Carroll Plumbing & Maintenance

I have used Carroll Plumbing over the past 7 years for a variety of jobs, big and small. They are an excellent resource: efficient, on time, helpful, and reasonable. They have consistently made an effort to fit in last minute requests, stay in touch, and have excellent workmen. This is a neighborhood treasure!

Came for estimate in a few days. Said they would start in two weeks and they did. Had a better plan than previous contractors to do all the work outside. (Very important during covid). Workers very friendly. Came every day until job was completed. Final cost was less than the estimated amount, that never happens! Got us a concrete contractor to fill trench very quickly after pipes installed. Highly recommend Carroll Plumbing and Maintenance.

We recently used Carroll Plumbing and Maintenance to replace our water heater, and I would not recommend them, as they do not have their clients' best interests at heart.  Our final invoice was $750+ more than what was quoted, so naturally, I called for clarification prior to paying the bill.  My husband received a call back via voicemail stating that the invoice was indeed incorrect and they would be charging us more.  The owner then thought he had hung up the phone and went on ranting for another minute or so.  On the recoding, we could hear him mouthing off to his employees that he was going to re-invoice us for more $$, and they can all be heard laughing in the background.  He went on to call my husband a son of a b***h and so on. Shame on them for treating clients with such disrespect. We will gladly take our business elsewhere.

I called for a sink repair and they told me that they don't want to inherit someone else's problem. They won't even book a service call to have a look? I'm not sure what a plumber is supposed to do if they won't deal with someone's previous plumbing. I would have been happy to pay for whatever repair is needed. This place DISCRIMINATES.

Do not use them! They don't stand behind their work. Bad people to deal with. Shame on them.  I had Carroll Plumbing install bathroom faucets. About 6 weeks later, I noticed the cold water faucet was loose. I called them back to fix what was an apparently improper installation and they sent me an $86 bill for the recall. When I complained about the bill, they said it was my problem because the faucet requires smaller holes. I said if that was the case why are you telling me this now, why didn't Jay, the owner of the company, who installed them tell me that at the time... before they were installed and I could still return them. They were obviously aware of the problem before they came and before they sent the bill.

We have used Carroll Plumbing and Maintenance on several occasions and never had any reason to complain but plenty of reasons to compliment them. All their plumbers are courteous, ON TIME, knowledgeable and professional. Alvin has taken care of a number of repairs and installations, always calls beforehand and work is done to the highest standards. I wouldn't use anybody else.

Had them come out to see about installing a new faucet and shower head. They showed up on time, but then were there for about 10 minutes total before recommending a different fix. Our plumber then left and we proceeded to fix the shower ourselves. A few weeks later we received a bill of almost $100 for less than 20 minutes of work. I understand that they're unionized and that they had the hassle of driving out, but to charge 100 to tell us to do it ourselves is not acceptable. We would have been happy to pay a slightly smaller fee for the trouble of driving out, but this is absolutely ridiculous.

TL;DR: Just hire a local handyman. There are plenty that will do it for a better price.

Carroll's work was excellent. I got a verbal should be less than $750 quote over the phone. When I found the pump model, I checked prices on the internet at $220-250 and confirmed that with the installer during the job. The job was completed in 45 minutes.
When the bill arrived, they charged me for 1.75 hours (vs .75) and $440 (vs $250). Their response was that we never had an agreement to bill for hours actually worked or to come close to available pump prices and that the total was under $750, so no negotiation.
 I'd recommend that you get a firm fixed price in writing and buy big parts at reasonable prices. Then hire them to do the install.

...Fair and legal are usually different, eh!?

We had a 75 gallon water heater changed out after it had leaked very badly , flooding our unfinished  basement area.

We callEd Carroll Plumbing and Maintenance on a Friday night and they were able to hook us up with cold water for the night. That after hours plumbing cost $393.75, which was fine.

My complaint is with the installation of the water heater.

Water Heater(Rheem GN 75 Low Nox Heater-R75GN75-125)...........$2250.00

Laborer-------3.5 hr.        65.00/hr. ..........................................................$227.00

Plumber #1--4.75 hr.      105.00/hr.........................................................$498.75

Plumber #2---3.5 hr.        105.00/h............................................................$367.50

Various parts, flex, &solder..........................................................................$187.16

Tax....................................................................................................................$188.88
                                                                                                                           ------
                                                                                                                       $3,719.29

$3,719.29 is a lot to pay for a replacement water heater, but that is not my complaint. Things are expensive these days and the charges aside from those mentioned below are at least plausibl.

My complaint is that a laborer,  whose main task was to help the two plumbers take the new water heater from the truck to the site and take the old water heater back to the truck was billed for 3.5 hours. This distance from our driveway to the water heater site is about 70-80 ft. and has a door with ample width where the water heater must be lifted over the lower edge.

When I called Carroll Plumbing and Maintenance they stated that it was perfectedly reasonable that it would take him 3.5 hours to help move the water heater and that the laborer had, indeed, spent 3.5 hours helping move the water heater. I do not find this credible.

It also seems excessive to spent 8.25 hours of plumbers time to change out a single water heater.

Problem~Drain in shower clogged.  
Called Carroll Plumbing, guy showed up, when he said he would and called to let me know he was on his way. Unclogged drain, and then cleaned up mess and left.  
Problem Solved
Excellent experience.  
Taking Care of Business in a Flash!

Carroll Plumbing are the ultimate professionals, clean, friendly and prompt.  My only recommendation would be to get a written estimate in advance, detailing exactly what is to be done and a do not exceed price quote.   The work was done well in the end, but took 3 trips to finish as promised and exceeded our phone quotation by 30% (which was already implied to be on the high end).  Some of the overage was due to an unforeseen leak in a bad copper plumbing union (though it lasted 50 years up until then) and they removed an hour of the other overages after we objected, though not all as we felt was warranted.  In hindsight, I should have just done most of the work myself.

Good guys, came out promptly after being called and fixed my pipes without any issue. Felt totally comfortable leaving them alone at my house and had me back up in running in under two hours. However the bill was more than the estimate I had been given on the phone, but I guess there is a price for quality, just be ready to pay 110$ an hour per plumber plus parts.

Mario came out same day and did a perfect job with the toilet and installed a new turnoff. He wore a mask, felt very safe. Highly recommend, great service and very professional.

Be careful when you call these people. They come for a free estimate and then recommend other things and send you a bill. We wanted a pressure regulato valve installed, and the guy came and then recommended that we change our water heater. We said we have a home warranty for that, and to not worry about that. He said he will talk to his boss about getting the home warranty company to change it for us by sending in a proposal and that he will give us a quote for what he came in for, which was the pressure valve. A week after not hearing from them, when my husband called to ask the price, the woman told us that we owe them $100 for the service charge. We told them that we are not paying a penny as we never called them for service! We did not call them for our water heater. We called to get a price for a pressure regulator installed. I told her we could have had the valve installed for $100, so why would we agree to a service fee for a price quote? She said she could have given the price over the phone. The woman also kept interrupting every few seconds so it was a nightmare. They are not getting $100 for a price quote lol

As I sit here and read some of these reviews I am quite shocked I have used Carroll Plumbing on Three  separate occasion and they have been extremely professional and honest this last time they saved me money by not having them have to come out twice to diagnose and order the part.I would highly recommend them.

Carroll Plumbing is clean, professional, sober, competent, honest. If you want a quality job at a fair price, look no further. They just replaced my old water and gas mains, and they did a great job.

We spent many hundreds of dollars to have shower & tub fixtures installed. Five months later the tub spout came off . When we called to politely ask to have the situation rectified so that we could use our shower, we were told there would be an additional charge. Simple mistake made . But instead of even coming to look, we were rejected unless we agreed to further charges. Who would want to use a company with a policy like that ? Extremely disappointed in their performance and lack of integrity. Wouldn't advise taking a chance with them ! Good Luck !

Water heater gave its last drop before leaking in the garage. With guests arriving the next day we needed immediate assistance. Carroll Plumbing was truly 5-star with their response, timeliness and expedient work. Parker was exceptional. Very personable, quick, no wasted effort, end result was great. Absolutely a first choice for plumbing needs.

I called Carroll plumbing to fix a hot water problem. Their plumber showed up and fiddled around not doing much of anything for 2 hours or so. Finally he replaced a plastic cartridge kit and they charged me $275. It worked but I noticed cold was hot and hot was cold. Whatever. I just wanted my hot water to work. 3 months later the hot water goes out. I called them and they said We can't send anyone for 5 days... How's that for backing up your own work? So I called another plumber, he came out, within a minute said the cartridge needs replacing. Parts and Labor $130. I told him to go ahead  and fix it and as soon as he took the faucet off he stopped, and told me, Caroll had installed the cartridge upside down. That's why cold was hot and hot was cold and also why the cartridge failed after 3 months.  So to review, CAROLL PLUMBING,
1) works the clock once they show up
2) doesn't back up their work (unless you're willing to go 5 days without hot water)
3) does NOT know how to fix problems correctly as evidence by improper installation.
4) charges too much. $275 versus $130.

So think twice about calling these guys.

Recently a tree fell in our backyard that required removal that included the stump and roots.  Some water pipes were damaged when the tree fell and needed repairs.  We called Carroll Plumbing and soon Pat Carroll and Margarito (an employee) arrived to assess and plan the repair.  Margarito worked diligently for hours removing the wet, clay soil in order to repair the water pipes.  We are extremely impressed with the rapid response, the exhausting physical labor, the successful repair, and the cautious handling of the work area.  We've called on Carroll Plumbing for numerous projects and always extremely pleased with their work and demeanor.

Not the greatest. They sent a guy out with the wrong equipment so he left to go pick it up, which was all on the clock. ($90 an hour I think) They charge from point to point, too. Even if they don't bring the correct equipment or need extra, you get charged for them to leave the job to get the gear. Is that normal? Seems a little weird to me. I'm paying for a plumber, not a delivery service. Also, they should be skilled enough to tell if they think they can handle the job and bring the correct equipment. Anyway, in my case they tried for 2 hours and said they couldn't fix the issue. Really nice people on the phone and very nice/cool plumber, but I think I'll try another company in the future.

I am writing this review about the honesty in billing of Carroll Plumbing & Maintenance, Inc.

I have used Carroll Plumbing & Maintenance, Inc. for the last six or seven years with good results.  I have referred them to numerous other people.  I have been really happy with their work, until now.

For the last few years, I have had a maintenance agreement with Carroll Plumbing & Maintenance, Inc.  Once a year, in late November, they would come out to my house and perform a sewer maintenance on the sewer line from my home to the sewer lines in the street.  

This year I scheduled the maintenance on December 1st, between the hours of 10am to 12pm.  Their plumber (Joel, per Carroll Plumbing & Maintenance, Inc.'s bill) arrived at approximately 9:30am.  The plumber walked around the house and my wife noticed him, so she went outside. He said he couldn't find the line and that the office must have given him incorrect information because they said it was by the kitchen.  My wife directed him to the correct spot on the opposite side of the house.

The plumber used a machine to root out the line.  When the plumber was finished, including putting his machine away (approximately 15 minutes after he arrived), he sat in his truck (in front of our house for approximately 20 minutes).  

On December 21, 2015, I received a bill from Carroll Plumbing & Maintenance, Inc.  The bill came to a total of $193.54.  I have no problem paying their hourly rate of $89.00, or the use of their  E100 machine ($15.00).  What I have is a problem with, is Carroll Plumbing & Maintenance, Inc. over charging me for two hours labor at $89.00 an hour.  I called Carroll Plumbing & Maintenance, Inc. on December 21, 2015, to talk about the bill.  I spoke to a woman in their office; she said someone would call me back the following day..  

On December 23, 2015, Tony called and said he spoke to the plumber.  The plumber reported he was out here for two hours from 9am to 11am.  I told Tony, he arrived around 9:30am and was only here for 15 minutes.  I also told Tony, the plumber sat in his truck for at least 20 minutes. He sat there so long, in fact, that my wife thought something was wrong and he was waiting for additional help/equipment; when all along, he was already done with the job.

Tony said the two hours is a fair time charge and that it includes travel time.  Google maps shows the travel distance and time from Carroll Plumbing & Maintenance, Inc.'s office to my house as 2.2 miles and ten minutes.

Tony would not adjust the time charged.  I informed him that he has lost me as a regular customer and I would no longer refer Carroll Plumbing & Maintenance, Inc to anyone in the future.

Thank you so much for  sending out Mark and Adrian  to our House  and  Tony in the office as well for coordinating the appointments,they were truly outstanding on their customer service,

1) they were on time
2)they were very cordial
3)they listened to my concerns
4)they started  the job and were very knowledgeable
5) they finished the job and and made sure that everything was to my satisfaction
6) they cleaned up the area that they worked with!!!!!!!!!!!


In short
I had a pretty bad slab leak
the leak detection service that was there previously had marked  the floor but they were a little off   Mark and Adrian figured it out without alot extensive repairs and took care of the problem!!!!!!!!
I have been in customer service for 38 years and these three guys  were outstanding

thanks again so much I will stick with Carroll Plumbing for all my needs in the future

Great!  Have used them exclusively for several years and have found them to be timely, responsible and dedicated to taking care of our needs, not just their own.  Good work, fair prices, honorable helpful people.

I give 5 stars based solely on the gentleman that showed up to fix my mainline back up. His name was Mario, he called me 15 minutes prior to our scheduled time to let me know he was coming, was on time, masked, sensitive to our Covid protocols, 100% professional, knowledgeable and personable. He was polite, clean and cleaned up after himself, fixed the problem and took time to explain it all to me. I hope that if I ever have another plumbing issue they send Mario. We have had other plumbers out here from the company over the last 4 years for various issues and in my opinion, Mario is the best. He was also very efficient. Well done and thank you.

I like Carroll Plumbing and Maintenance. Typically use them for routine rooting maintenance. Easy to schedule appointments, prompt and courteous - and they always solve the problem. Much better than any other plumbing outfit we have used. One or two times they have either tracked in some dirt or left a little muck in the bathroom. Not a big deal, but for 5 stars, I'd like things to be left pristine. Recommended.

We have been trying to get Carroll Plumbing to fix the pilot light on our hot water heater for about 4-5 days now? We are also considering purchasing a tankless water heater. However~ as I mentioned... we have been waiting for them to come... 4-5 days...We have no hot water! Heating water in the stove and taking a shower this way has gotten old. The woman at the office says yes, we'll send someone over ... or she does not answer my husband's calls. Yes, there is a lot of work to be done in Montecito right now, but helllooooo?! If you say you will, you should. We need a dependable plumber too and we are not getting it from these people. Who knows a GOOD plumber who wants our work?!
Anne in San Roque

We came home on a Friday at 5 pm to find an inch of water in our bathroom, hallway, and bedroom.  Our main line had become blocked and the water softener discharge had filled up a bathtub and then also backed up through a toilet and onto the floor. What a mess!   After calling a half dozen plumbers in town who either didn't answer or said they didn't do after hours work (by now it was about 5:30)  I finally reached Carroll's dispatcher who had their on-call person call me back within about 15 minutes.  We scheduled him to come ASAP to clear our main line and assess the situation.  

He arrived on time (considering it was Friday at rush hour and he was coming from Carpinteria) and had the problem resolved quickly and efficiently.  He wasn't overly friendly at first, but warmed up  a bit as we got the line cleared (I pulled the toilet off the floor while waiting for him to arrive in order to save time while he was on-site).

At $155 an hour for after hours service calls, its not cheap, but when you have your entire house backed up and water pouring onto your hardwood floors, it seems pretty reasonable. :-)

4 stars for good communication of both the dispatcher and driver, arriving when promised, and taking care of the problem efficiently and expertly.

I thought I had a gas leak-- turned out I had many. In-ground and impossible to pinpoint and when we started digging the corrosion was terrific-- apparently galvanized pipe, even wrapped doesn't last much more than thirty years in ground. Carroll Plumbing gave me an estimate, but when they started work we found a mysterious 'T' in the ground and had a really tangled puzzle to discover what went where. Had to call in more of their people, had one guy crawl the tiny attic-- a house-owner's nightmare. I thought it would be double the estimate, but no, they stayed within shouting of the original amount. Hard workers, deeply invested in doing a good thorough job, courteous and cheerful even in the heat, and it took a shorter time than my neighbor's similar replacement took and I didn't pay as much though I had a messier more complicated job. I owe them a round of beers.

I have used Carroll Plumbing & Maintenance for years and really love the service & quality work I get. I am a contractor doing high end residential work & I know I can always count on them for great work at a fair price.
They are reliable and completely honest. Their knowledge of plumbing is generations deep. I feel good about recommending them to my  friends & clients.

Excellent.  We had a water break on the main line coming into the house on a SUNDAY morning.  We called and they were here within 20 minutes.  After digging down for what must have been three feet of mud, the problem was found and quickly solved.  Professional, courteous, and efficient.  As good as it gets.  I highly recommend them.

Couldn't be happier. I discovered my old water heater had rusted out on the bottom and was leaking water. They had a replacement to my house within 2 hours of me calling them. It was installed professionally and quickly. The plumber took the time to talk me through what he had done and showed me how it works. They gave me an estimate over the phone but when the bill came a few weeks later it was actually a little less than they had said. I will definitely use them again.

My experience was, overall, not so good.  In hindsight, there were probably two separate problems going on that created a fair amount of confusion.  In all fairness, some of the plumbing work that was eventually done seems fine and when I raised my concerns the owner came to my property, we talked about it, and he discounted the bill.  But what I really expected was an apology and for him to offer to wash the mud splashes on the side of my house, to reconnect the irrigation system that one plumber disconnected and another left disassembled, and to at least empathize with the damage done to a small portion of my landscaping, which now looks like an old dirt construction site.  Had the owner simply said I'm sorry and offered to clean things up I would have been more than happy to pay my bill in full.  Instead he was defensive, a poor listener and just couldn't bring himself to look me in the eye and say what he should have said without any prompting by me, which was: Yeah, this looks like crap, it would be unacceptable if it was my house, and I'll take care of it and let my guys know I expect them to do better.  Of course I'm just one data point; maybe my Carroll Plumbing experience was an aberration.  I'll never know for sure because I couldn't possibly justify using them again.

They  are very professional, on time, and friendly. However, the price is very expensive. The guy came to open the hot and cold faucets in our two showers then he went to bring them with him to buy parts to replace them. The whole process took about 20 min to take off and 30 min to put the new parts. When the bill arrived, it was $560. I got quote from a handyman for $120 and from another company between $200-300. I should have checked the price first. They charged $80 an hour for labor and over $250 for parts. I would not recommend this company unless you have lot of money to throw away.

Pretty disappointing because they billed me almost double for a 45 minute visit to look at a water heater and when I questioned the bill, the manager did not care one bit.
I emailed and called 3 times before I got a call back from a manager.
They said they billed for travel time (their HQ is 3/4 mile from my house and the plumber told me he was at the shop before he came over)
They billed for travel time going back to the shop to get a ladder after I told the plumber the heater was in the attic.  
They billed for travel time to the parts store when it was closed (I'm no expert but I can easily figure out when a store is open or closed).