plumbing services in the future, I won't call anyone else!

Pamela G.

11/10/2017 12:00:00 SA

Rip off!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Two sinks, hand tool small snake, almost $200. Yesterday very little work done 1 1/2 hour $250 plus on top of that. Very little work. Crazy! 2 plumber appointments for same job because the first guy said he does not do the extra work (snaking). Cray cray

Hann A.

10/12/2017 12:00:00 SA

Poor customer service. They like to threaten third parties with collections when they forget to take down the correct info and don't respond to the customer's message trying to reach them. Overall experience with their billing and customer service staff has been horrible.

A H.

5/17/2014

Let me start off by saying the I love Bill Howe's plumbing division. They came in and replaced my busted water heater on the same day. I was so impressed by their service that I decided to call their Air Conditioning division when my air conditioner would not work a couple of days ago. I am very disappointed by their air conditioning service and I would like to describe why.

The service rep came after hours which I really appreciated given the 100 degree weather outside and changed all our filters which was all very helpful. He then went outside to look at the unit itself and said that there was a large leak from the air conditioning coils and recommended I buy a new unit. For coming in that day and letting me know that he charged me $225. He sent me a bid for a new unit and the cost of replacing the A/C unit and coil inside was $4417.

On big item purchases like this one, I always make sure I get a second opinion and so I called another company (that came in for free on the same day BTW). They said that yes, there was a leak but after spending a lot of time analyzing the source of the leak, they found that it was coming from a small crack in one of the external metal pipes and not the inside coils. They replaced the pipe, put refrigerant in and charged the unit and sure enough the A/C is working fine. All this at a tiny tiny fraction of the quote that Bill Howe sent through.

I usually don't write reviews but wanted to make sure that Bill Howe was aware. Again, love their plumbing division but think they could improve when it comes to their A/C division.

Kyle C.

06/05/2009 12:00:00 SA

Bid their price first!

They came to my home for a minor job and said that if the problem persisted they would need to try something else......left me with a bid for the extra work for $950. Things went south again and it was time for something else but before calling them in , I decided to make a few calls first. First guy was $450....less than 1/2 of Billl Howe's bid! Second guy came in at $425.......last and final bid came back at $260.....for the same exact job!......over 3 and 1/2 times BHP's bid. Good thing I checked!

H J.

10/02/2015 12:00:00 SA

Professional! Bill Howe and Team exceeded our expectations and delivered under estimate! Prompt service, attention to detail, cleanliness, and very easy to work with. I'll continue to call Bill Howe for all my plumbing needs!

Ronni F.

10/14/2013

I called them on Saturday 10/12 due to a leak in my garage possibly in the wall or drain line from the washing machine/kitchen sink. Lady on the phone stated high rate due to a saturday call which I was ok with. Plumber came and opened my wall to expose the pipe, which was not leaking. He proceeded to tell me I need a drain guy and I would have to wait until Monday. Plumber comes in a big truck, lots of tools but yet can't snake my drain. A complete and total rip off!!! Over $200 for a hole in my wall. I will never use them again nor will I ever refer them to anyone! Absolutely terrible service. I am disgusted.

Juan A.

10/13/2016

Excellent customer service and job! Come home to a clogged toilet at midnight. I have never needed a plummer, and I couldn't decide who to trust. I searched on Yelp and found these guys: I decided to give them a try. I called their 24-hour phone number for an emergency service call. They took my information and I was called back by a technician within 5 minutes. He told me that he would be at my home in one hour. He arrived on time and went to work on my problem. It required some effort and work. Chris--the technician--was extremely helpful in explaining the process and in answering my question. I was very glad with the service I received and would recommend Bill Howe Plumbing to anyone. Thanks Bill Howe!

Thomas T.

08/10/2015 12:00:00 SA

This company has gone down the drain. It was one of the more reliable plumbing companies in San Diego, but not anymore. I scheduled a simple line cleaning and camera diagnostics. First problem started when I told the young lady the following Friday and she scheduled the appoint 3 Fridays ahead. So there I sat at home waiting during the dreaded block of time and no plumber showed up.
When I called to complain is when I found out so I scheduled for Monday 8/10 between 1 and 4 p.m.
And here I sit well past 4 p.m. Called them at 4 p.m. and the dispatcher said the tech was late. OK, called back at 4 30 p.m. and was told there was a disconnect between the tech and dispatcher but one would come out.
So now I wait for another tech to come out.
Update
Called at 5 p.m., tech on the way, coming from Lakeside. What?
So to make matters worse a tech arrived around 5:30 p.m. But guess what? This tech only does the camera diagnostics. He doesn't have a snake in his van, just the camera gear. Worthless, totally worthless!
So time to call them back up and vent about how I took a day off for this and they totally failed. The dispatcher I spewed on agreed to send a tech out on Saturday morning. I work long days and rarely get home at a normal time.
After this I will never again use Bill Howe's services ever! They can snake my line, that is about all they are probably good for.

Erwin S.

1/20/2016

We had a plumbing problem in our home. Steven Winsett was dispatched to our home. We had never worked with him but have been long time, loyal customers of Bill Howe Plumbing for residential and commercial, for years. We thought we had an insoluble problem and were concerned. Steven did an outstanding job; followed up; diagnosed and fixed the problem. He was very responsive; on time; professional and we owe him, and BHP, a great deal of gratitude. He is an outstanding representative of your company.

Larry S.

03/07/2019 12:00:00 SA

I am going to start this review with what some people think of when they hear the words Honest Plumber......... Oxymoron! Well my wife and I have used Bill Howe Plumbing for a few pipe leak repairs in our home and each time we had fabulous service as well as fair cost. So when we needed a number of valves in the condo that we own replaced Bill Howe sent out another one of their Honest Plumbers. This time they sent Ron McGyver for the estimate and repairs. Ron is one of their veteran Plumbers and has been with Bill Howe for 29 years since 1990! Ron was very professional and gave us a very reasonable and fair bid as we had 3 different Plumbing contractors give us estimates. One that was much higher and the other that was a little lower. Since we have had success with Bill Howe before we ended up going with them again.

Now to the job that Ron McGyver did. First off he estimated 4 hours to do the job and it ended up taking him only 3 and 1/2 hours so we got a nice savings there. Since he was removing 10 valves and replaceing them with new ones after shutting off the water, he needed a small cup for the small drips of water that came out of the valves. Since the condo is empty I had no cups or bowls for him, so Ron took an empty Desani plastic water bottle that I had, cut it in half, and put it under the valve for the perfect receptical. Ron also has an awesome set of tools the likes of Spicole's Dad and was kind enough to let me use some of them on some minor repairs I was doing while waiting for him to do the job. Again, Ron was very professional and good at what he did and most importantly was honest. After the repairs were done he also gave us about a $150 discount off the estimate since he didn't work 4 hours and didn't use a bunch of hoses that turned out to not be needed. How often do you get an estimate that ends up being much less for plumbing? When you have an honest plumber!

There is an old saying in life that you get what you pay for and I can happily say that Bill Howe Plumbing is worth a few extra dollars to get the job done right the first time! There is also another saying that you should never use a cheap Plumber. Oh and their costs are not outrageous and are very competitive and fair and if you get one of their many great Plumbers like Ron McGyver you are in for a job well done!

Thank you Bill Howe Plumbing! I will gladly recommend you to anyone!

Gerri A.

04/08/2011 12:00:00 SA

We've seen a lot of rain this year, but it had been dry for a week when I noticed the carpet in the garage was wet...not a good thing!

We called Bill Howe Plumbing and Rick Diamond came over to check out our leaking water heater. He doesn't just work on new construction--he enjoys the challenge of repairing existing houses. Because of his experience he was able to go over several options with us. In this economy we really appreciated that! He was able to answer all of our questions without making us feel rushed or like it was a crisis.

We were able to set a convenient time and the heater was replaced very efficiently. Having an older house, I know we'll be calling them again. They give a 10% discount for mentioning Yelp and having the work done on Wednesday and Thursday, which really helps!

Todd T.

8/25/2017

Good, reliable, and dependable service. Mike was very knowledgeable and efficient. We are happy with the results.

Ame S.

02/02/2011 12:00:00 SA

In Sept. of 2010 I had Bill Howe Plumbing install a new wall heater. They came out, did a great job, but a few days later the heater wouldn't turn on. After SIX visits by the AMAZING Daniel, we all agreed that the heater was defective. Bill Howe Plumbing replaced it with a new one. On every visit and every call each staff member I spoke to was super nice. Their EXCELLENT customer service and desire to make things right is just phenomenal. I should also mention that we got a few estimates on the project initially and they had a great price too. I can't recommend them highly enough, they have a customer for life in us! I'm calling them back next month to help with some plumbing upgrades. I want to especially thank Daniel who went out of his way many times to provide stellar service. You guys are the best!

Dee K.

04/07/2017 12:00:00 SA

We made the mistake of calling Bill howe plumbing we had an emergency and there was no hot water. They came out and installed a gas water heater costing $2350+ Luckily a few weeks later we had another maintenance worker fixing the landscaping and he had noticed The smell of gas. He took a better look and noticed that the water heater was leaking gas and was not propane, we Immediately called Bill howe plumbing they reluctantly came back out the owner was quite embarrassed but he replaced it. We are all grateful that there was not a huge fire that could have occurred, they were very unprofessional charging such a high amount knowing that it was an emergency and then using the wrong type of water heater?? What a terrible mistake we trust professionals
to know what they are doing what they did was truly unacceptable. I will not recommend them to anyone!!!! I would give them 0 stars if I could.

Brian K.

8/17/2016

I have used Bill Howe twice in the past several months. The first time was to replace a water heater and then yesterday they were out to replace the pipes to the bathtub. I was very impressed both times I have used them. The plumbers they sent out were professional, they were skilled and did a great job of showing me and telling me what was going on with the repairs.

D. W.

09/01/2017 12:00:00 SA

I have had two of the worst experiences with Bill Howe. Contact me if you'd like to see the the actual bill for the repair below. Now sit back and enjoy a glass of wine while you read my story:
So, there's my previous review where they completely missed (yet still managed to bill me for) a ceiling leak, causing the ceiling in my garage to eventually collapse all over cars and other items. Leak was easily identified and fixed by the recommended USAA plumbers after all the damage occurred.
But recently, my tenants noticed a hot water heater leak in the garage. Without knowing how I feel about BH, my tenant called them for the repair. It was the day before July 4th. (FYI, the job was only completed this last week of August, to give you an idea of how long it took). The leak wasn't bad, but it had hit the drywall, so they recommended it be removed, along with a hot water heater which alone would cost $1650. They quoted me an additional $900 to tear out the drywall platform on which the heater sat, and another $900 to build it back up. At that point I told them I would contact my insurance company Since I had to pay for the water heater out of pocket, that $1650 fee remained the same, however the repair quote for drywall damage quickly jumped to $3,640!!!. (Plus, now they wanted to ask USAA for permission to charge holiday hours, even though they previously told me it could wait until after the 4th. Thankfully I said no to that.) $3640+$1600 for a water heater that had just recently started to leak....$5,200. Seriously. Private message me if you want to see the bill. Even though the water had only damaged the drywall, they claimed they needed to bring in drying fans for two days.....which then meant a temporary water heater rental!! Then to make sure the pantry behind the wall wasn't damaged, they poked a hole in the pantry , right where the baseboard sits, about the size of a quarter. No big deal, I figured it would take me, a girl with no formal training, 5 minutes to fix the hole, so I didn't care. Turns out they charged $458 for TWO HOURS of repair work for that quarter sized hole behind the baseboard......again, go ahead and contact me and I'll show you the bill.
You may say, Hey, why do you care....USAA paid for everything. But I care because this is the type of abuse that causes folks like you and me, and all the military families who depend on USAA, to pay more for insurance, and suffer higher premiums.
If I didn't have tenants with two small children, I would have had one of my friends help me rip out the drywall and put in a water heater from sears. But since they were in a hurry to get it fixed, i went ahead and let them go with BH. Ironically, the $458 pantry hole wasn't even fixed until last week....a month and a half later.
Oh, and when they dry-walled the garage, they forgot to rebuild the stand for the water heater. So I complained, and they said they would charge me an extra $100 for one of those cheap metal stands you can buy at Walmart for $30. Um....charge me MORE, for NOT building the drywall stand??? Yes, they built it, but at a huge cost to USAA.
Anyway, you usually contact a plumber when it's an emergency and you don't have time to fart-around with reviews. So in your panic and haste, just be careful about hiring someone because they're the only ones who answer the phones. For those searching for a plumber for a non emergency, I highly recommend going elsewhere.

Gil F.

4/20/2017

Called Bill Howe to have them video the sewer lines at our small La Jolla church. Technician Rudy arrived on time and was cheerful and very helpful as the video was made. When we discovered by accident that one toilet was clogged, he went to the truck and got a large tool and had it going again as courtesy. Rudy also did a few things above and beyond what might have been expected like putting new screws in an old door hatch that he had to remove to gain access. Rudy and Bill Howe were stars today !

Mary C.

2/13/2017

Had a clogged pipe that created a flooded garage. I called on a Sunday, they came with in the hour and the problem was resolved in 2 hours!! The tech was very nice and knowledgeable! Thank you bad day averted.

Bonnie M.

11/06/2017 12:00:00 SA

Mauricio was awesome, he spent 2 days rerouting hot water lines in my house during severe heat. Very professional, I be calling Bill Howe again when I need them, hopefully not too soon though. Great customer service.

Ghee Ann L.

1/18/2017

Excellent job by Mike Mason. Patiently explain to me the process. All the work required was done professionally.

Michael K.

09/05/2013 12:00:00 SA

Raul rocks! We were having problems with the water heater and Raul came out on Saturday on a holiday weekend. After checking the old water heater, we decided to replace the old one with a newer, larger unit. Raul was here until around 7PM, but he got the new water heater working and we have better water pressure than before. Thanks Raul for a great job.

Joel B.

10/21/2016

Holy mackerel! I called at 09:30, and the repairs were complete by 10:30 for less than the quoted price. Corey was patient, and didn't mind me watching, and was awesome about explaining, step by step, what he was doing.
Some of are curious about how these things get done. Clean cut, polite, knowledgeable. It doesn't get any better than this guy.

ed g.

2/20/2011

Dear yelp

have just had the 2nd opportunity to have Plumber Pattric Healey of Bill Howe Plumging at my residence today
.
the first time a few months ago, was a clogged kitchen drain... so quickly and efficiently dispatched by this professional. With full and thorough check to assure all was cleared... and then a professional 'cleanup'' that left my kitchen undersink area much much cleaner than before Pattric arrived. All at a fee for a 10PM late nite visit that I found incredibly reasonable for his 75 minute work

the 2nd time was this evening....2/20/2011
this time a Main Line clog past my sidewalk... going under the city street... on the city drain... [probably roots] to the '''city main sewer connection;; that prevented any house sewer drainage. again Pattric Healey arrived... with just the right equipment for this much heavier job than his first visit

this time a 2 hour job... again the very personable Pattric cleared the clog in efficient fashion... at a reasonable fee for 8PM on a Sunday evening

I'm very comfortable recommending Bill Howe Plumbing with 5 stars as they are superb.... and professional

ed greene
Clairemont Home Owner on Elsinore place since 1970

Mike S.

12/09/2016 12:00:00 SA

I've used Bill Howe for a lot of years - too many to count. I've always found them to be professional, knowledgeable (well-trained) and always fix the problem. And their prices are definitely fair in my opinion. They came out today after I called in at 8 a.m. They were here at 11 and done in less than an hour.

Geoffrey C.

2/23/2021

We had an emergency last night around 6:00pm with sewer water flowing out of our clean-out pipe all over the driveway.. I called no less than 7 24/7 emergency plumbers and no one was available to come out and help us. Roto Rooter was the cheapest but had no one available until 10-12:00am. All Star charged between $495-$595. Anderson Plumbing was reasonable & considerate but their guy was stuck on a 2 job. I spoke with Coastal Plumbing but then they never called me back We thought we had an appt. with Family Plumbing but then they didn't show.
Last call was to Bill Howe Plumbing. Chris, the technician, called me right back and was at my door 40 minutes later having driven from Mission Valley to Carlsbad. He worked hard until midnight to clear the main line drain. He stopped the nasty water from coming out of the drain but then said I'll have to come back tomorrow to finish the job. He was nice, respectful and knew what he was doing.
The next day it was determined the blockage was in the main sewer line and the HOA at Rancho Carlsbad would take over the work.
I will use Bill Howe again b/c they showed a genuine Sense of Urgency for my problem and responded. I appreciate that!

Diane B.

9/18/2017

I had a problem with my toilet and my usual plumber couldn't come until tomorrow, so I called Bill Howe and they were able to send a technician out today. Dana Parks was the technician and he was great! He got the job done quickly, was very nice and very professional! I highly recommend Dana Parks for all your plumbing needs!! Thank you!

Realtor Dave D.

12/26/2013

A big advertising budget does not guarantee good service. First, it took 15 minutes for person who answered phone to see if I was a past client and enter in my new info. I booked a 3 hour window for the upcoming Friday. This was the condo of a client's so I could not wait there but rather needed to be 'in the area' for 3 hours waiting for them to call. They called 4 minutes before the expiration of the 3 hour window saying they could get there in another 45 minutes. No apology, no explanation. I couldn't do it and the owners of the condo couldn't do it later either. Boom, 3 hours wasted cuz Bill Howe doesn't know Howe to schedule his way out of a paper bag. They're dead to me.

Scott L.

11/14/2018

Hired these guys to replace some shutoff, and stem for some older faucet.... 3k later they come up with some presssure regulator bs and try to charge another 900... worst experience with a plumbing company EVER

Just an update to my review.

Never been called to investigate as comment post states, and I assure you the money I paid was real!!!

Henry J.

10/18/2019

Bottom line upfront: Bill Howe Plumbing (BHP) overcharged for actual labor and materials until I challenged.
****Beware. Beware. Beware.****
Although he had already surveyed the actual job the week before and knew exactly what he needed, the plumber forgot to bring the needed parts with him.
The plumber left the job site for an hour to retrieve the parts, but charged me an hour of labor for his oversight.
When I asked for an hourly breakdown for the labor, the Bill Howe Plumbing Operations representative, Jaime, promised to have Accounting folks credit me for 1/2 hour. (Remember, hourly rate is $169 for a plumber, so this is a significant cost).
Moreover, the common plumbing parts were marked up excessively over full retail pricing. When I challenged this and asked for a detailed breakdown of the parts and costs, I received a subsequent credit for the excessive mark up.
On a positive note: The workmanship was fine and Jaime, the Operations customer service rep, was very responsive to my concerns.
I will give Jaime a Five star for 'making it right' and the plumber a One star for padding his hours and materials (average: three overall score)
n.b. I did give BHP a chance to review and respond to my comments before posting this review. Seems only fair to let a vendor tell their side of the story before posting on YELP!

Sarah S.

06/03/2022 12:00:00 SA

Tech 984 from this company showed up today. Very professional, introduced himself with name and business card, etc without even having to ask. He came in and figured out the problem, fixed it to the best of his ability given the ongoing plumbing issues. I hope that the equity group can acknowledge and give a positive review for this technician. I look forward to seeing more professionals like this for serra Bella's plumbing issues and whatever else repairs have to be done here or at any property on behalf of the management group at my building. Technician that came today set a great example for your company! Thank you!

Ashley L.

08/10/2019 12:00:00 SA

My in-laws needed there plumbing assessed. ASI came out and wouldn't even do a proper assessment once they knew my brother and husband are in the trades and could fix a lot of it themselves. Quoted them $6k. Bill Howe sent Rigaberto out and for $500 he did a full diagnostic, using a camera and gave us the recording on a flash drive in case we needed it for the future, cleared the pipes and fixed the shower so everything is useable until we can get in there and replace the main pipe. He was here for hours and had a great attitude and went way out of his way for my family.

Craig F.

12/14/2019

I sent in some photos, emailed the company exactly what I needed and even showed them what needed to be done, easy peasy. Something I can do myself, but can't for liability reasons: this is a homeowner's assn. I need 5 shutoffs replaced, easy access from outside under the 5 units stairs. This is a job put on a tee and lined up ready. The main water shutoff is by the street and not obstructed, no bending or stooping. They kept trying to send out a team before I knew the price. No, I need an estimate, this is an homeowners' association. They hem and haw and never provide what I needed, the price. This is a HUGE red flag folks.
I have used these guys in the past but today, not a chance!

In the end, here is their final response:

My plumber will not be able to give an estimate for the remediation.

I am so sorry this is an inconvenience.

Best,

The catch ....1800 Bill Howe, We know how may have a different connotation from my prospective.

Carl H.

9/30/2019

Have used Bill Howe before for excellent work on a gas line. First time with plumbing. Jason was outstanding. Came prepared, on time, called ahead, and had proper heavier duty equipment I had suggested from past experience for snaking roots. Did an excellent job and trouble shot a couple of things to be helpful. Will use them again.

Arthur N.

6/25/2012

The 50 gallon hot water heater leaked in the garage for about 12 hours before we noticed, so I called company AP and got three minutes of what they were going to do to replace the heater before I got the quote - which I knew was high. Fortunately my neighbor used Bill Howe to install a tankless heater. He praised the installer and the performance of the unit. My install was as good. My installer was very courteous and professional. The price was higher than a tank unit but since I plan to stay in my house forever I will get my money's worth. I'd give them 5 stars if the person I called to schedule for an estimate was more factual with me. She gave me an 8-11 service call timeframe that turned out to be closer to 1. And I was also told the truck would have a tankless heater to install if I accepted the quote and installation would be the same day. Well the truck did not have a unit and I had to take another day off from work for the install that took almost 6 hours. It's been two weeks since the install and we like the tankless heater a lot. Putting aside the sloppy scheduling and having to wait an extra day for the install - Bill Howe is a quality outfit.

Anne B.

8/24/2023

Doug and Roman where so professional and courteous. Always let me know what they were doing. These guys where a great team that communicated and worked well. I've used Bill Howe for years and they have always proved to be well qualified for my old house plumbing problems. I highly recommend them.

Eddie O.

09/12/2017 12:00:00 SA

My regular plumber could not be reached
So I called Bill Howe in sandiego
The receptionist got Gustova to come out with in two hours
Said my leak was from a old water heater
He went to office and came back within an hour , with a Reem heater , installed it and even showed me iPhone picture of how the leak under the house was dryed up after the new water heater was installed
Ha said it's guaranteed for 6 years
, I believe him
Not cheep but I feel it was done correctly and well worth it
Even came back next day (no charge) to check everything was fine .
Hope Gustavo sticks arounde

Melissa P.

12/07/2016 12:00:00 SA

Bill Howe took care of me on the same day I made the call. They communicated that they were busy and would be a little late. Marcus showed up and took care of my clogged sink in a quick and professional manner. thanks!

Tara U.

8/29/2023

Our AC stopped working suddenly on a hot day. I am 35 weeks pregnant and being without AC in the middle of a heat wave is completely miserable. I always see advertising by Bill Howe and their impeccable service so I wanted to give them a try. I called TWICE, the first call I got hung up on or disconnected. I thought it was a glitch or something, I called again and got through. The girl who answered the phone was rude and sounded like I was bothering her and was rushing me to make a decision. She then pretended to not hear me and then hung up on me AGAIN! They will not be getting my business ever, until they seem to fix their answering service and customer service skills or at least what they advertise.

Elaine C.

2/17/2017

I love these guys !
After year my plumbing in my kitchen and my bathroom is finally fixed
Just because my sister has some dumbass try to fix who anything about Plumbing !did know what the hell he was doing . Then two weeks after he fixed it just completely fell apart start leaking and cracked everything .
Pay for her screw ups !
to pay $300 bucks to have it fixed these guys a professional and they are good I highly recommend Bill Hower Plumbing to anybody who needs a plumber!
More of this don't hard have dumbass Who don't know what the fuck you doing It may cost you an arm and a leg but it's worth it in the end!

Arna L.

9/22/2015

We had a outside drain from the side yard to the street filled with roots. We had two companies come out and they both quoted $4,000.00 and they would have to dig up the concrete but not replace it. We decided to see what we could personally do. We went to Lowes for some tools and the staff there said they didn't have any thing that would work for that big a job. They suggested we call Bill Howe Plumbing. They came the next day and in an hour we had all roots pulled out, Their price was $136.00. A lot less than $4,000. The two men, Mike and Jim Jr, were so pleasant and professional. I highly recommend them and if I have any electrical problems I will be sure to call that company also.

Samir C.

6/30/2018

Our kitchen sink was draining very slowly. We've tried to unclog it for a couple of years to limited success. Finally it stopped draining all together so we looked for a professional. I looked at the top plumbers on yelp in our area. Most couldn't come in for 5-7 days and were charging $200+. Danny from Bill Howe came in the next day. There was a mixup in scheduling and they missed our morning appointment but the came out in the afternoon. Danny was great. He snaked a couple of spots and fixed the problem in less than an hour. The cost was ~$100. Quick, inexpensive, capable. They will be our goto plumber from now on.

Joel S.

07/09/2018 12:00:00 SA

Had plumbing emergency Saturday. Called around and got these folks to come out. BH tech named Brandon came over in the time given by the dispatch. Very courteous and professional. Good job getting me out of a bad spot. I recommend and will use in future. Thank you

Edna P.

5/18/2021

One of the technicians named, Dashawn Elliot, came over to fix a couple of toilet issues we've had over the years and we have been very happy with his work and knowledge on how to fix the issues. He is always on time, courteous and friendly. Thank you Dashawn

Kathy R.

4/15/2015

I thought I needed a new water heater and contacted several places. I chose Bill Howe for several reasons, one being that I had used them in the past for a clogged drain and liked their work. I transferred $$ into my account to pay for the new water heater. The plumber arrived (on time I might add), took one look at my water heater and informed me that I did not need a new one. Turned out the problem was a little plug that had gotten melted in the water heater causing problems. He pulled it out, done. Minimum charge. I would never have known the difference if they had just pulled out the old water heater and installed a new one. I could not believe their honesty!

Diane F.

07/08/2021 12:00:00 SA

Brandon Cardozo was excellent in his competence and demeanor. He checked all our plumbing system that might account for a possible backup and concluded that all was in order. To my great surprise he did not charge us since he stated that he had not done any repair. I definitely will use Bill Howe in the future for any plumbing problem. Thank you for your great service.

Joy L.

12/10/2014 12:00:00 SA

We had a great experience resolving our clogged sink. The client services person was great working with both my husband and I playing phone tag while we were at work. They scheduled quickly around our schedules, then I was really impressed with Gilbert, the technician they sent out. He was friendly, polite, well dressed and resolved the issue quickly. I though their price was reasonable. Their rate was a bit higher then the other two I checked with, but it is worth it to have someone professional and respectful in your home.

Diana A.

09/08/2016 12:00:00 SA

I called yesterday for an appointment to snake 2 toilets and got a 10am-1pm window for today. The guys called me at 10:07 to say they were on the way. By 10:20 they were here and ready to work. They originally suspected it was just faulty toilet since no other drains were affected (and this particular brand is notorious for failing) , but they were happy to snake the drains at my request. Turns out ROOTS were growing through the flange connecting the toilet to the drain. They were able to give me a quote for the repair and parts and were prepared to do the service right away. These guys were champs for taking care of what came out of that drain, years of root growth and fertilizer (worth every cent not to have to deal with it myself). The entire job was done by 11:20 am.
Great Service, Friendly plumbers, Fast, Have a working toilet again.

Andrew T.

08/11/2017 12:00:00 SA

I was contacted by a Bill Howe representative and offered a free A/C tune up for the inconvenience. We scheduled it for this morning from 8-9am. Mike, the technician, came at 8:20 and promptly got to work. He was very personable and finished by 9.

After a tech actually showed up, things went great. I appreciate the effort to make the situation right.

David W.

5/19/2017

I have used Bill Howe for several projects at our home during the past five years, and have been satisfied with their work each time. The work ranged from installing a new water pressure regular, to fixing two water slab leaks, to most recently, water leaks from a cracked sink manifold in a bathroom wall.

For the latest issue, the technician, Michael Hoover, came out and swiftly diagnosed the problem. We had to order a replacement manifold, and then found out the manifold was a different size for the original spout. (Newport Brass fixtures). Michael worked with me getting the replacement spout, and today, completing the installation without leaks or any other issues.

While Bill Howe is not the lowest priced plumber in town, as far as my experience goes, the professionalism of their technicians, and the quality of their work are worth the price every time. I'll call them again when i have another plumbing or HVAC issue.

Al S.

05/01/2017 12:00:00 SA

I submitted an Online Contact Form from the Bill Howe website Tuesday morning (4/25) regarding furnace replacement. I received an email response at noon asking what day works best for me. I immediately responded selecting Monday 5/1, a follow-up email from them provided available time slots for Monday 5/1 and I chose 10am-1pm.

Today (5/1), 6 days after scheduling my appointment, the appointment time has come and gone without hearing or receiving anything from Bill Howe. My email to the Bill Howe rep earlier today, asking the status of my appointment, has gone unacknowledged/unanswered.

Update 5/2/2017: Bill Howe rep contacted me regarding above SNAFU, apologized, admitted they dropped the ball and assured me corrective measures were being instituted to avoid a future occurrence. It was the right thing to do and they did it - KUDOS for their professionalism and integrity. That action alone is enough for me to give them another opportunity should I require their services.

Ashley R.

12/22/2020

I had a rude phone representative that kind of put me off but after leaving a review on her bad behavior, it was addressed immediately. There services are great! They message you when someone is on the way and include a photo of the maintenance person arriving, which made me feel super secure and safe because you can't just open your door to anyone these days.. super friendly and professional person sent over. Overall good experience using their services.

MaryBeth H.

2/14/2018

We called Bill Howe to fix a broken water filter. They determined the water pressure was too high into the house, although it had been like that the past 40 years and we told them not to change the pressure, but he did anyway, (he didn't even check it with a pressure gauge). They replaced a faucet and disposal. Our charge was $2,300! Additionally, they simply removed the water filter and never fixed it, which was the only reason we called them.
When I called to question the bill on behalf of my 91 year old mother, it took 2 weeks and 2 follow up calls for my call to be returned. I was told he had 9 calls a day so that's why he forgot about the problem. So- over 50 calls a week of unsatisfied callers! That is an integrity problem!

Lola Z.

04/03/2019 12:00:00 SA

I've used Bill Howe several times now. I've been pleased with their work, customer service and pricing.

Chase C.

11/10/2020 12:00:00 SA

Had a plumbing issue on Saturday and they sent someone out right away. They put a camera down the line and our 92 year old pipes are broken and missing in some places. The technician who came was very polite and thorough. He said that it looked like the pipe would need to be replaced but that he would submit the video to the line guy and they would not only send me the video on Monday but also an estimate to fix it. No video or estimate sent to me on Monday. I had to call today and ask for the video that I paid $440 for to be emailed to me. I also told them that since they had not sent a quote for the work that we called someone else and they came out today, looked at the problem and scheduled us for repairs next week. The gentleman didnt even seem to care that we called someone else. I guess they are ok with losing a $10,000+ job. Will not be recommending them or using them in the future.

Eric H.

04/12/2018 12:00:00 SA

Incredible turn-around time and impeccable customer service. I have a family of 5 and recently our Rinnai tankless outdoor water heater inexplicably stopped working. I called Bill Howe at 9:30 AM, and by 11:00 AM their field service engineer Tris was at my home to fix the problem. The issue actually ended up being electrical, but Tris was well-rounded enough to diagnose and fix the problem on the spot! Thank you Tris and the Bill Howe team for prompt rescue! You guys are incredible.

Dr D.

11/07/2014 12:00:00 SA

On Thursday, they scheduled an appointment with me for Friday at 2pm. I got a call that they were running late. I called them several times only to be told they were running late. It is now 8:30pm and still no plumber. I will NEVER make another appointment with them again and urge you to do the same.

Katie M.

4/14/2016

I was SO impressed with my technician, Louie Mascareno. He was friendly, professional, timely and had a GREAT personality. He came to my home and did an estimate yesterday in old town. seriously he is an awesome employee. it is refreshing to find someone who has such a great attitude.

Bill M.

5/29/2016

This is an organization which is desperately in need of a public relations re do.
I needed a hot water heater quickly last week and live close to Dixieline who is a contractor for the company and selected a 40 gal WH that was scheduled for installation by Bill Howe for the next day between 9-12. They called at 11:51 A and said they were on their way. They arrived at 12:35 P. They instantly asked if I paid extra for a second floor install. I should have know then that this was not going to be easy. The current WH would not come out of the closet
so instead of offering a solution I said why don't you just take part of the door off and replace it when the install was done.NO you will have to pay me for that. I was already paying an tremendous amount of money by my standards for the install. The called Dixieline and who ever else and they waived the fee but only to take it apart. They spent an hour go to get the new WH which is less than 5 miles form my home round trip. The install was finally completed at 4:27P. So much for a 9-12 install. The helper( Rodrigo) on the job was totally useless and texting much of the time that he was there. The lead installer( Julio) was competent enough.
The bottom line was that I have hot water now and I know that BILL HOWE plumbing will never enter my home and I have already steered 2 people away from this horrid company.
The final word. Stay away from this organization
Bill M

AB G.

11/19/2016

Thank you soooo much Giovanny M. He came over ASAP at 8pm to fix our plumbing issue! Was in and out in 30 minutes!!!

Shelley H.

07/05/2012 12:00:00 SA

I initially was very unhappy because the technician really didn't do anything to identify, address, or resolve the issue. He had no moisture detector, and even said there was no leak under the sink. But I contacted the company and they sent out a supervisor and a restoration person with leak detection equipment. They couldn't find the cause of the damp smell, but I felt reassured because he tested everywhere with the device. Also there was a leak under the bathroom sink which the supervisor fixed; although they didn't feel it was related to the damp odor. I feel a lot better about this company than I initially did when I listed a one star rating. Thank you Bill Howe.

Skyler M.

11/03/2016 12:00:00 SA

Professional courteous and on point absolutely had no problem after The technician showed up,. I made an appointment the previous evening and he was at my door 8AM sharp ready to work,. Very attentive knowledgeable patient and extremely nice... I had a blockage that was 35 feet out going to the city drain he diagnosed it and cleared it in no time!,. I have a older home that was remodeled and he was still able to figure out where the cleanout was,. I would recommend their service to anyone

Mike T.

01/05/2016 12:00:00 SA

We had a minor gas leak (what we thought was minor), but after almost a week and a half, and 6 other plumbers coming out to say they can diagnose and they had the tools to do the job, they couldn't and they wouldn't help. NOT EVERY PLUMBER IS CAPABLE. An important lesson i learned. Without hot water or heat for my 5 and 3 year old, we got a referral and called the pros at Bill Howe. Doug came out the next morning and in less than 30 minutes, not only diagnosed the problem, but spent the rest of the day fixing it. I'M SO HAPPY I CALLED THESE GUYS!!! All of the other plumbers said they would need to cut out dry wall and do tons of patch and repair all over the house. Doug did the troubleshooting and cut 2 small holes. In my opinion, this saved me a TON of money. These guys are truly the best!!

Mary R.

04/06/2023 12:00:00 SA

One of our toilets needed to be replaced. The plumbing technician, Juan Lopez, came inspect and listened to my specific wants in the new toilet including ADA height, elongated bowl and wooden lid. We set the appointment for installation and he arrived on time, installed the toilet, tested it and left everything very clean.
He was courteous and professional. It was a pleasure working with Juan.

Celz A.

4/15/2017

I am thankful that Bill Howe reached out to me and tried to correct the misstep that happened. I am impressed that they do take customers feedback seriously and acted on it quickly! That they reviewed their process and looked at where they missed. It speaks volume of the kind of company they have - a company that strives to do better, to provide top notch service. All in all, that's why I hired I hired Bill Howe in the first place, because I want somebody reliable and provide quality work and the guys on the field were personable esp. Luis and Will.

Michael H.

10/16/2015

Call out for a slow main drain. On the plus side, they arrived on schedule. The technician opened the line with least effective tool available. He opted not to use a cutting head and when he pulled back some roots, he claimed it was good. However, he recommended video inspection and hydro jetting for an additional charge. Stated there was a 30 day guarantee.
Two days later same issues. Called the office and was told that because the technician had recommended additional services that they couldn't honor the guarantee.
I called a different plumber.

Kc K.

9/24/2021

Had a problem with toilet flushing properly. Home warranty refused to repair (I cancelled this home warranty). Then called Bill Howe, who charged nearly $600 for 2 hrs worth of work. Turns out I could've fixed problem without spending any money. The Bill Howe plumber knew this but didn't inform me of the simple fix. Felt I was taken advantage of by Bill Howe plumbing company. Seems they're not forthcoming to customers about the issues, will hide simple fixes in order to overcharge. That's unethical and greedy.

Terree W.

6/17/2020

Troy Fletcher! What a great guy! Came out to attempt to clear our 35 year old toilets.... even Lazarus couldn't raise have these dead worn out porcelain thrones.
Suggested a replacement brand, I ordered and will call Troy to install for us...
Troy was professional, friendly and respected the MASK!
Thank you Troy, we will call you soon
Tom and Terree Eisenman

Jim R.

02/10/2011 12:00:00 SA

Discovered a large leak in my main water line at 3 pm. Called 3 local plumbers who were too busy to help me. Called Bill Howe Plumbing and was promised service within the next 3 hours. Two hors later, Jason Bolas arrived and repaired the problem promptly. Jason was courteous and professional and the price was very reasonable. I would highly recommend this company and I will absolutely use them again!

michele l.

3/28/2011

I purchased an old house last year and used Bill Howe to install upgraded plumbing fixtures. They sent Rick Diamond to do the work; I was so impressed with his work and professionalism that I when I decided to remodel my kitchen I requested him again.
I was doing the work myself and was way over my head. Mr. Diamond helped me schedule the plumbing & electrical work at the appropriate time so the project went a lot smoother. I am very happy with this company & Mr. Diamond's work.

Michael L.

03/11/2022 12:00:00 SA

Claimed to fix banging pipes by fixing toilet but failed to fix either. Came back and made it worse

Steve R.

7/30/2017

I've used Bill Howe Plumbing on several occasions and have always been pleased with the results. At the end of the day, all I want is peace of mind knowing that the job was done correctly, and I get that from this company. Most recently, they replaced my water heater and water pressure regulator. These services were performed quickly, properly, and professionally. Many thanks to Pattric for explaining all my options, and especially for going above and beyond with the regulator. He's clearly an experienced and knowledgeable plumber, and was a pleasure to deal with. I can honestly give a big thumbs up for this company.

Sal D.

08/10/2021 12:00:00 SA

I just called to get my kitchen sink unplugged. I live in a condo . They told me everyone below us must be home and give free access to their home. That's impossible and they know it..it just my kitchen sink not my whole house. I know if it's a major plug the neighbor would be complaining.. I believe we could try . They want to make a simple drain repair into a major deal. They are always trying to jack the price up . Stay away bill howe has not been here to assess the problem and already it's the whole complex.

Panda K.

02/01/2018 12:00:00 SA

I'm a believer, I had lost power when the city was doing some work. User error on my part I didn't really know what kind of system I had. I did know that it wasn't working.

I called reached out mid morning. Eddie was my technician he saw what kind of system it was and asked me for all the manuals (all of them) I delivered them and he went from hard core Mr. fix it to scholar. He read took some mental notes and started his focus. Not long after I had heating and cooling.

Then he did what the Apple Store often does, show you things on your screen that you have never seen. I Always marvel at this event you think you've seen every screen the device can create and yet you haven't seen these screens.

I am way impressed with this company. Now their window for showing up isn't as small as Tom Brady's in the 4th but it's pretty close. I must be a happy customer to mention both Apple and Tom in a single review.

Cheers

Sue R.

12/02/2015 12:00:00 SA

Very good service - nice and knowledgeable. My reason for 4/5 instead of 5 is that the hourly rate seems high.

Mike M.

10/24/2022

Our technician Isaiah Maher 1901 from Bill Howe Plumbing was awesome. Very informative and helpful with our plumbing needs. Checked our water pressure, water shut off valves, water heater, toilets and drains. Wow full service. Highly recommended for all your home plumbing needs. Thank you Isaiah for your help.

Andrew D.

12/22/2020

We had a toilet drain leak that ultimately was found to be caused by inappropriate installation of the toilet drain. The leak was hard to diagnose but caused extensive, repeated damage to the central part of our house. Bill Howe plumbing videoed the drain and said the drain had a hole so recommended a several foot epoxy seal. So after paying $2700 for epoxy repair, we and our insurance company paid about $25000 to repair the mold damage caused by the leak. Within a year, this infrequently used toilet caused the same damage. A very determined self-employed plumber finally found that the cause of the leak was caused by how the drain was installed in the slab of the house. So after that was repaired, and another $25k repair of the damage done by the chronic leak, we've had no further problem. So my lesson was that the video evidence of a hole in the drain was an apparition and the epoxy seal was a ruse to make money. I haven't and won't ask Bill Howe to work on our house again.

Andy L.

6/26/2023

Having had bad experiences with other contractors in years past, I feel compelled to praise Bill Howe Plumbing for my very positive experience with them.

A hissing sound in my bathroom indicated an invisible leak of some kind. The first plumber I called was only partially helpful. He correctly identified it as a cold water slab leak, but said there was something wrong with my bathtub faucet that prevented him from pin-pointing the precise location. He seemed to lose interest in my job when I didn't agree with his suggestion to replace all the pipes in my home, and not locating the exact location of the leak left me in the lurch.

Then I called Bill Howe, who sent out Raul. A total pro, he confirmed it was a cold water slab leak. He then easily pinpointed the leak, happily told me how I could address my issue without repiping my entire house, and helped me sort out an issue with the invoice that my insurance company needed to cover my job. The plumber who later came and fixed the pipe, Gustavo, was equally professional and helpful, and did the repair itself in no time.

My insurance check was made out to both me and my mortgage provider, which made the process of cashing it complicated and bureaucratic. When I contacted Bill Howe's accounts receivable about some arcane paperwork I needed them to fill out so my mortgage company would release my insurance payment, Karla, in their finance department, sorted it out the same day, much to my relief.

Whereas some contractors I've dealt with seemed most interested in getting as much money from me as they could, everybody I interacted with at Bill Howe just wanted to do a good job. I appreciate their integrity, and was grateful for all their help when I really needed it.

Lynn G.

2/13/2013

We searched for various companies to install a ductless heating/air conditioning unit. and ended with Bill Howe installing the units.
The team of Miguel A. Enriquez and Bruce Shelby arrived on time. Miguel and Bruce were professional, efficient and very conscience of their work. They were very polite and always displayed respect to our housefhold items showing care to not disturb or break anything. It took 2 and a half days to finish the work, and after each visit Miguel and Bruce took the time to walk through the house and roof to make sure that their work area was clean. We've had extensive remodeling in the past several years, and we're always disappointed that the workers would leave without cleaning up their mess.
Miguel and Bruce were the exception to this rule. They represented their company with a professional and friendly attitude.
Bill Howe should be very proud to have them as employees.
Thank you so very much

Trevor J.

5/24/2018

Recently called Bill Howe to handle a sewer line inspection and overall had a wonderful experience. It wasn't the absolute cheapest but they were out here pretty quick and sent me two really nice videos a few days after. They also gave me a quote to have my sewer line re-lined with their apoxy system. Gave me two well thought out quotes. They sent this guy Rigoberto Barajas and the guy was super nice, great smile. Even came back out a few weeks later just to make sure I found the clean out, didn't charge at all. All in all an excellent experience.

Christi C.

04/09/2020 12:00:00 SA

Great company that hires great individuals. John was my repair man and he called and gave me a heads up on when he was showing up. He was very nice, approachable, and professional. He explained everything he was doing and why he was doing it which made plumbing seem very fun and enjoyable. He made quick work and cleaned up afterwards leaving my toilet and pipes looking brand new. I would definitely do business again with Bill Howe's Plumbing and recommend John.

John E.

07/09/2016 12:00:00 SA

I call yesterday morning for drain service on a non flushing toilet thinking it was clogged, when the service technician ( Rodrigo , I think ? I'm so sorry it's been a long week ) arrived he immediately told me that my drain wasn't clogged, that it was calcium build up in the toilet causing it not to push water through the drain , he explained the options didn't push a sale & left to his next service call , I was able to fix it in minutes on my own , saving hundreds of dollars! Thank you Bill Howe plumbing!!! I've used other companies in the past & know for a fact that they would have charged me & not given me the information & help I had gotten from you ! I more then appreciate the honesty & knowledge your employee showed today !! You came highly recommend & I will do the same , recommend your company highly & call you first with all my plumbing needs in the future! Thank you again

Tom O.

4/20/2019

I highly recommend them - they are fantastic. I had a water leak which one plumbing service diagnosed as a slab leak and suggested re-plumbing my entire 2 story house. A Howe's technician (I believe a supervisor) came out within a couple of hours and quickly diagnosed the leak as a leaking dishwasher and NOT a slab leak and did not charge me the usual slab leak detection fee. Can't get anymore honest than that!!! I will be using them for ALL my service needs!!!!

Hoa N.

04/05/2013 12:00:00 SA

I had the most hilarious experience with the Bill Howe tech that was sent when I called about a water leak in my front yard a while ago. The guy (Alex?) pulled up in the Bill Howe van, got out and took out with him two L-shaped rods made out of coat hangers. He started water dowsing! I couldn't believe my eyes. My mind screamed, No way am I going with this outfit! but I decided to wait it out and see what he would do. He started walking back and forth in front of my house, holding the two rods straight out in front of him. They crossed right in the middle of my driveway. Pointing to the spot, he said, You have a leak right under your driveway, and quoted me $2,200 to fix it. He added that if it turns out not to be under the concrete, he'd charge only $1,500. I thanked him and dismissed him. Then I called another plumber from the local newspaper. The guy came, prodded the ground, found the leak by my tree (not under the concrete), fixed it, and charged me $500.

I wonder how many people actually fell for this Bill Howe tech's scam.

S C.

5/14/2015

After talking to toilet manufacturer Toto, I had Josh return to pull the toilet and install a part the Toto rep said was the issue in its leaking . Josh was prompt, professional, and explained everything as he went along. He was, as it turned out, more knowledgable than the Toto rep, as the part I was supposed to replace, did not exist. He went above and beyond to diagnose the issue and also fixed our running toilet in the master bath. As previously stated, this is a great company, with fair prices, and I would hire them again in an instant. Thanks, Josh.

Rachel H.

6/16/2011

4 days ago my upstairs neighbor completely flooded his apartment which led to water everywhere including my apartment. While they were taking care of that disaster I pointed out to my landlord a few issues in my apt.

Art came out to my apartment to fix a number of problems. It took him forever to figure out the complicated plumbing in my old building, but he stuck with it to make sure that I wouldn't also have a flooded apartment.

He replaced corroded pipes under my sink and in my bathtub and replaced 2 faucets. He was polite and stayed out of the way while I was working from home. My apt looks great now!

Recommended for anyone with plumbing issues.

Karen G.

10/04/2017 12:00:00 SA

Special thanks and kudos to Luis Mascareno and Victor Santana for saving the day for us! Yesterday afternoon, Luis came quickly to give us an estimate after we discovered a severe water leak on our front water system. After setting up an appointment for today, these two men arrived early morning ready to tackle this difficult job until it was successfully completed! It is now 7:30 p.m. and these two gentlemen were not going to leave until the job was perfect! We are so pleased with the attitude, professionalism and ability of these two gentlemen. We are now converts to Bill Howe thanks to Luis and Victor...turns out those commercials are true! Bill Howe employees know how!

Narcisa L.

12/13/2021

Appointments are on time. Courteous personnel. They have resolved all of my issues no surprises. Now they will be our go to plumbing company.

Tammy J.

09/05/2023 12:00:00 SA

We recently called for service for our kitchen sink backing up. The technician, Jerad Humphries 2195, came out on Wednesday 8/30 during the time frame we were given. He was professional and pleasant. He checked the sink and of course nothing seemed wrong with it when he checked but he still tried a couple things to make sure. At this point he told us that he could just leave no charge or if we wanted he could still snake the pipe per a current deal they were having for $49.99. We opted for the deal to just make sure things were clear. Jerad was extremely thorough in his checks of the sink and talked us through everything he was doing. This is the 3rd time we've used Bill Howe (One time even on Super Bowl Sunday). They are always professional, from the call center to the tech's. We have had nothing but great experiences using them and we feel the pricing is very reasonable but even more so because of the stellar service. We will continue to use them for our plumbing needs. Thank you Jerad and Bill Howe!

Zhang D.

4/17/2023

I had a great experience with bill Howe on my water damage mitigation project so far. The project is not fully complete yet but I am confident to write a five star or six if I can.

The most impressive thing I noticed is how fast they react to my request and questions and they react with great patience and profession. They have a well structured team and they all function efficiently. They update me almost every day about the process and keep me informed not only what but also why.

Price is reasonable and they helped me to control within my budget.

Toshi B.

11/29/2017

Thank you! Gracious company dedicated to helping the community. They will go far to make it right.

J P.

7/19/2020

Rudy Lopez was fantastic! He was on-time, efficient, and very knowledgeable! What a great experience! Was expecting a rough go as so many friends have had trouble when calling a plumber. This was a welcomed surprise! Same day service with a smile! Highly recommend.

Krly C.

09/05/2016 12:00:00 SA

We love using Bill Howe for all our plumbing needs. Alex is the best! He is very knowledgeable and always follows up to make sure the problem is resolved.
He is very professional great at explaining the problem.

Barry S.

7/27/2016

Again I used Bill Howe. The worst thing happened to me, my water heater leaked. OMG can you tell a better time, near the holidays? They had a restore dept. which they brought fans out to my house and aired out the moisture. This was a huge job which impacted the inside and outside of my house. The insurance had to be involved. They gave me a temporary water heater until I can get a new one, are you kidding me? Wow!!!!!!!! They were totally professional and did an excellent job fixing my job back to before the damage occured which came to over $6000. If I had any issues or questions they quickly resolved them. Don't ask me which Juan or Bill or William helped me, there are several! And I needed another water repair 3 weeks later and they fixed that again soon. PS I need them for a 4th time for upgrades and just talked to Monte on the phone. They guy is quick to respond to my concerns and really followed up with me to give excellent customer service. I wish there were more companies out there, I don't mind paying a little extra to avoid a handyman, not only are they perfect in repairs, if you have an issue they will be back quickly to fix it! PS its nice the office is by my house ;)

Morgan A.

07/12/2018 12:00:00 SA

I called and made an appointment and told the dispatcher exactly what I needed (5 angle valves replaced). The appointment window was set for 2-5 pm and the technician shows up at 4 pm. I can immediately tell he does not want to do the work because it is 4 pm. He tries to dissuade me by telling me that after 5 pm it is overtime charges, its late the neighbors will come home etc. I insisted that the water shut off was for that time period and wanted to continue with the work. He then goes to his truck and conveniently he does not have all the parts....even though I was very specific when I made the appointment. Complete waste of time. I found a local small business to come by the next day and take care of it.

Theresa B.

2/16/2021

Horrible company. Luis broke my water valve and was dishonest and wasn't going to tell me. Then it started to leak. They sent Michael over and He had the nerve to say He was going to charge me for something they broke! I told Him He better not, Luis broke it!

Jose M.

4/18/2020

I had Bill Howe fix a simple leak underneath my house in January of 2020.Well today being 4-18-20 I go underneath my house to check it out.To my surprise its still leaking, and I find that theirs so much water down there that it looks like its been leaking easily for weeks if not months So I call Bill and she says its no longer under warranty and that they want to charge me again for a leak that I already paid to get fixed. So now I find myself with a leak and out over 700.00 dollars for a leak that did not get fixed. I guess the old saying is true. If you want something done right fix it yourself! UPDATE! 4-19-20. Shortly after my 4-18-20 review. Bill responds! And says they can send a tech out the next day to inspect the work.Next day being a Sunday. I say you don't have to send someone on Sunday since its not an emergency and that it can wait till Monday or later but if your willing to send someone on Sunday I'll take you up on it. So today being Sunday the tech shows up and fixes the leak ,or so he says he has for I am not about to crawl underneath my house to check his work.I'm over 60 so I'll crawl under there at my discetion. I aplaude Bills timely response.I hope the leak is fixed for good this time.By the way I was not charged for any work done today. UPDATE! 5-7-20 I finally go underneth my house and find no leak. Thanks Bill Howe for honering your work!

Gina S.

12/15/2018

They came on a Saturday night within 2 hours & did a great job! Cleared main line with a 30 day guarantee! Very grateful for Miguel at Bill Howe!

Andrew L.

6/24/2016

Ok, back to 5 stars. As with any business, sometimes mistakes can happen and best intentions fail. BH showed solid accountability and was extremely responsive to my complaint. They solved my problem in only 2 days. Thank you listening!

Naomi E.

11/25/2022

I have used Bill Howe plumbing multiple times and always been happy.
Today Isiah was my plumber. He was professional, efficient and quick. He replaced a water shut-off valve that a family member had already rigged up/welded/etc without any problems, complaints or comments. He was great! Thank you Bill Howe Plumbing and Isiah! I'm so happy to have running water again!

Marilia B.

8/17/2021

Danny Moreno was amazing and helped me through such a stressful moment. Thank you so much Danny!

Azi B.

12/06/2012 12:00:00 SA

Our first experience with Bill Howe plnumbing wasn't very positive. We actually contacted the manager. It was the way they responded that impressed me and put them on top of my list. They called me three times to get all the info and wanted to send someone to finish our job to our satisfaction right away. thanks to manager and Amber I got a great guy was very professional and patient. I appreciate a business that stands behind their work and cares about customer satisfaction.

Karen L.

12/06/2011 12:00:00 SA

We have been using Bill Bill Howe Plumbing for about 7 years for our apartment buildings as well as our home. Our experience with them is extensive. We have used other plumbers and they were okay, but Bill Howe Plumbing has been consistent in providing good work and good service at a fair price. Over the years there have been a couple issues that came up where we were unhappy, but they were quick to rectify the problems.

Paul S.

7/21/2020

Brandon was amazing, he quickly and professionally installed a shut-off valve and water pressure regulator. He also did that in a super tight space. I am generally impressed with him, and Howe, because Brandon identified the right pipe very quickly. A previous plumber from a different company misidentified where the main water pipe was exiting into the garage. Because of that, I cut the drywall in the garage in the wrong place. It turned out to be an electoral pipe and not water. I always heard that Howe was good but unreasonably expensive. I must say that the cost was very fair and the quality was fantastic. Will be using you guys from now on :)

carly a.

3/23/2010

I had a nightmare of a morning last friday when I had a new washer and dryer getting installed and find out they can't do it!! I had to call a plumber ASAP to come out and bill howe came out right away!! from phone call to service was fabulous!

Julie B.

2/24/2015

I had a challenging plumbing problem - tree roots in my sewer line and they happened to be directly under all the utilities - gas, electric, cable and telephone. Mike and James came out, surveyed the problem, ran a camera down the lines, and sent an estimate a few days later for $700. A friend who is a one-man plumbing company had previously told me it was a very difficult problem and might take 3 days and several thousand dollars to repair. He also didn't want to accept liability if any utilities were accidentally cut. I decided to call the company that advertises We Know How and believe me, they do. A large company with many employees can send experts who specialize in certain kinds of problems. A one-man company cannot compete with that kind of experience or expertise. Eric and Mike were experts. They were here about 4 hours, knew how to carefully dig near utilities without any problems. They removed the tree roots, replaced some parts, brought the clean-up to to the surface, and replaced the dirt (but removed all the large rocks) and carefully replaced the sod, leaving the area looking great. I highly recommend Bill Howe for any problems with tree roots. I will call them again for future plumbing problems.

Anthony V.

12/12/2018 12:00:00 SA

I called Bill Howe because I had a water leak underneath my house and it was bad enough where I had to shut off water to the house until it was fixed. John from Bill Howe showed up and without hesitation put on his special suit and crawled through the mud underneath my house to investigate the leak. It took a little while to fix the leak, but he kept at it until it was taken care of. I was very grateful because otherwise I would have to get a hotel room for my wife and toddler. John is truly an asset to this company, and because of him I would highly recommend Bill Howe to anybody that needs a quality plumber.

Imdigidug D.

3/16/2022

I had the pleasure of having Bill Howe help me and my sister-in-law find a water leak for us. It ended up being a pipe in the slab. The tech was spot on with finding where it was. Incredibly pleased with the service and I will use them again.

Jeff H.

11/21/2022

I called to have my toilet wax ring replaced and ended up needing to have my flange replaced also. The plumber that came out had my toilet off the drain and replaced the wax ring then said he would have to come back to replace the flange so he re-set the toilet and charged me $200 to do what he called a temporary patch job. He then sent me an estimate to replace the flange and new wax ring for a little over $600, so in all he was going to charge me $800+ for a wax ring and flange replacement and he was double charging me for not fixing it correctly the first time. I didn't ask for a patch job and also don't believe it costs anywhere near $800+ to fix a toilet flange.

Bill Howe plumbing had a Manager, Scott, call me after posting the above review. Scott went over the estimate with me and said that it is what they normally charge people for that job! That is a rip off. Scott said the price should have been communicated by the office staff before they even come out to do any work. I was not informed it would cost over $200 for the wax ring and estimate, nor was i told it would be quadruple the amount to do the entire job until a later time. Scott also said a smaller company can do it for ¼ of the cost (which is exactly what it should be). They charged me $211.54 for a new wax ring patch job and my toilet still rocks side to side, and they were going to charge me $670 for a different technician to come back another day and replace the flange for a total of $881.54. They said the first guy couldn't fix it because he was in training and doesn't have the proper tools to fix it (not my problem). Also, according to Scott, the reason they are so expensive is overhead costs and you get a licensed technician to fix your problem (didn't get that). I got the guy in training, which is what Scott told me I would get with a smaller company. He said I probably wouldn't get someone that was licensed from a smaller company and they would take longer to get out to fix it (not true). I will not be using this company again in the future and I recommend you don't either.

Lin E.

11/09/2010 12:00:00 SA

I called Bill Howe this morning because both of my tubs were backing up. I called a little before 8am and they said someone would come to the house between 8 and 11am. Dana Parks showed up around 9:30 and someone even called us in advance to let us know he was on his way. This is a nice feature for someone that is at work and can run home for the appointment. Dana was very curtious, explained the problem and what he was going to do to fix the problem. He had to snake from the roof as we don't have a cleanout. While it didn't take him long, I didn't feel he rushed. He even took the time to educate us (ie don't use Draino on galvanized pipes and tips how to clear a minor clog). I am very happy with the prompt visit and the exceptional service I received from Dana. We received a 30 day warrantee on the work and it cost $105. I would highly recommend calling Bill Howe and asking for Dana.

Courtney Y.

9/22/2021

My apartment complex hires Bill Howe for plumbing issues. Earlier this year, it took several different technicians 8 seperate visits to figure out where a smell was coming from in my kitchen, and it was as simple as replacing the dishwasher lines.
I spent 40ish hours over the 8 visits waiting during appointment windows and for service technicians to fix the issue. That's absurd in my book.

More recently, I needed my shower knob replaced due to lack of water pressure. Today is Bill Howe's 2nd visit in an attempt to replace it. These past 2 visits have been scheduled between 10 am and 1am, so naturally, I plan my day and work schedule accordingly. Both times, a technician has shown up at 830 am and when I mention the time being wrong, I have gotten push back as well as being told I am incorrect about my appointment time.

I called their main office to inform them of these occurances and got about the same amount of consideration from the woman that answered the phone.

She basically told me that even though the appointment was scheduled between 10 and 1, the technician arrives earlier if possible.

In what world does this work for people? It's bad enough being given a 3 hour window to wait but then to show up over an hour early without any notice is a poor business practice.

Craig M.

05/02/2018 12:00:00 SA

Every time these guys come out - they completed the job, cleaned up and charged me a fair and reasonable price. I highly recommend Bill Howe for all of your plumbing needs as they have saved my ass several times with clogged sewer line that would have left us showerless and without use of toilets due to our main line issues. Thank you for the great service, friendly plumbers and saving the day...several times at our home

Eric M.

05/03/2017 12:00:00 SA

My girlfriend had a crisis and a pipe was severely leaking at a spa that she manages...after several other reputable companies couldn't do the job, I called bill Howe. They were there within 30 mins of the call. Michael H. Was our plumber. He came in knowing exactly what to do and he fixed the pipe within minutes.... his work was very impressive and I would definitely refer him to anyone who has plumbing issues. He knows what he's doing, he is professional and won't waste labor time... he got the job done so fast we completely regret not calling them sooner... but now that we know, we won't be using any other plumbing company.

Nick L.

6/24/2015

We used Bill Howe last month to reline our main sewer line. We have been having roots from a neighbor's tree constantly blocking up our pipes. We contacted several plumbing companies and Bill Howe came in at the lower end of quotes. They were fast and professional and so far we haven't had anymore problems. Melissa was very helpful and friendly throughout the process. I would definitely use them again for major plumbing needs.

Meghan K.

11/14/2016

My experience with Bill Howe was great. I truly think it had a lot to do with the technician, Rigo Barajas. My past experience with Bill Howe with another technician that came to our home to give an estimate on heating and air-not so much. Up until this point I didn't plan on calling Bill Howe for any other work. However, when a neighbor called Bill Howe to check on a backed up toilet/tub that connected to our home and another home, it was Rigo who came out. He's knowledgeable, friendly and took his time to explain everything in detail, which is so important. It's hard to wrap your head around things that aren't in your line of work. He did a great job and for that alone I would recommend Bill Howe. Thank you, Rigo!

Theodore B.

10/04/2022 12:00:00 SA

Holy moly, Bill Howe's guys are fabulous .... repeat, F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S-!!!

Around midnight, my wife and I discovered a concerning water leak creeping through the paneling of the garage wall. We called Bill Howe's 24 hour service and had a call back just 20 minutes later from one their experts, Christian, who guided us on what to do first at no charge (i.e. turn off the exterior water valve and drain the home's faucets). The guidance was a perfect stop-gap measure!

Rather than have someone come out immediately that would kept us up to 4 am, we reached out instead to their office dispatcher in the morning. She was quite efficient in scheduling us and sent a superb plumber, Darryl Fountain, to review the situation by noon. He diagnosed the issue and carefully opened a small portion of the wall. Bingo! He found the problem and, like a surgeon, went to work on a corroded pipe by replacing the damage cleanly.

The workmanship was classic. Darryl is a top-notch craftsman with a positive demeanor for his customers. What a pleasure it was having him at our home.

Over the years, our household has been fortunate to have had some good plumbers visit for smaller jobs, but with all due respect to them and everyone in the industry, Bill Howe and his team are the superstars. Their expertise is unrivaled and the pricing is incredibly fair -- a breath of fresh air these days!

We're now using Bill Howe for every plumbing need in the future. They're the gold standard in town and have earned it. Congratulations to everyone on their truly professional staff.

Carina P.

5/13/2019

I had an excellent experience with Tony from Bill Howe plumbing. He fixed our garbage disposal and drain for a fair price. This was within an hour and a half of my initial phone call.

David B.

4/30/2023

Just had Angel out and he was awesome. Polite, professional and listened to my issue. I always recommend BH and will continue to do so. Thank you Angel.

Cil p.

06/06/2023 12:00:00 SA

I want to give Kris Kalaf, plumber and Water filtration specialist a shout out for the great job he did when he came to my home on May 31 to check my water softener. He tested our water for hardness, and at the refrigerator too. He also quickly reprogrammed it for our current needs (less people at home; etc.). But even more importantly he analyzed and figured out an issue that has stumped other plumbers and handyman and me and my husband for years! That is, our RO system was the source of the water to our fridge and the cut off valve was under the sink, not in the wall behind the fridge! Thank goodness we now know how to turn off the water behind the fridge!

Alex L.

2/16/2020

I live in an apartment complex and my downstairs neighbors called to say there was a leak coming from my apartment. Bill How called to schedule an appointment and had to schedule on a busy weekend for me. I asked if they could try to show up early since I had a lot happening that day and since they gave a 3 hour window for the plumbers to arrive. By the third hour no one had arrived and I had not received a phone call explaining the delay. I had to call and explain that I was unable to wait any longer and that I would need to reschedule. It was very frustrating to wait for three hours with no communication only to have to schedule to wait again on another day. Hopefully they will be more timely on the next appointment.

Anthony R.

2/19/2020

This review is strictly for Kendric from Bill Howe. He has been the most helpful and professional representative ever. He is very polite, knowledgeable and informative. He's been over so many times now to our house that we just bought that we have had so many issues with, that he feels like part of the family. My 3 year old daughter always says hi to him and gives him a big smile. Kendric definitely deserves a raise and promotion. We surely hope that you guys see what an asset he is to your company!

Brian S.

10/15/2010

Made an appointment to get an estimate on kitchen ad bathrooms remodeled. After rescheduling for their error of overbooking, on the night of the appointment they call me 5 minutes before the appt. to reschedule again. Very unprofessional in my book and would not do business with them. I guess that's why they spend all that money on advertising , to pay for all the clients they need to get to out way the ones they lose.

Aimee G.

6/29/2022

Deshawn was prompt, pleasant and alone. He had to go up on the roof without a partner to spot him. My boyfriend and I took turns holding the ladders for him. One ladder was ours, the other we borrowed from our neighbor because the ladder that would normally be on the Bill Howe truck was on back order. A huge company like Bill Howe doesn't have a few ladders in reserve? We also helped him hook up the electric extension cords to get power to the roof. Again, our power cords because the one the rep had didn't work. He had me plugging his cord into different outlets, insisting it was the electrical source. I yelled up to him that it's his cord. I got out my own cords and hooked it up just fine. Mind you it was HOT!!!! And I wasn't planning on working .

We received the emailed Bill Howe survey that only provided one to five starts, no feedback. We gave Deshawn 5 stars. But Bill Howe needs to staff properly and provide employees the tools to perform their job.

J T.

3/22/2020

Called for my 89y/o dad who had a leak in his ceiling at 11pm. They called back quickly and someone was over within the hour!! Located/Fixed the leaking pipe easily and was out within an hour or so. My dad/mom said the plumber was super nice and cordial and fully masked up...
(complete opposite experience with asi which was a total disaster)

Too C.

5/17/2014

Highly overrated. I have tried Bill Howe for plumbing twice. The first time they were OK at best, pricey, but OK. The second time I used them, though, they were terrible. Workers showed up late, which was especially frustrating as I had taken time off to be there. I was invoiced a second time, even though I gave the technician a check upon completion. The technician didn't properly fix the issue, so I had to get him to come back and fix his error. Terrible customer service. Terrible experience. Wouldn't recommend them to anyone.

Lance R.

1/27/2016

We have used Bill Howe several times over the years and always are satisfied with the service we receive. Today, Corey Koenen was our Plumbing Technician and he was fantastic. He was on time (actually early which worked out great) and made sure the new toilet he installed for us was done right. He has great attention to detail and truly takes pride in his work. He is very courteous and friendly and is the kind of employee that exemplifies Bill Howe's excellent reputation!

Markos Q.

07/03/2012 12:00:00 SA

good guys, good work, and i like they respond to emails to set up an appt.

Anthony L.

07/03/2017 12:00:00 SA

We got a duct cleaning and air conditioning service.
The technician was on-time, and took extremely good care of my home while transporting all of the gear into the house. Reasonably priced, thorough service and completely cleaned up after themselves. Bill Howe will be my first call for all of my HVAC needs.

myrna k.

6/21/2017

Worst experience in my life time with a company that I feel has gone down hill and care more about getting paid than honoring the project.

Originally we were going with another company but since I knew the company of B.H., I felt confident the job would be done professionally. However, after delays due to incompetence from the front offices down the line to employees who worked on project to the actual defective air unit parts, this became a nightmare.

Instead of asking for partial payment until the replacement pieces were installed and project completely finished, we were threatened with a lien on home since they demanded FULL PAYMENT even though they installed defective parts to our living room unit. I told them that all services were not rendered yet,
and since it was their problem causing the delays, they couldn't expect full payment until the project was done 100%..

We even had our internet and T.V. wires clipped by a worker with no apology or discount for not having internet for 24 hours.
Because partial payment was not offered, and we did not even have a contract prior to the start of the project, I did not trust the company after so many debacles...
I stood my ground and refused to pay the total until the project was completed.

Suffice it to say, a lien was put on my home.
I was disgusted but was not going to be bullied.. They lost my business when that happened. Had they been objective about the matter knowing they were the cause to the problem and causing undo formalities, partial payment would have been acceptable.

Finally when they came to my home again with the parts, they showed up with ONLY one replacement part, when two should have been ordered. Insult to injury, that one part they showed up with was ALSO defective.

Apparently the original worker didn't order correctly yet the office blew smoke up my armpit and had told me yes- all necessary parts were ordered and ready for install. LIARS!!!

I had even made an extra gesture emailing top personnel to remind them exactly what the parts were and that there were a total of two parts with pictures attached..Those emails were sent weeks before, and I did that because I had had conversations on the phone and through emails with B.H. offices and they were oblivious..

So when they showed up with only one part instead of two and it was also defective, that was when I really had had enough and DEMANDED that they get organized and have better communication from the top down because the office staff assured me they knew what parts were needed when I got the phone call that the parts were in..

Liar - we needed 2 parts replaced and they showed up with one........
They came AGAIN the following day and brought a completely new unit in a box ( from who knows where) and we personally checked to make sure the new parts were not defective.. They put the defective parts on the boxed unit and I prayed nobody was going to have that installed down the road...

In the end, I had to hound the company to release the lien even after I paid the day of project completion..

After inquiring through the front office via phone, an employee apparently looked up my name and stated the lien was released and it should be received in the mail ASAP..

Weeks went by and I found out that was not the case when I called again to find out what happened..

I made the employee who lied to me to apologize to me while on the phone and shared with her that any future customers should not be lied to but instead IF sje is unsure- JUST BE HONEST and say you do not know....

I finally got the release of lien in the mail after a month (after the project was paid)

As a result of poor management and unprofessional conduct from too many to count, I suggest you go with another company if you are looking for air conditioner units.
Not worth the headaches....
You are the customer and the customer is always right. They have another motto obviously...

Scott H.

6/21/2016

My AC went dead in 100+ degree weather this weekend so had to call for repair. I called 5 companies and only one was available, Bill Howe. The overtime rate was high, $250 an hour, but again they were willing come out. Repair was made without trying to be upsold or told I need a new unit, etc. Only reason for dropping a star is the high price, but service was great and will use again!

Vanessa D.

9/26/2019

We rented a house and had major plumbing issues since day one. Bill Howe came to assess and repair issues that were found. It took a few visits to rectify the entire issue (grease from years of build up and leaking pipes) they had excellent customer service and sent the right guys to address each issue. Hector and Josh were extremely knowledgeable and professional. I recommend calling them for your issues.

D K.

12/29/2021

While I hope I never have to see a Bill Howe technician again, I won't hesitate to call them if the occasion arises. My experience was great from beginning to end.

We received a call last month from our water company letting us know that over the past few months there had been a dramatic increase in water usage in our house and that we should check for leaks around our house. Fast forward a month later, and we finally found that our water meter box was filled with water and the area around it was completely soggy. I emptied the box and within half an hour it completely filled back up again with water.

I started looking for plumbers in our area and stumbled upon Bill Howe. I called and was quoted a visit for the following day. Luckily, I received a call a few hours later letting me know that a technician could come to my house the same day. Our first technician, Juan, was professional and talked us through everything we needed to know about what he would be doing and what he thought the problem could be. Unfortunately, it wasn't as easy as he thought it was going to be. In fact the entire job turned out to be quite extensive. Juan stayed, despite the rain, to dig up the dirt, diagnose, and temporarily seal the leak until another technician could come with the parts needed for the job.

Another technician, Sam, came out and finished the job, again in the rain, and was equally professional and talked me through everything that was going on. Both technicians were also very upfront about the possible cost of the work. At the end of all of it, my experience with Bill Howe and their technicians, made handing over my credit card to pay slightly less painful.

I would definitely recommend this company and I will update this review if their work stands the test of time.

Keith A.

12/09/2018 12:00:00 SA

There is a reason they have a 4 star rating and some competitors have a much lower rating.

I am a big fan! Especially after the horrible experience I had the week before with a competitor.

I called to schedule an appointment, and I asked for a favor to waive the inspection fees because I just paid $174 from a competitor and I was just looking for a 2nd opinion and would like to give them a chance to win my business.

They said they would waive the approximately $160 charge to come inspect the 2 units and give me a quote on repairs and new units, as a 1 time courtesy to try to win my business from a competitor. That was very important and made them seem trustworthy from the start.

Matt called a little while before the service window, to say he was on his way, and we had a discussion about what the competitor had done the week before.

He arrived well within the service window. He was professional and friendly. We inspected the furnace and then he asked to see what items the competitor was recommending.

He gave me his honest opinion, did some tests and agree the capacitor / motor assist was the only thing needed, about $288 installed. He laughed at the other $1400 in repairs that were quoted. Mentioned that I was upsold and probably talked in to buying new units instead of wasting $1700 on older units.

This was a big difference from the $1700 a competitor was quoting, for several things, that were not needed. I am so happy I called to get a 2nd opinion.

I appreciated the honesty and now they have a loyal customer and when I am ready to buy new units they will be the first one I call.

He told me about some options with my filters and to switch to a 5 inch hospital grade filter which I will be doing.

He also mentioned that I should get a better Co2 alarm, so I bought a nice Defender CA6150 Carbon Monoxide Detector from him, about $179. He installed it in about 5 minutes.
The defender appears to be about $80 online, so I paid too much, but he did a great job and was very thorough. They do have a markup and they are a service company.

The total bill for the 2 items was about $467 with tax.

He said that when I am ready to buy new units that they will apply the $467 I spent on repairs towards the new units. That was a nice touch! He did not have to offer that.

I look forward to doing business with them in the future. I highly recommend Matt and Bill Howe.

Doug A.

6/26/2016

We had an emergency plumbing situation on Saturday afternoon. Both bathroom sinks were plugged. Having used Bill Howe plumbing previously we called and they had a plumber call me back within 10 minutes. The plumber, Michael Plata, was at our home in Santee about 1 1/2 hours later. After clearing the drains, he discovered a pipe that had deteriorated severely over the years and was leaking. We were aware of this problem but had been putting it off because of the expense. Michael worked for 2 hours to repair the issue and helped us avoid a major problem. He was professional, innovative, and efficient. Michael kept us aware of everything he was doing and made sure we understood the ramifications every step of the way. The price for the service was very reasonable. I highly recommend Bill Howe plumbing and am very satisfied with the outstanding service provided by Michael Plata.

Adam G.

7/19/2014

I really dislike giving a business a bad review but this business deserves it. We had a water leak emergency in our rental property. The tenant called Bill Howe to the rescue. They opened several holes in the dry wall ceiling and declared that the problem is with an upstairs bathtub overflow and caulking. they re-caulked the bathtub to floor interface and tried to replace a new overflow gasket. On a second visit, they said the overflow is all rusted and I need to replace the tub ($2,600 quote without the floor and drywall repair). They assured me that there is no active leak and the problem was all caused by this overflow.

Three weeks later, the ceiling in that upstairs bathroom came down. Fortunately no one was there when it happened. It turned out that the original problem was a pinhole in a copper tubing above that bathtub. Nothing to do with the overflow or the bathtub itself!!! The real plumbers that discovered and fixed the problem were Black Mountain Plumbing, whom I highly recommend.

The delay caused by the misdiagnosis by Bill Howe resulted in a lot of additional damage and costs to dry up the wet ceiling, replace and paint the drywall and lost rent on the property.

Beware of this unprofessional company.

Me Y.

08/05/2013 12:00:00 SA

Not recommended for seniors as the service people are OBVIOUSLY commissioned and will not look out for people on a fixed income. The hourly rate charged was over 40% higher than the STANDARD rate for plumbers. When you are being charged in excess of $125/hr (which is a six figure income, even if the plumbers only pocket half of that), I'd expect the standard of service to be extremely high. It was not.

As an experienced rental owner, with my own set of plumbers/electricians, I was horrified by the condescending treatment my mother received. This poor attitude included those working in their admin offices, as we went there to discuss the bill. They offered a 5% discount, which I thought was ridiculous considering charges and that the plumber had been so rude.

NEVER AGAIN!

Garland A.

02/07/2017 12:00:00 SA

Tried twice to get an estimate for a tankless water heater. The first appointment was between 1-4 they called at 4:15 and said they could make it at 5:00 but I had plans. They did call back and I made another appointment this time requested a time of 2:30 now a half hour later they are a no show and haven't called. I would avoid them and try another company.

Chad H.

01/11/2017 12:00:00 SA

I would highly recommend Bill Howe Plumbing for all your plumbing needs. The water pressure entering my home was too high, so I needed a new pressure relief valve. Rick, the technician, was very courteous, prompt and did a good job on changing the valve. I did have a couple questions afterwards. I called their 800 number, and surprisingly a real person answered. Monty was able to help me within about 10 minutes and solved my issue. Great company. I would highly recommend.

David F.

09/08/2023 12:00:00 SA

What a racket!
The repair time is minimal, but they have to drive for parts....every time.
I see how they make so much money.
They charge labor rates for driving.

Do yourself a favor and buy the parts yourself first

Jenn F.

12/04/2013 12:00:00 SA

Good job HVAC crew! Had a really small job that I didn't want to do myself (capping a vent that was no longer needed), and it was done quickly and efficiently. The office manager talked me through what went into it, had some guys come out the next day, and they were in and out in 20 minutes. I was charged the 1 hr labor minimum (which they told me up front), but that was it, no add-ons or surprises. They did a clean, professional job, and I didn't have to climb into the attic. Thanks!

fred w.

01/09/2019 12:00:00 SA

UPDATE: Bill Howe's customer service team reached out based on my previoius experience and fully rectified the situation. Not right the first time, but making it right is impressive. Still shouldn't have hapened but thanks folks. will revise my review.

J L.

03/08/2023 12:00:00 SA

I had to have my kitchen and shower faucets replaced. The two gentlemen worked quick and were very friendly. You never want to pay for plumbing issues, but they made it a pleasant day and got the job done. Dan Denny was the man in charge and said he was retiring and moving to Texas. Good for him but to bad for us who could use a good and pleasant plumber.

John B.

02/01/2017 12:00:00 SA

We called Bill Howe to get a bid on repiping our home on Jan 16th. We had found a hot water leak in the slab. I setup a time for the estimator to come look at the project for Jan 18th 11am-2pm . He arrived 3 hours late for the appointment. Mauricio arrived walked around the house asked me a few questions gave me his card and left. The house has no water, or heat. As of February 1st I still have not received anything from Bill Howe Plumbing not a phone call, email not even a message saying they were not interested in the project. Horrible customer service.

Torrey S.

01/06/2023 12:00:00 SA

After having three plumbers come to my house and attempt to fix my poorly draining tub, all of them told me that my pipes were just old and I would have to install new plumbing in my entire home. (And still charged a service fee!)

I went on the Bill Howe website and was able to easily book an appointment through their chat service.

The technician was on time and very patient with my curious kiddos.

He was honest and respectful and within 45 minutes my tub was draining better than when we moved in!

Very satisfied with the s quality of service, respectfulness and overall experience.

I have been recommending to everyone I know since!

Susan D.

8/31/2016

He came out didn't give me an estimate I told him I needed new pipes under the sink and didn't let me know he was snaking it . Then he had me come in and show me that the water was running down just fine and put a little soap in it and said it was fine I said when I wash my face it accumulates and doesn't run out. He left and did not give me any paperwork whatsoever.

Lucia R.

12/15/2020

Edgar Alba was instrumental in providing not only a fair, comprehensive quote for the water damaged (done by a pipe busting in my townhome) but he also made sure all work was completed as expected... actually he went above and beyond in his work. I had other related work completed also. Holli, the project manager was professional and helpful also. I am very happy with the Bill Howe service and quality of work. Highly recommend this company!

Tim S.

06/01/2017 12:00:00 SA

Fast expert service. Multiple solutions were provided. Corey was a pro! I've used Bill Howe many times and have been pleased with their service every time.

Kaylee W.

06/04/2014 12:00:00 SA

My husband and I noticed that we had a very small amount of water dripping from the ceiling in our living room but had not even the smallest trace of a water spot. Right above the drip is the bathroom upstairs so we were both prepared for the worst. I called Bill Howe this morning after being referred to them by the plumbing company I and my family have used for over 10 years because they were too booked up (which I thought was very cool and said a lot about both companies). Within 2 hours Ron R. with Bill Howe showed up to my house. He was in a great mood, well put together and started off by having me tell him what was going on and adding that any input I had would help him asses the problem; typically anyone you call to work on your house will subconsciously treat you like you're stupid and dismiss what you think/say about the problem so this was a nice breath of fresh air! He did everything he could to avoid cutting a hole in my ceiling right off the bat. Thank god he noticed that both our bathtub faucet and overflow drain were not on tight enough. He took them both off and sure enough they were wet and had mold inside. Every time he noticed something he called me into the bathroom with a very polite when you have a moment I'd like to show you this. Both my husband and I are first time home owners and are definitely in the learning process so it was VERY helpful that Ron pretty much walked me step by step through what he was doing the whole time he was here. He replaced both pieces and thoroughly explained to me what he thought was going on within an hour. All I can say is WOW... what a stand up guy! If all of the workers for this company are as helpful and kind as he was I do not see how anyone could give this company less then 5 stars. THANK YOU so much Ron and I will be sending anyone I know to this company!

Pauline P.

09/08/2017 12:00:00 SA

This review is for the complete replacement of my AC unit and Heater.

After having several companies come out to give quotes, I ended up choosing Bill Howe because the rep I worked with, Richard, was the ONLY rep who showed me pictures of each of my units, and described fully what needed to be done. He then went over three different options with me, and explained the pros and cons of each. There was no pressure, and I felt very confident in what he was saying.

On installation day, Eddie and Jose arrived on time, and were absolutely amazing. They worked hard to get as much done on the first day as possible, and then worked overtime(!) on a Friday(!) to make sure they fully completed the work so I wouldn't have to try to take another day off work on Monday. They were really polite, and respected the fact that I had a cat, so doors needed to be closed at all times. Both days, they cleaned up fully before they left, and spent the time to explain everything to me. Eddie even showed me pictures of a hole in my roof he found so I could have it fixed. Talk about going above and beyond!

To the owners of this company, please make sure you give some major kudos to Eddie and Jose, because they really went above and beyond the call of duty and deserve to be recognized. Thank you so much!

Janet G.

3/30/2020

Hello, today my toilet suddenly wouldn't flush. My first thought is I need to call Bill Howe and have somebody come out and look at it for me. I was very fortunate they were able to come out today. Christopher, the service representative, was here quickly. He was very courteous, explained everything to me and was done in just a few minutes. Great service. This is why I use them for all my plumbing needs.

Bob D.

05/03/2012 12:00:00 SA

I called Bill Howe to fix a small leak in my incoming main copper line. Upon arrival, the technician immediately tried to upsell this small job with the fear of regulator failure and replacement. This was noted as a $300 additional componant that exhibited no signs of impending failure. The technician did complete the specified repair however he did not tighted the union to the regulator resulting in a leak at that point. I thought to call the company but chose instead to simply tighten the union myself. The entire service took less than 1 hour to complete yet I was charged the overtime rate by the technician.
After dealing with the leak and looking at the bill, I decided to contact Bill Howe to express my dissapointment in the poor repair and high bill.
This is where the situation changed. I was dissapointed in the technician however the customer care team was outstanding. After speaking with customer care and coming to a fair resolution, I came to believe that Bill Howe stood for much more than his technican demonstrated.
I know companies cannot control individuals behavior but they can control how they react to the situation. Bill Howe earns 5 stars for the customer focus and 1 star for the capability of the technician. With the right individuals on the Bill Howe team, I would absolutely call them again if the need were to arise.

Lorraine F.

10/21/2019

If I could give half a star I would! Used Bill Howe numerous times, and the last time was the last time! First of all, not all of the plumbers they send out are friendly or professional. Secondly, and most importantly, the tech brought the wrong size of drain cover for my shower, explained this to me and said he had to go back and get another size. He left, came back and then told me he grabbed the wrong size yet again, and had to go back a second time! I asked why he didn't just bring both sizes with him the second time?! He left, came back and when he charged me he charged me for three hours when the job took less than 10 minutes! We argued about and I finally just paid for 3 hours of mistakes and him driving back and forth! I called the company and the manger was smug and unapologetic. I will NEVER use them and will NEVER refer them!

Genoa D.

04/06/2012 12:00:00 SA

I am the owner of the Ocean Beach Hotel and I have had nothing but problems with tankless water heaters Bille Howe talked me into purchasing. We spent upwards of $20,000.00 to have them installed. They kept shutting off and we had to have them serviced over and over. Finally, they replaced them with three new units from a different company. Now these continue to shut off. Bille Howe's explaination is that now I need to have them serviced by them, of course, every six months for an additional fee. I wish I had kept the old tank water heaters. We never had a problem and I certainly wouldn't have to pay every six months for someone to clean them. I have a tankless water heater in my home that was installed by a different company. I've never had a problem with is for 6 years. I wish I would have used them instead.

B B.

4/20/2011

I used Bill Howe Plumbing, Heating, Restoration, and Emergency services last week and they were all great! Rick Diamond was an exceptionally professional plumber and helped me, single working mom, through all of my challenges. This is the 3rd or 4th time I've called Bill Howe and they always come through.

Nicholas G.

10/13/2014

Had a bit of a plumbing nightmare on sunday, and the last guys we called didn't show up.

Called bill howe at 8am this morning and there tech josh was here by 9am and Had fixed our backed up drains, within 30 minutes.

He was very professional, quick and knowledgeable about his profession, would recommend to anybody and would definitely use them again.

A+

Jennifer H.

01/11/2023 12:00:00 SA

This did indeed happen at our house. They did fix the issue only after it was discovered, had it NOT been discovered your mistake could have e deadly!!!

Peter S.

04/11/2017 12:00:00 SA

I started having mysterious drain issues on Sunday night, with some sewage flooding two seemingly unconnected sinks. I was able to get Josh out first thing Monday morning. Before I was able to finish explaining what I thought the problem was, he was already on it. He had it resolved in under ten minutes. My family quickly went from worrying we would be making serious repairs to problem resolved in less than ten minutes. I've used Bill Howe once before and will continue to use them, they're 2 for 2 resolving my plumbing issues.

Warren B.

10/20/2017

We had a severe water leak under one of our streets that required a shut-down of our entire mobile home park water system (seniors). Although the techs arrived quickly, they had to wait until Dig Alert marked the area. Once marked, the two techs and the back-hoe operator opened the street and fixed the problem. The entire project took about 12 hours. The techs were friendly and knowledgeable, and did everything they could to resolve the issue as fast as possible. BHP assisted with notifying the responsible water authority and arranging the back-hoe company. Everyone at BHP when out of their way to get the problem handled. Hats off to BHP!

M Z.

1/18/2020

Saved me a ton of money with honest and fast service. Will definitely use for my next plumbing and air duct needs. Highly recommend!

Kathy R.

11/30/2018

I called Bill Howe (who I have used before with no issues) regarding a toilet that was running. It is a one piece dual flush toilet. The plumber came and told me that the toilet had to be removed to fix the leak and was not familiar with the manufacturer of the toilet. He said I would have to try to find the parts since it was an off brand and it would take weeks if not months to find. I was convinced and agreed to replace the toilet with one through Bill Howe. The toilet that was installed was not a dual flush and they gave me a $50.00 credit. It cost over $800.00.

The exact same toilet in my guest bathroom starting running as well. I contacted the manufacturer by email (very simple) and they send me a video on fixing the running issue. I was told that I could easily fix it. I am 68 years old, female but a bit handy. I watched the video and in 5 minutes I had the toilet fixed, no more running water.

I am so pissed that I paid $800 for a simple fix. Had they simply went online to the manufacturer they could have fixed it. Now I have a toilet I didn't want (not dual flush) for a considerable amount of money.

I have used Bill Howe in the past and have always felt they were honest and capable. Not any longer.

Wonkyong L.

07/07/2023 12:00:00 SA

We needed airgap installed since absense of that was affecting the dishwasher draining. Also wanted to remove the food disposal and repipe it since we dont use the food disposal at all and calcification of the hard water was affecting the draining. The sink also needed the new caulking. Asher helped us with all with big smile and did all the job beautifully. Thank you Ahser and Bill Howe!

Kerri K.

3/28/2017

Javier from Bill Howe plumbing has been out to my place twice to fix plumbing issues & both times he has been extremely professional, quick, & tidy with fixing my items that needed to be serviced. I appreciate how they give you 3 hour Windows but also call you 30 mins prior to arriving. Highly recommend Bill Howe plumbing & I will request Javier each time because I know he will do a great job.

Gerry B.

12/15/2020

We are doing some excavation on the side of our house. We had all the gas, electrical, water lines marked. Unfortunately we hit an unmarked gas line with a shovel and caused a leak. We shut of the line and started calling plumbers on a Saturday. Fortunately this line was not for the house, it was for the backyard.
If you have EVER tried to get a plumber on a Saturday, you know the frustration. You get answering machines, voice mails, answering services-etc. I made about 10 plus calls. Two companies did answer. One told me they would send a tech right out for an estimate. In a few hours the tech from a big (well known) plumbing company arrive. After a few minutes he gave me a price of $1,400. Once I picked my jaw up off the ground I asked how long it would take and why sooo much. I was told that's the best we can do. I told him that we would shop around and wait until Monday or Tuesday.

The other company that answered was Bill Howe. They told me they could be out on Tuesday. It would be a little cheaper than coming out on the weekend. I agreed. The tech (Matthew) arrived in the time window. He had the tools and parts to make the repair and the total was $370.00. Their weekend price might have been about $100.00 more but not $1,000.00 more like the other (well known) company.
So, thanks Bill Howe for an honest reasonable price. And good work done by Matt.

Johanna P.

09/02/2016 12:00:00 SA

Terrible!! Awful repairs!! we needed to replace some plumbing in the walls and the homeowners association has a contract with these idiots. instead of replacing the plumbing IN THE WALLS, we now have plumbing that runs up an outside wall, over the roof and down the wall and enters my home in the pantry!! what kind of hillbilly plumbing is this?? I have a HUGE pipe in my pantry and I can never get cold water in the summer and hot water in the winter. SAD SORRY excuse for plumbers. RIP OFF!!! I think their tools consist of duct tape, coat hangers and bubble gum. This was never explained to me that my condo would have OUTDOOR PLUMBING with HUGE BLACK PIPES running down the front of my home. they never even fixed the gaping hole where the pipes entered my pantry! I had to fill it with a can of that expanding foam. call real plumbers not these guys. They obviously have to advertise a TON to trick unknowing customers.

R H.

12/06/2017 12:00:00 SA

When I pay to have something fixed for myself or others, I do not expect attitude from guys bitching that they have to work an evening. I expect the problem to be fixed. Plumber found the problem and said, I don't see any more water. He was going to leave. Hey, aren't you going to fix the problem. Well, it's not a problem now. That's because I shut off the water. Tossed his butt out of here and no longer use BH and do not recommend. I called a competitor and they fixed the problem. When I showed them the BH work, they shook their heads.

Sav C.

10/29/2020

I am so happy I called Bill Howe! First of all they showed up in a timely manner and were able to quickly assess the leak in my bathroom wall. They were extremely friendly and kept me in the loop with what work needed to be done. This was my first time using Bill Howe and it will definitely be my first call next time I have an issue! I have tried other plumbing companies, but no one beats Bill Howe's prices and professionalism!

H. B.

1/22/2011

We're new to the area and are living in a very nice, but close to 40 year old townhouse. Unfortunately, though the place has been maintained over the years, things happen, and usually those things are in the area of plumbing. our landlord is a loyal customer of Bill Howe and has instructed us to call them when plumbing problems occur.

Though we've had them out several times over the two years we've lived here, our latest experience was far bigger and more time-consuming than any we've had before. Just before New Year's Eve day a small group of spots appeared in a corner of the dining room. Unable to remove it and advised by a handyman that it was a leak, we called Bill Howe. They confirmed the handyman's diagnosis, easily stopped the cause of the leak (a toilet seal) and thus began a three week job which involved a tear down of portions of a wall dividing two rooms, mildew removal, removal of damaged wood, etc. It really did go on and on, required being up close and personal with this company and their office daily, constantly humming machinery for a week and an upset household but -- they were GREAT!

From Hailey and Kevin in the office, to Sarah and Adam who worked on the tear down and mildew treatment, to Frank Zazueta, Armando and Antonio who did the renovations, and John who oversaw the renovations (and others whose names I didn't get), everyone was friendly, clean, and understood what was being done, why and could explain it to me or find out the answers to any questions we had. Without exception, everyone was polite and eager to please. They showed up on time or called if there was a snafu, showed no attitude, worked steadily and produced an excellent product.

During the time we've lived here we've had a hot water tank replaced, a couple of other leaks repaired, and a few faucets and toilets taken care of. On all occasions -- without exception -- we have been extremely satisfied with their work, both in the office and in our home.

Our landlord told me he's been using them for years and though they might be more expensive he continues using them for the reasons I've listed above. Their work is clean and efficient. I recommend them fully!

J G.

08/04/2016 12:00:00 SA

I would double the stars if I could. We had a concrete encased sewer line get damaged by a jack hammer and called at least six plumbers. Three came out. Two said we had to jackhammer the floors of the house all the way back to the sewer output. Bill Howe was our third plumber. Two guys came out and spent a TON of time just talking about ways around tearing up floors. They did a camera job FOR FREE. They finally said they wanted to bring in their General Manager who had more experience then them. He came out WITHIN THE HOUR. He gave us tons of advice on how to fix it and then gave us a list with the MATERIALS if we wanted out contractors to fix it instead of Bill Howe. The whole thing? Free. He simply said in the future think of us when you have plumbing problems. I swear I have never had better service. Tonight I was chatting with neighbors and told them my experience. They told me that they had an issue with an AC temp install and their technician at Bill Howe suggested they walk through it on the phone rather than do a field call and get charged. It turned out is was a fuse issue. No need to come out, no charge. I am beyond impressed.

Paul T.

10/13/2020

We called Bill Howe because my daughter dropped her Mimi's dentures in the toilet. They sent Daniel swift out who was very professional, explained everything before starting and most importantly was wearing a mask. By far the best service man I've had in a long time And will continue to only use Bill Howe plumbing has long as Daniel Swift is around. And if you were wondering yes he found the dentures!!!!

Thanks again Daniel S!!!
Paul
USMC SGT
Semper FI

H S.

12/06/2022 12:00:00 SA

So far have had a terrible experience with this company. I agreed to have a plumbing technician come over to assess a water heater and leaking pipe. I agreed to a no fee inspection and afterwards the technician told md it was at his discretion to charge me $49 for the free inspection and would tack it onto the total for the job. He quoted us $189/hour and said it would take 1 1/2hours to install the lower element on our Rheem water heater. He sent us to Home Depot to purchase the part and told us he would be back here to fix it at 7:00am. He never showed up and when I called the company they told me that he was on call all day and put us on the schedule from 4 to 8pm. I asked for the $49 fee to be waved and the receptionist told me she would send the information over and someone would call me back. I was called back and reassured I wouldn't be charged the $49 from yesterday and a new service tech named Tony would come over this morning and also for no fee. Next I get a phone call from a service manager named Mauricio telling me he will come over to assess the job. He's not a technician. He asked how much we were quoted and he said he would need 1 1/2 hours to complete the job. He didn't even come over. Something seems off about this company. If you like getting the run around then give this company a call. As for me, I am going to keep searching until I find a reputable company with reliable technicians that keep their word and honor their agreements.

Liz P.

12/31/2014

have used them several times but this last time they lost us as customers
we had a drained cleaned out in our outside shower in sept and it cost $78 (as in previous visits..the price was consistent..however yesterday just 3 months later
it was $136..plus we had a camera put
in the drain that cost another $315.. after looking at other companies prices
theirs are top of the price list..when we called to complain we were feeling ripped off and upcharged
their customer service rep said that's the rate..i'll send you the price sheet
so with no flexibility or concern for an unhappy customer..my comment is
that they waste their money on their adverstising if they can't keep repeat
customers happy...I will try Mary Jean next time and i'll definitely be sure to ask
for a quote before allowing anyone to service my plumbing..

Aaron M.

2/23/2015

Had a nice guy come out to the house and spend an hour talking about my AC. Then I never heard from him again with the quote. Last week I received a note from him, Bruce, telling me he would give me 10% off the quote...you know, the one I never received. So now my 10k will be going elsewhere.

Karen W.

8/30/2022

Grateful for drama free drain service. Robby S was who took care of the plumbing issue today. He was courteous, thorough and tidy. It's nice to have an annoying problem taken care of in an efficient manner and the added bonus of no mess left behind. Great service. Howe plumbing not only meets, but greatly exceeded my expectations.

Esther D.

02/08/2017 12:00:00 SA

Wow I don't even know where to start. I had a puddle on my dining room floor that I couldn't figure out where it came from. I called Bill Howe plumbing and they sent Matt right out. Honestly he must be a pipe whisperer because he cut a little tiny hole in my ceiling and somehow nailed the exact spot where the pipe was leaking. Keep in mind there was no drips or stains to indicate where the leak was coming from. So he fixed that right up and he told me they can also do the necessary moisture detection and cleanup (if I wanted) So then the sent out Carlos (same day)who with his magic moisture meter and infrared camera was able to show me exactly where there was water in my walls. He set up a big industrial fan and some sort of machine that sucked the water out he also went above and beyond by telling me how a homeowners claim works (since I had never made one before) then HE scheduled with his office the demo team and estimator to both come in the next morning. Pretty sue that wasn't part of his job description. Next came the demo team of Rene and Luis. Great guys. I had some vinyl lettering on the wall that had to come down and they were so bothered when they told me. No big deal. I left them and went off to work. When I came home they had carefully peeled off each letter so it could be reused. Really? What great guys. I did not expect them to go to that
length for me. They cleaned up so well after that you would never know there had been a demo. Then Derick the estimator came. He was friendly quick and efficient and told me he would work directly with the insurance company to agree on the numbers. Fantastic! Lastly came Gil. He was the restorer. He put back the wall and ceiling, textured, matched the custom paint color, painted AND put back the lettering. (Which I did NOT expect) All in all no one wants plumbing problems but I just can't say enough about the overall experience. I would single them out for praise but they were each and every one of them so prompt, friendly, helpful and darned great at their jobs that I wouldn't know where to start. Thanks to each of them for making this an easy process!!! Sorry for the length but I needed to include them all!!

Laura S.

2/20/2013

Things u want in a plumber.... Fast. Courteous. Punctual. And oh yeah. Fixes the problem. Thanks!!!

Aida B.

4/16/2023

I had a few options for plumbers, but since I had an emergency and needed someone right away, my choices were limited. My friend highly recommended Bill Howe, though they could be pricey, she assured me they get the job done - and she was right. When I called, the person who answered the phone was professional and quickly gave me some appointment times. The technician who came, Luis Rodriguez 773, was also professional, knowledgeable, and highly efficient. He even put on booties before entering the house, and he showed me the problem before fixing it in what felt like 15 minutes. This kind of expertise is crucial when dealing with plumbing emergencies, as it can prevent further damage and inconvenience.

I want to thank Bill Howe for the excellent customer service. Overall, I highly recommend this company to anyone who needs plumbing services. It's always great to work with professionals who are not only skilled but also personable. I hope you never have a plumbing emergency, but if you do, consider Bill Howe, They really are the best!

K A.

12/28/2013

No star.We called Bill Howe for assistance with our water system and immediately told us its 215 dollars per hour because it is OT. Huge turn off. Not for the masses.This place completely made me sick to my stomach to charge people like that. This is lame and overpriced. Crooks!!! They are deem to DRAIN your savings!
Beware people stay away from this evil company!

Melinda P.

10/22/2012

Stephanie and Amber at Bill Howe have been very professional in trying to repair the customer relationship with me and I appreciate that. Bill Howe has offered to compensate me for the wasted water and I think that is fair. I'm going to give them another chance. They do really have a quality team of professionals. I think they just made a mistake last week albeit a bad one. But mistakes happen.

Thank you Bill Howe for stepping up and providing excellent customer service.

Maria O.

07/03/2021 12:00:00 SA

Terrible customer service, they want to charge double for weekends, not polite at all

Matt M.

7/29/2014

Call Bill Howe if you have nothing better to do than sit around waiting for them. They have to be the poorest in timeliness. It was bad enough that I had water dripping my air conditioner and had to wait over a week to get an appointment. I was given the standard window timeframe from 8 - 11. At 10:15 they called and said they didn't have a technician available to dispatch to me during my timeframe and it was looking more like 11:30 or 12:00. Before 12:00 I called them because I had not heard anything. I was told they still had no one to dispatch and as soon as a technician was available they would call me. Its now almost 3 hours later from the 11:00 timeframe that I was quoted and Im still waiting for them to show up. Somebody please tell me if you have an appointment how you can not staff accordingly to have someone there during that time. Whats the purpose of an appointment if they can't be here on time. So basically I lost a whole day of pay waiting for these guys. I had to keep calling my office telling them I was still waiting. I was tempted to just leave but I had waited this long I felt compelled to wait it out. I was suggest you stay far away from this organization unless your time is not important.

Sarju P.

11/02/2016 12:00:00 SA

Steven came after hours and unblocked our dental vacuum line efficiently and at a very reasonable cost. Another plumber quoted us a rate of $2500 and Steven completed the job at a tenth of the price. Great Service. Will definitely use them in the future. Highly recommend them.

Carlos V.

5/23/2019

We had a big water leak in our kitchen. I called bill howe and it was the best thing i could have done. They handled everything from the plumbing to abatement to restoration. Flooring and cabinets had to be removed and replaced. They cleared up the water damage and also handled the insurance situation. Everyone one from their company that came into our home was very professional, polite and knowledgeable. They were also very good hearted and supportive. If i could give more stars i would.

Deven O.

09/10/2019 12:00:00 SA

We have had Bill Howe come out for several different plumbing issues at out home and every time the gentleman have been so kind, helpful and knowledgeable about how to fix our issues. They have fixed everyone of our issues and even go to their home store to pick up parts so that they can complete the job. We are 100% with the service Bill Howe employees provide. Thank you Mikey and Rodrigo!

Mark W.

02/09/2017 12:00:00 SA

Bill Howe Plumbing exceeded my expectations. I needed to replace my older Hansgrohe shower mixer assembly with a new redesigned one Hansgrohe had sent me. I had previously hired another plumber who was incapable of the changeout. I explained to Bill Howe when I scheduled the job what they were facing and that I wanted someone experienced with Hansgrohe. Tris, from Bill Howe, arrived on time and was confident he could remove the old one and install the new mixer assembly. He accomplished the entire change out in less than 30 minutes. Skilled and professional. We are extremely satisfied.

Michele H.

9/15/2020

I'm a long-time Bill Howe customer, so when an issue came up this week with our water heater, there was no question about who I would call for help.

Technicians Dan and Gage were at our door the next morning - wearing masks during the-time-of-covid. They arrived well within the scheduled time, and as promised, they called 30 minuted before arrival.

After consulting with us and laying out a variety of options, they proceeded. We was very pleased with their work ethic, their knowledge of what needed to be done, and the care they took to not 'make a mess' and to leave the area as they found it.

Bill Howe Plumbing remains my go-to plumber.

Joe M.

08/10/2018 12:00:00 SA

I am definitely holding on to this business card! I am extremely satisfied with the service this company provided me. I would recommend to request for Mike Mason, if your in San Diego area and need assistance for plumbing. He was very patient, informative, and honest! I definitely give this company and their employees a five star down the line!!

K L.

4/25/2011

Edgar and his team did a quick professional job replacing our sump pump. We will be sure to call Edgar if we need any plumbing work in the future.

Al C.

02/07/2018 12:00:00 SA

Just called and tried to make an appt. but the service rep told me that I was not in their system and that I was out of their service area. Weird thing is that they have been my primary plumber for the past 5yrs. I've used their services on numerous occasions but this is the first time I was turned away. The service rep just told me Sorry can't find you in our system and you're out of our service area!. I guess I'll be looking for a new plumber.

Update 2/7/18: Stacey got back to me very quickly after this post. It's been upgraded to a 4-Star. Julie the manager called and clarified that they do service Carlsbad and that it was a mistake on the service reps part, a training opportunity for them. I'm willing to overlook the mistake, we're all human. Still the whole experience left a bad taste in mouth but hopefully the actual work will be a much more pleasant experience. I'll report back again once the work is complete.

Sabrina S.

6/27/2012

My company has been using Bill Howe for a while and we call them for everything from installing a garbage disposal to replacing all the gas lines for the entire property. I have never met an unpleasant technician and I love the way dispatch will call when a technician is on the way, and the technician will stop by the office and explain what they did and how much it will cost. They have mechanics who can do pretty much any plumbing job and a high level of professionalism. I can't rate them highly enough

Steve M.

5/27/2016

Javier is a rock star! Great guy came out on this holiday weekend and snaked the poop out of the main line to my house!! Thanks Bill Howe!!

Doug W.

05/10/2017 12:00:00 SA

Just had our Heating and AC system replaced this past week. The estimate was fair, the work was done on time and our house looks the same as before they started. Special shout out to Fonzo, Humberto, Yons, and Salvador. I would definitely recommend these guys! Will post a followup review this summer when we actually use the system.

Francois T.

1/24/2016

**UPDATE**
After this issue, Julie from Bill Howe contacted us and offered a full refund. She checked the invoice and the work (not) done. Great customer service!
****

We had a water leak in the kitchen. On a weekend of course. After calling our usual plumbing services with no success, we ended up with Bill Howe because it was the only one available to come on such a short service. That was the only good part of our experience. Basically, the guy arrived, checked below the sink, told us the leaks comes from inside the wall so there is nothing he could do right now. Went back to his truck for 30 min (!) to prepare the huge bill (around $250)...

On Monday we went back to our regular plumber: same diagnostic, no charge but a quote for the repairs if we wanted to work with them (Courtesy Plumbing).

Roscoe C.

11/11/2013 12:00:00 SA

Since my previous review, we have used Saul and those he delegated numerous times covering both major and minor events. Long story short, we are still 100% satisfied with the service and value we have been provided during each episode. Saul has always taken care of us as if we were family.

I don't want to bore with long stories, but I'll cover a few of the highlights, in chronological order:

The most expensive project, about two years ago, was due to a major plumbing failure: disintegrated iron pipe (or should I say dirt tunnel) drain line underneath our concrete foundation resulting in a total-house backup due to excessive sediment. This involved several days labor, jack hammering out a whole in the bathroom floor, tunneling under the house (The actual term is undermining - so damn literal! LOL) to replace all the disintegrated drain lines, then replacing all the removed dirt (via wheelbarrow through the house), pouring a new section of concrete slab, and installing a new bath tub. Understandably, the job took a whole day longer than Saul had hoped during the initial bid (you never know exactly what you're gonna find down there), but true to his word he charged a very minimal amount for the final day's labor. Though many many wheelbarrows of dirt traveled through our white-carpeted living room and hallway, they left no trace. When the tile guy was putting in new tile he wasn't quite happy with how the new concrete lined up with the old concrete, so Saul promptly came back and made it right (at no additional charge). In summary, though this project cost us several thousand dollars, seeing how much work was involved we believe we were charged a fair price for an excellent service.

Fast forward about two weeks to about 7pm, when I'm installing new tub faucet parts and I accidentally removed a part I shouldn't have - resulting in little parts shooting all over the bathroom and 90 psi of water shooting out the fixture and hitting the opposite wall. I ran out to the main shut off valve, but I could not get it to budge with my largest wrench. Though the tub was draining excellently (thanks to the brand new drain line), it could not keep up and the house was definitely going to flood within minutes if nothing was done. We called Saul's cell. He was at home about to take a shower, ironically, and he quickly left his home and rushed over. Meanwhile I did a bunch of MacGyver crap to divert water out the bathroom window, etc. and kept the water level in the bathroom floor to about an inch until he arrived, and shut off the water with a proper tool. He then spent at least an hour helping me find or fashion all the required little fixture parts and re-assembling things to get it all working again. All told, he dropped everything, helped us out in a time of urgent need, and didn't even charge us anything for it.

Things were quite around our place for about a year or so, until one morning about 100 sq ft. of the living room ceiling fell to the floor. Yay! Turns out there was a water leak in the ceiling - a 50 year old copper joint that had never been soldered and finally decided to say hello. This job wasn't really a fit for Saul, but the person sent out did a thorough job, and the insurance company's first-responder folks (dealing with the water damage) were surprised with how good of a price we got as they considered Bill Howe to provide good quality service and thought they would've billed more for the repair service they provided.

We've had Saul out for a few minor things that I won't bore you with, but each time he has provided us an excellent service and the prices are almost always less than I expect.

Long story short - if you have a plumbing problem, call these guys, and ask for Saul.

Marlene R.

08/12/2010 12:00:00 SA

We have been using Bill Howe for years and they are awesome! They are prompt, professional and the best part very personable. I just had Art come out and fix my shower. He took the time to not only explain, but show me what had gone wrong. We chatted a bit about some of his most interesting adventures as a plummer, and I didn;t feel like I was being taken at all. Their prices are reasonable and well worth the service. They will continue to be our number one plumbing service.

Michelle G.

7/18/2023

My husband & I have used Bill Howe Plumbing on more than one occasion. Every so often, our pipes get clogged* up & unfortunately using Draino will only take you so far. The response time is always incredibly quick which puts us at ease knowing the plumbing issues will be resolved soon. Our quotes are always the same as the end price, so there are no surprises. My home is always treated with respect, with the plumber wearing shoe covers while in the home. Our tech was right on time, polite, explained everything he was doing thoroughly, & finished the job within an hour. With out a doubt, we'll continue to use Bill Howe Plumbing since they always come through & continue to do a stellar job!

Lizzy B.

2/19/2020

Isaiah is the best and Bill Howe is crazy consistent and always easy to have come out. Thank you!

Randy R.

3/15/2018

Thank you Bill Howe company, and especially Tris Coffin, for the easy scheduling & excellent service! It is always good to have Tris' expertise when working on my plumbing issues.

Stephanie C.

04/08/2020 12:00:00 SA

Tony provided exceptional customer service. Bill Howe is open 24 hours (which is great). It was easy to schedule an appointment and the customer service representative was very friendly. Tony is very knowledgeable and personable. He immediately knew what the problem was and how to fix it. We appreciate that he explained the process to us and kept us informed every step of the way. We will recommend Tony at Bill Howe to all of our friends, family and coworkers. Thank you for doing an amazing job! It's nice to know we can count on Bill Howe.

L. D.

10/20/2014

I was really underwhelmed by my latest experience with Bill Howe Plumbing. Our home conventional gas tank water heater was failing and we were interested in switching to a tankless water heater. I called a couple of companies for quotes but was really hoping to deal with Bill Howe based upon positive past experience. The Bill Howe representative arrived on time and sized up the situation with the current configuration in the garage. He wrote up an estimate and then departed. I was sort of surprised as I expected more dialogue on my needs and desires for a tankless system. The quote also surprised me as it was over a thousand dollars less than my research and other quotes led me to expect. So I spent more time on the internet researching the tankless heater in the Bill Howe quote. The quoted heater was a low end model that had far less energy efficiency than I would ever have desired in our home. Yet I was given this quote without dialogue on what I really desired. Gotta take Bill Howe down one star from prior good experiences.

Tamara A.

2/16/2022

These guys are honest and know their !@#$ stuff. Had a plumbing issue at my moms. She lives alone is 95 and needs her toilet in her bathroom working with the grab bars and ADA height on the toilet. Using a guest bath was going to be a fall hazard for her. Bill Howe was the 2nd plumber I had out for this issue. They are responsive, competent, and honest. So refreshing. Skip the other guys, just use these guys and you wont have a weeks wait with callbacks.

Debby W.

3/15/2023

I needed both shower and tub faucet replaced. First guy showed up, did shower for $750 and took 20 minutes. Quite for other faucet was then $1300. Took forever to get another appointment scheduled. Finally got a window 10-1. Guy showed up late and said job would be 4 hours. DO NOT USE THEM!!!!!

Kathy C.

12/28/2013

I have nothing but GREAT things to write about Bill Howe Company.

We had Pattric Nealy as our plumber and he was so helpful and nice. We had a clogged toilet and he cleaned out the main drain. Pattric quickly figured out what was wrong and fixed the problem. He did this very efficiently and politely.
He also brought to our attention two problems that done by a well known contractor on this 2 year old addition. The toilet wobbled because the the sewer drainage pipe was too high and not done to code. Also the main outside line drain cover was never glued down by the well known contractor. I wish Bill Howe would have done the plumbing on our addition and then we wouldn't have had these problems. I would highly recommend Pattric Nealy and Bill Howe to anyone.

M P.

12/12/2016 12:00:00 SA

Great rates & very honest! Alex & Jeff are very professional & nice. :)

Peter A.

12/27/2011

How can plumbing repair ever be a good experience? Well it was with Pattric Nealy from Bill Howe. I like to work with honest, human (Mensch) and technically astute companies who care about their reputation and repeat business. This was one of those great plumbing experiences in both drain clean out and a broken fitting. Price was very surprisingly favorable to me as well. Thanks!

Joseph C.

5/23/2023

Attached are photos of our kitchen ceiling after a toilet bowl leak above the kitchen occured. The water is trapped inside of the sheet rock, weakening it and eventually becoming a problem

Tino S.

12/18/2012

My experience at Bill Howe Plumbing was comprised of interactions with Jaime at the office, and both plumbing techs Justin and Pattrick.
From consultation to payment, the process was fluid. They came out to snake my main line, ran a camera at our request, and found that my main line had roots and was offset. I opted to proceed with an epoxy lining (13 feet of lining, lifetime non-transferrable warranty, btw), clean out installation, and the actual job spanned just two days. Justin and his partner Pattrick were communicative, professional, and willing to assist. At no time did I feel spoken down to, disrespected, even with the million questions I had. The whole process was almost too easy, and that's okay with me. Good job Jaime, Justin, and Pattrick. I have no reservations about recommending their plumbing services to anyone.

Jesse S.

3/22/2015

This is not a review of the quality of their work since I've already posted a 5 star review for some work they did for us. I manage several properties and opened a business account with them at their recommendation (discounted rates). I had some work done and their discounted rates seem to be higher than their regular rates since they keep adding charges just like some of the other companies I no longer do business with. I will now add them to that list.

In addition, I went to their main office on Aero Drive to pay a bill since I was already in the area. I was standing next to my vehicle looking up the address for my next errand when Bill's wife shows up and parks two spaces over (actually took up part of the space in between us). I didn't even notice her since I was searching my phone at the time when she stops and asks in a very rude and condescending tone, 'Do you have business here?' I was caught off guard because I didn't immediately realize she was talking to me. I looked around and replied, 'Excuse me?' She asks again with a very unfriendly look on her face, 'Do you have business here?' I told her I had just paid a bill and she immediately changes her tone and smiles, 'Oh, well thank you so much.' Too late, true colors shown here. Please don't use them, she does not deserve our business.

Christopher R.

4/29/2021

We use Bill Howe everytime we have a plumbing problems, they always do a good job, are honest and a great company. AA+++++
Diana & Chris Rottner

Vince A.

12/16/2017

I got contacted by Stacy and Hector of Bill Howe plumbing after a couple of hours of posting my 1st review. They rectified the situation and thus shows that they truly care about their customers/clients and making things right. Will definitely use them again if needed.

Mary C.

07/08/2014 12:00:00 SA

I'm so impressed with Bill Howe plumbing. My appointment was scheduled between 8am and 11am today. I received a call at 8:01 that a plumber was on the way:-) Eric was quick, efficient and very professional. It;s so great to have an awesome experience especially when it is for things that you have to take care of!

Charmayne H.

5/27/2020

I have used Bill Howe Plumbing for years, Bill Howe Plumbing is always on time, call before arrival, are kind and professional, never try to sell me on items that are not needed, offer me options, and are very knowledgeable. They have done work inside and out, from clearing french drains, fixing gas lines, new garbage disposals, and most recently a new A/C unit, they guarantee their work, and are fair in pricing, having trust in a contractor is important to me, and I trust Bill Howe.

Rick L.

08/08/2015 12:00:00 SA

My house has been torn up since July 3rd, We had a flood, very slow response our building manager called them out. First they could not fix the leak then as they tried they made it worst Drying equipment was set up but they did not do any removal of drywall and flooring for two days. We had the machines running for more than a week, Now over 30 days later my kitchen is unusable, no cabinets have been replaced, the ceiling is open to above. They come and go as they please, in and out of my house with no warning....

Michael H.

2/26/2022

Bill Howe and his employees truly care and make things right. 100% satisfied with their support and customer service. Jamie and the team made everything perfect. I highly recommend them for your plumbing needs.

Lyza S.

12/20/2015

Just got off the phone with some guy and he asked how he can help and immediately told me that he charges $220+ PER HOUR! From the reviews I've read they state that Bill Howe doesn't have any service or truck fees, but apparently because I'm calling on a Sunday they charge a ridiculous amount of money just to come inside your house to check the problem. And he said he might not even have the parts in his truck to fix the problem. What a joke!

Elaine G.

3/15/2018

I had a broken sewer pipe in my basement. I needed --1. Pipe repaired, 2. Sewage in basement cleaned out.

Howe plumbing gave estimate for restoration at $65 an hour. Ok. Workers went in truck to get paperwork . When they came back they Said they called office and instead of original hourly rate they were told to charge me $87 per hour. I was uneasy but said ok to the 2 smiling nice guys in my living room.

They worked for TWO HOURS but charged me for EIGHT. I questioned this. They said oh the extra hours were because they charged me travel time from the office.

This meant they charged me $360 JUST to drive the 20 minutes to my house.

I called office. They told me oh so so sorry. They had new computer program and workers accidentally punched in the wrong amounts. They refunded me for the extreme overcharges.

Here's what bothers me. I look at the other reviews and what I see is a pattern of overcharging. Read them and see what you think.

I fear this is a business practice. They have nothing to lose by cheating. I suspect many people would just not notice or suck up the cheat. If customer complains? They say Oh sorry new computer program They've lost nothing. They keep the money from all the people who didn't complain and refund the rest of the victims so they get what was theirs in the first place. I would give Bill HOwe FAMILY PLUMBING the benefit of the doubt but I am NOT the only one they did this to. I am NOT. Read the other cheated customers reviews.

Maybe the overcharges really were an accident ? Right??? Not just me but others were overcharged too. But all of us were just accidentally cheated. Right?

Maybe Bill Howe plumbing is no worse than any other plumber, mechanic, or contractor. I guess the difference is they've used their family name as a prop. As a way to manipulate customers into supposing a family business would value their integrity. I had 2 guys in my house smiling. I thought Gee nice guys. They probably have families. I'll give them a tip. They smile, pet your dog. Then they talk fast and cheat you.

A family company plasters its family name on its trucks and tv ads and then....they stain their name. They stain their children's name. Unless my experience and the experience of others here on yelp were all just GREAT BIG misunderstandings too.

So you decide. I'm to the point where I'm so wounded by contractors that I feel like I should just assume people will come into,my house and smile at me and and cheat. Bill Howe Plumbing, family company!! Smiling ads. Cheat.

Or maybe not. Maybe they just keep making the same accidental overcharges. Does that make sense to you? A nice family company would never cheat. Right? It's a FAMILY. Since it's a FAMILY they wouldn't do that right? There's a very sad ick factor here.Geez and yuk

UPDATE: I read the response from the company. They did refund the overcharge. They did respond. But I am not the only one who's had this experience with them. I think people can read the reviews on here, detect the DISTINCT pattern of overcharges by this family business practice and decide for themselves. I can't even get angry anymore. It's just sad . I don't know that Bill Howe plumbing cheats any more than other contractors. I guess maybe it's the whole family as a prop that's sad.

update: the pipe they supposedly lined is leaking again. Seriously, the guy worked on it for an hour and literally sat in the truck behind my garage for 2 hours. I think they have gps tracking on their trucks so maybe that's hoe they squeeze out more hours from the company by pretending to work all that time. I'm SO disgusted.there is enough business in SAn Diego that these guys don't have to cheat and yet they do. So here I am with the original mess I PAID to have fixed. What do I do? Call them again.? The company that cheated me twice? Why do they do this? It's so disheartening

Skip K.

08/03/2020 12:00:00 SA

As in good faith I have updated my star review. Could have been a 5 star, however because of the time & effort it took to resolve I give a 4 star rating.

Tim T.

4/18/2019

Bryce and Omar were out today to clean out our dryer vent. They were very thorough and we're pleased with the results. It's a long pipe that runs the depth of the garage so it took a lot of work to get to all of it. They were persistent, even disassembling it where needed. The final price was the the same as what was estimated.

Jennifer F.

05/02/2023 12:00:00 SA

Our water heater had to be replaced and at the same time coincidentally my bathroom tub faucet broke. Isiah came to the rescue. His knowledge and great personality really made what could have been a tough situation bearable. A huge Thank You to Isiah!

J J.

8/22/2021

******SIX STAR REVIEW!!!!!!
Michael Hoover is the best!!!!!! The man, the myth, the legend. Prompt, fast, talented and exceedingly efficient. Got in and got out and changed my bathroom faucet in no time at all. Wrapped up the job perfectly. COVID measures in place. Apex pinnacle top talent!!!!!! Promote now!!!!!! Reflects notably upon Bill Howe plumbing!!!!!!

Thanks!!!!!!

VRS J

Shaundra F.

10/18/2019

I arrived home from work on a Friday to find my kitchen sink totally backed up and my washing machine hose spewing water. It was an ugly sight. I immediately called Bill Howe and was treated quickly and courteously by the answering service. Even though it was after hours, she found someone in the area who could be at my house within the hour. The plumber called me almost immediately and arrived within the specified hour. The price was an overtime price, but very fair. He had the problem solved within 30 minutes. Nothing but 5 stars for this team. I will recommend Bill Howe enthusiastically.

Jo B.

1/15/2023

When it rained last week, our sump pump failed and a portion of our garage flooded. In anticipation of the rain this weekend, I contacted my home warranty company. They were unable to get someone out here for a week! I had used these guys before in my previous house, so I contacted the folks at Bill Howe on Saturday morning. Rachel was quick to help me, and even wound up finding an earlier appointment for me. Someone was here Saturday afternoon. Yes, there was an extra charge, I expected that. But it was a lot less than what it would have cost me if my garage flooded. They stay in touch with you via text, so you know when your technician is on their way. Alex arrived one hour into my 3 hour window, and was able to fix it within the hour minimum. I cannot thank you guys enough for your responsiveness, your reliability, and for being honest and fair. I will definitely continue to be a repeat customer!

Joyce B.

11/11/2021 12:00:00 SA

Led by Jaime Cibrian, the Bill Howe restoration team finished a total rebuild of our master bathroom this morning. Their work is worthy of a TV showing.
Replacing a total bathroom disaster from a seriously clogged drain is a far more complicated project than we ever imagined. Jaime managed the various subcontractors like an orchestra conductor. People showed up on time when they were scheduled. Every person knew what to do and how to do their tasks efficiently and proficiently.
Finding competent tradespeople today is hard. Finding folks whose skills are at the Master level is next to impossible. Howe has figured out how to do this. Also, every Team member is extra courteous and pleasant. They go out of their way to be neat and to clean up at the end of every day.
We were happy that they finished when they promised. There were no delays.
Bill Howe may be the biggest in San Diego. Based on our experiences, they are certainly the BEST!!!
Jaime did a fantastic job in managing the several different Teams who were handling the reconstruction and restoration work. He made things seem easy but we know how difficult coordination can be.
If and when we need more help, our first call will be to Bill Howe - they really do know HOW!! Thanks for a great job.
Joyce and Terry

Kristin B.

09/06/2023 12:00:00 SA

Very responsive, able to book same day serve with ease. Josh came out and was friendly and professional. He was even able to adeptly deal with my barky dog. Thank you Josh for the speedy and successful repair!
Kristin

Shannon B.

10/09/2021 12:00:00 SA

I can always count on Bill Howe Plumbing! They are great with my rental properties. They do amazing mold mediation too. They are my go to and I feel like they are an extension of my property management team. Thank you Haley, Moises and Oscar for having my back!

Malena L.

8/30/2018

Few weeks ago we hired this company to come and install our air conditioner . It was the worst experience we had ever had with a company.
They are not professional at all! So finally came the date it was programmed. As soon as they walked in they said they forgot to quote few things. We immediately called the maneger. And told him the situation. He was so rude and disrespectful that I ask to speak to the owner until this date Bill Howe has never return my phone call. They are over priced, rude, disrespectful. After all the drama instead of working with us they decided to leave and not finish installing our AC. Be careful with this company.

Don B.

2/23/2015

Placed a call this morning for service for a leaky outdoor irrigation pipe. Within 30 minutes an operator dispatched a technician to my residence. Technician showed assessed the situation and began fixing the pipe. The job was complete in 1.5 hrs.

Overal great experience from placing the service call to completion of job. It was assessed and estimated correctly and fixed in a timely manner. Highly recommend for professional plumbing services.

Ryan D.

3/18/2022

Called to get a quote for some work (washer lines relocated, garbage disposal, and a few other things. They came out, looked at it and never got back with a quote. Took business elsewhere.

Richard S.

01/05/2018 12:00:00 SA

Excellent service. Rick from Bill Howe called before coming out and was here early. He looked at the leaking Moen bathroom tub/shower fixture that was also corroded and gave an estimate, then asked if I wanted it repaired. The repair went well and the replacement is working like new. The service was handled professionally with great results.

K N.

11/29/2016

I would never use them ever again. First the guy seem so nice and told what's need to be done. Show me some couples price of the cost. Which I was okay with. Once it was done, it was a different cost. Then he told me the other price was for people that used then a lot and that's why it was cheaper. I just don't understand why would you show a cheaper price that a busy use vs someone that only need them once like me. WHY WOULD I WANT TO SEE THAT PRICE ?The person lie to me about the cost. l was okay with the work, but didn't like to be BS with about the cost once it was done. The person was not helpful at allafter that. It's a busy and it's about making money.

Jennifer J.

04/03/2022 12:00:00 SA

Working with Bill Howe has been an exercise in frustration tolerance. I had a leak in my kitchen and figured that they would open the wall, fix the pipe and then close the wall again. I was so wrong. They came out and checked the moisture in the walls and told me that they were going to have to pull everything out to the studs because the kitchen ceiling, walls and cabinets were all 99% saturated with water, so are you going to put this on your homeowner's insurance? After my brain stopped exploding, I started trying to figure out how to get something so huge covered.

I only bought the place 6 months ago, and have been heart broken at how they have handled this. True to their word they pulled everything out of my kitchen down to the studs. I have no running water. All of my cabinets, my refrigerator, my dishwasher, have all been put in my living room haphazardly. I have zero living space and can't cook in my house.

The demolition process was incredibly frustrating. They have multiple teams that don't communicate with each other, so the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing, and nobody can answer my questions about what's going on. They put a lock box on my door and let themselves in whenever they want. Once they even let themselves in when I wasn't dressed yet for the day. They don't set appointments, and they do things like calling me at 7am and telling me that they will be here in 15 minutes. That doesn't work for me. As a woman living alone, multiple men letting themselves in to my house whenever they feel like it is actually quite frightening.

Once they pulled everything out of my kitchen, they completely abandoned me.

It has been 3 weeks since they did any work! I keep calling and trying to get them to help me put my house back together, but they don't return my calls, and when I actually get someone on the line they say things like, We know you've been patient, but you're going to have to wait some more because your project manager is out on paternity leave. They knew he was going out on paternity leave for about 9 months. Why did they even assign him to my project?!

Yesterday, I finally spoke with the new project manager that they just assigned to my case and he told me that they aren't going to be able to put my drywall back in for another week, and they won't be able to put my cabinets back in FOR ANOTHER MONTH.

This is completely unacceptable, and I told them so. I'm going to try to find someone else to do the work this week because I can't keep eating out 3 meals a day and having no access to 1/2 of my home. The mess is overwhelming. They pulled my dishwasher out while it had dirty dishes in it and now it smells. I'm going to have to go in and pull them out and wash them in my bathroom sink since I don't have one in the kitchen. Wouldn't it just be the icing on this trash cake if I end up blocking up my bathroom sink as well?

I'm so done with all of this that I'm going to be contacting the Better Business Bureau for sure. It's been suggested that I should consult a lawyer, and I'm seriously considering it.

Gringa D.

10/11/2015 12:00:00 SA

The technician called before he arrived and he arrived promptly. He was extremely polite and explained everything he was doing. He fixed the toilet quickly, replacing a supply valve and putting in a new wax seal. And for a Sunday morning, we felt the price was very reasonable. Great service!!

Miss B.

7/21/2020

Easy to work with. Knowledgable team. Friendly and respectful. All of these apply to each event we have with Bill Howe. Ask for Dashawn if you have a plumbing issue! He's the best. Easy to work with, walks through and talks through options with you, and does the job right! Ask for Ken if you need a new AC/Heat system. Knows his stuff! We have used a number of companies over the years, Bill Howe has always been the effective choice and now it's the only choice for us.

Mary D.

07/12/2023 12:00:00 SA

We had Oscar out today for a plugged sink and new disposal. He was on time, courteous, completed the job without difficulty and left everything clean. Very nice to deal with on all levels.

Wendy E.

01/05/2021 12:00:00 SA

We've called Bill Howe a few times since moving to our new house a year ago and have been very happy with the work every time. The first thing we needed was a new furnace. The first company we called was crazy expensive and practically charged us for stepping out of their truck. A friend recommend that we give Bill Howe a call. The tech was very friendly and the price he quoted us was much lower. Needless to say, we went with Bill and have been very happy with it.

More recently we discovered that our 60 year old sewer line needed help. For some reason we called a different plumber first. Not sure what we were thinking. He said he would need to jack hammer our brand new floors and he was throwing out dollar estimates that started around $17,000 and within five minutes had escalated to $24,000 (with a possibility that it could be even more).

That shocked us back to our senses and we called Bill Howe for a second opinion. We were so glad we did. Michael, the Bill Howe technician, told us that our issue could be solved with a sewer lining. Using this method, they would not need to jack hammer our floors and it could all be done in five days. Not only that, but they gave us a firm price that was about 1/3 of the price of the other guy.

Wow! What a relief! We called right away to get on the schedule. The technicians had the work done as promised, on time and for the quoted price. Also included in the price was the installation of the clean out in our front lawn, which will be great for future maintenance. The guys were very knowledgable, hard working and thorough. We're very confident in the quality of their work and are so happy that we called Bill Howe.

Jason H.

11/07/2012 12:00:00 SA

I've used them once after a bad experience with another company and I had no complaints. The price was reasonable, the guy was knowledgeable and polite and he fixed my problem. I will use them again.

Linda R.

11/23/2018

Our main pipe HAD to get clogged on Thanksgiving Day while we had a houseful of people. Thankfully, I called Bill Howe and they were able to send out a plumber within 2 hours. Shout out to the plumber who came and unclogged the pipe in less than 30 minutes and cleaned up the mess from the backed up pipe in our backyard! Sorry, I forgot your name!

Jessica R.

4/15/2016

We have been having a recurrent toilet issue and with the most recent (3rd) issue I called Bill Howe back to remedy the situation. I was not happy. However, Corey was the technician assigned to the job and he was amazing. He diagnosed the problem instantly, problem-solved replacing the tank, and overall, made what I was sure was going to be a horrible experience, into a pleasant one. Thank you, Bill Howe, for appreciating repeat customers and for your customer service.

Cheryl B.

3/25/2014

I am super happy with Brendan Stolis at Bill Howe. My water in all bathrooms and kitchen took forever to get hot so of course we were wasting a LOT of water. We had two tankless water heaters installed about 5 years ago..they've been serviced, operate properly...so that wasn't the problem...He quickly diagnosed that the plumbing was not installed properly, causing the long delay in hot water. He gave a reasonable estimate. They came out and fixed it. Voila...hot water...everywhere...YEAH!...Why did i put up with this for five years!

Paul V.

12/09/2020 12:00:00 SA

They claim a 30-day warranty service for drain cleaning, however, they turned around and charged for a second call back when they only snaked the first line 25-30' and pushed it further down the line but nowhere near the 4' city main 100' away. The return call finally pulled it up, and got a bill for it again. I called twice to ask about the bill and never got a return call. So I just paid it and will call a different drain cleaner/plumber next time. Looks like another contractor with plenty of budget for marketing and commercials but none for customer service/training.

Binh N.

09/03/2018 12:00:00 SA

Patric came out on a Holiday weekend to initially clear out a clog. Then he found a leak underneath the house as well which isn't good news, but I appreciate him problem solving. Very courteous and professional too.

John J.

6/26/2013

Bill Howe is the best! Want to thank Matt and Brandon for doing a excellent
job. They came out as promised with a good attitude and worked
their tails off laying a new line. Matt is a professional, a perfectionist, and
honest.

Thanks for making my house home again.

. F. John Jorgensen

Anita G.

6/16/2014

We came out of our house last Wed. evening to find a large mound in our front yard. A pipe had burst, obviously, and it was pushing water up under the grass. We called Bill Howe because it said 24-hrs. I called and was told they would call at 7:30 the next morning. They did, more or less, and said someone would come out that morning. A guy came out and started digging, and then said he needed to call a supervisor. The supervisor (Luis) came out and they kept working. Basically, they said it was bad and the whole main line and irrigation line should be replaced. They quoted us $4400 and said they could not start until Monday, leaving us with no water until some time Monday or Tuesday. We went ahead and signed as we thought we had no other options.

We got a recommendation for another plumber and called him. He came out Friday morning and looked around. He told us that while eventually the line would need to be done, he didn't feel it was necessary right then, and the break could be repaired much less expensively. He also said that he could come back on Saturday and do a temporary patch to restore water to our house until he could do the full repair on Monday. He came out Sat. morning and did the temporary fix, and we were able to use our water by Sat. afternoon, not Monday or Tuesday that Bill Howe was going to do. He did some more digging and found evidence of 3 different kinds of pipes, which Bill Howe never found, and said that this would make a difference in the repair OR the replace, and they should have noticed. He then came on Sunday to do more digging in preparation for the repair to be done today. Yes, Saturday and Sunday work, no overtime, HIS idea! We were perfectly willing to wait until today, and if we had used Bill Howe in the same manner, we would have paid thousands of dollars for more work than was necessary.

As it is, Bill Howe charged $145 per hour for the minimal work they did on Thursday! Seriously? $435 to have basically 2 holes dug in my yard? That's highway robbery, truly. I am really flabbergasted.

Part of this is our mistake, as we signed a form agreeing to that (although we heard $45/hr from Luis' mouth instead of $145 -- we can't argue hat, as we DID sign the form). What is really interesting is that they did not give us a copy of the written estimate. We were told that we'd get it AFTER the work was completed. We should have stopped then and there, but we were stupid and did not. That's not good business on their end, for sure.

I'm just glad we found someone else. I only wish I could put his name and phone number here, but I don't think I should do that in this review.

Richard A.

12/19/2013

Looks elsewhere this company is a rip off. They charge you an hourly fee then charge you on top of that for clearing a drain. Thats two fees for one task. How does that make sense? Either have a set price to clear a drain or a set hourly rate not both. The Techs they send out are usually ghetto to so you have to keep an eye on them. Overall there are way better options in SD. Its too bad cuz they obviously used to do something right to grow to the size they are but as with most when the kids take over it goes down hill...

Friends of mine have been ripped by them as well so take it for what its worth

Stephen W.

4/24/2012

Adam and Joseph completed the drywall removal and drying and I couldn't be more satisfied. They were on-time each day and made sure everything was okay. Adam even contacted the reconstruction crew when I hadn't heard from them.

Cesar and Justin completed the reconstruction and did a great job. They were quick and friendly.

I can't tell that there was ever any damage or repairs done.

Jamie L.

1/15/2010

Noticed water dripping from a pipe coming off my water heater...a little sleuthing suggested it was the temperature/pressure valve on the water heater that went bad. Not wanting to waste water or be without water, I figured I'd better call someone quick (this being Friday afternoon). The first few places I called didn't have anyone available to send out this afternoon, so I tried Bill Howe. Person answering the phone was courteous and professional. Within an hour of the call, Brian showed up. Brian was friendly and professional as well, and confirmed that the TP valve was bad. Labor charge was $145 (seems kind of expensive, but then again, I know labor rates in SD are higher than other places). He fixed it within a half hour, and I was able to pay by credit card (nice and convenient). I might have been able to shop around and find a plumber with a cheaper rate, but it was worth it to have someone come out quickly and get it taken care of before the weekend.

Kristin K.

4/26/2023

We've used Bill Howe for a handful of things (homeownership, yay!), and every time they've been great to work with each time. We recently had a main pipe replaced, and the technician Anthony identified and fixed a number of things that were causing issues. Grateful for the timely work!

H A.

05/03/2019 12:00:00 SA

While some people have had bad luck with plumbers and anyone else in the repair business, I can say that my experience was a smooth and pleasant over. Andrew came out to fix my toilet and sink issues. I appreciate honesty and transparency in customer service and was pleased with the quality of work he performed. Thank you!

Larry N.

1/14/2022

Bryan was very professional and did a good job make our drain work better. He also gave us a lot of useful information. He also gave us guidance on how to fix the shower getting too hot when we flush the toilet and will give us a quote on fixing the problem.

Dan S.

2/14/2017

Most expensive plumber I have ever used. It cost me $159 in labor to change a water valve under the kitchen sink (about a 15 minute job) and nearly $30 for valve that costs less than $10. Perhaps Bill Howe is better for large jobs, but for the simpler tasks expect to pay too much. BTW, turns out that the installation was not great as they forgot to use teflon tape....a standard by most plumbers. I wrote them a letter, never responded, so even lower marks for customer service.

scott j.

08/12/2013 12:00:00 SA

Have used them twice...both clear outs on lines to house. Thanks Matthew! Good as it gets!

Elisabeth N.

01/01/2019 12:00:00 SA

This is my 1st review on yelp. I have to be honest, as I was waiting, I was reviewing the other reviews on Bill Howe & generally do not look at the 5 star reviews & just look at the ones with 3 stars or less, I was a little apprehensive after what I read but was amazed that Bill Howe responded to the ones who did not have a good experience, that is something I don't always see & is a quality of good character in a company.

On Sunday 12/30/18 in the late afternoon, discovered we did not have any hot water & discovered water was flowing out of our water heater. After calls to several companies (who claimed they were available 24/7), did not have anyone available &/or had to leave a message. I called Bill Howe at 5:11 pm and spoke with a dispatcher who took my info & I would get a call back; I got a call from Brandon under 15 minutes after speaking with the dispatcher. Brandon was on another job near by and would be by in a couple of hours and would call when he was on his way.

Brandon actually called 1/2 hour earlier that he was already in the vicinity.

Unfortunately ours was not a simple repair due to how the builders originally installed the piping with the water heater.

Brandon was very polite, courteous & explained everything in a way both my husband & could understand.

Brandon was not sure if the water heater we needed would be available/in stock but stated he would start making calls tomorrow by 7 am.

On Monday 12/31/18, received a call from Brandon at 8:19 am that he was on the way with our new water heater.

Brandon did an exceptional job and I will be using Bill Howe for any future plumbing needs.

Susan M.

06/08/2018 12:00:00 SA

Bill Howe Plumbing is the very best in San Diego. They responded within minutes to my online request for an appointment. It was set for the next day at a time that was convenient for me. The plumber phoned to let me know when he was on the way to my home. He was on time, was cordial and installed my new bathroom faucet and new stainless steel risers. I had the 10% discount coupon from their web site. The total invoice was very reasonable. They are always professional and their customer service is outstanding.

Elinor S.

08/06/2021 12:00:00 SA

I have used Bill Howe Plumbing since moving to San Diego. The first time was when a large spurt of water was shooting out of the water shut-off valve to our four unit condo. It was Friday evening, the beginning of a fourth of July weekend, and everyone else in our building had left town for the holiday. I didn't know whom to call but I remembered seeing the ad on TV -- Call Bill Howe, we know how. I was surprised how quickly someone came! Friday evening at the beginning of a national holiday weekend?!?! The plumber was quick, pleasant, and efficient. He explained what caused the leak and what he did to fix it so it wouldn't happen again. I was impressed.

Since then I have used Bill Howe several times. One was when a company sent a plumber at no cost to install one of its products. After hearing his explanation of how he would proceed, I sent him away because he would have left me with an ugly looking kitchen. And though I asked, he knew no other way of doing the job. By contrast, when I called Bill Howe, the plumber that came, after careful inspection, came up with a simpler procedure that left the look of my kitchen intact. Bill Howe plumbers are not only friendly and polite, but they are also knowledgeable, and creative. They listen carefully to what you want as an outcome, do great work, and have saved me time and money more than once. They really know plumbing and I love the integrity this family-owned business shows. They'll always be my go- to plumbers. On a scale of 1 to 10 they rate a 10+.

Randee F.

08/07/2017 12:00:00 SA

Mike Reif reviewed my air conditioning needs and was very patient and helpful going over several options. He was friendly and knowledgeable. I learned a lot in a non pressured way. I would definitely ask for him again! He completed the work efficiently and quickly. Whenever I've used Bill Howe for plumbing issues too the technicians have always been professional and very competent!

Bob B.

07/10/2015 12:00:00 SA

We have used Bill Howe for our home plumbing needs for many years, and the service has always been outstanding. We recently needed a water heater replaced, and it was installed the same day by Edgar, who also jet-cleaned our main drain line. He is exceptionally skilled, resourceful, efficient, and pleasant. Edgar is an outstanding representative of the company.

Bob B.

John B.

6/25/2020

My house seemed to have developed a water leak somewhere as I received a rather large water bill. To make matters I really could not go poking around to see what's up, because I was experiencing a sciatica episode and was in rather severe pain. Bill Howe plumbing came out (2 plumbers, one named Miguel and the other whose name I did not catch). Both were respectful and mindful of my limitation. We looked at a couple of things and they heard the sound of water flowing down the drain pipes in the crawlspace. That immediately pointed to my water softener. they assisted in getting the bypass valve shut off, it was defective and was the cause of the issue. They waived the minimum charge for their service since the call took less than 10 minutes. That is what I call customer service!! I have called on Bill Howe in the past and I've never been disappointed. I will continue to be a loyal customer.

PS: I plan on replacing my home air conditioning unit as the current one is over 22 years old and needs replacement as soon as time and budget allows. I will gladly have Bill Howe handle that replacement.
Thanks Guys !!!

Davy C.

12/26/2019

Just closed on a property as first time buyers. Needed a new water heater. Skylar from Bill Howe came by and offered us great advice on different options and provided quotes for us to chose from. Came back the next day and installed everything. Honest and reliable service for all things plumbing. Thanks Skylar!

Dee E.

2/29/2020

Plumbing issues always cause a lot of stress. For some reason, they usually occur outside of normal business hours, the price goes up as does the stress factor. Enter, Bill Howe Plumbing. The professionals at Howe seem to quickly diagnose issues and have all the resources to repair right away. My HOA has worked with Howe for a few years now, and they are the real deal in price and professionalism. Bless the hard work of those techs who make service calls after hours. Isaiah Maher has been out to my Little Italy building twice this month after hours. Isaiah deserves a shout out for his professionalism, hard work, stellar work ethic, and excellent customer service. If you need the job done right the first time, call Bill Howe.

Mark S.

7/25/2011

I have used Bill Howe several times over the years and the result has always be affordable and well done. Combine that with professional and they are a triple threat for good service.

On my last call to fix a leak in the watter supply the tech, Rick Diamond, suggested a solution that would prevent future issues, save me money on this call and told me what to expect in the future. He took the time to explain future options on my hot water heater (now 13 years old) as well as explain the effect of soft water treatment on my heater and plumbing.

I will continue to refer them to anyone that asks and to date all have thanked me for referring them.

Mara M.

10/08/2016 12:00:00 SA

Called Bill Howe when my air conditioner was not blowing cool air and the temp outside was 95- can't have that - the service technician Mike Sabroit was professional- efficient and thorough in his explanation of the issue- loved his personality - all was resolved and I am a happy customer- Thanks Mike !

Cinda P.

10/18/2016

Wanted to share our great service experience with Rigo and Scott yesterday. They removed and replaced a toilet and reverse osmosis faucet. We were their last stop of the day and they were efficient, courteous and left our home neat and clean. We appreciate such awesome service and will recommend Bill Howe Plumbing as well as use them for our future plumbing needs

Faith V.

12/18/2017

Bill Howe is the best!! I was dealing with another plumbing company last Friday because the sewer pipes were obstructed and I needed someone fast to clear them. I called the wrong company. It turned out this company was lying to me about what had to be done when they weren't able to clear the pipe with their regular cable. I won't go through all that went on but this other company was going to charge me two thousand nine hundred dollars to what they said needed to be fixed. I called
Bill HOWE and Christian and John came over and knew exactly what had to be done. They showed me on their camera the roots that were causing the obstruction and they brought over their Jetter and were able to successfully remove all the roots and showed me with the camera that all obstructions were gone. The other company also said the pipe was broken and had to be replaced there was nothing wrong with the pipe.
Christian and John were thorough in telling me what needed to be done and verifying all that they said was done. So they saved me over two thousand dollars. They even gave me a senior discount.
So if you need a plumber call Bill Howe and ask for Christian and John.
You can be assured that whatever your plumbing needs are they will take excellent care in fixing them and will be honest about costs. I guess I ought to say I'm sure the other plumbers with Bill Howe will do a good job also to be fair. But I know Christian and John are great.

Donna C.

1/14/2017

We had an emergency plumbing need this Saturday. So we googled for a plumbing service, Bill Howe popped up, so seen their commercials, let's try them out. Rebecca was great on the phone, gave us all the information we needed and scheduled us for a fix today. Great! Tris, the plumber shows up promptly and is very friendly and professional. He got the job done in less than hour and water is once again on! Thank you so much Bill Howe team, you are our new go to plumber.

Martin T.

4/20/2023

The Bill Howe team, from the first leak detection expert through the restoration project manager were helpful and experienced. A flood in the kitchen we thought was a slab leak turned out to be a broken dishwater inlet. Bill Howe Restoration team worked closely with our insurance carrier to get approval for all of the work, which included all new flooring and new cabinets. They did a remarkable job and kept us informed during the entire process. A top-notch company that I can recommend without hesitation.

Ron B.

11/26/2016

My 85 year old mom had no heat so I called and set up an appointment for the same afternoon. They came out and changed 2 AAA batteries in her thermostat for $261.00. It was super expensive but now my mom has heat - so I guess it's alright.

Teri P.

7/30/2021

DJ was very knowledgable, extremely honest and professional. I was in need of a possible leaking fireplace gas valve replacement. DJ determined that the valve was in good condition and no work was required.

What an incredible experience. I think that was one in a million. I thought most people would have just done work that was not required. It is so refreshing to have people DJ with integrity and outstanding customer service.

I would recommend DJ with Bill Howe Plumbing for any plumbing needs. Thank you DJ for your HONESTY. Humanity still exists.

Cindy T.

8/21/2016

I had previously given Lawrence (technician) a wonderful review for a past visit but I have to say this experience was very poor and has made me decide to take my business elsewhere for perhaps a $10,500 new heating/cooling system. I called because only 2 weeks prior they replaced a blown fuse and it had blown again. I had been made aware at that time that this would be a recurrent problem because of bad wiring and that I needed to consider replacing the entire system. So I figured that he could put another fuse in today and write me up a formal quote for a new system. Well, he was clearly annoyed at having to come out again and had a completely different demeanor towards me, giving confusing and conflicting explanations of the problem and solution, and even visibly taking a deep breath and closing his eyes when I said I was confused. Impatient and patronizing, to say the least. First he said it needed a $700 module, then he said that wouldn't work and a new system was the only answer. I asked him for a formal quote for the new system and he quickly replied with a verbal number of $10,400 but did not write anything down or give me anything. The situation shifted again when he suddenly declared that a $700 module would indeed fix the problem and when I said OK he turned and walked outside to his truck and drove away. I was puzzled and unsure of what that meant. No paperwork for the pending order of the module, no ticket for today's visit?? I had to call the company and let them know what had happened and to ask what was going on. After telling the service manager that I did not want him to have Lawrence contact me or return to my house, I received a call from Lawrence saying What's up? I told him to cancel any pending order for service at my house. Needless to say, I will be contacting another company for service.

Alessandra M.

8/16/2016

Great service. The shower fixture was replaced for a much higher quality one. The job required cutting into the wall and I was worried but George did an amazing job. Looked better than new. Very professional. I would highly recommend them.

Margaret V.

10/05/2020 12:00:00 SA

Mr. Howe, thank you for your response and the break down of my bill. Unfortunately that doesn't explain your less then professional clerk with her harassing emails coaxing me to pay after your company was aware payment was going to come from the insurance. Your company was in touch with the insurance, as was I. We were both getting the exact same information. Carlos probably the best part of my experience with Bill Howe services outstanding employee and I'm sure brings your very good business.

Judi S.

5/19/2016

WOW! Had a water heater failure!....Luis took care of everything, the whole team was wonderful!!
J, Encinitas

Valerie P.

08/02/2016 12:00:00 SA

Second time we've used BIll Howe Plumbing for clogged pipe. First time we worked with Clarence D. I called them this morning at 8:00. They gave me a window of 10:00 - 1:00 for a plumber to arrive. Clarence called me at 10:20 to head over to the house. When he got there, he explained why we may have had problems snaking it ourselves. He checked out the problem. Looked at the alternative ways he might need to go after the clog. Took the direct route and within 30 minutes he was finished with the job. Charge was $88, which was the low end of the quote he gave me. We're happy with all of it and will call them again.

Jamie H.

3/22/2013

I called Bill Howe after having very bad experiences with Anderson Plumbing and TLC Plumbing. My tub faucet was leaking and Anderson and TLC both gave quotes that were more than 3 times what Bill Howe ended up charging. Rick, the technician from Bill Howe was friendly and didn't try any story to set a ridiculous price. The total bill was $208 for a new cartridge and handle. Bill Howe estimated over the phone that it would cost between $200 - $300, and I was happily surprised when the bill came in on the low end of that estimate.

Kyle W.

08/08/2014 12:00:00 SA

I'm re-posting this review since they somehow managed to get Yelp to remove it.

I've used these guys in the past and they took good care of me on price and service.

I had a female tenant call them to have a clogged line snaked and they charged her a whopping $395!!! I guarantee you that they wouldn't have charged that if I were the one there. They clearly took advantage of a female.

Well, they don't have to worry about that ever again as I will never use their shady company again. Hopefully this post will help save some of the females out there from being taken advantage of like my tenant was.

Elaine A.

6/19/2018

Never imagined writing a 5* review for plumbers, but these guys SAVED THE DAY at my bakery and in no time flat! We had a leak, found out we needed a new hot water heater (which sucks, b/c commercial ones are crazy $$$), and saw all the rusted bottom of the old one. I wanted to call another company option just for a 2nd quote, but when Bill Howe's team swooped in and said the could find a new one THAT hour, we went for it.
They removed the old one, replaced the old one, and cleaned the area in what seemed like 20 min. all together! Outstanding, clean, kind, and courteous guys. We even gave them cupcakes to say thank you at the end.
Cheers to Bill Howe Plumbing!

perche e.

9/17/2008

I scheduled an appointment to go over the scope of work to be done and have an estimate written. They chose a date and time that was convenient for them a week later. I accommodated by taking time off from work to be home and asked to be notified in advance of appointment in the event that the plumber was running late. I did not hear from them, but knowing how these things go, I called a half hour before scheduled appointment to confirm all was on schedule. The scheduler indicated that my 12:00 appt. was now 1:00 or 1:30. I arrived home at 1:00, sat til 2:00 with the plumber a no show. Called the scheduler who wondered where he was. I cancelled. If they treat you this disrespectfully on the front end, imagine how it will go when they actually do the work. Assuming of course that they show at all.

Carl H.

03/09/2023 12:00:00 SA

I've used Bill Howe for help and advice with my split system heat pump. Today I had a very helpful conversation with Ken. I've always been satisfied with their expertise and customer service. They have a professional team and are reliable.

Eshel D.

6/30/2022

Soft stoppage in our main line sewer, they came out asap, Technician was polite, well dressed and knowledgeable. Got the stoppage opened and gave advice on next possible recourse if further issues arises. Went over the invoice and warranties included. Will do business with Bill Howe again. Thank you.

Scott M.

11/28/2015

Service was great. Corey was very quick, friendly and professional. He diagnosed my problem and made a quick fix. I definitely recommend Bill Howe and Corey.

Suzanne Y.

02/07/2018 12:00:00 SA

Outstanding service from start to finish.

Bille Howe is a professional company who care about their clients, their employees and their reputation.

We have a large 4000 sqft house, installed a new heating cooling system in 2 days and a few hours, finished ahead of time.

Competitive pricing, easy to work with, my contact Steve was very personable and easily reached. Samuel the installer was such a jolly helpful guy who takes pride in his work.
I was told this would be a difficult project by friends, but it was seamless.

I would highly recommend Bille Howe .

Leo N.

1/30/2019

Called for a last-minute issue in the evening the guy came out took him about 20 minutes or so but he had such a bad attitude he had told me that he works 24-hour shifts his eyes were really red, he looked really tired so I guess they overworked these guys, he seemed like he had to rush out to go to another job but because of his attitude knowing that he wasn't trained to deal with customers or how to talk to customers or how to treat customers or the importance of customer service so for that reason I wouldn't want to call them again and I would not be recommending them, Management needs to comprehend the importance of training each and every employee and keeping up on their training as far as customer service and dealing with customers.

I've worked in the customer service business for 30 years I treat each and every person that I deal with extremely well and I would never treat them any other way, and I expect when I call in a business such as this plumbing company to at least get decent service I know the guy was tired but I can tell that he wasn't trained...... customer service is extremely important for all companies for all businesses.

Susan G.

5/19/2016

Marcus N came out again today and replaced the regulator and shut off valve in the garage. He is always quick, thorough and does a great job. Would recommend to anyone.

Luca L.

3/13/2021

I had a little issue with the sink in the kitchen. Troy did an amazing job, really professional, and got nice personality too.
I would highly recommend this company
Thank you

John N.

07/10/2023 12:00:00 SA

Had a tech come out and clear out a drain at a rental, the tech did the job very quickly and not thoroughly, apparently, my tenant didn't inform me that the drain was backing up within the guarantee period and when they did, it was a week past. Bill Howe sent out a different tech, one far more thorough. The point is, I paid extra for the first cleaning, $132, one can get other services to come out for EIGHTY DOLLARS but I thought I'd go for a well known company. Point is I ended up paying $264 dollars for a job that should have cost 80. Don't use this device, their techs are inexperienced and they use that as a crutch to come back and charge you AGAIN. Stay away, these guys aren't offering anything special and charging a lot for it.

Kim L.

06/02/2017 12:00:00 SA

Will not be using their services ever again. We use them at our HOA and are supposed to receive a discount for our continued loyalty and patronage. However, the technician that installed my newly purchased garbage disposal did not honor this and looked at my like he didn't know what I was talking about. I've only used this plumbing service as my neighbors have as well. I was disappointed that I was overcharged for a job that took less than minutes. Poor customer service and I will make sure to let others know in my HOA that our loyalty is no longer valued to this plumbing business. I feel ripped off for paying almost $300.00 for such a small task and no discount as previously promised

Teren E.

9/29/2021

Why, oh why, did I ever use anyone else? Bill Howe has always provided excellent service and products, but I let my good sense evaporate when earlier this year a neighbor recommended someone else to replace a heater and install new ducts. BIG MISTAKE! Bill Howe had to come and replace the heater; the cheapest, industrial grade heater that had only two speeds - jet engine high and off. We were either suffering under an arctic gale or saharan desert wind. Crazy!
Anyway, this review is to give the highest praise and gratitude to the company and all the employees. This time it was Christian, Gabriel and Art who did the grueling job of replacing a heater in a most difficult (and potentionally dangerous) location. Professional, courteous, clean work ... thank you guys! I'll never call anyone else to handle our heating and cooling.

Ruthann R.

9/22/2014

First of all I'm a home owner, and have used Bill Howe for simple drain cleaning. Both times they have broken something while simply snaking our drains. First time was a cupling. They didn't have the part on the truck.. so had to come back the next day..so I was down a guest bath For 72 hours..Today during a simple snaking the idiot breaks the plunger in my drain..so another hour of time..Never use them again. ..

R S.

1/27/2023

I am super frustrated with Bill Howe Plumbing, and think others should know how they work. I had two appointments today at two different properties. I was given a 3 hour window for each. They were more than an hour late for each 3 hour window. They sent me texts saying to chat with questions or concerns yet all day they didn't answer my texts. On the second three hour window I called at the end of the time to request to know when they would come, they said they'd call back but they never did. An hour after the second three hour window, asked to speak to a manager, as I had been waiting all day and was given misinformation all day. Spoke to Steven who was snotty and rude. Maybe the work will be good, I can't say yet, so they get a 2 star instead of 1, but all it would have taken was a call to update me on the time so I didn't waste a whole day when they knew they could not make the times they prearranged. I do NOT recommend.

Dee C.

2/22/2012

I was calling Bill Howe for all my plumbing needs for the apartments I own. It always seemed expensive but I did not know any better. I had toilets replaced, lines going out to the street snaked, Faucets replaced, etc....One day I thought the charge was a little strange since they had been out three times to fix the same toilet. I called someone else who is highly recommended on Yelp and he fixed the toilet for a quarter of the quoted price. I then found out from my dentist that he had a patient who was a technician for Bill Howe and the technicians were told to upsale items and fix things that were not broken.

Diana A.

1/26/2017

I had a water main leak and received 4 estimates for the fix. Decided to go with Corey K from Bill Howe plumbing. Corey was professional, courteous and knowledgeable and did a fantastic job. He was meticulous in his work and the water leak has been fixed. Will definitely recommend Bill Howe and specifically Corey to family and friends.

Barry H.

8/21/2017

Bill Howe did respond to my review. Sent an e-mail stating the same as their comments, 10 days after the event. Still haven't talked with anybody in person about the issues. I am not trying to pick on them, but I wanted to let you know how they handled the complaint. Make your own decision.
8/22/17 ADDITIONAL UPDATE
Received call from General Manager Bill Hauss. He took full responsibility without excuses. Had a good conversation with him. He offered for me to call him direct in future and they would make it right if I ever needed Bill Howe services. I respect his call and would take him at his word. I would use again if the need arose in the future. I changed the rating to 3 stars. Thank you for calling Bill

Andrea J.

01/08/2018 12:00:00 SA

I am just thrilled with the work that Michael Plata did today replacing my sump pump before the big rain that we are to get. He really knew his products and tools and was able also to wire the new pump through the existing duct that I have. Personable and easy to talk to. I highly recommend him and Bill Howe.

Andrea H.

9/24/2022

We have used Bill Howe for years. I have lost all confidence in them. We had a tech come out on Thursday and did not have the right tools. So he said he would be back yesterday at 3. He didn't arrive till 8pm and took our tub apart and then told us he worked for 12 hours and needed to go home to rest and would be back at 8am this morning. By 9:30 we hadn't heard from him. I called and was told he worked till 2am in the morning. What?! He left our house to go home and go to bed. I have terminal cancer and company from out of town here. We haven't had a tub or toilet since Thursday. No phone calls to update us on what is happening and I dont think he knows what he is doing. We have had another tech named Chris for the last couple years and he was great. Not sure what happened to him? We called another company and they are on their way out to our house right now. The other plumber came and was here for 30 minutes. Fixed. No cameras or tools that they don't carry in their van. I don't think the tech knew what he was doing. Lord only knows what we would have been charged. I won't use Bill Howe again. It's sad cause we trusted them and have used them for years.

Mat Q.

3/29/2017

Don was my tech and took care of a water pressure issue very quickly while explaining everything clearly. I definitely recommend!

Zairiah M.

5/20/2017

Call Bill Howe to get an estimate for replacement of central AC Unit. Sirena Diaz (customer service) schedule appointment promptly for us. Richard Squires (comfort advisor) gave us a great prices for AC Unit.

Day of installation 4 technician's arrived on time. Humberto, Mario, Salvador and Kenneth worked as a team. They were excellent. Efficient, knowledgeable & kept our house clean. We appreciate that so very much. We are one very happy customer. Definitely will refer Bill Howe to our friends and family.

Albert A.

2/19/2010

OUTSTANDING! I was called to unlock a home that is in escrow. Everyone involved in the transaction is present and waitng (owner-seller, buyer, contractors and both agents). The company we called to perform a plumbing inspection calls at 8AM to confirm they will be there at noon.

Well, they never show up. Around 12:45 PM they call and tell us they have to cancel due to overbooking. We had called Monday to reserve this critical time on Friday. WHAT? Can't believe this crap. So our only option was to call Bill Howe Plumbing and hope they will hear us out. We explained what had occurred and they gladly had two guys show up within thirty minutes. FOR REAL!!! They video-scoped the lines and then after finding an obstruction cleaned it out.

What pro's these guys were. Saul Serrano and his associate Vincent were on the money and certainly proved their worth on this job. You want service and your moneys worth these are the guys. No one else will ever perform plumbing inspections for this Realtor or our company!

The rest of you plumbing companies should hang it up. Bill Howe and crew all the way.

Fur B.

10/17/2008

I was pleasantly surprised about their service after reading the other reviews on yelp. We had a gas leak and the gas company had to come and turn off our gas (i.e. no hot water!!!). Anyway, I called Bill Howe Plumbing the next morning at 8am and they were here by 9am. The tech, Doug, was very polite and professional. He replaced the broken pipe and tested it and reconnected our appliances. 30 minutes after he left, the company called to check on the service. I have no complaints, they were fast and efficient. I only gave them 4 stars because it seemed expensive - $125/hour!

Richard J.

07/12/2011 12:00:00 SA

Probably the most CUSTOMER SERVICE ORIENTED COMPANY in San Diego County.

It started when I phoned Melissa and told her my problem. It was nearing 6:00 PM which is their closing time, although they are a 24/7 company. Melissa was extremely knowledgeable and very helpful. She quoted me their reasonable rates. Because they have 65 plumbing vehicles, I was concerned that their rates might be high. But, they aren't, they are reasonable. She even tried to reassure me by saying that if I wanted to speak with her that evening, just phone the answering service and tell them that I want to speak with Melissa at home and they would put me through. Call her at home on her time. No one would ever offer that, but she did.

We scheduled the appointment for the following morning. Well, that AM I received a phone call from a woman at the company, assuring me that I was scheduled for that morning. Then, a couple of hours later, Mike Lacy, the technician/plumber phoned to say that he would be at my home in about 20 minutes and he was.

I should mention that the day before, another plumber snaked our line from our house with 125 and the problem still was not fixed. He charged me $60, since he was sent by my home warranty company. He was not particularly helpful or reassuring even though I still had the problem. And, he offered no solution before he left.

Mike was extremely helpful, although by then, the main sewage line for our home had miraculously cleared and everything was working fine. He said since everything was working fine, we should just see if the problem occurs again. But, he then told me exactly would needed to done, if this happens again. He had located our clean out in the street. He stated that if I phoned again that he, himself, would be dispatched, since he was familiar with the problem and the solution. He would bring his longest snake and a truck that would collect all of the waste so he then snake it from the street and not the house. He told me that if the waste got on the street that it could mean a $10,000 fine. He also quoted me a reasonable rate to fix the problem.

I am thinking that Bill Howe, the man, must be a pretty special man to have all of these reassuring, helpful, pleasant professionals working for him. I am also thinking that I would never use anyone but Bill Howe Plumbing after my experience with them.

Richard C.

11/30/2018

I called Bill Howe to install Eighteen Angle Valves in my home. This was done as preventative maintenance as my home just turned ten an one half years old. We had use Mr. Howe's company before on my fathers home.
Technicians Tris and Nate responded to my home to accomplished the job. They performed the work in a totally professional and timely manner. It was a pleasure to have them in my home. Although, the labor rates are more, it was well worth the money to have the job done right the first time. Water is nothing to take short cuts on. I highly recommend Tris and Nate, along with Bill Howe Plumbing.

Suzanne H.

3/29/2019

I've used Bill Howe Plumbing for years and am never disappointed. I called today and Justin arrived within a couple of hours. He quickly fixed the problem, at a great price, and even volunteered to carry in a large, heavy package for me. THAT's service!

J. K.

7/25/2020

We had a water heater die and they came out and replaced it. Made sure everything was up and running before they left.

Samantha L.

5/23/2013

It was the weekend before Mother's Day. I asked my hubby to fix the leaking shower in the master bedroom. I printed out the parts he needed to buy as well as the instructions on how to take the shower handle off and so forth.

Well, he broke it and when we turned on the water the pipes were leaking pretty bad. I wanted to call my friend who's hubby is a plumber but my hubby insisted on Bill Howe. I normally do not like name brand companies and prefer ma&pop kind of businesses but it was an emergency.

Someone came out, took a look at it and said they can do it the next day but they need to put a hole on the other side of the wall. The other side of the wall is a TV and all sorts of wires and no way my hubby was going to deal with moving all that stuff and then hiring someone to re-do the hole and then paint. He asked that the plummer not make a hole on the other side but just in the shower stall.

Since we were expecting a big hole in the shower stall, my hubby and I were picking out tiles and brainstorming how we want our bathroom re-done.

The next day, they came while I was at work. My hubby stayed home to watch them make a mess. I was dreading coming home to clean the bathroom after 9 hours of work on a Monday. It was tiles they had to cut through to make a hole.

Well, when I came home, I was impressed. It was CLEAN and the work done was PERFECT! Little debris here and there but nothing major to clean up. The hole they made wasn't big and PLUS they covered it up with a nice plate so the hole didn't need to be fixed nor was it showing. They also installed a new shower head and handle by Kohler, I think, and it works awesome.

Will definately use them again.

Bryan L.

10/15/2017

I called Bill Howe on Sunday afternoon for a faucet that started leaking pretty badly and couldn't wait. They sent Alan right over to take a look at it. The rates are higher on the weekend, but when you have an emergency, you need help right away. Alan was very courteous and professional. He fixed our faucet and got us back up and running before the football game! Thanks Alan and Bill Howe.

Juerg W.

05/05/2018 12:00:00 SA

We had Bill Howe Plumbing a few years ago in an emergency situation to replace a broken water heater. They suggested to go tankless which worked out great for us and we were happy with the installation in general. Yesterday the tankless heater needed repair. We now learned that tankless water heaters should always be installed with isolation valves so they can be properly maintained (flushed). Turns out this has not been done with our water heater and we have to install them now at additional costs.

N A.

05/11/2019 12:00:00 SA

We have used Bill Howe in the past year and were pleased with their service, though find them to be quite a bit pricier than other plumbers. We woke up this morning to find a leaking pipe in the water heater closet. We called them first thing this morning and my husband spoke to someone who took all the info and said a plumber would call him back to set an appointment. By 3PM we had not heard from anyone and had to go to Plan B to ensure we have water for the weekend. Wasted much of the day waiting for the call and will not use them again in the future.

Jayne H.

6/15/2012

I think that this is a very well run business. They call afterwards to assure customer satisfaction. That speaks volumes!

Douglas A.

09/09/2020 12:00:00 SA

VERY professional, friendly, timely and knowledgeable. Tris Coffin was a pleasure to work with.

gene k.

2/19/2013

Needed a thermostatic valve replacement in my shower..There bid was $1450 and got the job done for $345. I did not use them because of this sky high bid. Also as it turned out the parts they proposed to use would not have worked. I guess someone has to pay for all that advertising.

Gene O.

09/02/2016 12:00:00 SA

Corey Koenen and Scott did an extraordinary job saving us with the faucet in the bathtub and replacing the valve for the whole house. On one night past 8pm we got an issue with the faucet (shaft broken inside) and couldn't even stop the water, with the valve metals rusted and almost inoperable. Corey managed to stop the water and fixed the faucet. He also identified the too much water pressure at the valve, which must have caused the faucet issue (and possibly other issues that we experienced in the past). The next day, Corey and Scott came to entirely replace the valve for the house. They were extremely courteous and Corey explained to us all the necessary details on the cause of the issues, how he/they fixed them, showing the broken parts. While we were troubled with those water issues, we found ourselves very fortunate having Corey and Scott fix the issues. When we ever have another issues (which we hope we won't for a long while :-)), we will definitely call them again.

Fred S.

9/18/2017

I spent more than a month getting proposals for a new AC and heating system. Richard visited our house and proposed numerous solutions at different price points. We decided on a mid range solution. I just had the AC and heating system installed by Bill Howe. I can not say how pleased I am with the installers lead by Andrés and Dalton. They covered our wood flooring and cleaned up after each day. The workmanship was A+. If you are considering a new heating and AC system, consider this company. They were not the cheapest. However, the Lennox equipment was perfect and the install was professional and exceptional. Well worth the small extra charge the low bidder proposed. This company is very easy to deal with and highly recommended.

Dave C.

3/14/2020

I just read their response and I am shocked. They NEVER followed up with me. Never made any attempt to make things right. Bold face lie. I would give a negative star now if I could.

Joselito S.

12/26/2018

I give Chris 5 stars - he was very professional and extremely skilled and knowledgeable in taking care of the water pipe issues in my house. He came the day after Christmas and worked until the issue has been resolved. I highly recommend Bill Howe for your plumbing needs.

Allyson C.

7/21/2023

I called Bill Howe plumbing for a garbage disposal replacement after my usual plumber no-call, no showed on me the day before. Bill Howe Plumbing actually offered same day service but I couldn't make the time work so scheduled for the following morning. The technician Oscar showed up a few minutes early, was super neat and friendly, and finished up the job quickly. The cost was definitely higher than if I had gone out and purchased the replacement disposal myself, but I consider that fair because it saved me the hassle of finding the replacement myself. Very happy with the service and VERY happy to have a garbage disposal back!

Dan T.

1/15/2019

I'm highly disappointed with my last estimate from Bill Howe. For years I've been using Bill Howe for plumbing, slab leak and water heaters for both my home and rentals. I got 3 estimates on a wall heater replacement job and Bill Howe was more than twice as much as the others, more than the other 2 estimates combined! All used the same heater. This has me turned off Bill Howe in foreseeable future. I did email Bill Howe and explained my concern. They called and told me they would investigate and get back to me. They didn't.

Deistl R.

02/04/2019 12:00:00 SA

Super Bowl evening and a drain backup. This is an issue you want to be solved quickly. I called Bill Howe and they responded and had a technician to our house in 45 minutes. Other companies would not respond or offered to set up an appointment 4 days later. The Bill Howe tech figured out the issue and was able to clean out the offending drain line quickly. Fantastic service and a great, friendly technician who responded on a Sunday evening, called, and arrived when he said he would.

I have you have an issue, and want a quick solution, call Bill Howe.

Michael H.

6/20/2022

DO NOT have them install anything. The previous owner of my home had them install an AC unit and they didn't connect the coolant piping fully so there was a small leak. We found the leak, and they won't honor the warranty even though they were the once who installed it improperly.

Ingrid S.

11/27/2017

I tried to switch my heat on this winter season but unfortunately nothing came on...I contacted Bill Howe as that is the company my landlady likes to use (I was a little concerned as last year when I used Bill Howe the experience was not as good I had hoped it to be).
A servise man came to the condo and diagnosed the problem however there was no availability to fix my heat for at least 10 days and I was a week out of surgery so completely house bound.
Bill Howe truly came to my rescue and I must say really went the extra mile....Andris Udriss their HVAC installer gave up his free Saturday came to the house to fix my heat. He opened the box with the new equipment to find that it was damaged...Andris returned the faulty equipment and arrived back with a new heating unit which he spent all Saturday installing. He switched the heat on, we heard the fan start and he left. Unfortunately, the heat never came on...I called Andris to let him know and on Saturday late afternoon he returned to make sure that I had heat.
My opinion was changed and I now highly recommend Bill Howe as they have proved that they will go that extra mile!!
My thank you is to Andris Udriss for going that extra mile for me!

Roxanne L.

03/11/2020 12:00:00 SA

My husband called for service. We both were taking turns contacting plumbers. I was advised to call one of the larger companies since they have more staff and typically have enough staff and able to make service calls on the weekends. So call would have been under Randy.

Gilbert F.

07/12/2019 12:00:00 SA

Justin came out on time and installed toilet I purchased and was a true professional in every way. We discussed toilet technology and I learned a lot. Bill Howe always sends out professional techs who speak well of his company. Thanks, Justin !

Gerry C.

6/22/2017

I am a retired General Contractor that found myself looking for a new plumber. I had many close contacts with Contractors including plumbers. As these folks retire and sell their businesses I lose those relationships. Last year I needed to find a new plumber for some work at my home in PB. I called the Company that I had a years long relationship for a quote on a very strait forward job. I estimated it at about an hours work and no materials. The firm had turned into a job shop after being sold by my friend. The quote was for almost $600.00. I called the new owner to ask why, and was simply told that it was a job shop and prices are computed by the plumber bidding the job. In a job shop, the plumber pays the ownership a fixed fee for the work involved and pockets the remainder. I then called Bill Howe Plumbing whom completed the work for $140.00.

I have since used Bill Howe Plumbing for four other home projects. I request DJ each time because he is efficient and fair with more than sufficient expertise for any home project. DJ bids the work fairly, shows up when promised, ready to complete the work with all materials and equipment needed. I had an all day project with running a new gas line this week. This was a long hard days work. Not only did DJ do the job exactly as I requested, he surpassed my expectations. All runs were perfectly centered along beams and walls. Lines hugged the walls to make the physical appearance appealing. Brackets were spaced evenly, all joints were neat and clean. Valves were the type requested and placed exactly as I had envisioned. The job site was clean, neat and orderly when DJ presented his bill. Only a person as detail oriented as myself does work like this.

Plumbing services are not cheap, the average hourly charge is $150.00 per hour. However, when you get a top-line professional job done it is much more palatable to foot the bill.

Thank you DJ. Thank you Bill Howe Plumbing.

Renee H.

7/25/2015

UPDATE: My review of excellent service remains, however, I now know prices are high so I'm dropping to four stars.

I only have one experience so far but it was great. I live upstairs and the downstairs neighbor called about a leak in his ceiling. I called Bill Howe at 8:30am this Saturday and Edgar was here by 1pm. Long story short he investigated the leak and started non-invasively per my request. It's now 2:30pm and the damage is sadly widespread, but he found the pin hole leak in the wall that caused the problem. He's fixing it now. He provided excellent service and is a good representative of the company.

Brenda J.

08/04/2014 12:00:00 SA

I will never call this people again. I live in a condo complex and the units are townhouses. My outside water spigot started to leak and came off in my hands. I had to shut off the water to ten units. It was after 5pm and I waited 2 hours. When the service provider showed up he told me it would cost 217.00 plus parts for a total of 235.00. He was here for 10 minutes. He replaced the a small pipe and put a new spigot on. The spigot didn't look right to me and I should have Tried to attach the hose but I didn't until the day after. So I had to call them again to have them replace the laundry spigot they put on my outdoor water source. The same guy showed up so I asked him why he didn't say anything. He said it was because I was more concerned about the units without water. Lame excuse. Also I was sure he quoted 217.00 an hour not 10 minutes. Never again. I'm telling everyone not to use them.

Evan J.

6/30/2019

Outstanding Customer service on an emergency call on 6-30-19. Five stars all the way. My Technician is named Micheal and he was professional, quick and did excellent work. I am very impressed with the service from reservation to finish. My need was an emergency repair in a laundry room and to make things worse, I had a house full of relatives.. Micheal was at my home quickly (within an hour) and got the work done perfectly in short order! No reservations on my behalf to rate 5 Stars all the way. I am impressed with the Company and Micheal too!

Christina R.

10/15/2022

I chose to go with Bill Howe Plumbing to replace my water heater. What a disaster. Bill Howe doesn't know how. After spending $4k on a new water heater, it took 7 separate appointments from 6 of their plumbers to figure out why there was no hot water. This went on for 3 weeks - yes, no hot water for 3 weeks. Finally, Bill Howe replaced the water heater. A request that I made from the very beginning. The plumbers were rude and condescending. There was no urgency in fixing the problem. What a disappointment. Never again.

Frank D.

07/08/2022 12:00:00 SA

Great experience for this kind of house maintenance (not fun, inconvenient, etc). My hot water heater died after a valiant 17 years, but threatened to make a mess.

Allan came out to do a personal estimate and caught a bunch of code related upgrades we needed to make (no surprise to me).

They squeezed the schedule to come out before the weekend and I have hot water again...

We did talk to other plumbing contractors and these guys were the best in terms of value/reputation/timeline. One of them wanted us to get a separate company to demo the mess in my first picture... um hello, we can't do that until a plumber removes the original.

Jane L.

6/18/2017

Had a fresh water leak in my front yard. The first two Bill Howe guys came out and said that the leak was on the Water District's side. Water District person came out and quickly proved that the leak was, in fact, on my side. When I called Bill Howe back, they wanted to charge me time in a half to come out again. When I refused and explained why they were having to return, they agreed. The next gentleman that came out, Rick, found that the leak was on my side and explained to me how I needed Leak Detection people and then call BH back. Leak Detection people found leak following day and Bill Howe person came out the day after that and repaired the leak. Unfortunately, he was not aware that I wanted a repair (even though I had called office early a.m. to tell them the leak had been found and I wanted repaired asap) -- he was there for a bid. He could see the leak and went right to work.

Ryan B.

12/22/2016

I called Bill Howe company for a quote to install a new gas line for a gas stove (replacing an electric stove). Tris Coffin was the technician that came out to give the estimate. Tris inspected the home and property and recommended to run the new gas line from the meter around the backyard to the kitchen. He was able to quickly schedule the work and ended up completing the job earlier than originally planned. I 100% recommend Tris with the Bill Howe company. Thank you Tris!

Kevin M.

4/23/2012

I have had an account with Bill Howe for over 10 years. On average his technicians are better than any of the other plumbers I have tried. Pricing is fair, service is great. I own a couple rental properties that have frequent stopped drains, they coordinate with the tenants and solve the problem. I don't have to be there and the are professional with my tenants.

Tyler P.

5/27/2022

Had Raul respond to a Slab leak. He went above and beyond to do everything he could to make sure I was taken care of. From leak detection to temporary fixes to advice on the next steps. I'm thankful for all he did. Definitely a great company and great workers!

Tracy B.

7/23/2010

Bill Howe DEFINITELY does NOT KNOW HOW!!! They contract the work out to the crapiest plummers out there. Then a supervisor has to come clean up their work. They don't even rate 1 star. I have no idea what the people that give them more then one star are smoking. I can only assume they lucked out and got the supervisor to do their job. Search onward - Bill Does Not Know Howe isn't worth the chance. They cause more damage then they know how to fix. After a simple job changing out the fixtures in my shower - then the moron just left it leaking and not properly installed. And the ladies in the office couldn't understand why I was so upset.

Peter S.

08/10/2017 12:00:00 SA

Actually had the pleasure of meeting Bill Howe at his office he took the time to talk with me for over 25 minutes. This is truly an amazing family run business and I would highly, highly recommend Bill Howe for your Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning needs just a great company!! 5 stars

Jennifer B.

5/29/2022

Not dependable. We called Bill Howe because they have Rinnai tankless water heater specialists.We were able to schedule for emergency service on Sunday. We were given a 10-1 window. All day we were told plumber is held up at a job, but still coming. It wasn't until 5:45, when I called, that we were told he wasn't coming. We stayed home all day waiting.

K C.

10/18/2014

I had a leaky garbage disposal so decided to get a new one. I called to get an estimate plus replacing the kitchen faucet. Gabriel came out, gave me some suggestions (which I chose to follow) and installed a new garbage disposal, new kitchen faucet and even straightened out some of the pipes under the sink. Not pushy at all, polite and cleaned up the area nicely. Thank you Gabriel!

Chris Y.

9/14/2010

Had a slow drain and hired a snaker come out. The snaker ran his rotor rooter and failed and to make matters worse, the slow draining came to a halt. The snaker then recommended his plumber come out. So this plumber comes out and assess that new pipes needed to be installed and the cost was gonna be around 1200-1800.00 . So I decided to call Bill Howe. It was amazing, within 30 minutes they were at the house and 23 minutes later, the drain was fixed.

I see lots of negative stuff on Bill Howe here but let me tell you... THESE GUYS ROCKED! Really professional outfit... and the cost was only 82.00 !!!

I'm a Bill Howe fan for life!!!! THANK YOU BILL HOWE!!!

Nichole B.

10/18/2016

Called upon by our property management company. The arrival time was between 5pm-8pm and they arrived quicker then expected at 5:30...so thankful as the two units were having an unexpected overflow situation. Giovanny was great and worked quickly to resolve the issue. Few obstacles on our property to overcome but he found work around da and got it done!

Brian M.

3/28/2013

Got the job done in the end. Be prepared to call the supervisor numerous times to get the correct info and to get anything done.

Angel B.

5/23/2016

I work for Black Mountain Collision and I had a rep from Bill Howe come out to fix a minor leak in our toilet. I am glad I trusted my cousin Giovanny Martinez who works for the company because even though he was not the one that came out the rep that was sent by the name of Josh Troyer was quick and efficient in the work that he provided. I highly recommend Bill Howe and will continue to use them in the future

Chris M.

7/28/2014

Omar just left and my house is now cooling! Saved my sweaty butt. Omar (technician) was GREAT. He talked up the company, explained everything that was going on and was absolutely a joy. What I was afraid would be a very expensive fix turned out to be quick and painless. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Christopher R.

5/30/2023

Clogged kitchen sink. Went online and requested service. Received alerts as technician was on his way. Angel Z arrived as stated In service window. Angel listened to what I had already tried, walked the property to understand the overall flow of drainage in the house before starting. He had to snake the drains many times to clear the countless years of gunk. He was very courteous throughout and completely cleaned up before he left. Excellent first experience

Greg W.

7/22/2017

Very reliable, responsive and fair. Facing a major repair bill for drainline replacement Bill Howe came in and showed me (with video) the affected areas under my house and provided a professional estimate to document the work needed and associated costs. In the end the work got done on time and was less than expected as they determined during the course of the work that a portion of the job was not needed. Additionally when I had a minor request to adjust something on the job site after the fact they were quick to assess the situation and offer to do it at no charge.

Erika J.

6/22/2020

It's been the craziest time during COVID19 - we've had a couple of issues pop up with our toilets and water pressure.
Bill Howe has come through 3 times for us - and their technicians are wonderful!!
Quick, polite, very helpful.
I can't say enough about how outstanding they are!!!!
Thank you Bill Howe!!!

Rob K.

8/27/2022

We just had our 1966 vintage home plumbing drain relined. Many years ago we'd tried to get this done with another company when the technology was new and it didn't go well. Needless to say Bill Howe came out recently when we were having drain backup issues and found that the original company had left a partially collapsed liner in our drain and that we had many cracks in the cast iron drain. We were very impressed with the professionalism and communication we received from Bill Howe and contracted with them for a complete drain reline.

Their crew showed up promptly and were very good at explaining what they were doing and why. We received status updates throughout each day. The project took a total of 10 days to complete and we're very satisfied with the result. They were very good at keeping the areas inside our house clean and did a great job cleaning up after themselves on a daily basis. Believe it or not, the job came in under the original estimate.

N. S.

06/09/2017 12:00:00 SA

Tried these people twice. First time there was a leak in the garage. Guy arrived, climbed up ladder in garage and felt ceiling which was literally dripping, took a flashlight out and told me he had NO idea what the problem was. Charged me $150 for service call. What service? Tried them again, bathtub faucet was dripping. They came out, tub is custom tub built into wall and they said they could not get to the pipes and I would have to have another service remove some of the tiles so they could see the pipes. Paid another company and Bill Howe came out again. Said they could not fix problem and did not know why it was dripping. Charged me for another service call. Had to have company come back and put tiles back in and pay them. Called local handyman and he came over, took one look at the fixtures that turn on and off the water, took out a file, took fixtures off, filed them down about 1/2 and put them back on. Water shut off fine. He charged me $30. Simple huh? Worth $150? I think this business is terrible. I contacted them about my charges and girl who answered was rude and they never called me back. Today I passed a Bill Howe van and when we got to a light and I was next to him, he flipped me off. Nice people. Rip off! Use a local plumber next time.

Mark C.

6/15/2018

I have alternated between Bill Howe and others over the years. Today I called them about 2 jobs, one in my kitchen, replacing a faucet, and the other under the bathroom sink, replacing some piping. They were able to offer me a same day appointment and arrived within 1/2 hour of the arrival window. The young plumber, Brandon, was courteous and friendly. He explained what he would do and then did it well. Both the sink and bathroom were completed in less than 2 hours and looked great.
It is important to note that I had called another large plumbing company 2 months ago, just for the kitchen sink, and their young plumber had looked under the sink for awhile, gone back to his truck for ten minutes, then came back with a calling card referring me to mold removal company. I'm going to Vegas this weekend, and I can't afford to get sick. Then he left. It was such a breath of fresh air to have Brandon, come in, get to work and make our kitchen sink look great again. Thanks Brandon!

Lori F.

12/14/2021

I would never want a plumbing problem or damage, but when it happened to us we contacted Bill Howe and they exceeded our expectations to get our home back to normal. All were highly responsive, hard working and exceptionally respectful to our home. A special shout out to Miguel and Joe, but actually all, I just didn't get all names. So happy we had their entire company handle from emergency, plumbing, mitigation and restoration. Thank you for your service!

CATHY T.

3/17/2015

Great service, quick call back, great price and friendly plumber. I had a backed up kitchen sink Saturday night. Called the company of someone I went to school with thinking I'd support someone I knew.....$195/hour plus $65 for equipment.....I don't think so.

Called Bill Howe Plumbing. Miguel Gomez called me back 5 minutes later and was here within 30 minutes. The entire job was $150 (much better than the $260 I was quoted by another company!!). Miguel was pleasant and friendly. He was able to clear my sink and then cleaned up the mess afterwards.

I know who I'll call the next time I need a plumber. Great service all around from initial phone call to actual work done.

Vicki R.

8/28/2014

I have used Bill Howe for years. The pricing is a bit higher then some yet I can count on their honesty.

Karla is a Saint who answered all my questions and made sure. on a holiday weekend, to get me the earliest time available and she double checked on everything to make sure all was good.

Wayne, the tech, who came out was more then honest and told us what the best and most affordable way to fix the a/c in this hot weather following a surgery.

Kaila was so sweet today when I called to see about another issue and got Karla back on the phone and she even remembered our problems and is getting a tech out early tomorrow morning.

I would recommend them yet with any business you must be careful with people and I think the one's complaining might not see the people as human beings who are trying so hard to help.

Thank you again Karla and Wayne we do appreciate you so much! xo

Gary P.

07/03/2015 12:00:00 SA

My A/C wasn't working. Repair man took an hour diagnosing problem. Spent much of time on phone. Told me we had to buy new A/C, which is about $6000-$7000. Also said we could buy compressor for few thousand dollars. We opted to get second opinion.

Different company fixed it for $390. They said prior person left connections open and power removed. Was also curious why all coolant was empty. Unit only 7years old! Just needed coolant refill. They even came back day after to check on repair. George Plumbing and A/C did it right!

shahla e.

9/18/2020

I had a bad experience with the tech who came to find the source of the bathroom leak. He was going to leave without really giving us any answer. I told him he will not get paid the $169. At this point my handyman who was doing another job stepped in and made a suggestion which he followed. Leak was from the shower/ tub! He got paid and left and we decided to redo the entire bathroom. He sent an estimate for demolition which was ridiculously high. More than double the other estimate we got. I'll not call Bill Howe Plumbing again.
By the way, I was never offered a refund for my money as mentioned below. I would happily accept it.

Greg P.

07/05/2016 12:00:00 SA

Great job!!! The guys Ulises Felipe and Ricardo were the best!! High quality products and services while being friendly and helpful was exactly what and why we went with Bill Howe for AC!! Thanks guys!!

Susan O.

01/10/2017 12:00:00 SA

Just finished the next step in water damage restoration. Every trade that has come from Bill Howe has been great! The workmen are always punctual, friendly, knowledgeable, and clean up when they're finished. George is a wonderful furniture mover and Ever/ Chris are great at removing hardwood floors. I will definitely stick with Bill Howe for all future repairs, even after the restoration has been completed.

Faye G.

04/06/2016 12:00:00 SA

The technician came out at 10 on a Friday. He was pleasant and fixed the problem!

B W.

08/01/2017 12:00:00 SA

Giovanny Martinez is an excellent and honest plumber. Punctual, friendly, knowledgeable and fair. He was able to inform me of my plumbing issues and provide me with various options that best suited my urgent needs and budget. As for the overall company...Bill Howe I can say hires some great professional plumbing team members. Hopefully I won't need services in the near future but if i do, I'm calling Bill Howe and I'm asking for Giovanny Martinez!!!

Christine P.

8/13/2022

We had a gas leak and got our gas meter locked by SDG&E until we could get a licensed plumber to repair or replace the gas line leading to the house. After 3 other quotes, Doug from Bill Howe came out and gave us a very reasonable estimate. We honestly had thought of canceling the estimate as this would have been our fourth quote (another plumber was around the same price but we were worried wasn't as experienced, couldn't explain things to us) but so glad we didn't! Doug was amazing. He was super knowledgeable and experienced, wasn't scaring us like other plumbers who came out saying our whole system would fail if we didn't shell out over $7500 to change all the lines. Doug really took a look at everything, thought about it, gave us a fair and affordable estimate, and even after he found a couple of other small things needed, kept it at the estimate which was just a little over $2500. He went above and beyond, returning because he thought of something else that might help with our inspection! (Needed to pass an inspection before SDG&E came back to turn on gas.) He was responsive, answered all our questions, explained what would happen next with inspection, and it was very accurate. He never talked down nor was condescending, assumed we could understand and follow instructions, did not treat us like we would not be able to understand problems and solutions. Highly recommend - had no idea gas leak repairs were done by plumbers, Doug says he's been doing this for 35 years. Would not hesitate to go with Bill Howe again! Also, a real person answered my call even on a weekend night, and she was very kind, friendly, helpful. Makes a difference.

Pete D.

10/16/2017

Great service. No one better to call with a plumber emergency. All work is warranted. You won't have to worry if the job is done right with Bill Howe

Bill K.

04/07/2017 12:00:00 SA

Chris who works at Bill Howe is a really trustworthy dude. Came out very fast and helped me when I was in a bind. Scheduled my appointment and was on time, finished the work in the time frame and kept it within the budget. I will 100% use Chris at Bill Howe in the future.

*On a side note: I had to get them approved to work in my complex, the HOA did not allow me to use any outside companies other than their approved vendors. I needed some legal info to get them approved and their customer service people gave me everything I needed very cheerfully. I successfully got them approved to work in my complex and I will be telling my neighbors to use them too!

Kim L.

8/19/2021

This is an extremely late post but I had a toilet issue and needed some advice/ quote on next steps. The technician that came out. Ignacio P. was amazing. He was super honest and helped us out a lot with our issue. No work was needed but will definitely use them again.

Tim D.

9/16/2021

We recently used Bill Howe plumbing when our upstairs toilet leaked and damaged the ceiling below. Manuel came in and diagnosed the problem. He was able to stop the leak, but needed parts to finish the repair. He went out of his way to arrange to come back the next day, despite a full schedule, and complete repairs. He noticed that the overflow valve was not functioning properly and repairs that as well. He is a conscientious, hard working young man and BH Plumbing should be proud to call him an employee. Thanks!

Mary H.

5/20/2017

During my PT post surgery appointment... sinks, garbage disposal and toilet literally BLEW Up! Twice!! I called Bill Howe and asked how long? Max 1 hr..but 15 mins later were on their way!
Professional Specialist Allan A. showed up with helper, ready to tackle. Worked solid for 15 mins to identify, and then began clearing all home drains thru to main! Within 45 minutes, done. Allan A. walked me thru entire process on paper and without drama....leaving me with Fastest and cleanest drains since purchased home. I will Only use Allan And Bill Howe 4ever!!! Thank you for Exceptional customer care and work!!

Dan J.

12/30/2015

5 stars say;s it all. Had a broken garbage disposal. Called Bill Howe. Got a quote over the phone, set up an appointment for the next day. Brando showed up on time did a great job, cost was what they said it would be. GREAT!!!!!!!
Fast friendly reliable reasonable. I would recommend them.

Thanks Brandon,

JABBA

Chris M.

09/01/2013 12:00:00 SA

Our AC condensing unit goes out on Friday, leaving us in a lurch over the holiday weekend for repair. After trying to deal with my home warranty company to get it repaired over the weekend I decided to call a couple of contractors to see if anybody could come out and do the repairs on Sat/Sun.

After leaving a couple messages with other companies, I called Bill Howe and got in touch with them. They had scheduled me for the repair to be done on Sunday and that the Tech would call me in the morning to let me know what time they would be out. I made them repeat this back to me so that there was no misunderstanding and they would be able to come out on Sunday for sure.

So with that set, I received a couple call backs from the other companies I had contacted and told them I had already had Bill Howe coming out on Sunday and thanked them for the call back.

Fast forward to Sunday morning, no call from the Bill Howe Tech.l I call Bill Howe and am told they are booked for Sunday. I try to explain that I had called the previous day and was promised an appointment. They couldn't check the records as the customer rep. claimed they had a power outage...She did say she would contact a tech and have them confirm with me.

Three hours later I receive a call from the Customer Rep. Supervisor informing me that they have overbooked appointments and can not get out to the house till Tuesday/Wednesday. Obviously very disappointing and unprofessional as I had other options available to me had I known that they had no clue how to schedule their workload.

Edit 9/5/13

I was contacted by Julie from customer service with the following message:

Thank you for your feedback. We have researched all of the elements of this service call and discovered the areas in which we failed you. Because you did not receive the level of care and communication you should have, we are reworking our after-hours policy so that our on-call staff and answering service follow better customer service procedures to ensure this does not happen again. We understand your disappointment and hope that we can restore your confidence in us in the future. Please don't hesitate to contact me directly if I can be of any service.

Good to see a quick response to the issue, hopefully they do indeed address how they handle after-hours calls.

Debra P.

8/19/2020

We have used Bill Howe for years and have recommended them to others...which is why I am now so disappointed and perplexed. I'm thinking maybe they are under new management as my current experience is NOTHING like what I have had in the past.
I called them to replace a downstairs toilet and to check two upper level toilets. Was told my bottom toilet needed to be ordered by them as I had bought ones that would not work. This was fine.
Then I had the technician check the first of two upper toilets. One seemed to have a slow leak in the bowl. Was told I needed to replace this for $300. And ditto for the second one.
Warning bells went off in my head. I told him I would put off the upper level replacements and just do the bottom floor.
Then I called Home Advisors and got a plumber out here to fix the upstairs problems for $20.
No word from Bill Howe as to how this could be.

LAURA T.

8/29/2019

I have used this family of plumbers twice now and both times they have been excellent. the first time they came over in an emergency to fix a AC leak. they did so quickly and efficiently, although I did have to pay the after hours rate. The next time the hot water wasn't working in one of the bathrooms and I called again Tom came over he was very thorough and researched on the Internet what type of valve it was so that he could replace it under warranty instead of charging me for the part. It ended up not being under warranty, so I did have to pay for the part, but he was quick and thorough. I really appreciated his initiative to go to do the research and try to save me the cost. He just charged me labor to install it. Definitely recommend this family of plumbers especially Tom.

Steve M.

11/12/2016 12:00:00 SA

Bill Howe's team completed a major outside water repair at our home. Luis, the job supervisor, went out of his way to explain every part of the process. He showed us exactly what he was about to do at each step and made sure that approved of all the work. He and Miguel, his team mate, were in and out in less than two days and left our yard looking better than before they came. We're now big fans of Bill Howe and will use them for any future plumbing needs..

Karen R.

4/16/2019

Was a homeowner for years and am opting to rent these days. My landlord agreed to try out Bill Howe Plumbing after his usual plumber said he was booked for the week.
Gustavo quickly replaced two valves yesterday and impressed me with his courtesy and professionalism. He carried the stock in his van, so there was no moaning about not having the parts required by our older setup, a complaint I routinely hear from the smaller firms. As Gustavo put everything back together, he ensured that all the connecting parts were in good working order, and applied a little resourcefulness to renew a partially plugged shower head. He cheerfully tolerated my watching, and happily provided his professional opinion when I asked questions.
I love the over-shoe booties the firm uses, as the state of my home is important to me and I know how shoes can collect stuff from various job sites. Thank you Gustavo for insisting on wearing them, even when I offered that it wasn't necessary.
My landlord and I agree that Bill Howe is surely the way to go for our plumbing needs.

Sargrath G.

9/25/2012

If you need a teechnician that can get it done request Patric. I am not one to write reviews, but this guy took a very stressful situation and assured us that he would get it done. AND he was true to his word. I saw many reviews before posting and there is alot of negativity about price.. Well... you get what you pay for..I would rather pay a bit more to have a job done right the first time, than to pay less and have the job done multiple times. If you need a plumber that is excellent request Patric.

Dinald S.

9/18/2021

We shut the main water off to the house.

The guy came over.

Tore out our part.

Talked outside on the phone for an hour.

Took our part with him and never came back

Mike G.

1/30/2023

Had a tenant with a backed up tub. Braulio Romero helped me out and got the job done quickly and was super nice also. Would recommend!

Lani D.

02/04/2020 12:00:00 SA

We had excellent customer service. We were able to quickly schedule our water heater to be repaired. Isaiah was fantastic. Isaiah worked quickly and efficiently and taught us how to keep the new water heater in the best condition. Thank you!

Ben J.

1/13/2020

I almost always choose these Bill Howe Family's Plumbing company for plumbing assistance I cannot do on my own or dont want to because I know it will get done right and they are reasonably priced. Had an excellent experience this time around with Ty who was polite, professional and fixed the problem fast as well as his supervisor Rudy. Basically just wanted to give them both a 5 star recommendation. Each time a team member from Howe has come before, it has also been great and they do not seem to price gouge you as much as other plumbers which we always remember as homeowners. I suggest using these guys for the simple visits as they go the extra mile and also for the highly complex issues as they have the proper equipment and experienced staff to get it done right the first time. I was so pleased this time I tried shaking their hands after, but then I decided to wait until the work gloves were off! Haha some dirty work most of us homeowners dont like to do, but done well by these guys! Thanks Bill Howe

Shawn A.

03/11/2011 12:00:00 SA

Our sewer lateral was backed up and Mr. Pattric Nealey came to the rescue. Thanks Pat for your fast response and excellent customer service!

Megan S.

7/21/2017

We just used Bill Howe for HVAC and couldn't be more thrilled with the results. Our technician Andris and installer Dalton were professional, courteous and stayed as long as it took to get the job done correctly. I would recommend them to anyone looking for home improvement whether it be heating, cooling or plumbing. You can tell they care about you, your home and the quality of their work. We are thrilled with our cool new house and would make the decision again in a heartbeat.

Gabriel A.

11/30/2016

Done and done.

Yes, I was not quoted a rate on the phone, only that overtime rates would apply. If a partial refund is made, I will be more than happy to upgrade my review.

Jack H.

3/27/2012

Waited all day for a tech to show - our appointment was from 10 - 1, the tech showed at 3:20 after I called the office 3 times - once I was told the tech was at my house . . . would expect more from an established organization . . . (original post 3/27)
Update: after posting a somewhat negative review I received several emails and phonecalls which resulted in a 20% refund - although this does not give me back the day (for a repair which took 1 hour) it does show that the company is responsive to the customer. (updated 4/3)

Susan O.

5/26/2017

I called Bill Howe Plumbing to repair a leaking hot water pipe, and Bill Howe Plumbing sent Mauricio Cervantes and Chris to my house to do the job.
Mauricio and Chris arrived on time as scheduled, were hard working, and did a great job on the pipe repair.
Before they began working on the pipe, Mauricio explained how they would do the repair and informed me of the repair options I had, and also answered all of my questions.
Mauricio had a great attitude and was very helpful, as well as being very knowledgeable.
I was very pleased with their work and would give them a high recommendation.

Mimi O.

10/02/2017 12:00:00 SA

We had a plumbing probably at 6:30am on Saturday and I called to see if I can get a plumber out to the house soon cause we had people at our house getting ready for my grandma funeral. The dispatch took my information down and said someone will give me a call. Two days has past and I still haven't got a call not from the plumber or the company for a follow-up!

Joe V.

1/25/2014

This plumbing company is the worst! On their last visit, the plumber was 3 hours late, arriving at 5pm. Then wanted to charge Overtime to complete the repair! Beware..

Wayne B.

8/27/2014

RJ came by to inspect my home remodel job and he spent almost an hour giving me advice on how to finish the job and keep myself out of trouble. I was very impressed and when I need to call a plumber, I'm calling them back.

Yy Z.

2/28/2023

One could never prepare for an emergency whereby the work you require forces a sudden leave of home and belongings.

I'm giving a high Yelp rating because the people at Bill Howe are professionals who genuinely care. I was out of my home for several months with my animal. It was necessary, given the work and safety precautions. I want to recognize an extraordinary professional who went the extra mile to ensure things were accomplished and correctly achieved. Thank you, Jaime Cibrian I also want to thank Melissa Taylor at the office for immediately responding, supporting essential issues, and being kind and compassionate.

Other folks were also great, but impossible to mention all names in this review, so Thank you to this Bill Howe's team and contractors who worked on my home and the back office folks who kept all streamlined.

I'm forever grateful for the team and love my beautiful home. Most importantly confident of the safety due to the work performed and knowing I had a professional team all certified and licensed.

Anytime you have work done at your home, are displaced, and deal with multiple contractors, this increases stress. It is all about how you finish, not anything in between; Jaime, lead on the reconstruction, was dedicated to ensuring I was 100% satisfied. He did a great job representing the mission of the Bill Howe family.

Lisa D.

08/12/2019 12:00:00 SA

We had another heating and cooling company come out and was told that basically our entire air conditioning unit needed to be changed. The tech seemed to be a sales person. $100 later, I called Bill Howe. Jeremy came out to do the work. He was an honest, straightforward person that had the A/C on as soon as he started working on it. Fixed and explained a power source that had possibly surged and melted. Although unit was old, it was still good. Crazy different response from the previous tech. Should have called Bill Howe to begin with. Thanks Jeremy.

Ed G.

02/03/2017 12:00:00 SA

I called into get a free estimate to replace my main sewage pipe line.
I explained to him that I just need a quote to get it fixed. I already knew the problem and explained it to him. He went on and said he can't be a number of things he would have to return with a supervisor the following day. They showed up and started to troubleshoot and it came out to be what I have explained to him The previous day. He told me the main sewer pipe line was busted and needed to get replaced he couldn't give me a quote but he did charge me $200 just to tell me what I told him. If there was a lower rating I would give it to them do not call them for a free estimate.

Daniel B.

12/06/2017 12:00:00 SA

Great service, would use again. Mike from Bill Howe came out to look at drain for one of my rental properties that have been having problems with for many years. In the past we have dug up part of the drain pipe, replaced sections and even raised a portion of the drain pipe 5 to get a better flow to help keep it from backing up.
After much discussion with Mike and giving him the history he felt it was best to run the camera down the line. The part we raised and replaced was working fine. The 2 drain line ran about 24 feet before it hit the 4 main.
The camera showed built up grease in the line, most likely from when the portion we previously raised and replaced, when the drain line was almost flat caused the build up of grease.
Mike suggested that we hydro blast the drain line. He said If we did it would look almost as good as new inside the pipe. He stayed once done and with the work that we have previously done should help stop the continual back up. I have never thought of hydro blasting the line. However this needed to be fixed as my tenants needed the back ups to stop. We did the hydro blast and then ran the camera. The pipes inside looked really good.
We will not know if it worked for a while however I cannot say enough good things about Mike from Bill Howe, his understanding my situation and dilemma was important. I felt he really cared and wanted to help me get to the bottom of this continual drain problem. He could not have been more understanding, helpful and patient. I am putting my trust in Bill Howe and Mike's expertise.

Alan T.

10/30/2016

We just had a very successful major repair of a leak problem in the hot water line at our home. The leak was underground, so it was difficult to locate. We wanted to avoid jackhammering through the concrete slab to access and fix the leaking pipe (which was a solution proposed by others). Repairing the underground pipe would have been very costly and require the participation of several construction trades. In addition, the work would have to be done inside the house and would mean at least a week of noise, dust, debris, and interference with our daily lives, preventing us from using a section of our home.

A more creative solution had to be found. We called Bill Howe.

Corey Koenen, Bill Howe's expert plumber, led the effort to diagnose the problem and propose a solution. Once the leak was precisely located, Corey proposed cutting off the leaking pipe section between two manifolds - abandoning it in place - and installing a by-pass plumbing connection underground around the house perimeter. This solution took only two days of work outside the house. It did not interfere with our daily activities and cost less than half of alternative solutions proposed by others.

We highly recommend Bill Howe. They are very professional. Corey is a perfectionist. His welding was remarkably clean and expertly done. The welding quality looked almost like jewelry work. The repair was done to our total satisfaction.

Mia R.

09/12/2019 12:00:00 SA

Last year, we got an estimate from a very rude young man. I told him that my friend was very hands on and pulls the permits himself. He had done it before while working with Mauricio. The guy said, if he's that kind of guy, we don't want your business and left me with an estimate. My friend said the estimate was way too high to install a new heater--five grand. I called the company, talked to the supervisor. I told him that my friend, who has owned rental properties for years, had looked up the wholesale cost of the heater and that Bill Howe would pay only $600 for the unit. I asked if he could work with us on the price for the work. He fumed and gave me a rundown on overhead. He said that it was an old estimate and that this year, the work would cost $6,000 due to tariffs. How stupid the owners are to allow a supervisor to mistreat a customer. They only want us if we dont know what is going on.

PS Mauricio fixed a leaking pipe for us. My friend repeatedly asked for a receipt but didn't get one, leading my friend to believe some kind of side hustle was going on.

Elmo R.

4/30/2017

Bill Howe has taken good care of us on a few occasions. This time was no different. We had two toilets and a kitchen faucet installed. For what seemed, to me, like something that would take a while for one person, it took a lot less time than I thought. Saul did everything himself, including haul the heavy old toilets away. He was courteous and kept me informed of what was going on. Thanks again for a positive experience!

Pat W.

08/07/2014 12:00:00 SA

I have been using Bill Howe Plumbing for over 20 years since my days in Mission Valley. We are now in Carlsbad and it is comforting to know we are still within range. Always prompt and professional, the BH guys get'er done. We needed some copper soldering for a hose bib and drains cleared and I was relieved at the reasonable bill and pleased with the next day response. You can't go wrong with Bill Howe Plumbing!

Maureen F.

06/09/2022 12:00:00 SA

Called Bill Howe again, as a repeat happy customer, and Eric M and Lendale K came to the house to diagnose & fix. Both were professional, courteous, and friendly. I especially appreciated Lendale giving us two workable options from which to choose, as well as his professional opinion on both. I'll keep recommending Bill Howe to my neighbors and friends.

Byron B.

09/05/2023 12:00:00 SA

Excellent and timely service on the repairs to our Noritz tankless hot water heater. They aren't the cheapest (hourly rate), but you get what you pay for and they don't try to rip you off with inflated time to complete a job. I would definitely call on Bill Howe again for any plumbing issues.

L L.

8/13/2014

Did not even use them after being quoted $145 hourly rate. I know high rise crane operators that don't even make that...hell, I don't think the president of the United States makes that. I would personally look elsewhere. There are plenty of others that do quality work without the gross hourly rate.

JC D.

08/06/2023 12:00:00 SA

Mr. Enoch Klingbeil 763 was sent to investigate why my home air conditioning failed to work. Both my wife and I have cardiac problems so Bill Howe Plumbing sent Mr. Klingbeil. He was able to readily diagnose the issue. He was professional, knowledgeable, courteous and patient. Furthermore, he treated my home respectfully. Thank you Bill Howe.

Robert G.

6/15/2023

No problem with the plumber. He did what good plumbers do. Bill Howe charged $205.00 for the Proflo PFWSC5240CP faucet. That seemed high. I Googled it and found it for $71.19 including shipping. That was the low price. The other stores listed had it for less than $100, including the big box stores.

Nora R.

09/02/2022 12:00:00 SA

In 2019 I purchased A heating /AC unit. I was extremely happy with the process and with a customer service representative. Until recently I felt that Bill Howe's representative took advantage of me. Because I had no knowledge of air conditioning. I was told recently that my AC unit is way to big for my 1675 sq. ft. home. I was told that my AC
Unit was made for 2000 - 3000 sq.ft. home.
So right now I'm very cautious about trusting individuals, selling products for my home..

Phil S.

09/12/2019 12:00:00 SA

The 5 stars are for the excellent service and professionalism of Roberto, the technician who snaked our clogged sewer line. Not only was he on time but he explained in clear terms what he was going to do. I highly recommend Bill Howe.

Kevin W.

10/14/2016

I use Bill Howe commercially & at home. I've never had any issues with the techs or their office people. They know what their doing and wont rip you off. I feel they believe take care of a customer and they'll come back unlike other services that bend you over a barrel. I cant think of any reason to call any other plumbing company. Give them a shot. you'll have a plumber for life.

Lorelei S.

1/20/2021

I have been a long time client of Bill Howe. There is a reason. This last week I had a water pressure issue with bad piping from previous plumbers and then it was discovered by SDG&E that I had unknown gas leaks under my 100 year old house. I called around. Got different solutions and cost differences. Went back to who I knew would get both problems done right, quickly, safely and with company pride. My service tech, Miguel, fixed my pressure issue with new exterior piping that disappears into the landscape unnoticed. DJ & his assistant totally repiped my gas lines in only a day & when SDG&E came out to reconnect me, the service tech said, oh, Bill Howe did the work, good. They know what we need. Made me feel good. I am a customer for life.

Andrew P.

3/17/2022

BILL HOWE RESTORATION SERVICES. A very long story short, after a flood in a rental that I own, I called Bill Howe Restoration services to help come and remediate the damage. They were completely incompetent.
They placed drying blowers to dry the area, on TOP of a wet rug and rug pad for a period of 48 hrs- leaving the wet flooring underneath to be further damaged and require complete removal. The logical thing to do, would have been to remove the wet rug and dry the floors underneath. Further, my insurance company, as an unbiased 3rd party assessment, determined that the service they provided not only fell short of industry standards & practices - but actually likely caused more damage to the flooring - prolonging the experience and they stated that is was more expensive than usual.

Up until this point, I had used Bill Howe for all my plumbing needs - but that absolutely will NOT be the case moving forward. I strongly urge you to explore other plumbers-- a perfect example of how BIGGER is NOT better.

Lisa S.

01/11/2011 12:00:00 SA

Had a very bad experience.. their free estimate isn't really free and the work that was done on my hot water heater had to be fixed by another company. As a lanlord this was not only embarrasing but costly. When I confronted the office over the phone about it, they were not willing to work with me. I won't use Bill Howe anymore and will def not recommend them.

Johanna U.

9/30/2014

These guys really stand behind their work. The first plumber they sent over did not do the job correctly. Bill Howe sent another team over and repaired everything and even did drywall and paint work for free.

John S.

10/10/2019 12:00:00 SA

Thank you so much for understanding my complaint on my water heater charge . Like I said the installers were GREAT it just look like it was just overlooked very EZ to understand . Thanks again John and Bonnie

Ellen C.

12/17/2019

As soon as Ian showed up I tried to explain what I knew and he just continued what he was doing and walking away from me completely dismissing me. I was very stressed at this point and came in and told my husband that he was very rude to me and that he should deal with Ian. So my husband went out to deal with Ian and explained that he wanted him to cut the skirting a certain way so that we could reuse the boards and the same way he dismissed me and everything I was saying he dismissed my husband after he asked him to cut it a certain way. Told him yes and cut it all jagged and made the boards useless. The other plumbers just crawled from the access panel to get to it. Two other plumbers. And both of the other plumbers were much larger in size than Ian and older.
Well they found the leak. After he cut a ugly hole in the skirting of my 2015 manufactured home. And told us he would be back in 2 days to check to make sure that the leak was fixed and to put sand underneath the pipe to keep it stable. That was on November 30, 2019 and we only finally had it finished on 11 December and this is after speaking to Ian twice after that first scheduling which was supposed to be on 2 December. Waited all day and he never even called to reschedule. On about 4 December Dan had called in again and again Ian said he would be out in a couple days again not a drop of rain out of the sky and he never so much as called to cancel. On top of the that their business says restoration and apparently that is a lie because they do not do restoration from what the plumber that came to our house Ian said. Then why is it in your ad we asked. He had no answer really. The whole reason why my husband suggested Bill Howe Was because he figured it would be a 1 Stop company because it said Plumbing, flood and restoration. Then on top of it Alex the field supervisor straight up lied and said that my husband signed a paper stating that we knew we were responsible to repair our own skirting repair. Three different times he mentioned that to Becky the park management company Omni Management. He never signed any paper because we were not the ones paying for the repair.
I walked to the back of my home to finish my car with my husband and turned around and came back to the front and they were gone they did not say a single thing they just bailed and I was going to ask Alex to give us a copy of this paper he said my husband signed. Shady company if you ask me. It's not about the customer it's about their fucking bottom line.
I guess they played in the sewer so much they just start to smell like shit after a while. What is wrong with companies nowadays. This is a senior citizen park and right and left companies like this are taking advantage Of the seniors in our community!
And trust me if I could've given them five negative stars after that rude field supervisor I would've probably still wanted to add on more.
Bill Howe you probably have no idea what kind of crappy name some of the people in your company are giving you. And that supervisor never did apologize for the fact that his worker never came or called to finish his repair. When he said he would be out in a couple days started it November 30 only fill the hole in finally on December 11, 2019.He had no apology for anything and just kept saying it's not our responsibility. If he would've at least seem like he cared at all that would've went along way. But no he had to be a rude jerk. And sneak out without a word. I wonder if he'd like it if somebody treated his mom like that? Disrespectful rude jerk.
Matrix Plumbing And Services Inc. Is a company that takes care of you Bill Howe is not! Guess Bill's guys got a little too big for their britches.
Thank you have a wonderful day!

Thank you Mr. Howe. I really felt like you must not have known about how rude some of the people in your company come off. I might be a little hypersensitive at this time, but it seems like it's hard to find someone to take pride in what they do. Too many times it's just get the job done because if they don't they won't get paid.. I will Keep you in mind if there is another large plumbing issue. And I do appreciate you personally getting back to me. That goes along way in my opinion. Apparently when I did the review I was extremely mad and probably should've waited till the next day to do my review. I do apologize for that. Hope you and your family have happy holidays Mr. Howe.

Jorge L.

12/18/2020

Good Work and Friendly they always offer a warranty for there work, and are always on time or ahead of schedule, would definitely refer them aswell

Morgan M.

9/20/2015

I had a technician come out to complete an annual ac maintenance. He did not look at the condenser, check the temperature or the air ducts. I later discovered two ducts were not completely attached to the vents they led to. He did say that my furnace was leaking carbon monoxide an should be replaced. I called in SDGE and their tech found the unit to be fine.

Andrew P.

5/16/2023

A little upset. I had a new HVAC system installed about 3ish weeks ago and it has only worked some of the time. First of all the reason for the 3 stars is because every technician that has come to my home has been super respectful and customer service is top notch. Either A. The wrong system was ordered by them and installed due to some wiring issue. Or B. My wiring is old. Either way should have been told from the beginning because I woke up this morning to a broken unit yet again that I spent 10k on. I was told I needed some wireless unit for my system to work then the last guy that came out allegedly fixed it without said wireless unit. What a headache. Least it's not 100 degrees out yet

Michael F.

06/07/2022 12:00:00 SA

After months of not being able to use my bathroom sink due to a clogged line between condo units that two other plumbers couldn't fix (both made multiple visits to no avail), Julien from Bill Howe knocked it out in an hour. He confessed it was a tough one, but it still shows the difference between a real pro and the wannabes. I've used Bill Howe in the past with similar fantastic results. Don't waste your time with the rest, Bill Howe is the best!!!

Mary W.

10/27/2017

I called for a plumbing appointment, and they were available the same day. Tris was fantastic - really knowledgeable! Recommend them highly.

zhu m.

2/16/2023

I schedule appointment for service from 0800-1100. No one show up and call me at 1130. But I have to go back to work. This is waist my time and it's worse experience in my life.

Marie F.

4/17/2023

Louie and Ricardo installed a new furnace in a very tight attic space in my home. They were highly professional, respectful, competent. It was a pleasure to have them in my home for the 2 days it took to complete a difficult job.

Not only were they exceptional at their work, but they were also very respectful of my home, leaving everything clean and tidy before they left. Their customer service was truly top-notch.

Overall, I cannot recommend Bill Howe enough. Louie and Ricardo are a true asset to the company, and I would not hesitate to use their services again in the future. Thank you, Bill Howe, for providing such exceptional service and for having such great employees like Louie and Ricardo!

Gen P.

03/08/2019 12:00:00 SA

Everytime we have a problem with our kitchen sink,we always ask for Christian.He is very knowledgeable fixing our sink.We called several plumbing company but none of them was able to fix it and one company will charge us almost $500!He is an honest and nice guy!Highly recommend him!

Richard D.

02/02/2018 12:00:00 SA

This is a great company. I had an emergency gas leak and they were able to come out within a few hours and fix the issue. The technician Chris was outstanding, he took the time to explain everything to me, step by step and showed me where the leak was and how he planned to fix the problem.

Thank you - for such great service.

Adam L.

04/08/2021 12:00:00 SA

Main lined clogged twice within a week. Second time I called I suggested that a camera is used to identify the source, but the technician told me he wasn't told by dispatch about the camera request. Instead the technician lectured me that 30 day warrantee for a main line clean-out is good for 3 times only and that I'd need to schedule and pay for a separate camera for that visit even though the clog is within 20 feet of the yard cleanup toward the city sewer. The tech is missing the point. I wanted to solve the root of the problem, but I think he was defensive because he doesn't carry a camera on his truck and wasn't properly informed by dispatch. I added a star since the company called me back and listened to the initial recording where I suggested a camera. They apologized and we agreed to wait to see if there is another problem vs. scheduling yet another visit (and me waiting for the tech for 4 hours at a property that is not my home).

The community should know that I had a very good experience with Bill Howe a few weeks ago when a tech expertly fished out a gasket stuck 40 feet in the line. I hope that this is a one-time issue (we all have our off da

Camila H.

05/11/2022 12:00:00 SA

They were professional and very accommodating to my schedule. Also responsible with their work, ensuring there are no leaks in the unit below.

Cristina C.

1/16/2017

November 2016
First time having them coming to our house and Clarence did a great job. He explained me all the process and also all options available.
We called early morning and they came right away.
So happy!!
..........
January 2017
This time we had a major issue with our sewage line related to roots. Was terrible. But we called Billy Howe and Mike came and did an Incredible job. Not only he explained really well what was going on but he was careful and knowledgeable. I was so relief that not only we trust in BH team but we were lucky that was Mike coming to execute the service

John S.

10/31/2018

We have been using Bill Howe for our plumbing needs for two years now. They get our required backflow test completed and test results into the city within a few days of the request.

Constant communication by their staff so I never wonder what's going on. Good honorable people. You can't go wrong calling Bill Howe for your plumbing and HVAC needs.

Will M.

7/20/2020

Guy showed up was nice enough. I needed a stopper installed in my upstairs bathroom and that was it. They made no mention of the labor cost and now I know why: They charged me $170 for a simple stopper install. Guy wasn't here 45 min before he was done. My advice? Shop around. These guys WAY overcharge. Make SURE you get a labor cost estimate from them before you do anything. If I had known it was going to cost so much I would NOT have hired them in the first place.

Rachael S.

7/15/2021

We had a plumber from another company cancel on our project last minute leaving us without water in our kitchen and main bathroom over a holiday weekend. We called Bill Howe Plumbing and they got Victor out to our house right away to help. He hooked up our faucets, garbage disposals, and went above and beyond reconstructing the pipes under our sinks that a previous owner and messed up. The entire project was done well, in a timely manner by a very confident plumber. We are so glad we used this company.

Sheryl D.

02/08/2013 12:00:00 SA

Our air conditioner leaked for many years before we finally decided to do something about it. Everyone we dealt with on the phone or at our house was courteous, polite and very helpful. I highly recommend them.

Mary S.

5/24/2014

All I can say is ...RIP OFF. Had them come out and fix a faucet in my kitchen....well $1,000.00 plus some change later. REALLY!!! I read on someones review that they quoted them $185.00 an hour, ours was $135.00 an hour...guess they gouge everyone differently. NEVER AGAIN!!!

Jennifer L.

7/25/2013

We have a large commercial kitchen here at Culinary Concepts (a local San Diego caterer), and we have recently undertaken a large-scale renovation that has required a lot of intricate plumbing work, including moving pipes, installing new ones, moving systems from place to place, etc. Bill has performed all tasks flawlessly and in a timely manner. After some bad experiences with other plumbers, we are definitely going to call on Bill again!

Jim M.

7/30/2019

We had a back up in our lateral sewage drain system that created an initial visit by Roberto from BHP to unclog the backup. The line clearing showed evidence of root intrusion. This was followed a few days later with a visit from Roberto to video the affected areas and locate the intrusions for further analysis by the BHP Lining Dept.

I was then contacted by Sean (sic?) to discuss the analysis and what my options were for corrective action and the costs involved. I agreed to lining two sections of my lateral system (about 51 feet) as this meant I wouldn't have to dig up my patio, pond, and landscaping to replace the cast iron with ABS. The job was then put on the BHP schedule.

The official proposal and cost estimate was a little slow in arriving, but I attribute this to the fact our job was moved up on the calendar.

Mel and James arrived on time to begin the three day process of cleaning the existing cast iron pipe and then lining the two affected sections one at a time. Mel and James were hard working and extremely professional in completing the job. Mel, the lead tech, did an excellent job of keeping us informed as to the job's progress, when we could use the lateral system, reviewing the scope of work, and explaining the warranty. Additionally, he provided a flash drive with video showing the before and after that was excellently narrated covering the entire job.

We were leaving town the following day and to my pleasant surprise, Jessica had emailed a file that presented the entire project from the proposal and cost estimate to the final inspection video.

We are highly satisfied with the professionalism and respect that was shown by BHP personnel during this high stress situation to our household.

Elmo K.

7/21/2017

We've used Bill Howe plumbing for several years and have always had excellent service.
Today, JD replaced our water pressure regulator. He was on time, polite and professional. He explained the process and finished quickly. I highly recommend Bill Howe!

Ben A.

2/16/2023

We have used Bill Howe twice for plumbing issues that we've had at our home. They were very responsive and quick to come out. Eric Montalvo is the technician that came out on both occasions, and he did an amazing job both times! He was able to help diagnose and explain the problem to me, as well as, showing me what all will be fixed with cool tips and tricks for the hot water heater. Definitely recommend using Bill Howe and specifically request Eric because he is the best!

Jonathan S.

01/12/2021 12:00:00 SA

These are one of the times I wish we had zero stars.

Technician cleared two drains without reattaching one claiming that it was too big a job for him to do while he was there. Said the earliest he would be able to come back would be Monday. Then he tells me he just spoke with the scheduling person and he wouldn't be able to get back until Tuesday. Ok. Tuesday it is.

Tuesday comes, and when I call to find out where the technician is it's all I have no idea what you're talking about. I'm talking about the appointment that I made with your technician for Tuesday, that he communicated to your back of house on the phone and you did not schedule, for cracked pipes that are actively leaking that he said they will do the estimate on Tuesday when they fix the shower drain.

I want a refund for the job that was incomplete, and I want everyone to know that this company is nonsense and they should definitely hire someone else.

Kayla G.

01/10/2023 12:00:00 SA

Bill Howe restoration is a life saver for my property.
During the last few months we have had multiple fires and floods. The restoration team and project manager Jaime Cibrian has gone above and beyond, always delivering on a timely matter with great communication skills. I highly recommend Bill Howe for any Plumbing and restoration issues.

Slim S.

1/22/2011

So I want to add a couple more starts to my rating, giving them the A-OK status. After posting my previous review, I was contacted by a representative of Bill Howe, looking to rectify the problem I had had with the plumber who visited my house.

They decided to refund my total charges for the visit. That was a very nice gesture and demonstrates that this company is serious about providing the best customer service possible and the overall satisfaction of the customer is highly regarded.

Despite the individual service I received, the company itself shows that it has a lot of integrity, so I must give props where they are due. Thanks Bill Howe for contacting me and looking to mitigate the problems I had.

B O.

08/12/2014 12:00:00 SA

We had our air conditioner go out during a 3 year old birthday party with over 50 people in Poway summer heat. Bill Howe rushed out to help. While the party was going on Dustin slipped into the house, solved the problem with no one even knowing and the price was very fair. Dustin did a good job and it has been working perfectly ever since. Thanks Bill Howe and Dustin!

Stephani S.

03/09/2012 12:00:00 SA

I wanted to give a shout out to Bill Howe plumbing simply for the helpfulness of one of their employees. I was at Dixieline Lumber getting some parts for a little do it herself plumbing job. I had no idea how many options there could be for a simple part on a toilet. There were no Dixieline employees around but I saw a guy in a Bill Howe plumbing shirt. I asked him if he could help me and he totally hooked me up! He was so helpful I made sure to get his name so I could give him props. John Edwards definitely gave me a favorable impression of Bill Howe employees. Next time I have a plumbing job to big for me to handle myself, I know who to call!

Bedushia N.

09/07/2017 12:00:00 SA

One of the plumbers, Miquel Gomez, did an outstanding job on our kitchen sink. I'm always happy with Bill Howe Plumbing but I just want to give a shout out because Miquel was highly personable, prompt and professional. Still happy with Bill Howe Plumbing!

Cindy C.

05/02/2016 12:00:00 SA

Called Bill Howe at 8:30 am on a weekday for an appt to clear up a clogged kitchen drain and was given a 10-1 window same day. Javier called back within the hour and was at my house at 10 am. Represented the company well with professional uniform and very pleasant manner. He asked if I had been given an estimate and hourly rate on the phone, and I had not been given any pricing info on the phone. So he told me prices ($108 for snake, plus $151/hr labor. Whoa - sticker shock!) He assessed the problem as a routine clog and snaked the drain from the roof, replaced a few worn/broken parts in and under the sink. He cleaned up the area very nicely. All good and quick (one hour). When he went back to his truck to prepare the invoice, I noticed dripping and puddling under kitchen sink where he had just completed his work. He came back to work on it, it kept dripping, he said, and he replaced and sealed more parts until the leaking stopped. I then asked about warranty, just to be sure. He took a very long time back in his truck to prep invoice. Total job time: a tad over 2 hours. Total cost: $479. One week later: drain is running great, no leaks, under sink remains dry. Good job, even though it seemed a bit pricey.

Leonard R.

10/04/2014 12:00:00 SA

I had work done on my air conditioning system including replacing the thermostat,8 months ago. The thermostat went out today, its 95 degrees out, I was told that the warranty is not applicable on the weekends. These guys charge an arm and a leg but are total clowns. I am turning this over to my attorney. Now I know why Bill Howe Plumbing has so many negative comments on Yelp. I am sure they will respond with a canned response like they have done with the other unsatisfied customers.

Bob Z.

12/06/2013 12:00:00 SA

I have used this company three times: 1st time was emergency on weekend, broken outdoor spigot that forced me to turn off water to house. They sent someone in same day within hour. Fixed problem liggety split. 2nd time I had broke garbage disposal. They showed 2 hours after my call and replaced unit in an hour. Nice. 3rd time was NOT the charm. I called on a Wednesday about a faulty forced air heater. The rep set up appt from 3 to 5 on Thursday. I took time off Thursday to meet the repairman but he didn't show. I called at 5 and the next rep said they might be able to get to my house by 8. I cancelled appt. and set up appt for next day with another company. Company needs to Know How to Keep Appts.

Marcus P.

03/12/2018 12:00:00 SA

Had a leaky gas pipe on the side of the house. Andrew from Bill Howe plumbing showed knowledge and resolve in identifying and solving the problem immediately. We were able to get our gas turned on in the shortest amount of time due to his persistence and professionalism. From this experience, I'd highly recommend Bill Howe Plumbing.

Vanessa J.

7/15/2017

This company can NOT be trusted. They tried to get me to purchase a new heat pump because they said my system was undersized for my home. They started at 10k and ranged to over 20k in price. They told me I had a 2 ton system and needed a 3 ton system when in fact I actually have a 5 ton system. They tried every sleezy sales tactic in the book to get me to sign on the dotted line when they were at my house. Thank goodness I got 2 other opinions and learned the truth. The other companies both told me my system is a 5 ton system which is adequate for my house and that the poor air flow was due to an undersized air duct and a new system was NOT necessary! Call another company before you are ripped off! Btw, the sales person never followed up with a quote in writing as promised-He must have realized that we were not going to go with his company!

Erica G.

11/28/2018

If I could give Bill Howe 10 starts I would! My experience this weekend with their team was great and I was very impressed with how fast they responded to the problem I was having. Thank you Syddell, Steven and Tristian for the great customer service and help with our water heater.

Mara K.

11/28/2017

We've used the Bill Howe team twice now and couldn't be happier. Dana was our technician today, and he was absolutely pleasant, professional, and extremely knowledgeable about our bathroom/washer connection issue. Our customer service representative who assisted with scheduling, I think her name was Ashley, was efficient and personable too! Communication was timely, and work well done. Thanks again, will definitely continue to recommend.

Claire B.

1/14/2013

Beware - Overcharged for time at house by an extra hour and charged for the time technician spends going to buy parts needed for repair.

Susan L.

03/03/2023 12:00:00 SA

Very poor customer service; it took a month to get my problem sorted out, even though I called to speak to various people at least seven times. They do not call back; it seems that they just do not have customer service employees.
The problem began with the technician, who was at my house for 8 hours and installed a pressure valve and tried to install a temporary water heater but it did not work (he failed to test it before he left) and the other one blew out the breaker which would not turn back on (he left before checking to make sure that it wouldn't blow it out, which I've subsequently found out happens frequently). He was supposed to install a faucet and a sink but he had never seen a vessel sink and said he did not know how to remove it; he said it would take him and his supervisor 5 hours each to remove it and they would probably damage or destroy the cabinet while removing it. I received a bill for approximately $2,000 for this work and that's when the real problems began with resolving the invoice. They never acknowledged the incompetency or failure to resolve (or to even get back to me). The first thing the person who finally called me after this had gone on for a month said I hear you have a question about your invoice.
Also, there was a leak with my water heater and someone from the Bill Howe restoration division came over and gave me an estimate for $6500. Due to the difficulties with the technician, I hired an independent licensed plumber and he installed the water heater, the faucet and sink and repaired the water damage, for $605.
Overall, I had a pretty horrible experience.

Rajam R.

11/09/2017 12:00:00 SA

So, when we remodeled our kitchen we didn't know there was a such thing as boutique hardware! If we had, well, would have saved us a LOT of trouble.

We purchased our sink hardware that we thought looked pretty for our kitchen remodel and 10 years later the faucet was leaking and the sink drain was going to shit.

I searched online and finally decided on this company. They were really responsive, as compared to the 3 others I called, and came out the next day.

Oh yea, we went and purchased the standby and highly recommended Moen hardware for this job. Which, FYI, if you are doing a major remodel, DO NOT purchase boutique hardware, purchase the old standbys- Moen & Kohler............anything else, no.

The plumber was very professional and did a fantastic job. He really knew his work. I can't recommend this company enough.

And now our sink works! BTW, the price was lower than what we expected to pay ;)

Danielle C.

01/02/2021 12:00:00 SA

We were experiencing an issue with our drains and after some troubleshooting gave Bill Howe a call. They were able to get us scheduled quickly and showed on time.
The specialist arrived with a mask on which was great. I wore a mask too and appreciated that he was masked. I would have preferred if he also wore booties. We take our shoes off in the house. Although he was unable to diagnose the root cause of our issue he offered to snake the bathtub as it was draining slowly. This has proven to have helped the tub drain better and also help with the smell we were experiencing. We would definitely contact Bill Howe for future plumbing issues.

John W.

6/27/2017

What a great experience. My husband and I have been looking into the Mitsubishi split system air conditioning. I called last Monday and to my surprise they sent out Derek who answered all my concerns. He gave me a price on what it would cost. It turned out that it was within my price range especially when they offered discounts for paying cash and for law enforcement. Derek was very professional and knowledgeable when he quoted me the price. They started working on the system Thursday and was completed early Saturday morning. Bruce and Jose were amazing. I was impressed that they wore booties over their shoes when they came into my home. Their installation was Superior very pleased that I chose Bill Howe. They do know how!

R A.

01/09/2010 12:00:00 SA

Called them to work on our kitchen faucet. A plumber came, disassembled the faucet, and said to my wife a small part needed to be replaced. He then disappeared for over 1 hour, couldn't find the part. We got charged $120 for basically nothing getting done. I was shocked someone would charge us this much for actually making a situation worse. They took advantage of my wife's lack of knowledge. They kept sending us notices about collection agencies coming if we didn't pay (for basically doing nothing). So we paid. Eventually had it done right by another plumber who replaced the faucet for about the same amount of money.

Natalie H.

03/12/2021 12:00:00 SA

I have had nothing but great experience with Bill Howe. The people who answer and dispatch are kind and the plumbers are all knowledgeable. I'd like to really highlight Corey who is a gas specialist. He is super knowledgeable and informational. He really knows and cares about what he's doing and safety and ways to make everything go together. Without Corey's knowledge I would have been lost on where to go next. As a small business owner I'm so happy to have Bill Howe be a reliable company in San Diego.

Fred Z.

02/06/2021 12:00:00 SA

I hired these guys to replace my garbage disposal on a Saturday. They' came out within a few hours, replaced the disposal, and I was happy.

Something wasn't done correctly, and my dishwasher wasn't draining correctly after they replaced the disposal. I called them to let them know, and they sent somebody out within a couple hours, and he fixed it at no additional cost.

I know that seems odd that I would give a five star review over this, or that I would even put this review up, but I figured this could be helpful for people looking into this business. We've all seen these reviews where people were asked by the business to write them, where people are overly happy, and those are hard to trust. Then we see the overly negative reviews, and those can be hard to trust also, because we never know if it's the business or if the customer is just a whiner.

In this case, the job wasn't done correctly, but they came out almost immediately to correct the mistake. I think it's important that people know this. We've all had contractors who disappear or who do a horrible job and then suddenly are impossible to get in touch with. They didn't do that.

They stood by their mistake and made sure they fixed it. And they did this within hours. I think this shows the caliber of this business. They already made money off of me, and they weren't getting paid extra, yet they still made sure somebody came out right away to fix the issue. They didn't wait two weeks, two years, no, somebody came out right away.

I don't expect anyone to be perfect and I know sometimes we make mistakes, which is what happened here. But the fact that they fixed their mistake without issue, without complaining, WITH haste, and without extra cost really speaks to how well this business is run and how they put the customer first.

Anthony B.

03/01/2021 12:00:00 SA

Bill Howe sent Daniel to fix our leaking kitchen drain/pipes. Daniel was friendly, efficient, straightforward and got the job done professionally. The folks who take the appointments and manage them were equally efficient and pleasant when booking and also with followup calls to reconfirm. I like that they use text messaging to let you know they are in their way etc. they include a photo of the plumber which might be a nice feature for those who are conscious about security. Thanks Bill Howe!

Amber J.

2/19/2016

Micheal P was great. Very curtious and professional. Recommend the best, fastest, and cleanest way to clear our drains.

A W.

6/30/2016

They are the best! It was after hours and We had dinner guests and a very stopped up sink. Brandon was wonderful. He arrived when he said he would and (obviously) solved the problem quickly! Great company - I recommend them VERY HIGHLY!!

Joyce N.

6/19/2015

I wanted to give them more stars since I was happy that they were able to fix our shower but they were very unhelpful with our toilet. Our guest room shower needed to be fixed and while they were there I wanted them to also address the running toilet. They stopped the toilet from running but they mentioned that the toilet wasn't seated properly and would not be liable for any leaks. I was hoping they could fix it or at least refer is to someone who could.

Your Pie My Mouth ..

09/01/2017 12:00:00 SA

My one and only experience with Bill Howe was the recent install of a tankless water heater by their resident expert Tris. Talk about knowledgeable, fast, and affordable. This guy is great! Not only was the removal of the tank and install of the tankless fast and efficient but Tris took the time to explain the different product and installation options to me, in detail, including which choices are driven by applicable codes, etc...I was so impressed by Tris that should I have any other plumbing needs I'll definitely be going back to Bill Howe for those as well.

Laura P.

5/19/2014

Rudy was awesome!!! We had 3 previous plumbers come out all saying the same thing the pipes are bad and they needed to blow through the wall and concrete floor to replace them. Rudy came out and used the cable and actually really worked to get through the rust/blockage in the pipe with the cable. Sure enough he got through where everyone else said they couldn't. Drain is working perfect now! Thanks Rudy!

Venus M.

1/15/2020

I'm increasing my rating, not quite five stars because of the issues I had; however I have to give them credit where credit is due. Even though, their first plumber that had come out when this all started did not put a cap on the pipe that was connected to the other bathroom and never mentioned us not being able to use the other bathroom; he had just stuffed a rag in the pipe; which we ended up finding out when we woke up this past Saturday to water all over the downstairs floor, furniture that was underneath, computer, etc. Was a mess, had to throw away the brand new office chair I had due to the type of water. What we found out was when the framer came out to do the sub-floor repair Friday night, he took the rag out that the prior plumber had stuffed in the pipe, though I don't blame the guy, as I'm sure he wasn't aware that the rag was the only thing stopping water from coming through from the other bathroom; we weren't aware either. Woke up Saturday to water coming down from the pipe and all over the office furniture/equipment downstairs. Called Bill Howe, they sent someone out to see what the cause was as we weren't aware at that point, that it was because there was no cap on the pipe; and that the rag's removal had resulted in the new water damage. The plumber that came, did admit that the first plumber should have put a cap on. The restoration side sent out someone Monday to check the new water damage, (we bought a dryer fan to start drying) and they resanitized, and cut the newer wet portion of the drywall out.
*The reasons for the increased rating, despite the frustrations and issues that I had. I was impressed that the company took responsibility for their part of the issues, such as the scheduling issues, and that the departments didn't seem to be communicating effectively which was resulting in me missing work hours and having to reschedule with the various departments, because one department didn't seem to know what another one was doing, and some things I was told would happen during the visits, couldn't get done cause something else had to be done first; even though I was told that it would be when the tech came out; only to be told by the tech that they didn't do that specific part (I won't go into details on this). I was especially impressed that they did admit to the fact that their first plumber did mess up as he should have put the cap on the pipe and they are not charging me for having to have the tech come back out. They also did correct the plumbing invoice to the amount I was quoted for it. Other positives, they answer their phones, I was able to talk to someone live each time, and one of their managers on the renovation/restoration side, did take steps to try to help resolve the issues for me and was quick to respond when I notified him of the missing cap issue and new flooding.
So despite the fact that I was frustrated and upset with some aspects; dealing with water damage issues is highly stressful, I will give credit where credit is due. The techs that came out were all professional and friendly and I can understand that they are just doing their job and not aware of every aspect of the job since they just go where they are told to go and do what they are told to do; so I had no specific issues with any of the techs. The manager that stepped in finally, was never rude and handled things well; and I do know it can be hard when dealing with a frustrated or irate customer. So though I considered a 3 star rating, Bill Howe company being willing to admit to the error on their techs part and working to try to resolve the issues, I had to give them their credit for that.

Jesse J.

10/28/2019

We had three separate plumbing projects--one fairly complex. Had to come back to redo the complex project but all the work was done quickly and professionally--as you should expect. What prompts the 5-stars is the plumber--John--spent more time than initially quoted--but he didn't charge us extra. He could have added an extra hundred or so that we would have reluctantly paid, but instead by keeping his word, he earned our trust for all future work--which will be worth a helluva lot more than a quick extra hundred bucks. Hard to trust a plumber? You can trust John.

Wayne K.

5/25/2017

We so appreciated recent plumbing work we had completed by Bill Howe Plumbing. Joe, who came to do the work, really went the extra mile to resolve our blockage problem. Something previous plumbers did not do. He explained to us that a certain fitting of piping was not plumbed al that well that caused back up to collect in a small stretch of the pipe. He actually took the pipe out and cleared it where previous plumbers only snaked it not clearing it totally. We always knew that it was never completely clear each other time it was snaked. We just so appreciated his commitment to figure out the problem with a lasting resolve. We also appreciated his respect of our home and taking care of the area he worked in. We also had a bathroom sink faucet replaced and Joe was so careful to respect our small apartment space while he worked. Our apartment is nearly 70 years old so made for tight working conditions under the sink. Joe was a pro! Satisfied customer!

Mlm M.

12/30/2016

At 5am the day before Thanksgiving I woke up to discover my water heater was leaking over night. I also discovered the valve to turn off the water heater as well as the main valve to the house didn't work. At this time I started to panic as I watched the flooding water destroy my laundry room and office. Rick from Bill Howe Plumbing came to the rescue.....arriving 20mins after I called he was able to stop the water flow and replace my 2 failed valves saving my house from further damage.

I was now left with 2 ruined rooms. With how impressed I was with Bill Howe plumbing I decided to use their demo services to remove my warped flooring and soaked drywall. Bill Howe couldn't have been any more efficient in locating where I had water damage and how we were going to dry everything out. They provided numerous industrial fans to ensure everything was dry.

At this point figuring it would be foolish to go with another company after such great service I decided to use Bill Howe for the restoration of the damage. Amber from the Bill Howe restoration team helped me picked out my replacement floor tile helped me match paint colors for my office and laundry room. It was a very hassle free experience. I am writing this review from my new office and couldn't be any happier thanks to Bill Howe.

I will recommend Bill Howe to anyone I know

Rick D.

11/21/2022

Had replaced one light and installing the light for the next vanity, drilled into the copper water pipe. Immediately secured the main, got online 24 hour plumber San Diego. Within an hour, Bill Howe Plumbing was there, with a great Service Rep, Isaiah Maher. Showed up at the door, very professional on a Sunday night, about 6pm. Seen the pipe damage, gave me an estimate and done fairly quickly. Turned back on the water, tested the water pressure, all SAT.

During this whole time, did give us some feedback on checking our main valve, discussed about the insides of the piping and affects of salt less and salt water conditioners. We have a Salt water conditioner. Just great info, if you're a homeowner things to keep an eye on, and timeframes when you should expect things to come up as maintenance items. Awesome rapport especially under non ideal situations. Rate I thought was fair, you're not paying an individual, you're paying a company rate for the whole team. Response is outstanding, and always feel there are somethings I'd prefer not lingering and exposing yourself to more damage later on. If you feel the same way and caught after hours or I'm estimating even during ideal times, I'd recommend Bill Howe in a hearbeat, specifically Isaiah.

Susana C.

03/01/2023 12:00:00 SA

If there was a way to give a negative five star I would do it. I am beyond frustrated and very disappointed with this company who I have used for years. I am a Realtor and recommended Bill Howe Plumbing for an issue to do with a water heater system. I gave the person who took the appointment an overview of the situation and even gave them an inspection report. They sent a plumber who did not know anything about tankless water heaters - again this was known. The second appointment cancelled during the timeframe expected of arrival. The third appointment, after extensive conversations with scheduling and with the plumber himself while on route to the house ended up telling the owner that he couldn't perform the service because the water heaters were in the attic and his ladder was wet... even after I spoke to this person when he was on his way to the appointment and he was well aware of the situation. I will NEVER use nor recommend this company again.

Sandy H.

10/01/2022 12:00:00 SA

we have always had outstanding service from Bill Howe Plumbing and have used them for all our plumbing needs. they are responsive, courteous, do good quality work and answer all your questions. never been disappointed.

Anna Celia S.

12/20/2015

Clogged kitchen sink and yes the clog was fixed but bad customer service. Will never use Howe plumbing again. I called Thursday and was given of 7-3 time frame for the plumber to come out on Friday. I waited home all day, then received a all at 1:56 pm from the Howe office that he would arrive shortly. At 2:57 I called and asked when I should expect the plumber. The male who answered the phone said the service man was on Broadway I said ok, so what does that mean? What time should I expect the plumber? His rude reply was hell be there shortly. His tone was rude and unprofessional. The plumber arrived at 3:15. I had to wait an additional hour while he worked. I would have been willing to be flexible waitinng around all day if their customer service was not disrespectful.

Cathy F.

04/09/2015 12:00:00 SA

I had a gas leak in a pipe under my driveway. We called sdg and e and they red tagged my meter. They said they couldn't fix it that I needed a plumber. So I called Bill Howe and they came over immediately and instead of having to rip up my pebble tech driveway they put a gas line in my eaves and saved me the expense of tearing out my driveway. We just passed the city inspection and all is well. I really love Tom and his whole crew for getting my home back to normal in just a few days. They have taken care of all of my plumbing needs for over 10 years and I will always pick them for my plumbing needs. Thank you Bill Howe.

Thomas H.

09/01/2010 12:00:00 SA

Since I had my terrible experience with Bill Howe Plumbing I have run into several other people who have had bad experiences with them also. The plumbers seem to be on some sort of independent system because one will show up and be good and reasonable then the next time you call you will get someone who is terrible and very expensive. I do property management and I have decided it is just not worth the gamble. When you have a problem with your service and call for customer service you end up with someone with attitude, that is if they call you back at all.

Patricia H.

08/09/2013 12:00:00 SA

We had a plumbing emergency...and sewage was leaking. They came quickly, but the guy opened up the leak even more before we signed anything. He then tried to convince us that the city would fine us 10's of thousands of dollars if we didn't hire a clean up crew. He knew who to call..but had no idea how much they would charge. Meanwhile he just kept letting sewage flow down the street. We called San Diego waste management and they said that unless it was going into a storm drain that we should just clean up ourselves. I could go on, but the bottom line was that I felt that I was being sold add-ons before the problem was resolved.

N O.

8/15/2016

The typical after-hours clogged sink. It wasn't an emergency so I just called the next morning (Monday) at 7am. I spoke with Monty who was very friendly and got an appointment scheduled same day with a 10am-1pm time range. Score!

The Annoying: I'm waiting at home and it passes the 1pm mark with no show or call. I call to check on the status, can't remember who I talked to, but the woman told me that my appointment was canceled and rescheduled for 4-days later. Obviously I didn't do that and I wanted someone out still. Luckily, she was able to get the next available plumber to come but when I asked her what happened, she didn't know. I appreciate getting this resolved, but what a pain. I'd hope it's a computer error and not user error - either way minus 1-star.

The Good: A few minutes later, Michael calls to tell me he is on the way. yes! He arrives, I show him the problem, and then he tells me how he will go about it with the estimated cost. I say go to work! He didn't want to get the house messy so he said he would snake the drain from the roof pipe - few minutes later, he's all done and the sink drains better then before. He cleaned up, got my invoice and paid, and he was on his way. He was very nice and friendly and was probably at my house for less than 20-30min.

tl;dr - Great experience with Michael, super easy to work with and would highly recommend. I'm ify on the reliability of their scheduling system, so if someone doesn't call or show within the window, be sure to call back immediately. I would definitely use them again next time we need work and give them a shot at earning the star back for scheduling.

Derek C.

11/29/2022

My bathtub drain has been leaking below. On 2 separate occasions I have had Bill Howe plumbers come out to fix the issue. The first time cost me $300. The second $600. Now they are telling me it's something totally different. Why did I have to pay $900 to figure that out when it should have been diagnosed the first time. If your employees really are professionals why have I paid you so much for nothing? I feel like I am being suckered for money. I'd like a refund or some type of reimbursement because this is rediculous. And most of all I just want my damn tub drain fixed.

Shelley Michelle E.

5/23/2019

Awful! I had a water heater installed in 2017. Now I'm trying to sell my home and my appraiser points out that my heater is NOT strapped in. THAT IS AGAINST CODE. Bill howe claims I didnt give them permission to add on straps and a pan. WHY IS IT an option when it's a state requirement/law ??
So I call them and I tell them they need to come fix what is wrong. They tell me its $179 an hour!!! For their mistake???
Finally I get a supervisor to come over to discuss. He says ..we will fix but YOU have to buy the parts.
Two days later I have an appt for 2:30pm
no one shows until 4pm!!!! That was after 3 calls into the supervisor.
Then the technician shows up and is SOOO INCREDIBLY RUDE . LACK OF CUSTOMER SERVICE hardly even begins to describe him. He fixes ( what he screwed up on it before) then when he is done he walks out and says You're done. NO EXPLANATION, NO communication just walks out the door. Terrible.
This company is NOT WHAT they seem. Be careful and check their work.

Pablo B.

8/27/2023

On 08/22/23 I posted a review not recommending this company because it had advised me to add refrigerant into my mini split system which had a leak, and it totally leaked out within two weeks without any usage. As the company read my review they contacted me, re-evaluated and reimbursed me the $427 they had charged me.

Chuck S.

02/11/2017 12:00:00 SA

Upon calling Bill Howe Plumbing to request a sewer line repair, I had the pleasure of speaking with Melissa. The process for repair is an extensive procedure and Melissa had all the answers and coordinated the job perfectly with 2 different units within the company. During the job we got a big rain storm which halted operations but Melissa was right there with the rescheduling and answered any questions I had. The conversations were very pleasant and I look forward to requesting her service for any future plumbing needs we may have. Thank you Melissa for a very nice transaction.

Ella G.

4/21/2011

Rick Diamond came over after I was quoted $2100 for a replacement water heater from Andersons. Andersons said it needed replacing as it was 12 yrs old, Rick said he would quote $1100 so I was happy. He inspected the water heater and said it really didn't need replacing and i thanked him for his honesty.
He replaced the shut off valve which was stuck and a broken toilet valve and it only cost $190.

I will be sticking with Bill Howe from now on, Very happy.

Scarlett K.

2/23/2011

Had $2000 worth of plumbing work done. Plumber damaged an expensive item in our home. Company did pay for it. When I called 60 days later because work he did was already going bad and needed to be redone, they would NOT do it and said their warranty was up. We had a horrible experience and would never use this company again.

Miles N.

07/07/2014 12:00:00 SA

I had Bill Howe install a Fujitsu Mini Split Air Conditioning System in my house 3 years ago, and spent about $9,000.00 on the systme with installation. The guys who installed it were great, and I ended up leaving a positive review. Little did I know what a headache this would become. I have had nothing but problems with the system. The inside units were brought to my house out of their boxes; were scratched, dirty, and missing their air filters. The installation took an additional day, because they wired the condensation pumps incorrectly.

I had to call and complain about the condition of the indoor units, and wait to have them come back with replacement parts. This took 2 attempts.

The condensation pumps have been a NIGHTMARE. I was not told by the sales rep, or the technicians that they would be installed until after they had cut holes in my ceiling and installed the units. I would have chosen a different placement of the indoor units had I known that I would have to use these pumps.
The pumps sound like fog horns going off. They make this sound for about 5 seconds every couple of minutes, I've made several calls, and complaints to Bill Howe. They've come out a couple of times, and have replaced the pumps. The 3rd time, Brian came out, and noticed that the Previous attempt to fix the issue resulted in kinked drainage hoses.

I was then told that I would have to pay for any other attempts to fix these issues.

My last complaint, and attempt was a call to Miguel. I spoke with Miguel who I believe to be a manager about the issue, and forwarded him information I received from the condensation pump manufacturer on proper installation. He told me that he would speak check the schedule, and get back in touch with me. I never heard back from him, and my calls were never returned.

The wall unit in my living room now pours water out of the bottom when the pump turns on. I've contacted another company to fix the issue, but have to wait 1 1/2 weeks, and pay what might be several hundreds of dollars. This all for a new A/C unit I had installed, and have never been able to use.

Vanessa T.

3/29/2010

One star is too much for this company. We had them come out to our condo because of a loud noise that was coming from the pipes within the walls, a noise we had not heard before. 3-4 different techs came out. I found myself arguing about the defenition of the noise they were hearing and the noise I was hearing. It didn't sound like they knew what they were talking about, something felt wrong. All of my research had pointed to a possible leak somewhere in the piping system but they just wrote it off as loud pipes. Fast forward 1 month and one of the empty units in the building had been leaking for a long long time. They had to take out all of the walls, cealing and carpets. The mold growth had spread throught out the entire condo really bad!

Amy D.

04/07/2014 12:00:00 SA

We've had Jeff Tapia come out twice now -- first to replace our water heater that blew, then today to replace a shower assembly that was toast. He is very helpful, nice, efficient, and knows what he is doing. We have been Bill Howe customers for a while now, and have been really happy with the service we've received.

Valentina S.

6/23/2023

This review is for Matthew, technician with Bill Howe. He has been helping us recently with some plumbing issues and some remodel installations. He is extremely kind, professional, clean and respectful of our property. He's confident in his work and answered any questions I had. He stayed to troubleshoot a new issue until we found the problem. I have enjoyed working with him. He is an asset to Bill Howe Plumbing. I highly recommend!

Laura D.

10/02/2014 12:00:00 SA

Daniel came to our place today to replace a leaking water heater. He was so professional and kind and was extremely careful to cover floors, ensure he had what he needed and got the job done very, very well. What more can you ask for. Thanks so much, Daniel. You rock.

Amir F.

3/28/2017

Very quick to respond and to unclog my sink, but a bit pricey. The guy was polite and so was the lady whom I spoke with on the phone. They got to me in half an hour. 4 star is for the price their charged. Other than that, I'll call them again if I need to.

Mary B.

6/13/2016

I called Bill Howe to schedule an appointment thinking I had an unseen leak. My water bill was higher than usual. Andrew came out, he ran tests, checked my toilets, long story short he found that when he shut off my sprinkler system main, my meter stopped running. The problem is with my sprinkler system and not a slab leak. Thank goodness!!! I don't even use the sprinkler system due to drought and the system needs an upgrade anyway. He also helped put in a clip to help with the flush inside my master toilet and fixed a faulty faucet in my master shower. What could have been thousands ended up being 2 Hun and some change. I'm going to keep in contact with these guys:)

Saul S.

01/10/2023 12:00:00 SA

We have had several floods at a building that I manage. Bill Howe is our preferred vendor when dealing with these issues, or any water issues for that matter. There is an individual by the name of Jaime C who goes above and beyond the call of duty. Any problem that we have he is there to see us through it and discus any and every scenario that is available to us. He has a can do attitude and is willing to do whatever it takes to complete his goal. Thank you Jaime for taking customer service to the next level. You and Bh team are appreciated. Thank you BH for sending the best of the best.

Karen M.

6/14/2013

I've had many, many interactions with BHP over 10+ years (100s). What can I say that summarizes a 10+ year relationship? Above average customer service. Above average workmanship. Reliability, especially in an emergency. They've got more techs and more trucks than anybody in town, 24-7.

I've tried other Plumbing/HVAC companies out there, believe me. But I keep coming back because when I've got to respond to an emergency call from one of MY valued clients, I need to know I can count on that relationship, no matter what.

Thank you BHP, I appreciate your commitment to your customers!

S M.

1/20/2014

Had a new water heater installed by Jason, from the 1364 Morena Blvd, San Diego , 1800-245-5469. Was impressed with his professionalism and great service. We had a minor problem and that is when it was clear Jason and his manager, William Hawe, really excelled. They were great problem solvers and really showed how important it was to satisfy a customer. Bravo!
Shirley, San Diego

Debbie H.

10/13/2016

Beyond pleased with this company! Phenomenal customer service! Our plumber, Mauricio ( The younger one, I guess his dad works for Bill Howe plumbing also) did an excellent job. He was good with his communication skills as well as his trade. There were a few bumps in the road along the way but hey, no one's perfect. What pleases me the most is the way Mauricio and Bill Howe Plumbing handled the situation when problems arose. Thank you Bill Howe plumbing, you now have customers for life!

Deidre R.

11/17/2013

I had a backed up kitchen sink, needed it cleared on a Sunday. I was given an estimate and an arrival time. The technician (Rudy) arrived promptly, worked until the problem was fixed and I was charged a few dollars under the estimate. Prices were fair for Sunday service as well.

Gary C.

04/09/2020 12:00:00 SA

Our kitchen sink drain suddenly clogged several feet down the line. It was after normal hours when I called Bill Howe. Less than a half hour later a technician called to say he would arrive in about 20 minutes. When he arrived, Scott proceeded to clear the blockage about 10 feet down the line with a mechanical snake. Service was prompt and professional. Bill Howe continues to be our go-to plumber.

Tim H.

01/05/2021 12:00:00 SA

A $300 fee to see if we have asbestos Blue tape was left on our ceiling. In the middle of the estimate the technician had to leave our unit to answer a phone call then come back. estimate did not include putting back new drywall or paint. If you want to be Overcharged for services call Bill Howe the estimate total was $1700 to fix a piece of drywall that we got repaired for $500 from a reputable company, apparently Bill Howe has to charge a lot of money to pay for those commercials we picked a local small business that advertises locally and fix it for almost 3 times less

Alexa K.

02/11/2018 12:00:00 SA

Excellent service when I really needed it. I live in a rental house, and the sink had gotten clogged a few days after I had just gotten back from the hospital with my second baby and my husband (Navy) was out to sea. I called my landlord to see who he recommended and it was Bill Howe. Victor G. came out to take a look at everything, and was very courteous and moved quickly and efficiently. A couple of hours later I had a clear sink. This was very important to me since I was already stressed out by the usual issues that come along with a brand new baby, but imagine not being able to clean bottles or do ANY dishes with no other adults to help! Thanks so much.

Maximillian L.

3/28/2016

Always reliable. We live in an old house and plumbing is always an issue. Bill Howe has done all of our work.

Jane H.

06/02/2021 12:00:00 SA

Tyson, the personable technician arrived on time after calling first. He very knowledgeable and took care of the problem while explaining what he doing. He gave me a good suggestion to keep the problem from reoccurring.

D J.

04/12/2018 12:00:00 SA

Slab leak. Did the job a week ago and they did excellent work. Showed up promptly, cleaned up very well and did not over charge. Maricio was excellent. I knew where the slab leak was from a specialist in leak detection but Maricio confirmed it and figured out how to tell if any other lines that ran in the slab would be effected by the reroute of the pipes (something the expert couldn't). He rerouted the hot water line rather than jackhammer the floors because the pipe was too deep and it was a short reroute from the water heater to the manifold in the wall (20-30'). While he was not cheap, it was about the same as an independent plumber and a few hundred less than a couple other companies who were trying to sell me a full house repipe for thousands more. Of note, the previous plumbing company said I needed $16,240 worth of work because all the pipes in the house were failing (reviewed elsewhere). The Bill Howe guy was honest and said the pipes above ground that he could access did not appear to be failing, there was just some sloppy work on a previous repair, but he cut a few pieces out during the work and said those pipes looked fine. So $1,800 for a local reroute of the hot water line vs $8,000 - $16,000 for a whole house repipe? Also he offered a 3 year warrantee vs 90 days on labor for the other guys. Don't be fooled, they will say there is a 10 year, etc warrantee, but that is only for the materials which are pretty inexpensive, not the labor. A piece of advice, if you think you have a leak in your house go to youtube and watch the videos on slab leak detection. Within 10 minutes you can tell by yourself if you have a leak, if it is on a hot water line or not and an idea of what can be done to detect its precise location. Also hire your own leak detection service, not someone the plumber wants to bring in.

Keith F.

6/21/2012

In the words of William Wallace at the end of Braveheart: FREEEDDOOOOM! That's how I feel now that my downstairs toilet flushes properly. I haven't used it for about a year because I've been too lazy to call a plumber to troubleshoot why it was flushing so damn weak and slow. John Edwards and his plumber in training came to the rescue. They expertly found a root problem...a very serious root problem. In John's words, it was the worst he's ever seen. About two hours later, roots are all clear, toilet is flushing as it did a year ago, and I can now enjoy the luxury/convenience of going to relieve myself without having to walk up stairs to the master bath. I applaud Bill Howe for sending John and his plumber in training so quickly (they arrived just an hour after I called) and I praise John Edwards and his plumber in training to no end. When it comes time for salary review, John has my highest recommendation for a nice raise, and his plumber in training deserves a damn name tag on his shirt! Please give him his name, and not a badge that says, TRAINEE. He's got a name too! All in all, John and his TRAINEE (I cringe when I say that), are awesome professionals. Reward them please! Done.

A J C.

08/03/2017 12:00:00 SA

Called them over 2 weeks ago for an estimate.
plumber came out took pics
called back 2 days later said plumber didnt turn in his work
give it another day
nothing, nada gornisht
they are unresponsive to small jobs
now a month

Mark D.

05/11/2016 12:00:00 SA

After having Bill Howe Plumbing replace all the old cast iron drain under my house, I was still left with the 90 feet of old drain from my front yard to the city sewer. The drain was old and full of cracks. It was eventually going to collapse and my options were to either dig up the yard, sidewalk, and street and replace the pipe or go with the epoxy lining. Needless to say, I elected to go with the epoxy lining. It wasn't cheap, but I really didn't want the hassle and mess of digging up 90 feet of old pipe, not to mention dealing with the city for permits and such.

Bill Howe sent me the team of Journeyman Plumber and Lining Specialist Justin Gould and his assistant James Serrano. They planned to do the lining in 4 sections over a 4 day period. Well, nothing ever goes smooth with my house and on the second day the tube which inflates the lining popped while it was in the tube. This is a very rare occurrence, but normally it would mean digging up the pipe to get the liner out. However, Justin acted quickly and was able to extract the whole liner and tube, saving the day and saving Bill Howe a lot of digging on their dime.

Anyway, the rest of the sections went in smooth and I now have newly epoxied drain line which I don't have to worry about as Bill Howe insures it for 15 years. Like I said, it wasn't cheap ( around $120 per foot of drain), but they did give me a military discount. One good thing about the lining is that the work periods where we cannot use the drains are very minimal and we always had full services of our drains by the end of each day. If you have old drains which need to go then I highly recommend that you call Bill Howe and consider the epoxy drain liner as an option. They can save you a lot of digging and headache. Even if some other company told you that the drain cannot be lined you should call Bill Howe for a second opinion because they can sometimes line drains that other companies cannot. Thank you Bill Howe!

Kim A.

11/20/2017

Last week Bill Howe company installed a new furnace. This company is superb. I had a great experience and was 100% satisfied with the job. JoJo and Joseph were the 2 technicians that installed the furnace. They both were extremely courteous, knowledgeable and dependable. They brought me up to date at various stages of the task. Both Richard and George, more along the lines of supervisors/management, stopped by to check on things, more than once! I truly felt their goal was for this project to go seamlessly. And it did! I would recommend this company to ANYONE. My expectations were surpassed. I could not be happier with my new furnace and the entire experience! And want to add that I was very pleased with the cost of the furnace and work. It was very affordable and reasonable! Thank you, Bill Howe!

Gary K.

12/14/2017

Michael Plata was our service technician. He did a great job, identified the problem, and kept us informed on what was taking place. He was able to fix the plumbing issue and connected us with the restoration department of Bill Howell and Company. We are very pleased with the work and would definitely call them again.

JAN W.

4/13/2017

We had Bill Howe come to give us an estimate for new water heater as ours was getting old (18 years). In addition we wanted information re: tankless water heater as we always have to rotate showers/using washing machine or dishwasher so that we don't run out of hot water. Edgar provided a complete estimate and scheduled an appointment within 5 days to replace our hot water heater and pump recirculator. He and his assistant showed up on time and returned the next business day to finalize a couple of details and then run through the care and upkeep of our system. We now have a marvelous system that provides all the hot water we need, and we can run showers, flush toilets, wash dishes and clothes all at the same time without any problem. Wonderful Service, thank you.

Jim C.

1/13/2019

Horrible! I called this business for emergency/after hours plumbing service. The answering service told me that a plumber would return my call shortly. After an hour, I called back and told her no one had called. She said she would call the manager and I would hear from someone shortly. No one EVER called back! Take your business elsewhere!

Joe K.

4/14/2023

We had a tankless water heater installed on the roof. Gabriel did a great job quickly and removed the old tank. I returned it to Home Depot for store credit. We always use Bill Howe for all our plumbing work.

Evan K.

01/12/2013 12:00:00 SA

Be forewarned and have your nanny cam rolling and record all conversation if you call Dewey chetum and Howe.

I am no plumber, but my guess in this 30 yr old rental was roots and I said so yesterday before the first tech came out. Armed with only a six foot hand snake he claimed to fix a constant problem of a clogging downstairs toilet. Every other flush clogs, and required constant plunging.

A few hours later the second tech shows and I asked him if he has a camera or what is commonly known,as a scope. He does,not. I ask him what size snake he is going to use and he replies 11/16. I tell him this wont work, and he leaves. Saul then tells my landlord I have abused him! Talk about classic divide and conquer techniques, as soon as someone who may know something about the real issue and asks a few questions that any reputable plumber would do they claim abuse and make the poor landlord fend for themselves by being falsely accusatory!

The 11/16 snake in the clean out did not work, as I assumed, but the half hour show is so good for the typical uninformed homeowner. He finally used a 1-1/2 snake and low and behold discovered roots! My toilet still flushes only other time, and the poor landlord paid for???

He recommended jack hammering up the floor and re-piping the drain. At ten percent commission for him no doubt. What a joke...

Free tip of the day, stay away...

K. F.

04/08/2019 12:00:00 SA

Am a renter and landlord uses Bill Howe for any issues. We have had then out three times over the last five years and did not have the highest opinion. However, after this last time, despite it taking three separate visits over three days, the service rep Josh changed that. He was truly professional, courteous, and good humored. Thanks Josh for sticking with it.

Jeffrey J.

1/29/2020

Exceptional service by Dan at our residence on 1-28-2020. Great expertise and service above and beyond. We have used Bill Howe plumbing for years and highly recommend them to anyone who has a plumbing of HVAC need.-JJ, San Diego, CA

Zack L.

6/28/2016

Very unpleasant introduction after viewing all the commercials.
A Plumbing Technician came out the look at possible leaks, or a slab leak, that caused our new hardwood floors to blow up. His name was Marcus (leaving out the last name but held this biz card) and he quickly advised he quit drinking 2 months ago, nothing prompted this line of questioning.
I am not sure if Bill Howe has a program to help inmates, but I appreciate their effort.
The plumbing tech advised it was $90 hr to detect the leak, or use an advanced slab leak device to detect if there was an issue. We agreed to the later. We walked to the store to grab a sandwich and chips and headed back. The bill was set at $225 on my counter top and ready for a signature. 20 minutes total time spent. I signed off and found a more reliable company.
Wish I addressed the company earlier, but we were expecting company, and these guys had no clue. Please address.

Lance E.

9/27/2019

They are pricey, I reccomend you play hardball and negoiate hard with the SOB's, they give you a price of $250 for a job, tell them $200 or there is the front door, when they agree to $200, and the commission driven plumba, writesup a contract, cross out the $200 and say $180, or you will call Mary Jean, if they start to walk, tell them $190, play hardball, it's your money.

Brad W.

4/29/2022

Mr. Manuel Valencia with Bill Howe was a rock star, dude came in and fixed a few issues for us. Work was fast, he faces us pointers on keeping everything in working condition. It's my first time using the company (guy came out twice for a total of 3 issues) but Bill Howe (and Manuel) are definitely my go to guys for plumbing issues now.

Sarah A.

2/15/2023

Great communication, installation and convenient approval process. Will use again!

Claudia J.

6/26/2019

AMAZING SERVICE! I started by chatting with someone to see if they could clear the main line at our house through the roof. After sharing my personal information they said they would contact me with a quote. I thought, Well, I'll give them until tomorrow. 15 minutes later I received a call with a quote and maybe I just got lucky but I had a technician at my house within two hours.

Huge praise to Brandon, our technician. He was right on time, courteous, explained the issue, and FIXED IT!

Seriously, top of the line service! Highly recommend them.

eric m.

10/16/2014

I phoned one of their plumbers, named Mauricio. Never returned my call. I again phoned him and set up an appt. He never showed up or phoned me

Susan P.

2/21/2023

Our very old hot water heater sprung a leak and the technician Matthew Purcell did a fantastic job removing a very old, broken hot water heater in a tight space and replacing it with a new system. His work was professional and it looks so much more to code it was just amazing.

Jeremy G.

5/24/2011

Bill Howe Plumbing deserves a better rating than what's shown on here. I had Bill Howe Plumbing do a complete replacement of the sewer mainline in the crawlspace of my house. This line had corroded from 60 years of age and begun to leak. It was a pretty major job that I knew was going to be expensive, I wanted to get it done quickly and I wanted it to be done by someone I felt I could trust to do it right, and by a company that seemed like they would stand behind their work and make it right if it wasn't done properly in the first place.

I called Bill Howe first thing on a Monday morning and they dispatched someone over for the estimate that same morning. They clearly explained to me on the phone that they charge for estimates that involve entering into a crawlspace. I can understand the reason for the charge. The plumber spent quite a long time under the house inspecting the problems, making detailed notes while he was down there, then went to his van to calculate a thorough estimate of the work to be done. The work he did was was certainly worthy of the cost of the estimate. That charge was, in the end, knocked off when I decided to have them do the work. Their estimate did indeed come in higher than another local plumber with very good ratings here on Yelp. A couple things made me choose the higher estimate from Bill Howe: a) They were able to start the work the same day. b) The plumber who came for the estimate clearly explained to me exactly what needed to be done, and why. I certainly got a sense of confidence that I could trust him to do the job right. c) Having read some of the negative reviews on this site, I noticed a pattern of Bill Howe plumbing following up with those who have left negative reviews on this site to try to make things right. That, and their standing with the Better Business Bureau reassured me that they would stand behind their work in the event something went wrong.

The job took about 2 days to complete with a team of 2 from Bill Howe. By the end of the first day, they made sure I had working plumbing for that night. At the end of the job, they cleaned everything up and showed me before- and after- pictures of the work they had done.

I'm certainly happy with my decision to hire Bill Howe Plumbing to do this job for me, and I'm happy to recommend them to others who need major plumbing work.

Julie W.

1/27/2016

The most expensive plumbers in San Diego, if not in all of California. Yes, they do a decent job but you will need to take out a second mortgage to pay the bill. Guess they need to pay for all the shiny new Bill Howe trucks you see driving all over San Diego. In all seriousness there are a lot of plumbers in town who will do as good a job for a lot less money.

Lee M.

11/10/2016 12:00:00 SA

Love Bill Howe Plumbing. Jimmie Cook was kind, courteous and knowledgeable and showed up right on time. We used to have AHS and they came our to look at that toilet about 5 times over the years. Would not give us a new toilet and never bothered checking if there were roots. Tons of roots, which are now gone.

Michael K.

08/01/2012 12:00:00 SA

Rick Diamond with Bill Howe Plumbing was great!

Called them up, and they were out at the scheduled time on time. Very professional and courteous, he pulled the bathtub faucet and determined what kind it was and got the parts replaced under warranty, so only had to pay for labor. He even got me a 10% discount on the labor.

Even though they came back twice to finally fix it with the difficulties they had trying to get the faucet working, still only the one service charge . But now we have our bathtub back!

Would highly recommend Rick with Bill Howe!

Carol C.

3/23/2019

I had a bathroom faucet break, and spent the next week calling plumbers of every type off Yelp and Craigslist. Most of those plumbers did not even bother to call or email me back, even the ones with 5 star reviews on Yelp that indicated they worked 7 days a week, 24 hours a day.
I started calling a week in advance because I needed a Sat. appointment.
I had already purchased the new faucet, I just needed the old one taken out and the new one installed.
Every single day for a week I called and emailed plumbers and if anyone even bothered to call or email me back, they would not do the repair on a Saturday. So much for the 24/7 they advertise.
Finally I decided to call Bill Howe, which I consider the big guns of plumbing. I knew it would be more expensive than a small guy, but I was tired of wasting my time trying to get someone to come out for a relatively small job. Bill Howe had someone out here, on a Sat., within a couple hours of me calling. Mike was the technician, and he did a flawless job.
The old adage 'you get what you pay for' definitely applies when you need a contractor to do a job right the first time. When you are working with water, on the second floor, it is also reassuring to know that a company like Bill Howe will stand behind their work, it is guaranteed, and if for some reason there was a water leak after the technician left, I have no doubt it would be taken care of promptly. That, my friends, is the advantage to using licensed Contractors.
I am a Bill Howe customer for life now. I don't have time to make 25 calls and emails and wait for responses, and then get told the other guys are not interested in doing the work. With one phone call, my plumbing needs were immediately met and for a fair price.
Shout out to Mike, who not only did an exceptional job, but had a sense of humor with my 10 yr old St. Bernard, and my 89 yr old Dad.

Karen F.

9/22/2017

I called Bill Howe yesterday and set an appointment for me today. I had two different problems and they sent out two plumbers, one expert for each problem.

Tris Coffin showed up first for the maintenance of my tankless water heater.
He was very professional and explained everything I didn't know about tankless water heaters. He is the best tankless guy in San Diego.

Brian Brandt showed up next and took care of a drain problem in my bathtub. It turns out that the plumber that installed the new fixtures was very lazy and didn't check to see if everything lined up correctly. Brian figured out that a piece needed to be cut down so the tub would drain. An easy fix but one that should've been taken care of upon installation.

I would recommend Bill Howe, Tris, and Brian for any and all of your plumbing needs. I won't use anyone else.

Thanks for everything you did to help me out.

Dinyar K.

8/14/2018

Fastest and most knowledgeable people are working with the company
I call them for my business as well for residential they are the best .

Shawn A.

3/24/2011

I just hired Bill Howe Plumbing to run a gas line to my kitchen and install a new range vent hood. I couldn't be happier with the results! They were always on time, never canceled, and the supervisor Derick ALWAYS kept me in the loop and ensured that I was happy with their product! His drywall team, Jose and Antonio, were the best I've ever dealt with! They were friendly, fast and knowledgeable! They even did extra work, at no charge to me, to make the drywall repairs match perfectly with the existing ceiling! What a great group of guys! They'll be my go to contractors for sure! I've never been more pleased!

Michael B.

7/19/2017

Today at my place of business, my coworkers and myself needed professional assistance with our plumbing issue. Made a quick call to Bill Howe and very shortly afterwards our technician Saul arrived. Saul introduced himself to another manager and myself, asked a few quick questions and began working on the issue. Moments later he approached my fellow staff member and myself, showed us the issue and also gave us some tips and great insight for making our disturbance less of a problem and hassle in the future. We were very satisfied, happy and greatly appreciated the work that was professionally provided and promptly corrected. Thank you Bill Howe and thank you Saul!

Ashley W.

07/07/2020 12:00:00 SA

We were having trouble with our air conditioning and called on a Monday morning, were quickly scheduled for an appointment Tuesday afternoon. Chad R. was our serviceman and he was wonderful! Professional, polite, quick, informative, called on his way, wore his mask, and maintained social distance. Awesome. Thank you for your help Chad! Based on this visit, we would definitely recommend their services to a friend. 5/5!!

Leo b.

02/09/2023 12:00:00 SA

Bill, Howe came out and replaced my water heater that went out before the warranty expired.
Same-day service and great communication the whole time.
Bill, Howe works on all my properties and does a fantastic job.
When you go with a good company to get GREAT results. Thank you Bill Howe

Karen B.

7/16/2015

Great service all around. I explained what the issue was and they handled the replacement of my old unit, still under warranty, super efficiently. In 24 hours, I had my water heater replaced and fully operational. Very reasonable pricing, very courteous, professional and friendly service provided by their technician Kenny. For sure, I will call them again next time I have a problem.

Serita G.

01/06/2019 12:00:00 SA

I called for an emergency help on a Friday not a problem very good customer service except for they wanted $253 an hour for a weekend call I and it up not going with them and having a friend fix it for 40 bucks it worked out

Deanna S.

04/12/2013 12:00:00 SA

We have used Bill Howe plumbing services for a couple of years. We have a (laboratory) a commercial business and we constantly have plumbing issues.

Bill Howe has always been very professional and gets the work done right. We are set up on a quarterly basis so that they can hydrojet our pipes. They always have the same people come out which makes it easier on us, since I don't have to take them through the lab. They already know which sections need the service. When we have had other plumbing issues, they have always been right out and they make us a priority.

Thank you for providing excellent service.

Perfect Smile
Kearny Mesa

Aaron S.

01/11/2019 12:00:00 SA

While I don't typically write service reviews, I felt compelled to write one for Bill Howe Plumbing today.

Since my plumbing issue happened late on Friday, I initially had to make an after hours appointment with additional costs associated. However, a new spot opened up and the dispatcher (Alma) had the professional courtesy to call me back so I could have my issue fixed sooner and at a cheaper rate.

The plumber (Michael Plata), was also very professional every step of the way and called me 30 minutes prior to arriving. He tacked a very tough job and persisted to resolve my issue without having to cut into the walls (which I feared might been necessary). I am very satisfied with his work and would recommend him for future jobs of this nature.

A huge shout out to Michael, Alma and Bill Howe plumbing! Thank you all for your professionalism and expertise.

Candice K.

01/12/2017 12:00:00 SA

I called so many companies and theres always rude people that answer the phone. Well that wasn't the case when I called Bill Howe. I spoke with a girl named Ash, I was just looking for info and she was so helpful she just made my experience easy. I'm sure what ever plumper is sent out will give me the same experience.

Robin A.

3/26/2015

I called 5 plumbers with 5 star reviews and every single one of them disappointed me with their customer service. I understand that you might be an independent contractor or that your might be really busy, but if you are not nice, do not call back or are just plain rude, I don't care how many stars you have and I certainly don't understand where you got them. I decided to call a reputable company and I was blown away by their customer service. Jesus came out while I was at work and he called me and talked to me about the problem, he even told me that it was not an emergency and we could wait and watch, instead of trying to push me into an expensive service. I will absolutely call Bill Howe first next time!

Mark H.

3/13/2017

We called them to repair a leak under our house. It was a pin size hole in a copper pipe. He told me they would need to cut out a foot long section and weld a new one in place. They quoted us $500 and wanted to charge us for cat litter to soak up the dampness under the house. There were no puddles, just moisture. We ended up going with someone else who had the job done in 40 minutes and no issues with the dampness for $135.00. I know now to never call this company again.

Chris W.

8/20/2012

I had a serious complaint and Bill personally mad it right. I am now a believer that if they don't do it right the first time he will work with his customers to make them happy.

Barbara C.

07/10/2023 12:00:00 SA

I had a new water heater installed three months ago. While the installation was fine although pricey my issue is the fact that the plumber spilled rusty water down my driveway while loading the old water heater into his truck. This created a huge rust stain that I cannot remove. The company sent a supervisor out the following day however nothing was done. Several calls later I have yet to receive a response by this company.

Stevie S.

11/11/2022 12:00:00 SA

David just installed our new Rennai tankless water heater, totally beautiful install, I think I'll get it framed

Charles K.

11/25/2017

Called Bill Howe to set up to get free estimate on installing three toilets and plumber came out and looked around, stated he would call Monday to give me estimate. He did call but stated expert who is good at one piece Toto toilets was out but would call back later in week. Never received another call. I consider this company not reliable. Will be hiring a handyman who can do just as good a job if not better and cheaper than Bill Howe

Thu L.

3/14/2015

Terrible customer service. Called to ask for help to replace one 4x8 air vent register that my contractor accident threw out during bathroom remodel. Bill Howe originally replaced my heating unit a couple.of years ago and replaced all the vent registers in my house - 8 in total. They told me I had to contact the manufacturer but did not tell me who the manufacturer was that are on my vent registers and could not help me. Also, never call them for plumbing problems after 4pm or on weekends. They will charge you over time prices!

Leslie S.

10/24/2018

We were contacted by Bill Howe Pluming, Inc after posting my review. They assured us they would look into the matter and get back with us. Their field supervisor (Alex) called today and after reviewing the time charged, said our bill would be adjusted to more correctly reflect the time it should have taken to replace the faucets. We appreciate their quick response and their willingness to take corrective action. (Thus the 5 star review). We have used Bill Howe Plumbing, Inc in the past and we will continue to be a Bill Howe customer. Thanks Alex and Bill Howe!

Elizabeth M.

7/13/2022

Good, but not in an emergency. I've used Bill Howe a lot in the past and their work can be strong and thorough, but in the case of an emergency, I've had too many instances of them showing up and not having the right tools, or needing special permissions to do things, all of which causes delays. Most recently, their tech wouldn't cut into my wall to fix an active leak because I didn't have an asbestos and lead inspection. (Building from the early 80s). I'm sure this is some kind of state law (it's California after all) but I wish they would have warned me ahead of time that this might be an issue. The plumber also incorrectly told me that as long as I didn't use certain appliances the leak wouldn't be a continuing issue. In fact it was still going and causing damage for close to 24 hours when we could get another plumber out. (That second plumber, by the ways, said we didn't need that asbestos report because the drywall was wet anyway).

A plumbing emergency is just that - you can't wait hours for someone to show up, only for them to not be able to do the work. It's especially frustrating when the job is explained in advance.

Phil S.

11/30/2017

So glad I called Bill Howe this time. I had a kitchen sink drain clog. First I called a different plumbing company, let's call them RR. They arrived five hours late and quoted me $300 for a job that their Interned ad quoted at $88. I was so frustrated by the delay and the bait-and-switch pricing, that I told them forget it. So the next day I called Bill Howe. They arrived within the quoted 3-hour window and friendly plumber Louie snaked the drain and was done in 10 minutes. For only $96 instead of $300 for RR. Mission accomplished. Next time I call Bill Howe first.

S D.

9/28/2010

Warning - they charge for their free estimates, so be on the lookout for this. Here is how this works - you call and request a free estimate. The plumber comes out to your house. He says that he has to touch the pipe/leak sourse/etc in order to identify the issue. The problem is, the second he touches anything in your house, you are automatically charged for one hour!!!

I don't think there is such a thing as a free inspection with them. The plumber literally touched the pipe for 3 seconds, and we were billed over $100 bucks for this!!! Didn't expect this at all and very dissapointed in this company.

Lee H.

07/09/2014 12:00:00 SA

I am a homeowner who rents my house to college students. One of my student renters called Bill Howe Plumbing out to the house and the bill was approx. $175.00. He knows better than to initiate and authorize any services, but he did it anyway, paid it, and then passed it along to me. I have some very compelling reasons a year+ later to learn further details about this plumbing call, so I called Bill Howe and got the plumber's name who actually performed the services. After giving her my address, she identified the service invoice and the tenant's name who ordered the services, and then proceeded to tell me I would have to subpoena the plumber if I wanted to talk to him personally about this call. What?! That sounds ludicrous to me. It is my house, my plumbing, and I would think I have every right to be able to ask some questions of them. I'm angry that they would perform services on my house without my permission in the first place! But then to refuse to be transparent and provide me with access to the plumber? The invoice does not answer all the questions I have. Why would BHP require a subpoena from the owner whose home they worked on??, They need to be open and allow me to talk to the plumber. After reading several of the other reviews, I am getting the impression this might be a pretty sleezy outfit. Sounds like they have some real integrity issues. The operations manager I spoke with today was very unprofessional and contentious. I was shocked.

Lori T.

11/19/2021

We have been using Bill Howe Plumbing for over 35 years. My recent call was about a leaky valve coming from our garbage disposal. Rico was the plumber came to my house in booties and a mask. He was very polite and professional. He identified the part that was needed in less than 5 minutes and was in and out of my house in less than hour. It doesn't get any better than that1

I am also including another review I forgot to write for another problem we had with a leaky faucet in our bathtub that needed to be replaced. Since we had no access panel, they had to cut into the wall behind the bathtub. They replaced the faucet with a new better one and had another team come in to patch the wall. You couldn't tell or feel where the hole they made was when they finished the job.

Best plumbers ever!!

Kathy T.

01/05/2014 12:00:00 SA

I would like to share my plumbing experience. We had been without a running toilet or drains, so no shower since New Year's Eve 12/31/13. What a way to spend New Year's! Our home owners warranty had called out a plumbing company to fix the problem but the plumber did not even have the proper tools or equipment to do the job. He actually borrowed our tools (ladder, screw driver, wrench) and my husband's help to get the equipment on the roof. The plumber was here for over 4 hrs. and finally threw up his hands and gave up for the day. He said that he might have another solution to try and would call back later but he never called back. So yet another night without a running toilet or drains.
We started using cat litter in our temporary camping potty because we ran out of bags! So, I called our home owners warranty company back in the morning of 1/4/14. Told them the situation is still not fixed. They said we would have to call another plumber out on our own dime because nothing else they could do would be covered.
So, I called Bill Howe Plumbing and they fixed our problem in less than an hour! We received excellent service! Nate the technician was very professional, courteous and very knowledgeable. I would highly recommend Bill Howe Plumbing. They do know how to get the job done. They have the right equipment and they bring their own tools! What a concept!

Diego D.

09/01/2022 12:00:00 SA

Did what needed to be done at a fair rate. Could have been 5 stars but had to squabble over price of services.

Ed K.

01/08/2021 12:00:00 SA

Brandon put up a lot of resistance to the agreed terms of the job before complying.

I needed a water heater replacement because it had a small leak that was making the composite board it sat on wet and moldy. I had no luck getting an estimate from the online Virtual estimate on the Bill Howe website so I called the next day and requested replacement of the 50 gal. gas water heater, a board to replace the damaged one (I gave specific measurements: 24x24x1/2) and a drain pan (to prevent against leak damage in the future). Kwan and Kayla were courteous and helpful on the phone. An appointment was made for two days later 9AM-12Noon.

On the appointed day Brandon called at 7:45AM saying he was on the way and would arrive early at 8:15. He took pictures because he said he did not get the pictures I had sent as requested by the scheduler. He said he did not know about the wood replacement and was not a carpenter. I called the office and asked them why he was not prepared. They called him and he said he had a large piece of plywood but could not cut it to size. After more discussion he cut it using a reciprocating saw.

Next was the drain pan. On our last house we had an under the water heater pan that prevented any damage to our garage when the tank leaked twice by draining to the exterior. He claimed that the drain usually empties to the floor. I insisted that the drainpipe goes through the wall to the exterior just 6 inches away. Brandon stopped talking to me and said I should talk to the office if I wanted anything.

Brandon finished the installation to my satisfaction. I just wish that I did not have to argue or call the office to get him to do the job properly.

Big Red X.

8/15/2018

These people are crooks. They charged us $600 to fix a pipe in our main line and dig a hole and would only fill it back up if we paid $160 more. So they left a huge hole in our yard that our child can easily fall into and get hurt. All to make more money. They took advantage of us and we will never use this horrible service again. They give good companies a bad name. They should be ashamed of these shady business practices.

Guy L.

11/27/2020

Had a kitchen drain clogged. Called Bill Howe and they couldn't come out that day so I called a competitor (ASR Rescue Rooter). ASR tried to snake clean it to no avail. Then they tried to water jet it, to no avail. Then they sent in the line camera inside the pipes and saw the clog, as well as a low spot in the line unrelated to the clog. ASR wanted to charge me over $8000 after discounts to...REPLACE MOST OF MY PIPES IN THE HOUSE!!! I asked for another option and was told there was no other option. Anytime someone tells me there are no options, I look for another option.
Thanksgiving was next day and I called Bill Howe again, knowing they either couldn't come out that day or would charge an extra amount (rightly so) for after hours or holiday, so I asked for service the day after. Technician Mike came out, looked at the drain and said he would snake it. About 15 minutes later the clog was cleared and he was done. An $8000 job from the other guys cost me $89 from Bill Howe. THEY KNOW HOW(e)!!!

Rachel F.

12/06/2017 12:00:00 SA

We contacted Bill Howe for a water regulator that we thought we needed installed on our irrigation system. Miguel came out not only earlier than our scheduled time slot, but gave us an honest recommendation. Instead of just doing the job and charging us $1,000+ for what we thought we needed, Miguel gave us a recommendation to fix the problem that would not cost us a thing. Thank you for your honest and professional service!

Michael L.

6/22/2017

When your employee comes out of the restroom and whispers in your ear the toilet is clogged...you just have to pause a bit, reassess your life, tuck your face in your shirt, and walk into the gas chamber. I tried the DIY approach and managed to go through 3 plungers because none of them fit over the damn hole...all the while praying that no massive turd comes flying out. I finally gave up and called 3 different plumbers, all of whom were busy for the day. Man...San Diego has to ease up on the burritos or something. I finally called Bill Howe and they sent someone out in 30 mins! A little snake, $94 bucks, and a few signatures - and the poop receptacle was back in order. Didn't shake the dude's hand though...fistbump FTW.

Magdy H.

10/30/2014

This company, like other companies who sell water treatment systems, would do anything to sell you their expensive equipment and NOT install your purchased equipment. Be careful when you call this company to do any work for you and do no fall into the sales mimics. You would always be better off with a company that does not have a product to sell. I called to see if they would install a water softer that I purchased from HomeDepot for $400. I spoke with Jason, a technician there, to make sure they would not have a problem installing a 1 1/4 inch softer into a 1 1/2 inch piping. I was assured there is no problem. This is also what I learned fro other companies. When the Miguel Rodriguez the technician showed up 3 hours late, he said it is illegal to do that and tried to sell me one of their treatment systems which is more than $3000. When I told him I was not buying one of their systems, he refused even to give an estimate and left. So, if you have just hard water and all that you need is a water softener, so not call one of these companies will get you to spend easily cover $3000 and you would still have hard water.

scott h.

07/02/2023 12:00:00 SA

Clogged kitchen sink on a Sunday. We knew that getting anyone here on same day would be expensive.

Contacted Howe plumbing, they got a technician here in about an hour. He was knowledgeable, friendly.

He used a snake (auger) through the vent in the roof. Drain pipe was clogged with rice, a lot of it.

Luckily we have a clean out down stream from the kitchen so we could see the rice and water run out.

Cost was as expected but the ease for making payment online from a link made it almost painless.

I'll definitely use them again.

Michael P.

12/18/2017

m beyond impressed with the quality of work and the professionalism of Pattric from Bill Howe Plumbing. He not only arrived early but also took the time to review our home inspectors report and offer up his professional opinion of what needed to be done and what was less important. At every phase of the work Pattric explained what was happening, what could go wrong down the line and had us look over the work he did. Based on Pattric's amiable professionalism and quality of work on the repairs we needed, I'm confident that I will use Bill Howe to install a new water heater in the coming month. Thank you

James V.

04/05/2016 12:00:00 SA

We just had our faucet replaced by Corey and he did a fantastic job. He was on time, friendly and very professional. We know who to call next time we need any type of plumbing service. Bill Howe is lucky to have a guy like Corey!

Robb P.

8/29/2022

Robby was our young Technician this morning. He not only worked really hard, knew what he was doing, a pleasure to talk to, sharing what he thinks happened & what the plan to fix it, but for the younger working force out there he give me hope for the next generation. I must call him Perfect. Bill Howe, you have a WINNER.

Johnson D.

8/21/2017

I tried getting away with a cheap plumber. Ended up with Hadi from Bill Howe come out to our house to do the job right. He was polite and fast. If i knew i could get this job done at this price i would have likely gone here first. That's what you should do. Call Bill Howe.. They really do know how!

Dennis P.

01/11/2019 12:00:00 SA

We have used Bill Howe for years to handle any plumbing issues in our apartment building. Recently had a service call for a commercial water heater. Tech Tris Coffin pointed out that the procedure was really unnecessary and I saved considerable money! This is not the first time that a Bill Howe tech saved me money.

Yo G.

1/13/2022

I don't like them.
They over charged me and when I complained they charged me again.
The owners don't make the time to do things right.
i was warned that they are crooks. I didn't listen. My friends were right.

Brian D.

08/12/2022 12:00:00 SA

Bought a new house and Bill Howe took care of the multiple sink drain issues found on the inspection and have the receipts that confirm. Then a month later when I move in and need Bill Howe to come back out to take care of the issues again, turns out everything needed to be replaced and its $1000 worth of work that the other guys from Bill Howe didn't look at thoroughly. Now that's on my dime and not the sellers. Was hoping for some relief on the bill, but customer service management essentially told me tough s#*t.

Kelsey R.

7/28/2015

Never Ever call these guys to fix your plumbing! I recently inherited an older home. I found out 6 months after moving in that all of the pipes would have to be replaced. I was told the work would take a week at the most. It has been 4 weeks. My house is a mess. They come for a day, then suddenly need to leave to pick up a part. Then I won't here or see anyone for days. This has been the worst experience of my life.

Josie R.

03/06/2020 12:00:00 SA

Great customer service and highly skilled technicians !
We have used Bill Howe for several of our plumbing needs, and we will continue to do so in the future. Brian Casillas just replaced two pop up drains in my master bath. He called before arriving, was courteous ( put shoe covers on) , did a great job and left without making a mess! I highly recommend Bill Howe Plumbing !

C T.

11/28/2016

We had a holiday sink back up. Imagine that! I left a message for Bill Howe plumbing on Sunday afternoon and they called first thing Monday (today) they could schedule someone right away! in 20 minutes Rudy called to say he would be by soon. When he got here he explained what he was going to do and what might happen if it didnt work. Fortunately it did work and within a half hour we had our kitchen sink back! Thanks Rudy! Great service and very personable tech!

David D.

4/18/2017

Having a kitchen sink backed up, just prior to leaving for a long weekend, is never pleasant. Fearing the worst, I called Bill Howe to see how soon I could get someone in to look at it and fix it. I called on Thursday, explained my problem and that I was hoping to leave early Friday for the weekend. The scheduler originally said between 9-12, but she was so kind and gave me the earliest they had, which was 8-11. She was extremely friendly and accommodating. On Friday, about 7:45, Scott called to say he was on his way. He showed up promptly at 8 to start work. Scott was very thorough, friendly, and also accommodating in fixing the problem. After about 2 1/2 hours, Scott finally had the clog cleared. I can't say enough about how happy my wife and I are that we called Bill Howe Plumbing. They are absolutely our go-to plumbing company!! Thank you, Scott and everyone at Bill Howe!!

Victoria M.

03/02/2011 12:00:00 SA

Yesterday, we had our leak (in ceiling of our first floor) repaired in about an hour and a half. Julio did a great job in quickly assessing the problem and fixing it. Almost 24 hours later, I can tell that he did a great job. We are grateful that he came out in the time frame that was quoted because it could have been worse had it gone on longer. What I also like is that someone from the office called us a half hour before Julio was to arrive. Also, I had called very early and spoke with the emergency response person who told me that the regular hours staff would call me back when they opened after 7:30. Even though I had to run off to work at 7:40, I had called again and made the appointment. I came home later to find that they had left a message stating that they received my original message and called me back by 8am.

Ron S.

6/28/2017

No company is perfect of course, and things can go sideways sometimes. Such is the case with BHP, who I called with an issue I wanted resolved. One call, and supervisor Tom quickly addressed our needs. It was exactly what you hope a company will do--a caring, professional, thorough and fast fix.

This is why are, and we will continue to be, BHP customers. They rock, during, and after the sale.

Barry Z.

12/09/2016 12:00:00 SA

Had a wonderful experience with Bill Howe Plumbing. One of their plumbers, Marcus, installed a new gas pipe and burner so that I could convert my gas fireplace from one that has artificial logs to one that uses fireplace glass. It looks terrific, and the fireplace glass gives my house a more contemporary feel. Marcus was very professional, polite, knowledgeable and a pleasure to work with. I'll be using Bill Howe again.

Logan P.

01/06/2016 12:00:00 SA

This company was highly recommended to us by our realtor. Corey came out to do some work for us and he was really professional. He was on time, and explained everything he was doing and gave a quote (it actually ended up being cheaper!) before he started. He also looked at other stuff for us, and we got the feeling he was being honest and not pushy with his recommendations. We've already booked another appointment to fix some other things, and we requested Corey to do it.

Teresa P.

7/15/2013

Bill Howe's team of extremely professional plumbers not only fixed our slab leak in one day but figured out how to accomplish it with ease and minor mess. Have a few drywall repairs but was impressed with their knowlege, teamwork, ease of solution and consideration. The cost was fair and far less than expected. I will definitely call on them again.

Chris S.

7/22/2016

Called to get service on my air conditioner. Wanted a labor rate of $247.00 per hour for priority service, that is, will show up within two weeks. Went to book the appointment and the dates and prices changed, the date was pushed back unless I paid an additional charge. Every time I tried to book a date, time and price, they just pushed the date back and the price up. Really felt uncomfortable about not being able to get a firm date or rate. Decided to call elsewhere.

James R.

11/26/2018

Raul fixed slab leak in one day. Professional, quality service. Thank you! Highly recommend Bill Howe. Merry Christmas

Laurie Z.

9/17/2022

This particular review is specifically in reference to Darryl from Bill Howe plumbing. A couple of nights ago at approximately 3:00am, I woke up to the sound of water dripping. I followed my ears, stepped into our laundry room and simultaneously flipped on the light. At that same moment I realized I was standing in a puddle of water and said a silent thank you that I hadn't been electrocuted. I looked up and saw that water was slowly dripping from above the washer and dryer. I woke my husband who promptly turned off the water to the house so things wouldn't get any worse. We have used Bill Howe's services in the past with great results so I called them. Since the water had stopped actively dripping we agreed that instead of dispatching someone immediately they would send a tech out between 11:00am and 2:00pm. At about 1:00pm, we got a text indicating that they were running late but that we hadn't been forgotten...I appreciated that they were keeping us informed. The tech arrived at 4:30 and it was clear from his demeanor that he'd had a long day. He did an inspection by cutting a small hole in the ceiling drywall and verified that we had a leak. He also gave us the added bad news that the cupboards above the washer/dryer would have to be removed in order to access the area where the leak was. He said he would have to charge us overtime rates to fix it and we balked at that since it wasn't our fault that he had arrived so late. He backed off of that but then said he had somewhere to be and that he could have someone else come at 7:00pm. We agreed to that and he left. It should be noted here that while he certainly wasn't rude, it was obvious he didn't want to be here. We ended up calling Bill Howe and requested that they come the next day (Friday) at approximately 10:00am so my husband and his friend, Joe, would have time to remove the cupboards themselves. So, Friday morning they removed the cupboards and at 10:10am, Darryl arrived. He was TERRIFIC in all regards, absolutely terrific and I sincerely hope he is well compensated for his abilities, work ethic and excellent attitude. He fixed the leak and told us that someone would be out the next day (today, Saturday) to give us an estimate on repairs to the ceiling, etc. At 10:00am this morning Eric and Fernando showed up and they were great too. So now we're just waiting for the estimate so we can forward it to our Homeowners insurance and we'll go from there. Once again, we're really pleased with the service received from Bill Howe Plumbing...they definitely know Howe!

Janice A.

7/28/2023

Joe Vitanza was the tech that came to service our tankless water heater. He is very professional and knowledgeable about his work and did a thorough job with our tankless water heater. He was friendly and easy to talk to and would recommend him to anyone who needs to get some service done. A job well done Mr. Vitanza, we'll be calling you next year for our yearly service. =)

Ron D.

11/11/2011 12:00:00 SA

We've worked with Ray Newton at Bill Howe twice now. Both times he's gotten the job done with super efficiency and explained well what he was doing.

He's worked on my pipes, installed new bathroom sinks and faucets/heads, and even fixed a broken toilet that was installed wrong even though that wasn't what we called him out to do.

I figured he'd have to smash a big hole in the drywall to fix my showerhead, which was broken behind the tub wall, but no, he just poked a tiny hole - like doing surgery with optical fiber! Easily fixed with a patch.

The price has been reasonable for what he's gotten done, and we've never felt we were being cheated or talked into something we didn't want to do (a real problem with plumbers or car mechanics). The people back at the office seem decent and helpful as well, though we've never met them in person. Next time I need plumbing done, I'm calling Bill Howe and asking for Ray.

Kenneth W.

12/25/2021

I have a line that routinely stops up about every two years and I know the issue, but just not interested in doing thousand in plumbing work at this time. Allen, from Bill Howe, was called to my house on Christmas Eve morning, listened to my comments about other plumbers that have successfully unclogged the same issue, and proceeded quickly to get it done! Bill Howe is one of the larger plumbing services in San Diego that I actually feel doesn't rip me off.

Steve C.

01/03/2014 12:00:00 SA

On New Years Eve we experienced a kitchen drain blockage that backed up in the bath tub. Yuk! I called a company (not Bill Howe) to clear the drain. After clearing the blocked drain, they ran a camera into the line and told me I had a broken pipe under the slab. They could start the repair work immediately and it would cost $4,747.00. I was ready to sign the repair order, but my wife insisted that we get a 2nd opinion - smart wife! I called Bill Howe Plumbing and they sent Mike Mason out the same day. He spent about two hours the first day and two more hours the next day, cleaning, jetting, doing the camera thing several times and concluding that there was nothing at all wrong with the pipe. Total cost: $250. Mike is the most professional plumber I have met and I will not hesitate to ask for him again when I need a plumber. Kudos to Bill Howe for their integrity, competence and professionalism.

Theresa W.

3/17/2013

Plumbers are one of those trades that can absolutely take advantage of a desperate situation....case in point today...we shut the water off because of a shower leak on a Sunday (plumbing issues always happen on Sundays, I'm convinced). I called and talked to Melissa who cautioned me the lowest cost option was for us to wait until Monday to have someone come out.

I couldn't wait so had her send John out. She called me back and told me when he would arrive. He called when he was on his way. John arrived and needed a part. He went to his warehouse (again, this was a Sunday) and got the part. He arrived back and fixed the problem.

John was respectful of our home and honest in assessing the repairs needed. Sure, he could have told me a lot more work was needed and I would have just had it done. What choice did I have?

In the end, the bill was less than I expected and who can say that about a plumber?

Thanks John and Melissa for getting us back online. We will use you next time we need a plumber (no offense, hope that's not soon).

W W.

12/13/2016

I just had the worst experience with Bill Howe plumbing. I needed an estimate on getting a tankless water heater. They came out, wrote me an estimate for $2,900 to do the work, and charged me $150 and left. He told me that this price did not include the tankless water heater, but he told me I could save $600 if I bought the water heater myself, so I did. When it came to scheduling the job, they blew me off the first time. The second time they did live up to their appointment; however they said they could not find the water lines under the house. They then suggested we put a recirculating pump on the current system. This of course made my $1,200 purchase of the tankless heater unnecessary. Oh well, just a $150 shipping / return fee I get to pay along with the $150 I paid Bill Howe for a bid they never came through on!

My suggestion, find another plumber.

c o.

04/01/2011 12:00:00 SA

A couple of my neighbors recommended Bill Howe Plumbing to me, after I had a high quote from another company. I was pleased with their service and the price was really fair. Patrick Nealy was excellent, and I will be calling him for future work for sure. Patrick was honest and the job ended up being on the lower end of what was quoted. The company also will call you for a follow-up and I think that is a nice touch. They have excellent customer service and fair prices.

Karen G.

12/02/2019 12:00:00 SA

I am honestly not sure why I didnt write this sooner! For awhile we were using another plumbing company and recently we had a LOT of plumbing work to do and it seemed like it was too big a job for the other company. My sister had used Bill Howe to line her pipes and we ended up doing the same. Their work was above and beyond in regards to identifying the various problems in our plumbing under our house and they did really thorough work in fixing all of the various problems. It wasnt cheap, I think we have had about 8K worth of work done under our house in the last 6 months because while the foundation guys were under the house there was a lot of stuff that was identified that caused us problems but since that time we havent had any water under the house (which was previously a major problem). They lined some of our pipes, replaced a bunch of bad pipes (why did our main line have regular pipes then a small pipe linking two different lines, so weird), and they fixed about 4 different major leaks. Today they came back to fix a minor back up problem we had. We had previously used our other plumbers to fix this problem and after 6 months it returned (when we ran our washer our bathtub filled with water). They simply seem to do more thorough work and for a slightly cheaper cost than the other company (although none of it is actually cheap!) but this is what happens when your house is 100+ years old. Now we will just call Bill Howe for all our plumbing needs. We have had nothing but good experiences and when I called them at 8 am this morning they were at our house by 11. Thanks for the great work Bill Howe, while I never enjoy calling them cause it means something has gone wrong, I do trust their work and their prices.

Melanie M.

6/25/2020

This was the 3rd or fourth time I have used Bill Howe plumbing. Expensive yes but convenient due to the fact that they come out quickly or fairly quickly after you call. They came out and replaced 2 faucets for me and charged me $426 I had no choice because my house was in escrow and a normal plumber couldn't come out for another 2 weeks. That wasn't the problem the issue was that at the time of the visit the plumber told me the pressure regulator had to be replaced. He was right and when I asked him how much it would be he said it would take home the minimum of the hour and it would take 1-2 hrs to do the work at $160 am hr. I said ok let me think about it and he left. Once he left I decided to fix it since I was in escrow and did nor want any issues for new buyer. I called to schedule it and a new technician came out. Once he got to my house he told me to be prepared for a 6-8 hr job that would cost roughly $995 he send me a quote for that much I told him that seems high and went with my gut and said no. I immediately called me regular plumber and thankfully he had an opening. He came out and replaced it and it literally took him 18min to do the job. With parts he charged me $220 of which $120 was the part. I don't care about the money it's the fact that he saw me and blatantly lied about how long it would take. How dare they. That's robbery and in fact completely unethical.

John M.

11/22/2015

We had two shower/tub leaks, each one in a different bathroom. Our landlord asked us to use Bill Howe plumbing. Corey came over twice, once to get an estimate, and the next time to fix the problems. Corey was efficient, and skilled. I appreciate skilled workmen and am happy to say we will use Bill Howe, whenever we have the choice.

Thank you.
John and Kathy M

Jennifer S.

6/18/2020

I have been using this company recently and wanted to compliment the very wonderful employee that fixed my toilet. His name is Louie Sepulveda. Things broke during the beginning of covid quarantine, and I was a bit edgy as were all of us. He was SO patient and kind and always wore a mask and booties (calmed me down a bit) and he got the work done quickly and thoroughly. He even stepped outside so i could examine the work and make sure I was happy and content with it. I am so impressed with his work and his genuine patience and kindness, that now when I use this company I specifically request him. He is TERRIFIC!! Thank you Louie and thank you Bill Howe. I am a customer for good now!!

Susan G.

5/20/2021

Nobody wants to find a leak, especially one created by a contractor screwing into a black water pipe that runs from upstairs through the wall downstairs. We did find exactly that, and the damage meant almost a month of contractors in our home. Bill Howe was incredible. Professional staff, on time at every step, knowledgeable, and awesome team work! We highly recommend this impressive company.

Dell M.

10/22/2009

I've used Bill Howe Plumbing a couple of times before, and had a third visit today. I have never been disappointed with the service I received; have always been able to receive very timely and professional service. They even sent a technician out on Christmas Eve one year, when we thought we wouldn't be able to find ANYONE willing to come out on Christmas Eve at 8:00 p.m. to fix a leak!

I was REALLY happy with Jason Bolas, the technician who came out today to fix our plumbing problems. He was very courteous, professional, but also approachable; he didn't make me feel like a complete idiot because I didn't know where our main water shut-off valve was! He did a thorough job very efficiently, and didn't try to sell me anything - he just explained the various options I had to accomplish what I wanted. He left me his business card with his direct number and told me not to hesitate to call him if I had any further questions or concerns - just OUTSTANDING customer service! This level of service is what keeps me coming back to Bill Howe Plumbing!

Jeff A.

1/18/2012

Called for a stubborn clog in a main line. Richard responded within the hour and was friendly and knowledgeable. He quickly figured out the issue and gave me a fair quote of $110 to snake a long line. He did the work well and talked me through it so I understood where the problem was. He was courteous and left everything clean. Highly recommend.

Steven K.

08/11/2015 12:00:00 SA

We have an older (1960s) house which has 4100 sq. ft. and 3 bathrooms. During a recent remodel some serious plumbing problems started to come to light. We have used Bill Howe Plumbing several times during the last year, always with great results. Today, some excellent Bill Howe plumbers finished a significant repair to the drain from our back bathroom, which had been blocked repeatedly. The lead plumber was Justin who is a personable and smart guy. The blockage was located quickly, the job was scheduled immediately, the plumbers knew exactly what to do and they rapidly installed a new section of pipe and clean outs which will make it easy to clear the entire line if it should be blocked again. These guys were professional and did not have to use a trial and error method to solve the problem. It is great to run into people who are competent, motivated and strive to do an excellent job. Best of all, the price was very fair and reasonable! We have no reason to ever use any other plumbing service.

Andrew G.

11/16/2016

My wife and I own an old craftsman home in University Heights. As things normally go one plumbing repair in the bathroom turned into a need to put a new ball valve for the service at the house. Michael Plata was our technician and he did an awesome job on an old plumbing system that did not cooperate nicel! He explained everything he was doing step-by-step even finished on time and a little under budget. I've used Bill Howe now for two repairs at our rental property and could not be happier!

george j.

8/20/2017

This a general review of our experience with Bill Howe in our search for a complete redo of our central heating and ac system. We had 7 vendors come in. Prices among the 7 ranged from $17,500 to $9,000. I will not share what we will pay or who we chose as that is the homework you will have to do.

We made an appointment with an Bill Howe. Fonzo came at the agreed upon time. Fonzo was knowledgeable, courteous and professional. We had done quite a bit of research and were somewhat informed as what to expect with regard to the brand names, warranties for labor and parts, service plans, rebates etc. We wanted an evaluation of the efficiency of our ac, furnace, ductwork and vent placement to provide an efficient system at a reasonable price.
Fonzo did a great job in explaining what they were going to do. Bill Howe uses a Lennox brand, a well known and reputable brand.
As in any selection process there are always the top choices and those that do not make it through. Bill Howe did not make it through.

Karen H.

11/27/2018

Victor is a rising star in the world of plumbing! Professional, knowledgeable, efficient and kind. Took the time to explain everything in layman's terms- highly recommend him and his courteous staff.

Elizabeth S.

5/19/2020

I had a gas line leak that ran under a large courtyard of saltillo tile. I was most fortunate to get Corey Koenen from Bill Howe Plumbing to do the work. He was extremely knowledgeable , thorough, and thoughtful. Corey and his partner Daniel never stopped working from digging, pulling up tiles, laying new gas lines , obtaining timely inspections, etc. and leaving the work site spotless each evening. Each day brought new glitches requiring extensive problem solving . Corey's expertise and extensive experience in dealing with gas lines was most evident and I know who to call if it ever happens again. They were the best!

Jay A.

1/23/2019

I just had a very bad experience with Bill Howe plumbing. I scheduled an appointment and took time off work to be home. They gave me a window of noon to 3pm. At 4pm they called and said that they didn't have a technician that could fit under my mobile home. They knew that I had a mobile home when they made the appointment. I believe that a company should follow through on the promises made at the time the appointment is made. They also did not offer to reimburse me for any of the hours of missed work.

Courtney S.

1/20/2023

Just had a whole house water filtration system installed. Well explained from the beginning, clear and quick with scheduling and what to expect... I really liked the confirmation texts and introducing my service technician by text also. I work in customer service and was so overly impressed by my technician Kris. I have never had the level of kindness and professionalism with any other service tech in another field. Would recommend 10+/10.

Mike E.

06/05/2015 12:00:00 SA

Bill Howe's bid of $4598 to re-plumb my house was $1200 less than a competitor, and he was able to complete the job in a full day less than the competitor wanted. The plumber he sent, Brian Rice, did an excellent job. He explained how he was going to complete the project, answered all of my questions, planned the work so we would not be without hot water for morning or evening showers, and exceeded all of our expectations. I recommend Bill Howe for all of your plumbing needs.

Manny M.

4/23/2021

Excellent service all the way around. Leslie S facilitated my company receiving a quote. Extremely polite and professional. Trever B was 5 minutes early and explained the entire process from beginning to end. As soon as I am ready for the job to be done I WILL be hiring Bill Howe. Great company all the way around, I recommend anyone who may be on the fence to hire them.

Karen W.

8/20/2021

I have had Michael come to my house a couple time. He is so honest and good at what he does. I highly recommend this company to anyone needing plumbing repairs. Not many plumbing companies can fix special plumbing issues. Thank you Bill Howe plumbing and especially Michael..

Rodrigo M.

09/08/2023 12:00:00 SA

I had developed some serious plumbing problems. Everything was backing up, it was a total mess, so I called Howe. The tech was here from just around 9:30 to around 4:00. There were 3 separate issues, and he took care of them one right after the other barely taking a break. It's an old house, and I'm impressed at how diligently the plumber worked to find and solve the problems. I highly recommend Bill Howe for plumbing.

Ruth W.

8/31/2016

Best plumbing service I have used. We had a shower faucet leak that we didn't know about until water came pouring through the ceiling into the living room. Bill howe's plumber, Tris, was there immediately, carefully located the leak and was able to stop further damage. Within an hour, the flood remediators came and had their fans set up to prevent mold. As the moisture was extensive, they were meticulous in locating anywhere that had been damaged. Joseph was particularly great in making certain every bit of moisture went away. Each person who came was polite, neat, respectful and helpful. When we were finally able to dry out the house, Bill Howe also had a remodeling crew that came in and returned my house to almost as good as new. Over the three weeks, every service person appeared when they said they would and did what they said they would, in spades. It is so nice to be able to depend on a good company, particularly when there is an unexpected disaster. Will use them for all of my plumbing needs in the future!

Everett A.

3/18/2011

I needed a new water heater in my condo ASAP and called several plumbers in the area. I was given a lot of different answers from can't do it to no problem but.... and then I called Bill Howe Plumbing. I was greeted professionally and handed off to one of their experts to answer all of my questions. Rick was put on the phone with me right away so I could explain my issue. He gave me a lot of useful information and provided several possible alternatives. I made an appointment instantly and Brandon, another Bill Howe professional, was at my residence within an hour. Brandon came back to the water heater, assessed the situation, and took measurements. He walked around my condo building and several other buildings in the complex. Brandon explained exactly what was going on and what options were available to resolve the issue. I was extremely impressed by the level of knowledge and professionalism he possessed. I weighed my options, made my decision and then asked the dreaded question, (as it was a Friday and the heater I needed was not easy to come by)....When can I get this done? Without blinking, he said, I will have it done for you today. He left to get the heater, and was back within 2 hrs. He worked the rest of the day installing my heater. Rick even came by late in the afternoon to assist with getting the new heater up a flight of stairs and installing it. Once completed, they explained the install, how they did it, all the new attachments, and how to operate it. Before leaving, he made sure everything worked correctly, cleaned up the site, and advised that if I needed anything at all, I could call them 24/7. I was highly impressed and will use them anytime I have a plumbing need.

don h.

2/16/2011

I had heard that Bill Howe was a reputable plumbing company but in the end they proved they aren't just reliable but that they stand fully by their high quality work standards.
Bill Howe P has a number of seasoned long time plumbing professionals who really do know their business.Not that any company is perfect.There are no bargains here at 135 dollars an hour.Some projects will be assigned a flat rate which I prefer.
However they are a premium plumbing service company that is 100% reliable.They did make some mistakes on my last job and came back twice After their assessment they fixed their errors did a fantastic job and get this refunded in full 100% of my money for the mistakes both parts and labor!!!OMG
It takes Americas most reliable companies to let consumers buy with that kind of confidence.They will be doing 100% of my future work going forward and all my upcoming bathrooom renovations.
My friend hired somebody off Craigs List to do some plumbing and while certainly less money the guy is a nightmare.He messed up the job and there is little recourse.
You pay a premium with Bill Howe but you know everything was done first class by folks that care.They are worth every dime you pay
They get my highest thumbs up

Steve Z.

6/19/2023

Friendly and knowledgeable technician, Bill Smith, repaired my AC for almost half the cost of another mid sized outfit. Bill spent little time trying to up-sell me to a new system which I appreciated. When the time comes to replace the system I will call Bill Howe.

Catie R.

10/16/2015

Had a water heater installed about 7 years ago and now trying to refinance our home, which means we need an appraiser to appraise our property. Come to find out that the water heater installed by Bill Howe was installed out of code because it did not have earthquake braces. I now get to pay them another 100 dollars to put on the braces while being out of code for 7 years. Thankfully no issues in that time, but not what I would expect from a licensed plumber. Buyer beware. Find someone else that will install things up to code the first time.

UPDATE: they took care of the problem.

Julie R.

9/19/2016

Showed up within an hour on a Sunday. Got my hide up and running the same day. Excellent service and they have been our plumber for over 20 years.

John T.

5/23/2011

Bill Howe sent a plumber named Ron for my slab leak and found the leak in minutes.

He jack hammered up my floor and fixed it without leaving a mess.

After having other price quotes from others plumbers I was happy with the fair price and great service they provided. I will use them again if I ever need a plumber.

Rebeca G.

1/18/2023

Over the recent holidays we discovered our hot water slab leak. We called Bill Howe right away due to our wonderful experience we had with their team in the summer that installed our heating & air system. Raul Miranda was the first technician out. He was wonderful and answered all our questions. Raul was a joy to work with and stayed in communication with what to expect on the plumbing reroute. Once plumbing was finished, Bill Howe sent their demo team to remove all the areas that were impacted by our water damage. They sent Technicians Alfredo Gonzalez and his coworker Jeremy. They did such a great job. Both were efficient, professional, and always communicated with us their next step. Alfredo went above and beyond to make sure we were always squared away with follow up appointments and alway reviewed his work with us. Bill Howe's team both techs & office/dispatch did a wonderful job staying in communication with us. I always recommend Bill Howe- thank you for your great service!

Rob M.

09/06/2020 12:00:00 SA

Ok, so we turn the air on, nothing happens... we call Bill Howe. Guy comes out for an estimate, 65$ to come take a look. Ok, guy comes out , takes a look at the furnace, which provides forced air for heating and air conditioning... +++Blower fan not working+++ Very important detail. Checks the condenser on the patio for the air.. Ah, Sorry folks, condenser has a leak, it is empty of R22...maybe can refill for 3500$, which includes leak detection, repair... CHEAPER to have replaced. Ok, repair guy says 6800$ for the condenser and coil..but he will send out an estimator. He comes, runs an estimate for 7100$. OH my, let us think about it... Finally we have the blower fan replaced, cost us 203$, that part would have cost 850$, but under warranty..Whew... So I tell my wife later that night, let's run the system, LO and BEHOLD, we have cold air coming out the vents.. We have another HVAC person come out the next day, and HE SAYS, IT IS FULL, I say WHAT?, HE SAYS IT'S FULL, OH...so in other words there is nothing wrong with the air conditioning system??? NOPE, IT'S FULL.... HE STATES YOU CANNOT TEST THE SYSTEM UNLESS THE BLOWER FAN IS WORKING, REALLY??? In-between all this, we saw another HVAC guy in the driveway, talked him into coming down and looking, we tell him the fan motor is not working on the furnace, he states, YOU CANNOT TEST THE SYSTEM WITHOUT THE FAN MOTOR WORKING, Someone is feeding you the you know what... Now we have great air, minus spending 7100$ on a new system that THAT WE DID NOT NEED !!!!!!!!!

JL S.

10/01/2022 12:00:00 SA

Was glad that Bill Howe Plumbing was responsive on a Saturday. Turned out that nothing was wrong with my tankless water heater. Was still charged $332 for the trip and about 5 minutes of the plumber's time. I would've been happy to pay $100 or so for the trip. Live and learn. Don't call these guys on the weekend unless you're absolutely desperate.

A call from Bill Howe after this visit lowers the rating from three to two. They wanted to sell me something I didn't need and only offered to discount the overpriced service visit if I bought it. Won't call them again.

Tim O.

7/20/2018

Wow! Tris was fantastic. I had a pipe leaking inside my wall and he came in and explained everything and fixed it straight away. His attitude was top notch and I felt like he really cared about making A challenging experience as easy as possible for me. He was timely and quick!

Lynn F.

3/25/2014

Thank you for your prompt, professional service.
We had our AC and heating installed last week.
Great service
Clean job, the heating is very efficient
the guy where very polite

Ray T.

6/17/2016

I would give an extra star to a team that Bill Howe Plumbing dispatched to my home in Paradise Hills. Team members Edgar and Raul were very professional and very knowledgeable in their craft. The work was neat and impressive. I have had 3 other companies, in the past to repair a slab leak in the same location. Technician Edgar, suggested that they bypass the affected line, being that this was the fourth leak. The re-route was complicated and difficult. I was amazed at how well that team worked, they made that job look simple with no damage to the interior of the home.. Bill Howe Plumbing is fortunate to have a team like Edgar and Raul I would recommend them for ANY plumbing issues..

Marilyn D.

04/01/2020 12:00:00 SA

Our kitchen sink was plugged up so we called Bill Howe plumbing. Christian was our tech and he arrived within an hour. He wore gloves and a mask per corona virus protocol. He was very efficient. He used a snake and reported there was a blockage thirty feet down which he quickly took care of. I highly recommend this company.

Laura J.

04/09/2010 12:00:00 SA

I was extremely disappointed to have a tankless recommended and installed even though the plumber knew I had low water pressure. It takes so much per minute to activate the unit so I have to turn the water on full blast to get any hot water. When I asked about this, I was told it was between us and San Diego City Water. I will never use this company again.

Sara H.

5/17/2011

Had service man named Nate over twice to fix a broken sewer pipe. Nate was kind, courtesy and super easy to work with. He kept me apprised of the work he was doing. He was very professional. Good hire, Bill Howe!

Quentin H.

11/16/2009

I was very happy to have L. David Acosta come to help me. He was very friendly and cleard the house pipes in no time, We worked on them all weekend and could not clear them, But I called on a monday morning and he was here within the hour. He also told me want I needed done to prevent this problem. He was quite a nice person and even my dogs did not bark, ask my neighbors thats a nice task, thank you Debora B.

Lryan R.

11/23/2020

I was lucky enough to have the best experience with a professional plumber , Ron. He was experienced, friendly, and a gentleman. He figured out the problem and fixed it even with the shower knobs being over a hundred years old, he had the parts and hardware to install and repair. Thank you Ron. I will happily use this company again knowing they are honest, friendly, professional and nice.

Michelle H.

03/10/2017 12:00:00 SA

Great customer service! I had a repair completed by a Bill Howe service guy who did a fine job of repairing the pipes and was a very personable guy but charged me an excessive amount for labor. After calling the company to complain and speaking with Bill Howe the owner, he immediately refunded me a portion of the bill. I'm happy that he cares how his company treats it's customers.

Ashley F.

8/28/2014

First off - I am a tenant so my property management company chose (and is paying for the work being done by) Bill Howe plumbing. However, my husband and I are currently house hunting and planning to purchase a home soon. I can tell you that we will never use this company personally.

I know nothing about water heaters so you'll have to excuse that... Last week on Wednesday I woke up to no hot water. I emailed the property management company and they told me a plumber would be calling to set up an appointment. At first I was impressed - they let me pick a two hour window convenient for me, said they would call a half hour before showing up. They called a half hour before coming and arrived promptly. They said the pilot light was off and they weren't sure if something was wrong or if it had just happened by chance. They lit it and told me that if it went out again they would have to replace a part (they showed me the part and told me what it was called but I don't remember). They even looked at a toilet I had been having trouble with. That is where any acceptable customer service stopped.

This week I woke up with no hot water (again) on Tuesday. The property management handyman was already coming out that morning for a loose faucet so I waited for him. He looked at it, said the pilot was out again and found a very loose wire that fell out at the tiniest touch. He told me he would call the manager and they would get a plumber out again.

Once again, they called, set up a window of time and told me they would call a half hour before showing up. They called and said it would be a half hour... I waited and waited and finally over an hour later there is a plumber at the door. When I called the company before he showed up they couldn't reach him but on their end it showed that he had already arrived. Nope. So they told me maybe he was looking for parking. We live in a residential area with garages. It has never taken anyone longer than 10 seconds to find parking on our street. I don't know what he was doing for the over half of an hour that he was late but it certainly wasn't looking for parking.

So after over an hour of waiting he arrives. I find out (after calling the company) that his name is Fernando. He spent nearly 2 hours sitting in front of my water heater. He told me he called the manufacturer twice. Finally he tells me what needs replaced. It's the same thing the first plumbers told me needed replaced after only 15 minutes. Don't know what he was doing... Again.

He told me he ordered the part that we needed and would pick it up the next day around noon and could come install it at 3. I rush home from a dentist appointment to be home at 3. I wait and I wait and I wait. Finally, at 4pm he calls and says he can't come and hasn't picked up the part! Really? You're going to call the customer one hour after you are suppose to be at her home fixing something to say you can't make it?! You would think that at 2pm when he hadn't picked up the part, he would call, saying he didn't have the part and reschedule. Nope, waits until an hour after the appointment time to call. And also tells me he can't come back for 2 days.

I called the company explained that I wasn't happy and that I wanted a different plumber. They said a different plumber could do the work and would call a half hour before arriving today between noon and 2. Right after 2 they call and say that Fernando is picking up the part and they would call me a half hour before arriving. What? Why did I sit at home between 12 and 2 waiting and when they finally do call it is to say that someone isn't coming until later and they don't know when. I asked to speak to a manager and got absolutely no help. 3 days in a row I've been left waiting around for this company!

I asked them when their earliest appointment is and when is the first time that appointment is open? They said 8am is the earliest and it's open for tomorrow. I told them I expect to see someone at my door at 8 since they just told me it's open and that Fernando is already out picking up the part. Jamie, the manager I was speaking with, agreed.

I also told them again that I didn't want Fernando to come because I was tired of waiting for him and he not showing up at the correct time.

I will be waiting for them at the door tomorrow morning at 8am but I have my doubts. I'll be back to update tomorrow. If they show up promptly, they may be worth another star. I'll also be letting the property manager know about their service.

Update - The company sent out two men the next morning who fixed the water heater within 15 minutes. (This only left me more confused as to why the one technician sat in my closet looking at the heater for 2 hours.) While in the end they fixed the problem - I still wouldn't use them personally. I spent hours and hours waiting while days off from work slipped away. They didn't show any respect for my time!

Heather Y.

4/28/2015

I had to replace water heater urgently. Technician came out fast and did a great job on technical part but company marked up the product almost 3 times and listen to this, the product they installed on my house was discontinued product from manufacturer. I complained to company and Bill Howe called me back but said it is what it is. Wow!!!

Tricia W.

02/12/2014 12:00:00 SA

My husband and I were long-time satisfied customers of Bill Howe Plumbing for many years for a rental home we own in Serra Mesa. We thought those many years of satisfied experiences would extend to our new home in Ocean Beach. Well, that was sadly not the case. And I'm sorry to report that I would never hire Bill Howe again and I would strongly discourage anyone from hiring them for their plumbing needs.

We hired them in early 2012 to replace our hot water heater shortly after we moved in to our small condo fourplex. We informed them that of the two hot water heaters in the closet behind the main building we did not know which heater was ours so before replacing it we needed Bill Howe to determine if our heater was in fact the one in need of replacing. They informed us we not only needed a new hot water heater but a new pump to funnel the hot water to our upstairs unit. Ok, seemed reasonable.

Fast forward a year. Quite recently our neighbor's hot water heater was in need of replacement. They hired their own plumber to do the install. He promptly declared that the hot water heater in need of replacing was in fact OURS and the hot water heater and pump WE replaced a year ago was installed onto our neighbors plumbing. What!?! We contacted Bill Howe immediately and they sent their field supervisor to perform a review. All seemed well so far; he concurred that the hot water heater we purchased was in fact on our neighbor's plumbing. It took about 1 minute for him to figure this out. What happened next shocked me..the field supervisor called me later that week asking me if I felt this incident was Bill Howe's fault. I said without hesitation, Yes. His reply was an incredulous, You DO?? Of course I do! I surely wasn't the one who installed a $1,600 hot water heater and pump on someone else's plumbing!!

Their customer service was horrible throughout this whole ordeal. I was so disappointed and shocked. The switch happened free of charge but not without countless meetings, frustrating phone calls, etc. When they sent the original repair man out to switch the hot water heaters nobody told him what the job entailed or what the purpose of his visit was. Seriously? And this was after multiple failed attempts to schedule the work to begin with. He had to return to again to complete the switch.

I had all but closed this chapter on Bill Howe Plumbing until this week when we hired a new plumber to replacer some plumbing fixtures and we asked him to take a look at the pump Bill Howe installed. Despite having a new heater and pump, it took minutes upon minutes to get hot water to our unit. And that never happened before, even with our old pump. Apparently when Bill Howe installed the pump and meter, a valve to release the hot water to our upstairs unit had a long handle which precluded the hot water heater closet door from closing properly. So instead of trimming down the handle so the door could be closed they simply turned the valve down, which caused hot water to build up without being properly released to our unit. Over time, if this had gone unnoticed and uncorrected our brand new $500 pump would have burned out long before it was due.

Please save yourself time, money, and frustration and hire anyone else but Bill Howe. Life is stressful enough!

Rachel A.

7/29/2022

Quick and quality work. Have cleared a couple clogged garbage disposal pipes for us over the years.

Ted C.

08/05/2009 12:00:00 SA

I called Bill Howe Plumbing for them to come give me an estimate for needed repairs and replacements on a house I'm buying. We scheduled for them to show up sometime between 1-4pm the next day, calling me first to give me 30 minutes notice. About an hour or 2 later (not the next day), they called me and said they were on their way.

The man who showed up was very nice, and seemed to do a thorough job. He said he'd write me up an estimate and get it to me in next day or two.

About 5 minutes after he left, I remembered that a general House Inspector had told me he had seen some indication of potential problems w/the cast iron drain lines, so I called the plumber who had been at my house, and asked him if he saw anything like that underneath the house in the crawl space. The plumber said he didn't look under the house, because they charge $125 to go into the crawl space.

According to both the plumber and the House Inspector, problems w/the cast iron drain lines could be a big ticket item, from $500 to $5,000, and unless I pay Bill Howe $125, I won't find out from them if any problem with it.

So, considering this major component that was not checked out, I have to say it was a pretty incomplete job. If not for that, I was pretty happy otherwise with the niceness and articulation of the plumber.

June S.

02/07/2020 12:00:00 SA

Great company - Terrific service - Saul was wonderful - caring - helpful - and a masterful plumber. I would definitely use Bill Howell again & and I would ask for Saul and his apprentice, Daniel to do the work.

The girls in the office are also caring and efficient. Great Company - all around.

Jeremy K.

1/18/2012

Pattric (#428) is the man! Tonight we had a clogged kitchen sink. Pattric came out and fixed it within the hour. I was impressed that he called twice to keep me updated on his arrival. He was polite, quick and clean. He even pointed out some possible issues with our current system and a reason for our clogging trouble. The price was extremely reasonable based on the hour at which we called for help. I wouldn't hesitate to call Bill Howe again. Pattric did a great job. Thanks guys!

Roy M.

8/14/2019

When all sinks in my whole house started clogging because of the washer line, I called Bill Howe and they had a technician come even on a late night and Shaun already know what caused all the clog. It was less than 30 mins and everything was finished. I recommend Bill Howe plumbing for any household utilities issue

Rose U.

6/20/2023

This was our first time using Bill Howe's Service. Priscila was efficient in online chat, but because we wanted evening service, we had to call it in. Bernie was courteous, and was able to have someone come out pretty quickly. Michael was professional, knowledgeable and efficient. He made suggestions for preventive measures, and for investigating the issue further. Thank you all for coming to our help! We will be calling you from now on!

Jennifer F.

12/07/2019 12:00:00 SA

I called to have outside drain cleared. I got appointment right away. The tech came out and was very professional. He was not able to clear drain so he came back next day. He tried again and still could not get it to clear as he believed it had collapsed under my cement walkway. They did not bill me because they could not clear the drain. They are an honorable and honest business they did a great job clearing other drains in my yard a couple of years ago. I would highly recommend them. Ask for Adam. He was wonderful. Jennifer

Tim H.

1/26/2021

Can't say enough about DASHAWN ELLIOT who came to my mothers home. With 30 years in Real Estate -I have used many plumbers in my career. I have never met a more thorough and professional Plumber in my life. I would request this man by name as not only will he complete the job perfectly, but he will educate you on the process and how to maintain your system in the future. I can spot talent and this guy is the definition of this.

Cameron B.

4/20/2019

I can't believe the misintegrity abound with Bill Howe Plumbing: $300- to replace a $10.00 flex line on a water heater that took 20 minutes! Yeah, we know how....Wouldn't recommend them to my enemies- so much for ignorant tradition!

Tom S.

04/01/2015 12:00:00 SA

Good solid company. I had drain issues and they came out and took care of it. No one is ever happy when they have plumbing issues but if you do call bill Howe.

Mike M.

1/27/2023

Called Monday set an appt for Thursday. Plenty of confirmation texts for our window of 9a-12p. Tech called at 12p saying he was 45 min out. Took the half day off work and I couldn't wait till 1245 while the work would take another 45 min. Hey Bill Howe, people work for a loving. Have some consideration. Used you plenty of times in The past dealing with your higher prices. At House of Blues, we spent a small fortune with you. In my personal life, used you 5-6 times. Thought this was Bill Howe, not ASI. Never again.

Bonnie N.

06/10/2015 12:00:00 SA

I was pleasantly surprised that a plumber was available within 30 minutes of my call. Josh arrived, was totally polite, had a nice sense of humor, assessed the smartest approach then did the job quickly and efficiently. I could not have been more pleased. Thank you, Bonnie

Adam U.

1/27/2023

Wish I had two more thumbs so I could give it four thumbs down. Two consecutive missed appointments. Abysmal communication, and when they did communicate nothing they said came to fruition. Don't trust your hard earned money to these people.

Erin Z.

05/07/2014 12:00:00 SA

I saw an add for a A/C tuneup on a Bill Howe commercial, I had used them before for plumbing and was super happy so I figured I'd try them again. I emailed them that night and heard back by the next morning. Of course I waited until we had the horrible heat wave to contact them but they still were able to get me in a couple days later. The day of the service they called me before my appointment time to let me know that they were running behind and would most likely be arriving towards the end of my time window. I really appreciated that. They showed up on time and got right to work. Changed my filter added some freon and were finished. Brian and the other guy were great. Explained everything they did and now my A/C works awesome. Thanks!

Nite M.

8/30/2022

Consistently poor service but the joke is on me for calling them a second time which was worse than the first!!

Dan W.

07/07/2023 12:00:00 SA

Air conditioning wasn't working properly.

Mike was our technician, we were sent a photo of Mike before he arrived. The best technician I've ever experienced.
His equipment was completely organized clean with in minutes he had the problem diagnosed and repaired with in 40 minutes.

Worth every penny that that we paid, do to specialty item to repair our problem.
Being a contractor myself I totally understand the value of the service I received.

I know Bill and family knows Howe!
Mike knew how as well.

Wendy S.

3/18/2017

Couldn't get my fan to shut off on thermostat and called Bill Howe. Was told it would cost $250 to come out, just to show up tonight or same price tomorrow during the day. That doesn't include labor or parts. I knew This was something simple to fix. Am shocked at their prices. The guy who called me wasn't especially friendly either. Don't think he wanted to come out regardless. Won't ever call Bill Howe again for anything.

Dayna S.

10/16/2017

We're in the middle of selling our home, which is stressful, and needed some plumbing looked at. We called Bill Howe and we must say, tech Michael Hoover not only showed up on time but was extremely friendly and professional. He did such an amazing job and his honestly was greatly appreciated!! He conducted his work efficiently and was very helpful. It is nice to know great customer service is still out there along with quality work! Great technician, great company! Highly recommend!

Eric T.

5/14/2017

I like the customer focus and concern for their premises. They do a dirty job cleanly.
I had a tough clog that took seven hours to clear but Rico and Pattric did it and well. Good guys! They don't stop until the problem is fixed no matter what time of day or day of the week.

I've used Bill Howe before on another location and had the same success and satisfaction.

Joyce G.

3/25/2019

Amazing ! I had a new water heater installed today by Tris Coffin . He did the most fantastic job - he is great !!!! I am so very happy !

Thank You Tris !!!

G. D.

4/26/2022

We've had a kitchen plumbing issue for over 2 months now. We called several plumbing companies around town to bid the job, including the last review I left for someone that came to fix the job and improperly diagnosed the issue to begin with, fixing one thing but leaving us with a bigger problem he missed.
Bill Howe came in and diagnosed further and figured out the root cause of what was going on. Every person we dealt with there - Christine and Stephen (in the office) and Rico, our plumber, were all extremely professional and wonderful to deal with. Rico and his assistant fixed the issue and kept a very clean workspace, very conscientious in every way. I highly recommend Bill Howe to anyone and if you're lucky, you will get Rico Rivera as your plumber. A+ all the way around.

Shawna S.

3/19/2023

I have used Bill How several times (new air conditioner, furnace). They came out to repair a leaking laundry room sink. I signed an estimate for $360.00 and then got a bill for $360.00 and paid it. A week later I got a bill for $189.00 for cutting a hole in my ceiling to try to find the leak. They claimed these were two separate jobs. I guess I did not realize that a cutting a hole in my ceiling to try to find where the leak was coming from was not part of the job but an entirely separate job. I was never told about the $189.00 - only the bill of $360.00 was paid. Very deceptive. They lost a good customer.

Henry S.

12/06/2019 12:00:00 SA

Luis Rodriguez did a wonderful job on replacing our kitchen water drain plumbing at a VERy competitive price! Nice job Luis!

Kathryn C.

4/22/2016

Fantastic and professional work done on replacing my hot water heater and removal of my solar tank. Steven was a great help. Thank you Bille Howe Plumbing!

Anne A.

4/26/2019

I got a flooded bathroom and I didn't know what to do. I called them off hours and the technician called me back within a good time. Mauricio Jr was very pleasant and well explained the problem and the solution. He showed up on time and he is very knowledgeable about what he does. He walked me through the process and making me feel at ease. Thank you for your great service.

Ruth B.

9/15/2022

We have used Bill Howe for years but made the mistake of calling a local plumber.
Huge mistake as after 3 visits from him we have the same problem with a backed up drain in our medical office bathroom!
I called Bill Howe today. They came within a few hours, spent an hour inspecting and then snaking the line.
Rico and Nieko were AMAZING!
Real professionals. Polite, courteous, helpful and cleaned up perfectly.
HIGHLY RECOMMEND and thank you very much gentleman

Bree Z.

09/12/2017 12:00:00 SA

We had what you could politely call a basin surprise in our garage after-hours yesterday and Christian came out during the Monday Night Football game to take a look. After working on the blockage last night and again this morning, Christian escalated it to the lining team who are now taking care of the main line issue. Sean and Eric have once again come to the rescue with some fine-tuning of the prior lining work, and as always, we're thrilled with BHP's service!

Billy P.

08/04/2014 12:00:00 SA

They have been redoing all the bathrooms at my apartment. The service been good but they have been switching so many people everyday it seems like they aren't consistent in having same worker on a job. Today I just had to put in the worker was terrible he had ice cream inside the bathroom with him while putting down the tile. Left a mess when he left. No Consideration in cleaning up after himself also leaving his food here is that common practice to leave your trash.

Michael S.

10/12/2018 12:00:00 SA

Called Bill Howe company today for a broken shower faucet. The stem was stripped preventing us from turning off the water so we had to shut it off from the main outside. The dispatcher, Carla was very professional over the phone and efficient in taking my call. Although they did miss their eta window I did appreciate the call from them letting me know. The original technician's vehicle broke down while in route so they prioritized my call for the next available tech. Ron, who was assigned to my job called to say he was on his way from downtown. After only 40 minutes, Ron arrived prepared with shoe booties in hand which is very much appreciated as we do not wear shoes in the house. Ron examined the broken faucet and stem and immediately explained to me the next steps in layman terms and he was off making the repairs. He was very cautious and tidy in his work. When Ron placed a work towel on the shower tub floor so that he could rest one foot and not dirty my shower, I was impressed!!! It might not be a big deal to some, but It's the little things like wearing shoe booties, using work towels to keep things clean and being respectful to the customer's home that really helps in making the decision to try and do it yourself or to call a professional or even another company. I'm pretty handy around the house and it would have taken me way more time, but Ron made it look so easy and not once did I feel he was mistreating our home. Ron was knowledgeable, courteous, professional and skilled at his work. Bill Howe is extremely fortunate to have someone like Ron representing their company and customers will surely appreciate him if they have the chance to meet him during their next plumbing issue. Kudos to Ron!!

Matt J.

01/08/2010 12:00:00 SA

We recently were in need of a plumber so we like most people starting searching on the internet. After contacting several companies on an early Sunday morning we decided to have bill howe plumbing come out to our home. We have seen the commercials and heard their name lots of times so we gave them a try. The plumber that was sent out came quickly, fixed the problem, and was on his way. The only reason why we gave four stars is that I am still having a hard time with the cost. I know, it was a Sunday (as my wife reminds me everytime I bring it up) and they did get the job done but boy was it costly.

Piano Girl S.

6/25/2015

We just completed the second of three phases of major plumbing work with Bill Howe Plumbing. They replaced sewer lines (lovely) and relined about 50' of sewer pipe. It wasn't an easy job and involved digging a trench through our house and breaking through a wall to do the job right. The folks at Howe have been terrific every step of the way: they are prompt, do excellent work, and have personable, knowledgeable employees. A special shout-out to Nate, who oversaw our job: he has great attention to detail, a strong work ethic, and lots of patience for us as we kept increasing the scope of the project and patience also for my kids, who of course wanted to help. He was nice to have around. Additionally, the cost of the job was very fair and significantly less than a quote from another top plumbing company. And by the way, that's cement in Nate's hands (see pic), not.......

Sarah T.

09/07/2016 12:00:00 SA

We contacted four plumbers and Bill Howe was the only one who was willing to come out and take a look at our problem. We had just bought a house and the fridge that came with it would not dispense water or make ice cubes. The fridge was not the problem since we'd already had the fridge checked out so we thought it had something to do with the water line going to the fridge. Turns out the filters were clogged on our water filtration system so no water was getting to the fridge at all. Thanks Bill Howe for discovering this and solving our problem!

Jane W.

12/17/2017

Bill Howe is an excellent plumbing company. I have used them a few times to clear drains and repair faucets and their service could not be better. My friends use them too.

Their billing is competitive and they are generally well organized and responsive. If they make a mistake they admit it and don't charge you. If I call early enough in the morning they have always come to help me the same day. Once the owner talked to me himself though he must be really busy as he has over eighty plumbers working for him, i.e. eighty trucks. I think they are definitely the best plumbing service in San Diego.

I sound like an advertisement don't I? Well I'm not and what I have written is true. Getting good plumbing help when you need it is a really important service, as we all know.

Bill Howe Plumbing, Heating & Air, Restoration & Flood Services