BEWARE. CHOOSE SOMEONE ELSE! Update to prematurely posted reviews (3 different, amiable service reps, each rated highly as a courtesy; posted BEFORE knowing each had failed the straightforward task of unclogging a sewer pipe). This review has been held back to ensure posted as unemotionally as possible. The 1st tech came out, cleared the clogged drain (sent drain-snake through the P-Trap under the vanity sink, after trying unsuccessfully to snake the tub drain, mentioning something about pipe circumference being too small for the tool he had with him). He did NOT attempt snaking the toilet pipe (source of the clog)- stating he preferred to avoid removing the toilet, whenever possible. Before leaving, he advised our bathtub was draining very slowly, suggested we check the drain for hair clogs and remove, if found. ??! In hindsight, we should have pointed out to tech #1 that the clog was likely at or BEFORE pipes under the toilet, versus in pipes AFTER the toilet (ie: under sink)-- though his comment re: our slow-draining tub and lack of evidence for the source of clog (no answer, when asked) should have been his clue that the job was incomplete, as he is the plumbing professional. A couple of days later BOTH bathroom toilets backed up / overflowed, both showers/tubs slow draining (initially only one toilet was clogged; other bathroom was usable). A 2nd tech came out and re-ran the snake- this time through the cleanout BEFORE bathroom drains. Once completed, he showed us the source of the clog-- a ball of tangled, matted hair (about the size of a small mouse). He mentioned having a heck of a time winding in the snake and stated that it seemed to be caught on something. He was correct... the tool WAS caught on something: our main sewer pipe's backflow valve flapper- which was snapped off and dragged back through the pipe before wedging / stuck in place. Unbeknownst to us at the time, this was the cause of a NEW, far more serious pipe clog. Within a day or so, all toilets, showers and tubs backed up-- AGAIN. A 3rd tech came out, repeated the drain-snake process, removed the toilet in 1st bathroom /replaced the wax ring and stated everything was repaired. Not trusting this to be true, I asked him why I could see standing water just a few inches below the grate of the 2nd bathroom shower's drain. He stated this was normal / ok. (FYI- standing pipe-wayer is not normal, not ok...). After a 4th backup of both toilets just a few days after tech #3 declared the problem was resolved (in error), we reluctantly requested a 4th tech to resolve the issue. We received a callback from Burtech's owner, Bill, who mentioned something about our cost to his company, adding he would be bringing a camera to see why clogged (maybe should have done after 1st fail?). I refrained from pointing out the inconvenience his team had caused our family (now almost 2 weeks without working plumbing) least of which- hassle of cleaning up repeated toilet overflows. Owner Bill showed up with his camera (again-- 4th service call) seeming irritable / exasperated / put-out to be here. He sent his camera down the drain; soon after, showed crystal clear images of our broken flapper part- tightly wedged in the main sewer pipe, stating he'd never seen anything like it before. (I couldn't make this stuff up... !)
Going back to the comment made by tech #2... (...had a heck of time reeling in the drain-snake; seemed stuck), Bill's insistence that he's never seen this before rings hollow, imo. I've since asked MANY local plumbers to share their opinions re: Bill's comment about broken the flapper. Responses have been unanimous: smells like bullsh@t. Owner Bill then quoted us a whopping $2700.00 to repair (their error) which would entail cutting / removing slabs of co create from our walkway in order for them to locate and remove the stuck flapper part, replace with new parts and installation of cleanout pipes for future use, as needed. When asked why he didnt use the existing cleanouts, he stated we didn't have any (incorrect).
Owner Bill took no accountability for his technicians' errors. Tried negotiating... Bill offered to knock off a few hundred dollars from his quoted $2700.00 estimate-- provided I dig workspace (4 feet+ down to the the backflow valve) AND purchase the replacement parts. ?! When digging, I located 2 cleanouts (owner Bill stated these did not exist). After 3 weeks w/out plumbing; no return calls from Bill @ Burtech (expected he might at very least check in, to ensure issues caused by his team were resolved- considering the multiple calls made to him in which I was CLEARLY upset...). In end, went w/ someone else, who corrected the plumbing error(s) in an afternoon-- charged a small fraction of the amount proposed in Bill's (greedy) estimate. Hoping this review may prevent others from having a similar experience.