Summary: EXPENSIVE & DEFECTIVE SERVICE - Jeremy came out to detect a leak. We already knew there was a leak in the line from the street to the home (because the leak would continue even if we shutoff water to the home and only way the leak would stop is by shutting off water at the mains). We also knew there was another leak somewhere by shutting off and opening different valves. We called Jeremy because we wanted to know where to dig exactly and repair. After spending about 2 hours, Jeremy pointed out a location of the leak as being under a bush (see picture for report) and charged us $515 for it. We spent $6,500 to have the entire line dug up and guess what .. there wasn't any water line in the location Jeremy pointed out (picture attached). The pipe evidently runs at least 5 feet away. And of course we still had another leak somewhere that Jeremy had not detected. I tried patiently to try and get him out to find that leak - he assured me that if there was another leak, he would come out and detect it free of charge. First he said, he needs the plumbers who repaired the pipe to confirm there was still a leak (which they did), then he said we should get the irrigation shutoff checked (which we did, there was no leak there). Then he was unresponsive for a day, he said he had the flu. A couple of days later he said it was Covid and not the flu, so it'll take longer. Finally, I ran out of patience and asked him for a refund of the fee I paid him. He continued his delay tactics of not being able to chat because he was busy for a few days. He kept insisting he wants to talk about it and come up with more reasons why it wasn't his fault. When I insisted on a firm response on if he will refund for a faulty leak detection which cost me $6500 to repair and another $515 for him and $200 for the landscaper to check the irrigation connections, he said he wouldn't. So potential customers, please be aware of what service you are signing up for. The plumbing repair company said he'd done a bad job, not marked the lines and potentially caused damage by pressurizing the plumbing too much (while trying to detect a leak). They recommended going with American Leak Detection.
I will give Jeremy credit for trying to do a diligent job initially, and for correctly identifying a leak at another property (and when I negotiated with him, he charged me $400 for that since it was easier and quicker to find that leak). That leak detection saved me from tearing up concrete. But I can't imagine if that leak detection was also wrong like the first one, I would have spent another $5000+ only to find out there was no pipe there OR the leak was elsewhere.
Adding a response to Jeremy's reply (10/28):
1) Nowhere in his response does he admit he completely misdiagnosed the leak in the main line. I repeat there was NO PIPE within 5 feet of his identified spot. He has conveniently chosen to overlook that. His response when I showed him a picture of the house to point out the pipe doesn't run where he pointed it out, his response wow, beautiful picture of your house. Nice diversion tactic to avoid accepting that you badly messed up this leak. As you can see from his response he tries to talk about everything except that he completely misdiagnosed this leak.
2) Yes, I did go with a different plumber not because they were cheaper, but because that company was within my home warranty's network, and my portion of the costs were reduced.
3) Yes, I chose to have the pipe replaced because HIS recommended plumber and the one I chose offered a repair cost that was about $2,500 vs. $7K for replacement, but recommended replacing it to avoid further issues. Per Jeremy's suggestion, if I had chosen to repair the pipe, no plumber would have found any pipe where he pointed out the supposed leak. I would have had to replace the pipe anyway or spend more money digging up the concrete where the pipe actually was.
4) And re: submitting the review, I had no choice. I have text evidence of how he kept trying to delay fixing his mistake. And as mentioned in my original review, I was tired of his delays and asked for a refund. He tried to delay that conversation too and when I insisted on a response, he said he wouldn't refund. So I told him that I'm filing a complaint with BBB and Venmo (to dispute the payment) AND submitting reviews on Yelp. There was no threat or implication to do so before he refused to provide a refund. I have text evidence. And if Jeremy has evidence that I threatened a bad review (which is wholly deserved) before he refused a refund, I'd like to see that.
5) And yes, as Jeremy notes, my original outreach said leak in lines FROM meter. I'm not a plumber or contractor who knew that the line from the meter first goes to the house and then to the irrigation system. But by closing different valves, we knew the leak was in the line from the meter. Thanks Jeremy for confirming what we already knew as stated in my review.