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He-Man Plumbing

He-Man Plumbing

Plumbing Service
Palo Alto, CA 94303
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Reviews

Neelam S.
Neelam S.
12/16/2022
Very Honest. Called him about sewage overflow in front yard.  Was told by another company it would cost $10,000 to repair and clean out pipe and camera etc.
Called Mike and he told me OVER THE PHONE based on the location of the pipe that city of Palo Alto should clean out for free...and they did it for free!!  Mike could easily have charged me half price and I would have considered it a bargain at $5k.  
I hope I never have any further plumbing issues but if I do I'm definitely calling Mike!!
Rajesh M.
Rajesh M.
4/20/2023
Sewer line was blocked and caused my downstairs toilet to overflow. Yuck!  Called Mike and he showed up within a short time and went to work. He didn't just clear the blockage but figured out how the line went in a very methodical way and found the cleanout right in front which was buried under soil and I didn't know about. Snaked the line and cleared and told me what to do so if there's a blockage next time, the problem shows up outside and not in the house. And all this for a very reasonable price. You can count on his analytical approach, honesty and integrity.

If you need your lines snaked don't even think of calling anyone else. Just call He-Man Plumbing.
MA C.
MA C.
02/10/2023 12:00:00 SA
Okay, I'd been hearing great things about this business from multiple sources for years, but as of yesterday, we got to see him in action--TWICE!

First we needed some problem solving, then an associate with even bigger problems needed the He Man to come to the rescue....and boy did he.

It both cases he was highly professional, competent, knowledgeable, friendly and went above and beyond.

Integrity and deep experience in his profession showed up to solve quite different problems in two cases on one day.

Now I know why he chose that name....super hero to the rescue!
Karne N.
Karne N.
7/26/2022
Another great job by Mike. Roots grew back (after 3 years) into the pipe below the toilet and Mike saved the day. Thank you!!
Nico R.
Nico R.
01/01/2023 12:00:00 SA
Great service. We had an issue with the bathroom sink. I called Michael and left a message. He responded quickly and was able to help. Professional and reliable, I would recommend his services. Thank you
Sandy c.
Sandy c.
2/16/2023
The most responsive ( responded to my voice message within 2 hours ) and professional plumber I would recommend to my friend! Michael fix our kitchen sink and bath tub pipe clog within 90 minutes ! He even went down to our crow space to exam the pipe to make sure all the pipes are in good shape ! The previous plumber spent double time ( and double cost ) vs Michael ....highly recommended !
Darshana Maya G.
Darshana Maya G.
2/15/2022
Just as he said when I called end of the day yesterday, he was able to come out first thing this morning and smoothly fix our blocked up kitchen sink!

It was down the line - had not had a problem as long as I can remember, but must have been slowly building sludge in the waste line.  So he brought the snake in and did a most thorough job, till the sink was running better than in years!

Also more than a hundred dollars less than the plumber I had called first, who didn't even see the job, but just has a standard price for kitchen sinks.
As I have no garbage disposal nor dishwasher hook-up, my sink is a bit easier.  Except for the shelf in the way of the elbow trap!  He had to use his shop vac to remove the standing water first, to save my wood cabinet from getting wet, which he did carefully.

Great work!  Thanks!
Barry H.
Barry H.
11/06/2022 12:00:00 SA
Mike came out on a Sunday to deal with my blocked drain.
He charges more on Sunday, but I have no regrets.
Ann R.
Ann R.
5/15/2022
Rude and unprofessional. Chided and berated me on the phone and slammed the phone in my face because he didn't want to take the job. Avoid unless you enjoy being yelled at by somebody providing you a service for fee. Read below for additional reviews stating the same concerns. There is no excuse for treating prospective customers like this. There are plumbers who provide a high quality, timely and efficient service, including same day, while maintaining a professional demeanor. There is no reason to settle for this.
Chris X.
Chris X.
08/10/2022 12:00:00 SA
Mike is an engineer, our house has been having plumbing issues for almost a year and i have had multiple other people come over and couldn't figure it out. Mike got down to the crawl space, located the spot and got out the root cause, this little cutie. He worked on this the whole morning, yet only charged very fair price. Highly recommend!
David N.
David N.
1/17/2022
Michael called back within ten minutes and was at my house in another ten.  He replaced a stuck clean out and snaked the drain in about 20.  Super fast, efficient, and knowledgeable.  Never call Roto-Rooter again.
Minty S.
Minty S.
03/03/2022 12:00:00 SA
A Jedi master of all issues drain related!!!! Thank you Mike for a great job of fixing my master shower's drain issue today.

Mike is both efficient and competent!!! You will be in capable handle....
John S.
John S.
11/08/2021 12:00:00 SA
Mike came highly recommended by a neighbor who is a plumber himself!

He is an artist with a snake, as funny as that might sound, super through and professional. And his rates are very reasonable.

If you need to have your sewage line snaked out, you can't do better than him.
Hugh W.
Hugh W.
12/30/2021
Contacted Mike before business hours, left a message and explained my 93 year mom's situation. Mike called me back within minutes. Got to my mom's house within 40 minutes of that and resolved her problem a short time later. What can I say to express my appreciation for how this person really cares about other people. Awesome job Mike!

Thank you.
M C.
M C.
7/19/2021
My laundry machine had been backing up dirty water into the kitchen sink on the drain cycle for a while, and it got worse and worse until the sink practically overflowed. Mike was very quick to call back after I left a voicemail, and was able to come by within 20 minutes. He's local, shows skill and experience, and knows Eichlers. I'm a POC and a woman alone at home at the time, and Mike was courteous and answered all my questions, so I don't know what other Yelpers are saying about a bad attitude towards us. He was able to fix the issue, and even let me know of possible problems to be aware of and tips on up preventing pipe damage in the future. Overall I'm very happy with the results and the expertise Mike had shown.
K C.
K C.
12/06/2021 12:00:00 SA
I strongly suspected the pipes in the house backing up and rather than wait for the usual flooding to begin during the holidays, thought I'd call Mike for some preventive cleaning. He showed up promptly, did a thorough check of the pipes and while doing so changed out my water filters and shower heads which had become clogged. The check did not show up anything and in fact  the pipes were quite clean. That was it. Oh and he did not charge me for anything despite his staying for a good 45' on the premise. Not a penny. Just waved it off as a good neighbourly act. Show me another plumber who does that.
Nathalie A.
Nathalie A.
1/21/2022
Mike is very knowledgeable, very efficient - a real professional. We had a blockage in our sewer line. Mike responded within 15 minutes, came soon and resolved the problem. I highly recommend him!
Larry C.
Larry C.
05/06/2017 12:00:00 SA
I've had really good luck finding service people on Yelp, and this is another great recommendation from the community.  I just called Mike this morning, he was available to come out within like 45 minutes, and now less than 90 minutes later -total- problem solved (problem being the kitchen drain stopped working and my DIY efforts to snake it out had no effect).

Mike specializes in these drain cleanout type service jobs instead of big plumbing jobs.  He's a little bit older (ie more experienced) and I think he's found his sweet spot of what he wants to do and what he doesnt.

He was professional and courteous and efficient, offered his opinion on where the plug may have been (40 feet down the pipe, way beyond the reach of a pitiful OSH snake), and the condition of our pipes.  It's cool hearing a skilled craftsman make a diagnosis from what he feels through the operation of the drain snake (and years of experience)  He was so efficient he even had time to address a second smaller problem with our shower drain grate.

On the one hand, I never love having to call a plumber, on the other hand the next time something's not working right, I know who I will call.
B W.
B W.
9/13/2020
Beware if you are a women alone or POC - Mike came to fix a faucet leak and I said something simple to him (a question).  He got very angry very quickly -yelling and personally attacking me verbally -I had to ask him to leave my home, he was so out of control. My experience was consistent with a number of others posted on NextDoor. These comments from other women (alone- if your husband/ a man is there apparently you don't see this side of him) have since been erased from NextDoor; but I see a few here on Yelp. Honestly even if you aren't in one of those groups, why support a person who regularly treats people like this - even if he is skilled. It has been a number of years since this incident but I was afraid to post it before.
L W.
L W.
12/31/2019
Several years ago, we discovered our bathtub almost overflowing with water!  We called He-Man Plumbing and Mike cleared out our sewer line and saved our house from flooding!  He recommended we put in an overflow pop up valve.  Recently, that over-flow pop up had evidence of debris coming up.  That was our signal to call him again to clear the sewer line.  Again, he came very quickly.  Thank heavens for that over-flow pop up and He-Man Plumbing!
L. Wong
Shinn Z.
Shinn Z.
12/04/2017 12:00:00 SA
Called Mike for a backed-up upstairs kitchen sink that I'd looked at myself. He came and started snaking the drain, while having me go to the garage to listen for it and see if anything was leaking. Unfortunately something was leaking after he snaked the entire line. He said the job was too big for him, but gave me a recommendation on who to call. I appreciate the honesty of not over-extending himself and not inserting himself in between as some contractor who's just taking a cut.

While I think I could've found someone cheaper for the work, I doubt they'd give me the same peace of mind on it, and on the recommendation.
Jeff S.
Jeff S.
12/18/2020
Michael is super efficient, and really knows what he's doing. I left a message in the middle of the night. He called me first thing in the morning, and by 9am my problem was solved. And it wasn't a trivial problem; I can do basic drain unplugging, but this was more complex. I was afraid that it was going to involve crawling under the house or knocking out walls, but he figured it out without all that! Looked like magic to me. I don't know about price; seemed worth it, but I don't know what magic normally costs.
Steven B.
Steven B.
12/05/2020 12:00:00 SA
He-Man Plumbing rocks!  Mike has provided service to us several times over the past year (including today), always responsive (even on weekend and on short notice), efficient, courteous and successful in resolving our sewer and plumbing problems!     Highly recommended.
Laam W.
Laam W.
10/15/2020
Very quick and helpful response, he was not able to help me with my problem , but referred me to another great plumber , Jason William who helped and solved my problem .
Karim S.
Karim S.
06/12/2020 12:00:00 SA
No concept of service or professionalism. Shows up to do the job and gets paid $160 for less than an hour worth of work with a lot of complaining about the job. When called back about the same job, not only says no, but continues to throw in there some social commentary and personal attacks. So if your job is to his liking and you can deal with the unprofessional commentary go for it.
Eliot T.
Eliot T.
12/21/2020
Mike Riley did a great job for us in an annual maintenance cleaning of our sewer line from our house to the street.  He showed up very promptly and performed the work quickly and efficiently.  Best of all, his price was about half of what we had been quoted by two other plumbers for the same job.  I can highly recommend Mike and will definitely call him again next year.
Nick S.
Nick S.
8/26/2019
Mike is a class act. Punctual and fair and not greedy. I've used him for work and home many times. He also has great advice and good contacts if he can't do a job because of timing. I'm glad he is in my area.
Brian E.
Brian E.
06/10/2020 12:00:00 SA
Fast, honest, dependable. We have used Mike a few times. Most recently today - when he came and replaced our old garbage disposal with a new one he had on hand.
Kirsten F.
Kirsten F.
1/13/2018
Called about a blocked drain on a weekend, trying to schedule, and he was very rude, kind of yelled at me for calling.  I have used him before and he was helpful, but my husband called. Would not take the chance of calling again.  Don't like being yelled at. My bad for calling on a weekend, thought I would leave a message for Monday.  Must have caught him at a bad moment, but he was really mean.  Maybe thought I was a dumb broad?
Cesar A.
Cesar A.
05/06/2016 12:00:00 SA
Got his recommendation via our local Next Door folks.  We had some slow toilets and he came out quickly to check out and assess.

He explained what was wrong and how he was going to address it.  Very detailed oriented and up front.  HIGHLY recommend.
Yelp R.
Yelp R.
07/05/2020 12:00:00 SA
Mike Riley was amazingly helpful. Courteous. Intelligent. Addressed all my issues, explained the problems and how to address them. Definitely use HeMan Plumbing 650 222 7953.
Sheila J.
Sheila J.
3/14/2019
Called Mike again with our current plumbing problem--backed up showers and toilets.  It took some sleuthing, crawling under the house, climbing on the roof, and the use of two separate snaking machines, but he finally found the blockage and flushed it out.  Success!  I've followed his advice in the past to avoid ongoing problems (use only Scott 1000 toilet paper, use my kitchen disposal sparingly) but there's not much I can do to stop back ups in the shower--my daughter has long, thick hair!  My only recourse is to have a two-way clean out installed for easy access to the next inevitable clog.  Mike recommended someone for the job.  Thanks, Mike!
Sanne M.
Sanne M.
12/18/2015
We have a relatively old house. With old pipes. Some plumbers can hardly handle it and whine about it extensively while on the job, but not Mike!

He was very friendly and explained how he determines the problem and how he is gonna deal with it. What I especially liked is how thoroughly he checked everything. After fixing our initial problem, he also inspected if this fix could have clogged something else on the way. Wonderful!

Some plumbers play you tit for tat on the price for a good Yelp review. Mike did not, so I believe all his reviews are completely genuine.
Linda M.
Linda M.
12/27/2019
Nothing but good things to say about Mike. He is responsive and he is quick.  He fixed two of our toilets and luckily my husband is handy so he had all the part ready for him when he arrived so he was able to fix everything in an hour.  He is very clean.
Greg H.
Greg H.
5/21/2017
Guy is an asshole.  Called on a Sunday afternoon expecting to get a voicemail to leave a message to set up a visit the following week for a non-urgent plumbing need.  

Guy answered the phone and scolded me for calling him on a Sunday and told me that if i wanted service i would have to call him back during the week.  

If he didn't want to be bothered he shouldn't have answered his work number.  There are plenty of plumbers out there that want business and don't act like jerks.
Jayne L.
Jayne L.
04/07/2017 12:00:00 SA
He's a good plumber.   But he's a little brusque.   And as a woman, I felt he was not listening to me as well as he could -- he seemed to think I was embellishing my description.   He was much nicer to my husband than me (even though I am the engineer in the family and actually knew what was wrong).  

But if you have a drain problem, he's your guy.
Flor D.
Flor D.
03/06/2020 12:00:00 SA
I called Mike for the first time this afternoon for a clogged drain in the kitchen/ laundry room. He called me back 30 minutes later and was at my house within 15' after that. He was friendly, very professional and knowledgeable. And most of all, honest - his price was very reasonable. We will definitely call him again!
Xiao B.
Xiao B.
05/06/2015 12:00:00 SA
Our garbage disposal unit needed to be replaced.  We called He-Man in advanced and took his advice to purchase the replacement on our own and then have him come over to install it.  We called him 4pm one afternoon and asked for an appointment for first thing (8am) the next day.  He arrived promptly and got the job done in about 30-minutes - which is what we expected.  

While it's great to hear he can come out timely to address our small project, he says he doesn't normally make advance appointments.  His specialty is addressing those emergencies that need immediate attention. Maybe those emergencies generates more money for him.  But it seems like a simple project like ours should also be seen as easy money, especially for a professional.

Would we call him again in the future?  Possibly, since we are familiar with him and is work.
Peter T.
Peter T.
9/27/2008
He-Man Plumbing is a one-man shop operated by Mike Riley.  He previously had worked for Roto-Rooter but now has struck out on his own.

He did an excellent job cleaning out our sewer lines that get clogged on a yearly-basis by tree roots. And he did it at about half the price that Roto-Router would have charged.

He serves the Mid-Peninsula region including Mountain View, Palo Alto, Los Altos, Stanford, Menlo Park, and Redwood City.

We were very satisfied by the work he did and the price he charged for his services.

His California Plumbing Contractor License No. is 915454.
David O.
David O.
11/13/2017
I've used He-Man Plumbing a few times over the past couple years. This guy is amazing. He's no nonsense without being rude. A straight shooter. He shows up quick and gets the job done at a reasonable price. He stands behind his work. This guy may not be right for you if you need lots of pleasantries or a high level of politeness. He's a worker, and is focused on the problem. Having said that we've had lots of laughs and good conversations as he goes about his work.
Emily J.
Emily J.
9/17/2018
Got here with in 20 minutes, went straight to work, solved the problem. Fourth time I've used him in 13 years at this house, always a great experience!
May Y.
May Y.
8/22/2013
Our main line to the city clear out was clogged :( City came out and confirmed it is an issue within the house. :(

Hubby tried different OTC snakes from Home Depot but no luck last night.   (Until the issue is fixed, i have a water nazi at home preventing me to use water and flush :(

Mike is the man!   We called this morning and he came within 30 mins.  ( around 7:30am) and used his magic to fix the problem.  

Now I can flush again!!!  :)
Justin A.
Justin A.
2/26/2015
I did not use this so called Mike, but he was contracted out to may apartment building. Well I have vaulted ceiling and apparently some of the pluming was being done from the roof. Well after a 10 hour at work, within 30 minutes of being home I have what sounds like a car driving on my roof.

Now don't get me wrong, I can live with the noise. But the way this gentleman came off towards me when I asked from my balcony was well below professional. After simply asking How long do you think this will be?. This led into 2-3 minutes of if I am not breaking anything, I am not a problem. If you have a problem I will leave.

The snarky attitude was really needed. Rest assured my family and friends who need work, this service will not be recommended.
M. L.
M. L.
2/18/2018
Mike is efficient, returned my call within 30min on a working day, showed up 30min. Later and fixed the drain backup issue less than one hour. Charge is very reasonable, far better than those people charge you as soon as they show up,  no matter whether they can fix the problem or not.

For those complainers about Mike does not respond, he does not work on weekends or need to drive on highway for long time. He is good enough to have enough local customers.
Geoff D.
Geoff D.
9/18/2014
Leaking pipes under the sink due to some corrosion, so it was time to call a pro.

Called Mike at He-Man, who explained that he wasn't free that day... and that in fact he doesn't schedule jobs at all, but only takes immediate appointments when he happens to be available. This is pretty weird. But since my pipes just had a slow leak and since his reviews are so impressive, I put a bucket under the sink, waited and just called him several more times over the succeeding days.

Eventually I got ahold of him at a convenient time, and he came on by. Once at my house, it was a great experience. He had to replace a few of the corroded pipes, and just encouraged me to buy PVC since it'd be cheaper than the alternatives. He had all equipment on the truck, so was able to deal with my issue without any side trips.

So while I still find the no-appointments thing weird, I will definitely try him again next time.
Lynn W.
Lynn W.
4/20/2018
Sometimes weird little mishaps can happen in the tank of a household toilet.  In our case, the little plastic arm that holds the chain connected to the flapper broke and the chain fell to the bottom of the tank but got caught, like a fish-hook, under a little ceramic ledge.  We couldn't access it to unhook it.
He-Man plumbing was well recommended here on Yelp and Mike was available in a very short time.  He's a no-nonsense, very competent and capable guy.  Had to actually remove the tank (which he determined very quickly), did the deed, replaced the broken arm, inspected the 1989 tank and gave it a thumbs up, and left 45 minutes after he arrived.
The rating is accurate:  Woohoo! As good as it gets!
Fred B.
Fred B.
11/30/2016
Mike had my sewer pipe cleared of roots within an hour of my call. Mike also has a lot of good advice on how to keep your drains clear. Mike specializes in clearing drains.
Yoriko K.
Yoriko K.
10/03/2016 12:00:00 SA
Yes, as good as other Yelpers say

We had a plugged kitchen pipe in a historic house.  He called back on a busy Monday morning and was over to fix it.  He was in a rush because he had nine other calls to get to, but he was thorough, competent and very reasonably priced.  Thank you Mike!
Issy K.
Issy K.
2/24/2014
I DO NOT recommend Mike (He-Man Plumbing) & feel he is dishonest!

I called Michael Riley (Mike) for an emergency back up of our main line.  After my brief description of the problem, he quickly assessed his price as to the minimum/hr charge regardless of it's duration.  He dug a hole in my front yard which is on a slope, trying to find the clean-out for the main line.

After not finding the clean-out close to the street, he then dragged mud throughout my driveway & used the clean-out by my lawn, which is closer to the house & farther from the street where we suspected the problem was (Oak tree roots).  He snaked the main line and claimed he ran out at 120' feet of snake & could go no further.  Assuming there was no back up for the time being,  the problem was solved!!!

Precisely two weeks later, which is today, I called to report that the problem wasn't solved, that sewage was surfacing from the clean-out.  He responded that because it's a new problem, he had to charge me the $160/hr minimum to assess the problem. Monday being a busy day, he could not give me an estimate as to what time he might be around Los Altos area. He farther explained that he CAN'T take an hour of his time to come all the way from Palo Alto to Los Altos just to do one job...

I found out today he couldn't have snaked the full 120 feet because there was still a problem within 60' of the clean-out he used.   He did not use a camera to check where the pipe might be clogged.  He worked for 65-70 minutes & charged me for 2 hours ($320.00 dollars).  He left the hole he dug open, & made no attempt to clean up the mud he dragged around.  

Worst of all is that he wasn't honest about his work in the first place.  He was not professional or courteous about making efforts to resolve the so called new problem, & did not guaranteed the work he performed only 2 weeks earlier.
Danny Q.
Danny Q.
06/06/2014 12:00:00 SA
Garbage disposal leaking after a failed DIY attempt.

Mike was on time, quick and efficient, and very thorough in his work.

I'd call Mike again if we have plumbing issues.
Lakiba P.
Lakiba P.
3/14/2016
Mike came out this morning - within an hour - advised to check with the City about sewer line - showed up on time - went at it ... Solved the problem quickly and gave me some tips -- SCOTT 1000 - (watch the roots) for minimizing problems in the future.  Reasonable cost for the quick friendly service.  Thanks !!
Lourdes A.
Lourdes A.
09/11/2014 12:00:00 SA
Found He-Man on Yelp and am so happy that the reviews were all true.
Mike was very prompt and fixed the problem with a backed up sewer line.  It was nice of him to let me use a shop vac to clean up the water on the floor making it much easier than mopping it up.  He is also very fair with his pricing.  He checked out the problem and told me how much it would be before he started the work.
Lily R.
Lily R.
11/25/2016
Prompt, knowledgeable, professional and honest!!Definitely the person to call when having drainage problems.
M V.
M V.
01/04/2019 12:00:00 SA
Mike is a god-send. He is very knowledgeable, especially about Palo Alto. He is honest and earnest to a fault and gives you very practical advice. None of the hype and over selling I have faced with out service providers. He came in, within an hour, fixed the problem and was out in an hour. Such a pleasure working with him.
Joel R.
Joel R.
03/08/2016 12:00:00 SA
Great experience. Babysitting our grandkids at my sons house in Palo Alto. Sink backs up while my wife is preparing dinner. Called He-man plumbing. Mike called back in less than an hour and said he could be at house in 5 minutes. Promptly showed up and fixed problem, by snaking the drain line from the sink. Cost was fair and reasonable. Will recommend to my son for future plumbing issues.
Jamie B.
Jamie B.
6/14/2016
Mike was really responsive, respectful when he entered my home, thorough in his analysis on why my faucet was leaking, took the time to explain the issues to me, provided recommendations, and was just very efficient! I also appreciate that he told me where his strengths are as a plumber - where he mostly focuses. I would highly recommend him.
Wolfgang M.
Wolfgang M.
12/14/2018
Mike managed to come over within 20 minutes, helping me out of a tight spot with a valve broken  and water running into a clogged sink. He walked me through everything, got it done and provided advise. Good service!
Lisa T.
Lisa T.
2/20/2016
We have used He-Man Plumbing in the past and called him for a problem today (a Saturday morning). He was able to come out and fix the problem. If he can't fix it or doesn't like working on that kind of problem, he will tell you (and not charge from what I can remember). I will definitely call him again.
Paul S.
Paul S.
1/26/2016
Mike was very professional and very helpful. He is knowledgeable about the issue at hand and in no time he fixed 3 of our toilets!! :) my friend recommended him and now I am going to refer him to all my friends.
Rebecca N.
Rebecca N.
6/29/2015
I'm looking at a few of these reviews, and, since I don't think Mike actually gets on Yelp, feel like I should address them. Those who say Mike doesn't have cotillion-level manners are right--he's a bit of a gruff guy, but if you're nice, he's nice. If you treat him as a lowly service-person, he's gonna be maybe a little less sweet to you. Can you blame him?

Mike is a one-man shop, and he operates with very low overhead. He handles emergencies, which is why he's answering the phone at 9PM--because your sewer could be overflowing into your bathtub. You want something installed sometime this week? Well, that's not really his focus (yes, it would be nice if he had a website that detailed his focus, but see previous comment--low overhead).

I've worked with Mike a few times since I bought my house in 2006--it's 1945 construction with the original clay sewer pipe, and we have root problems. He's been prompt, efficient, and has always been very honest about the work. He put a cover on the city cleanout when he discovered the city had failed to do so, and wasn't even planning to charge me for it. He told me I *could* replace the sewer pipe, but it generally looked ok and it would be cheaper just to have him come out and snake it every few years, and I could probably get at least another decade out of it. (Roto Rooter told me I needed to spend $10K on replacing the pipe, and that I needed to do it yesterday.)

What's more, how cool is it to have a plumber with a PhD from Stanford? Not only does that tell me the guy has boss critical thinking skills, it means that he chose this path because he really does love plumbing. In particular, sewer-related plumbing (in other words, if it's going out of your drains and toilets, he works on it--if it's coming in from your sinks and showerheads, he's not too interested). You want to really make him happy? Show some interest in his work--he loves explaining to homeowners what he's doing, because it makes them smarter consumers of his services.

I heartily recommend He-Man plumbing for all those times when the sewer pipe backs up, the sink won't drain, or the toilet exploded all over the bathroom (though if that happens, you may have bigger problems than just plumbing). You want to install a new showerhead? Probably not the thing for Mike.
Chandra G.
Chandra G.
02/09/2016 12:00:00 SA
I am a mom to three kids and one of my toilets over flew today with unmentionables, an hour before picking the kids up from school and I was desperate to get it fixed before the kids came home. I call Mike up and leave a message, he calls me back immediately, says he can come in five minutes, takes my address and then refuses to come because he had a hard time finding parking the last time he had come to this location. I offered to hold the drive way for him, he was after all 5 minutes away. He refused. Was rude, unapologetic as though it was all my fault that he couldn't find parking the last time he came this way. I mean really, I didn't need this and no excuse for bad behavior with a client.
Arnold W.
Arnold W.
1/20/2010
DRAINS:  Mike Riley is wonderful.  He's obviously smart,  conscientious and knows drains.  He ran a camera down our sewer line, and gave me a guided tour as he did it, plus a DVD to consult for future work.  He was at our house within an hour when I called.
 Our 60 yr old tile sewer line has a root invasion about 70 feet out, where the line is 6 ft deep.  I'll get estimates to replace the line there with new plastic, but I may just call Mike every year for preventive action.  He has better equipment than I can rent and an expert in using it.
 Water in the basement is no fun.  Hail Mike!
P W.
P W.
09/05/2018 12:00:00 SA
Have used him before and he got the snaking job done. This time, because our cleanout was covered by newer landscaping he acted very annoyed. Said he didnt have time to do it from the roof and instead referred us to another plumber. Thing with He-Man, unless your situation exactly meets his specific expections he doesnt want to waste time on your job.
Dana N.
Dana N.
1/13/2017
I called him on a Friday morning at 9:30 and he was able to stop by my house by 10!  Friendly, efficient and helpful.  He really is as good as all the reviews state!
Kimberly S.
Kimberly S.
6/17/2015
I called the business number on their website at 9pm with the intent to leave a message about getting a plumbing service this week.

The guy who answered was SUPER RUDE and acted as if I called his personal phone.  This is a listed business phone number.  The conversation was ridiculous.  He acted like I was committing the most egregious crime by calling his business line at 9pm.

Summary:
(1) SUPER RUDE customer service.  Guess what?  There are tons of plumbers out there, and most people prefer to hire people who aren't super rude and should possibly be in therapy or psychoactive drugs.
(2) DIVIDE YOUR PERSONAL CELL PHONE LINE FROM YOUR BUSINESS LINE.  There is modern technology that allows you to let customers leave voicemail.

PS - I don't know how this business ended up with a high Yelp review.  I know lots of businesses incentivize their customers to review them on Yelp and they'll get 10% off or something.  I'm guessing a lot of these reviews weren't done without some incentive and from the bottom of their heart.
Mohammad O.
Mohammad O.
9/15/2013
I called Mike after getting stuck on a DIY fix. He was nice enough to try and give me pointers first but I had already resigned to needing professional help. He showed up promptly and was a blast to converse with as he worked - seriously just try talking movies with him!

Mike was able to fix the problems with ease and I have every confidence in the longevity of his work. He taught me a few pointers in case I ever decide to tackle amateur plumbing again but quite frankly with a pro this accessible, friendly, honest, and fair I expect to retire my wrench happily.

Do yourself a favor and don't get screwed by Roto-rooter or any of the less trustworthy help available. Give Mike a call and see why he only gets 5-star reviews. Thanks for the help!
Jun K.
Jun K.
05/04/2011 12:00:00 SA
THANK YOU MIKE you're the BEST.

Had an outright DISASTER in my bathroom; water overflowed the whole floor and fecal matter even came up through the bathtub.

Mike returned my call promptly, came over, and lent me his hose-vac to suck up the water (I was planning to get down and dirty with my gloves and towels), while he used the snake and sucked out a bunch of muck.

He went through it a few times, helped me unclog the bathtub.  Explained what went wrong.

I think he's pretty integrous too!  Charges $120/hr, let me know, and had a very clear invoice etc.

I am SO GLAD he came!  Now.... on to cleaning the bathroom.  *ughhhh*
Daniel H.
Daniel H.
10/19/2018
I used Mike's services for my leaking shower a few years back and had good experience. This time the condo had kitchen drain clogging problem and I needed his services within 24 hours. Mike was able to come to help in short notice and fixed the clogging problem quickly. I am very pleased with his work and the charge was reasonable.
Badier V.
Badier V.
03/10/2010 12:00:00 SA
Mike Riley made me realize something important about myself and my own prejudices. That when I was faced with the choice between two equally qualified drain experts, I will always go with the one that has a cartoon character in the name.

I discovered at 8:30am that my toilets and showers were all backing up, and withing 30 minutes of calling Mike, he was here snaking my pipes. If you're local to Menlo Park (specifically the Willows) ask about a discount. Way cheaper than calling our RotoRooter or any other hack jobs and Mike exudes experience.

He prefers to do drain cleaning, so if you have other plumbing issues, talk to him about it first.
clyde j.
clyde j.
01/11/2011 12:00:00 SA
Awesome guy, recommended by a friend.
He fixed everything and told me what I needed to do to fix the rest.  

I had a small additional problem that he said would take him over the hour and I could do it myself if I wanted.
Sonja K.
Sonja K.
4/27/2016
Mike is excellent! He's always responsive, straightforward and pleasant. He's my go-to for plumbing issues.
Eric F.
Eric F.
8/15/2017
Mike replaced a corroded and leaking underground wastewater line for us this year.  He's excellent; fast, knowledgeable, thorough, fair price, very experienced.  Army vet.  Wouldn't hesitate to call him again.
Edita D.
Edita D.
10/28/2013
Prompt, courteous, knowledgeable, honest, got the job done.  
Our toilet was leaking from the base.  The first plumber fixed the leak but the leak returned a few days later.  I called Mike for a second opinion.  Mike got to the 'root' of the matter, literally speaking.  He found tree roots the size of a large house cat in the drain pipes.  He fixed the leak and solved the problem.
Elizabeth G.
Elizabeth G.
08/11/2017 12:00:00 SA
Great service! Came same day to fix a clogged sink. Michael was great to work with, very professional & friendly.
Nancy R.
Nancy R.
8/17/2016
This morning I did a load of laundry and for the first time in 30 years water backed up into our tub and shower.  (We had replaced our main sewer line way back then.)  Not fun.  I got on Yelp and looked at my list of recommendations from Willows Next-door and decided to call Mike at He Man Plumbing.  His answering machine took my message and within 10 minutes he called back.  I explained the problem and he arrived at our house very quickly.  He arrived at the same time as a nice fellow from West Bay Sanitary District and together the two of them determined the problem was in the line under our house rather than the line from our house to the street.  

Mike looked under the house and at the access plug on the side and decided it wisest to put the snake through the access stand pipe on the roof.  He worked with my husband and me having us watch the shower and tub and listen to what was going on through the access pipe in front of our house.  Within 15 minutes of beginning the work he had gotten rid of the plug with his snake and the tub and shower drained.  The toilets once again work and we are good to go.

I am thrilled with how quickly he came out, how nicely he worked with both of us answering all our questions (plumbing problems are interesting!), and how very reasonable his charges were ($210 for the job).  He knows his stuff and did the job efficiently.   Mike stated he doesn't take on large jobs that require many hours as he always wants to be able to help out people like us!  I highly recommend him for work unplugging sewer pipes.
Justin B.
Justin B.
8/26/2012
I called Mike at 8am on Sunday morning and he was here in 30 minutes. We had a massive leak in our bathroom which we initially thought was a sewage leak because of the smell. However it turned out to be a problem with a line to our jacuzzi tub. He quickly diagnosed the problem was courteous and professional and referred us to a specialist who could fix the problem.

It could not have been a better experience.
Raphael D.
Raphael D.
01/11/2017 12:00:00 SA
I have a renter unit. The tenants complaint that the sink is overflowing. Based on yelp reviews I called he-man. After visiting the unit, I spoke with their guy. He said he need to work with a snake for 170$.  The garbage disposal unit is not working and the labor and parts will be around 400$. So the total cost is around 600$. I felt something is wrong because this is a new garbage disposal unit. I asked him if he checked the plug underneath the unit. He said he did and the motor is dead. I said thank you let me think about it. Today I went there myself with a friend who is a handyman. Guess what. The unit was unplugged. That solved the problem.  The tenants just didn't know how to work with garbage disposal so they didn't operate it. I am sorry I have to give them one star but they actually deserve it.
Disko C.
Disko C.
07/02/2015 12:00:00 SA
I called mike based on the recommendations on yelp. He answered his phone and asked a few questions about my issue (hot water heater boiler pilot light won't stay on). He determined the job was probably too big for him and recommended a buddy who knows my brand of water heater really well (who answered right away and is coming later today to fix).

I can see why those who prize a dainty manner would not cotton to mike. He's all business and short on pleasantries. but boy, I appreciate that: Im in a jam and really need help quick. he's to the point, helpful and thoughtful. I'll definitely try him again.
Julice C.
Julice C.
8/27/2013
I've called upon Mike to help me with a few emergencies over the last 5 years. He has consistently been reliable and honest. Several years ago I had him come out and look at some plumbing issues and he admitted that was beyond his scope of practice and referred me to a different company. Most recently I called him bc the washing machine at my place of business leaked and he had me call Russ, a great, honest and reliable appliance repairman.

If you have any plumbing issues, Mike is the guy to call. He's honest, hard- working and reliable.
Capra C.
Capra C.
3/31/2013
Clogged sewer... City of Palo Alto came out and cleaned the City portion of the sewer, but we were still clogged-up.  Eater Day,,,,5:00pm, Called He-Man (Mike), left a message on his answer machine... Mike called back in about 10 minutes, said he was finishing up on a job and could be by in about 30 minutes.  He was at our house in about 20 minutes.  He quickly checked out situation and got to work.   Done-problem solved.  $240, as he estimated...
Very informative, friendly and professional.  If you have a sewer clog, in his area of coverage, I would give him a call without hesitation.
Small-Business, Owner-Operator, Fast, Professional and Very Straight-Forward.
Nicole K.
Nicole K.
12/03/2014 12:00:00 SA
Definitely recommend Mike from He-Man plumbing.  He responded to our call the same day, he called to confirm a good time and let me know when to expect him and then called again when he was about 10 minutes away. He was friendly but got right to work. We had a blockage that was causing the sink to backup and he did his magic and everything was working in 15 minutes.  Is was a rainy day so he brought a towel and put it outside the front door so he didn't track in any mud.  Way to go the extra mile! Thanks Mike!
Anna S.
Anna S.
06/05/2015 12:00:00 SA
Mike is the BEST!
This is the third time we used him for various plumbing emergencies in our personal home and rental property: blocked drains and major leak. He is prompt, professional and considerate. Clean and careful. Takes time to explain the problem on hand and how to address it best. Very reasonably priced. He even recommended products to use to care for our pipes! I highly recommend him and already told my friends to call Mike only, especially in emergency!
John D.
John D.
12/01/2014 12:00:00 SA
Used Mike twice since this first review, once to fix an overflowing overflow valve in the front yard, and another time to augur the same original toilet. Both were, relatively speaking, great experiences. The toilet was fixed less than 15 minutes after calling.

Having observed Mike's comfort level around, well, waste, I've also updated my definition of what it means to be a Real Man. Holy cow, what a stud!
Fred T.
Fred T.
1/18/2011
Excellent. Arrived on time and showed respect for our house by donning shoe covers. The job was done well and timely fashion.
S Y.
S Y.
12/01/2017 12:00:00 SA
I have used his services twice now.  Today, he quickly diagnosed a problem with the sewer line (we had a bubbling toilet), snaked it, and was done within 1 hour.  I'm impressed with his process.  He knew at least 3 possibilities for my issue and quickly eliminated the other two possibilities before deciding to snake our local sewer line.  Six years ago, we had a clogged pipe that affected our washing machine, and I remember him being equally efficient at correctly diagnosing the problem.  Even if other plumbers might charge a lower hourly, I think you'd save money overall with Mike because he's so incredibly fast and intelligent.
Akiko I.
Akiko I.
4/26/2010
I just had Mike come over since we had a toilet problem in our house. He fixed it in right away. His rate is $120 / hour but since he was only here for 10 min, he only charged $60.
He came for plumbing problem, but he actually specialize in Sewer & Drain Cleaning. So if you need any cleaning, give him a call. He is GREAT!!!
Michael S.
Michael S.
11/17/2017
Mike is fast and knows what he is doing. He cleared my backed up toilet quickly and gave me advice about what toilet paper to use. And his price was reasonable.
gary r.
gary r.
01/03/2017 12:00:00 SA
Mike came to my house minutes after we connected on the phone. I had a toilet clog problem. He inspected the situation, fixed it quickly, ran several tests on the toilet to make sure the fix was good, then gave me a couple of pointers on what to do next. As he suggested, I called the Palo Alto Utilities dept. to come out and test the sewage line from my house to the street. They did this on the same day I called and found it was clear. Also, he told me to switch toilet paper products for that toilet. He said that the thickening of toilet paper products has been causing increased toilet clogs around Palo Alto! This is the advantage of using someone who focuses solely on sewage and toilet problems. He is a specialist and knows his specialty well. Mike is a petroleum engineer on his second career and wants to keep his business simple. Highly recommended and I will use his services again.
Michael W.
Michael W.
09/04/2012 12:00:00 SA
Mike was friendly, courteous, very responsive, professional, and effective.

He quickly troubleshot a problem with a blocked drain, hopped up on the roof and fixed it relatively quickly by snaking through a vent.  Less mess that way.

He also explained how the problem happened, how to prevent it from happening again with the purchase of a small drain accessory, and in the unfortunate event that a clog still happened again, how I might even try to do it myself next time with the right equipment.  

Basically everything you could ask for when procuring a professional service.
John C.
John C.
3/15/2018
Very quick response, and effective solution. Creative in solving problems presented by pre-1920 house. $$1/2.
Nicole K.
Nicole K.
12/03/2014 12:00:00 SA
Definitely recommend Mike from He-Man plumbing.  He responded to our call the same day, he called to confirm a good time and let me know when to expect him and then called again when he was about 10 minutes away. He was friendly but got right to work. We had a blockage that was causing the sink to backup and he did his magic and everything was working in 15 minutes.  Is was a rainy day so he brought a towel and put it outside the front door so he didn't track in any mud.  Way to go the extra mile! Thanks Mike!
Anna S.
Anna S.
06/05/2015 12:00:00 SA
Mike is the BEST!
This is the third time we used him for various plumbing emergencies in our personal home and rental property: blocked drains and major leak. He is prompt, professional and considerate. Clean and careful. Takes time to explain the problem on hand and how to address it best. Very reasonably priced. He even recommended products to use to care for our pipes! I highly recommend him and already told my friends to call Mike only, especially in emergency!
John D.
John D.
12/01/2014 12:00:00 SA
Used Mike twice since this first review, once to fix an overflowing overflow valve in the front yard, and another time to augur the same original toilet. Both were, relatively speaking, great experiences. The toilet was fixed less than 15 minutes after calling.

Having observed Mike's comfort level around, well, waste, I've also updated my definition of what it means to be a Real Man. Holy cow, what a stud!
Fred T.
Fred T.
1/18/2011
Excellent. Arrived on time and showed respect for our house by donning shoe covers. The job was done well and timely fashion.
S Y.
S Y.
12/01/2017 12:00:00 SA
I have used his services twice now.  Today, he quickly diagnosed a problem with the sewer line (we had a bubbling toilet), snaked it, and was done within 1 hour.  I'm impressed with his process.  He knew at least 3 possibilities for my issue and quickly eliminated the other two possibilities before deciding to snake our local sewer line.  Six years ago, we had a clogged pipe that affected our washing machine, and I remember him being equally efficient at correctly diagnosing the problem.  Even if other plumbers might charge a lower hourly, I think you'd save money overall with Mike because he's so incredibly fast and intelligent.
Akiko I.
Akiko I.
4/26/2010
I just had Mike come over since we had a toilet problem in our house. He fixed it in right away. His rate is $120 / hour but since he was only here for 10 min, he only charged $60.
He came for plumbing problem, but he actually specialize in Sewer & Drain Cleaning. So if you need any cleaning, give him a call. He is GREAT!!!
Michael S.
Michael S.
11/17/2017
Mike is fast and knows what he is doing. He cleared my backed up toilet quickly and gave me advice about what toilet paper to use. And his price was reasonable.
gary r.
gary r.
01/03/2017 12:00:00 SA
Mike came to my house minutes after we connected on the phone. I had a toilet clog problem. He inspected the situation, fixed it quickly, ran several tests on the toilet to make sure the fix was good, then gave me a couple of pointers on what to do next. As he suggested, I called the Palo Alto Utilities dept. to come out and test the sewage line from my house to the street. They did this on the same day I called and found it was clear. Also, he told me to switch toilet paper products for that toilet. He said that the thickening of toilet paper products has been causing increased toilet clogs around Palo Alto! This is the advantage of using someone who focuses solely on sewage and toilet problems. He is a specialist and knows his specialty well. Mike is a petroleum engineer on his second career and wants to keep his business simple. Highly recommended and I will use his services again.
Michael W.
Michael W.
09/04/2012 12:00:00 SA
Mike was friendly, courteous, very responsive, professional, and effective.

He quickly troubleshot a problem with a blocked drain, hopped up on the roof and fixed it relatively quickly by snaking through a vent.  Less mess that way.

He also explained how the problem happened, how to prevent it from happening again with the purchase of a small drain accessory, and in the unfortunate event that a clog still happened again, how I might even try to do it myself next time with the right equipment.  

Basically everything you could ask for when procuring a professional service.
John C.
John C.
3/15/2018
Very quick response, and effective solution. Creative in solving problems presented by pre-1920 house. $$1/2.
Dennis M.
Dennis M.
9/14/2015
Two days ago I had a huge disaster in my house after the toilette started leaking. This was becoming a sanitary issue because my kids started playing with everything that came out of the toilette. I am not trying to exaggerate but I has the feeling that I was going to go crazy. I really needed some help immediately. This was my first time ever having to use a company since I moved to California, so I was not sure who to call to take care of the bathroom mess. I found He-Man Plumbing online and I decided to call them, some of the reviews I read were scary but I did not have too much time to shop around or read other businesses reviews. The technician who came to my house was knowledgeable and he did his job right the first time. To be honest prices were high, but for good service you have to pay top dollar, I guess that's how it works in the Bay Area and other expensive cities.
Fred H.
Fred H.
04/11/2015 12:00:00 SA
Woke up to a tub full of backed up sewage on a Saturday morning. Looked up Plumbing under YELP and chose He-man Plumbing by the great reviews. Called the number told Mike the problem and he was here within 10mins. Mike was great knew what he was doing observed the area found the problem and Snaked the vent from on top of the roof. It was quick did the job in less than an hour very professional and not as expensive as those other companys very reasonable price. You won't regret contacting He-Man Plumbing.
Mv M.
Mv M.
10/23/2017
Mike arrived within an hour and had my clog removed within an hour.  He had a good methodical approach to troubleshooting the problem.
Jennifer M.
Jennifer M.
2/26/2017
Great! Came quickly on a Saturday, within 30 minutes of our phone call. He diagnosed the problem and fixed our clogged sink within one hour of arrival. We felt very lucky he was available. We would absolutely use him again.
Christopher P.
Christopher P.
11/13/2010
Wow.  Like the Lone Ranger, Mike just left on his white steed.  

Fast, efficient, articulate and thorough, Mike came, saw, snaked and left.
Cindy N.
Cindy N.
05/08/2013 12:00:00 SA
Mike came out within 20 minutes of my call. He was nice, professional and had my kitchen drain unclogged in about 20 minutes. Gave me some very useful advice about maintaining my disposal and fixed an uncapped vent.
Very reasonable cost.
Olenka V.
Olenka V.
1/17/2017
Simply put, He-Man is the best for all plumbing needs. Reliable, knowledgeable, responsible and reasonably priced!
Omar S.
Omar S.
2/23/2016
They are great. Very VERY competitive prices and the shop is run by an industry veteran who is both professional and very knowledgable. What I liked most about him was his high integrity. He came, examined our problem and then suggested two ways to solve it. The 'cheap' way which would solve it minimally or the more expensive way to do it right. Both quotes were less than the budget I had told him beforehand. I highly recommend He-Man!
David C.
David C.
2/22/2016
Main sewer line was backed up. Called Mike and he promptly returned my call and set proper expectation on schedule (for the same day) and cost. Took him less than an hour to fix and wrap up the job. Straight forward and honest guy. Would call him again for future plumbing issues.
Andrea H.
Andrea H.
1/25/2016
Always super responsive, quick, and very honest. Mike's the only plumber we like to call.
Nancy W.
Nancy W.
12/15/2016
Mike came when he said he would, took care of the problem quickly, explained why it happened, wrote down his recommendations for not having it happen again, and was very reasonably priced. It does NOT get any better than this!
Paul H.
Paul H.
1/27/2014
Called He-Man (despite the name...) after reading the Yelp reviews. He showed up 20 mins after my call, was pleasant, professional and got the job done immediately.

I had a very old valve that feeds a pool and was leaking. After realizing it would be a big job involving damage to a wall to replace it, he managed a fix and also put in a secondary ball valve to act as a back-up in case of leakage. On top of that, he said if I did have a problem, he would discount any future work needed on it.

Nice guy too. And how many plumbers do you know with a PhD from Stanford?

Highly recommended.
Jennifer L.
Jennifer L.
09/09/2014 12:00:00 SA
Panic this morning as I woke to find a small lake under our sink. Mike came promptly and replaced our cracked valve. He was pleasant, knowledgeable, and efficient! We are very pleased with our experience with He-Man.
David B.
David B.
7/28/2014
I called Mike because the lever to close my bathtub drain wasn't working, and therefore I couldn't fill the tub.  I spent an hour trying to fix it myself to no avail.  Mike talked me though a $5 DIY fix on the phone, rather than having him come out for a $140 replacement fix that may or may not work.  I appreciated his quick response and honesty with how to best address the issue.  Needless to say I'll be calling Mike when I have any future plumbing or water heater issues!
J Ho H.
J Ho H.
11/03/2016 12:00:00 SA
Mike called me back within minutes and was at my house in 15 minutes. He cleared out the clog in my drain line, and a local clog in the bath tub. We had a good discussion about the problem. He is a true professional. His rate compares favorably to others I had used in the pass. I would highly recommend him to anyone in the area.
Greta K.
Greta K.
06/12/2014 12:00:00 SA
Mike has fixed every plumbing problem in our house so far. Tons of experience, great at diagnosis at very reasonable rates. I do not believe in DIY; leave it to the professionals!
Susan L.
Susan L.
10/10/2018 12:00:00 SA
sorry for the delay in posting this, but he was as good as it gets in quickly getting back to me, fixing the problem and being very gracious.  the problem was a small one, but I know who I will call when I have my next (hopefully again small) plumbing problem.
Cisco P.
Cisco P.
10/20/2015
simply the best. came on same day for major issues and fixed it in an hour.  was effieient and no bullsh*t.  saved their info on my phone so I know who to call next time.
John S.
John S.
06/08/2010 12:00:00 SA
Quick, reliable, reasonably priced and...analytical!

We called Mike to deal with our sewer backing up.  The first challenge was to find access, which was completely lacking in our older house.  Mike eventually wound up crawling under the house and disassembling a pipe to get in and snake out the clog.  That solved the immediate problem, but we decided to install a clean out in case the problem recurs.

Here is where Mike was excellent (well, it was also pretty excellent that he showed up on time, with all the equipment, and solved our first problem quickly and cheaply).  Using a tracing device, he tracked the sewer pipe out to the street, and picked a spot where he thought there was probably an existing cleanout buried under a couple of feet of dirt.  I dug down, and sure enough, there it was.  Mike came back and installed a riser to bring it up to grade level.  So, now we're all set, and with minimal work.  He even came by while the hole was being dug to make sure that the existing cleanout was suitable - at no charge.  On a Sunday.

As a bonus, he's an interesting guy to talk to.  There aren't that many other plumbers with a Ph.D. from Stanford out there.
Kim d.
Kim d.
7/29/2016
I called in the afternoon, and Mike picked up and was at my house within 20 minutes! He spent an hour under our kitchen sink re-doing all of the pipes in our very old, rickety plumbing situation, and charged a very reasonable amount in my opinion. We have had our landlord and a man from home depot both take a stab at fixing the pipes in the past and their solutions were short-lived. This was clearly a solid, sturdy fix that should last indefinitely.
Stan K.
Stan K.
05/09/2014 12:00:00 SA
4/3/2012
Emergency back up in kitchen and bathroom sink.

From call to arival less than an hour ,diagnosed and corrected problem ..Lot of confidence was aparent. Great job would absolutly recomend.Reasonable rate.

Stan in palo alto
Rob K.
Rob K.
3/26/2012
Fast, knowledgeable and reasonably priced. I have a pipe that clogs every year or two which drains my kitchen sinks. In the past, I have used  rooter commercial service but last time got so frustrated with the ineptitude, lack of knowledge and pricing that I thought I would try someone new. Mike was recommended by my radiant heat guy -- I am totally satisfied.
Sam C.
Sam C.
10/16/2010
I chose Mike Riley because of the reviews here on Yelp and I wasn't disappointed.  Mike is professional, courteous and knows his stuff.  He explained the options to solve our clogged toilet problem and took care of the problem in a swift, professional manner.  He cleaned up his debris and left our place clean and in good working order.  I would definitely use Mike again and highly recommend him.  He did an excellent job.
Karen K.
Karen K.
01/05/2013 12:00:00 SA
Mike Riley is a real find!  We called him on a Saturday morning while he was shopping at a local grocery store.  He came right over and snaked out two slow bathtub drains.  They work great now.  He's licensed, efficient, wears booties to keep your house clean and has fair prices ($120 was the total price for our service).  And, if you have an engineering question, he has a PhD in Engineering from Stanford!  He's local to Palo Alto/East Palo Alto and specializes in drain cleanouts.  By the way, we found him on Yelp.
Tina B.
Tina B.
3/30/2013
What can I say? He-man saved the day! Prior to his visit I was charged $98 for another plumber coming in & telling me my disposal needed replacing.He man not only fixed my disposal but felt so bad I was ripped off earlier he did the job for free! Such kindness Is unheard of these days. If you live on the peninsula you would be crazy not to call he-man.
Topanga O.
Topanga O.
09/05/2010 12:00:00 SA
Mike Riley arrived on time. He quickly fixed our problem. He made sure everything was clean after he completed his work. We would highly, highly recommend him.
Heidi P.
Heidi P.
8/19/2012
I called Mike on short notice, and on a weekend (when most plumbers in our area are closed). His truck was in the shop but he was able to squeeze us in same-day. He snaked a pipe coming out of our washing machine and was able to effectively solve the problem in 30 mins.  He was friendly and professional, I'm keeping his card for next time.
Dennis T.
Dennis T.
5/14/2015
Mike from He-Man Plumbing, (650) 222-7953, is the BEST Plumber we have ever had at our home of 3o years. Mike over the years has ALWAYS been conscious of the amount of time to complete a plumbing problem no matter if it was routine maintenance or emergency services.  His Prices are FAIR AND REASONABLE.  Mike also has a wonderful personality and is EXTREMELY RESPECTFUL OF YOUR HOME AND PRIVACY.  We STRONGLY recommend Mike, from HE-MAN PLUMBING, (650) 222-7953, to meet all of your Plumbing needs.
Ordinary E.
Ordinary E.
5/21/2016
Clogged waste line near front of house. Came out 15 minutes after I called. Very knowledgeable about what was going on. Fixed it right away. Done in 30mins. Very reasonable prices. Highly recommended.
Kathy H.
Kathy H.
12/21/2014
Called on a Sunday morning and Mike was at my house in 15 minutes. Resolved the problem in an hour. I wish I had called him first as the plumbing company I called on Saturday flaked out on me.
Pam C.
Pam C.
12/20/2013
Mike did a great job for us. All of our plumbing was backed up. He arrived within 20 minutes of our SOS call and had the problem fixed within 30 minutes.   Highly recommend him.
Allyson C.
Allyson C.
9/27/2009
By the power of Greyskull....our pipes are clean!! Thank you He-Man Plumbing! Mike not only came to our house on Sunday, but he arrived within an hour of our call, which is saying something given that we live near 84 and Skyline...

Mike's an expert at clearing all manner of sewer and drain issues and proved that in spades dealing with out antique plumbing. He was able to snake out some angry obstruction 30+ feet from the drain, and used an LCD image probe to point out where we were getting some root interference from one of the many Redwoods on the property. We owe him a debt for certain.

A genuine action hero come plumber complete with his He Man namesake fixed to the back of his van. Thanks Mike!
Elle J.
Elle J.
2/17/2013
Mike came out on a Saturday night to help me with a clogged toilet for one of our rental properties. We weren't in town and were anxious the whole place would flood. Mike arrived in 30 minutes. What more can I say? THANK YOU! :D
Aneel C.
Aneel C.
05/10/2012 12:00:00 SA
Had my drain cleaned and my sinks re-piped. Mike was great --kind, professional, and fair. I highly recommend him!
Eric H.
Eric H.
01/01/2016 12:00:00 SA
Mike originally came out to clean a clogged sewer drain.  This was a problem we had had in the past, so we have some experience.  Mike was superb.  Good and careful job, and noticeably less expensive than Roto-Router.  When I had a water heater problem, I called Mike.  He could not fit me into his schedule, but he provided me with an alternative -- who did a great job.
Mary V.
Mary V.
12/31/2015
I had Mike out to find and fix a leak in a pipe.  He pinpointed the leak, therefore minimizing the amount of wall he needed to cut.  He was fast, courteous and professional.  There have been no further problems with the leaky pipe!  He is all business, honest and fast which I appreciate.  He might be a little rough around the edges which might be a problem for some people, but he was fine with me.
Mihai P.
Mihai P.
3/19/2011
I had a clogged toilet that I really wanted to get taken care of after business hours. Mike was available, fixed the problem quickly, charged a reasonable price, and had advice as to brands of toilet paper to prevent the problem from reoccurring.
Lisa S.
Lisa S.
1/21/2012
Though Mike was not able to do a major re pipe for me, he was able to reefer me to someone else. I had hired him once before and he was a real professional, polite and to the point on my job. It only took him half the time that he thought it would and reduced the price. Most plumbers don't do this! I respect his honesty on that. Thanks Mike! As You can tell by his other reviews here on Yelp they really care about there customers.
A T.
A T.
7/29/2013
This guy (Mike) IS great. Left a message and called back within 5 minutes. I needed someone to help install a dishwasher and look at some draining problems involving our clothes washer, dishwasher (old one), and kitchen sink. Since Mike's expertise is clogging issues and not dishwasher installation, he kindly recommended someone who could do both. After that, he volunteered to make a guess that we had a build-up issue, and then he offered me a tip on a quick preventative measure! Impressive!
Iva R.
Iva R.
07/05/2014 12:00:00 SA
We had back-up problem with our bathroom pipes 2 hours before hosting a big 4th of July party at our house. He-Man plumbing quickly came to our rescue, fixed the problem, and reasonable prices. It was an Independence Day miracle! He-Man Plumbing saved the day!!
Jennie T.
Jennie T.
01/02/2012 12:00:00 SA
Had leakage under our kitchen sink and we weren't quite sure of the source. Based purely on Yelp reviews, I called Mike and left voicemail, he called me back within 20 minutes, and came out to the house 20 minutes after that. Diagnosed three problem areas, fixed one, and gave us recommendation on the other two (need to replace faulty KWC brand faucet). Mike was prompt, courteous, and got the job done on a holiday! Wouldn't hesitate to call on his services again.
Joe C.
Joe C.
4/18/2013
Mike is fantastic! LEAVE A MESSAGE. He calls back in a few minutes.

We have a son that puts things down the toilet.

Mike cleaned out 180 feet of our sewer lateral in well under an hour. He went in the house to auger the toilets (in about 2 minutes each!) and carefully put on booties to keep the house clean. Even took the bag with the debris with him to through it out!

Mike is honest and gives you value for your money. He doesn't upsell anyting but he will be happy to give you great referals of people he trusts if he thinks you need something more.

Yesterday I told a friend at the Y about He-man. Someone overheard us talking and chimed in with Yeah, he's great!
Lee M.
Lee M.
05/01/2015 12:00:00 SA
We have had Mike out to deal with our sad plumbing system three or four times.  He has come out as fast as could be reasonably expected and done a good job, until this last time (today).  First of all, he flat out lied about when he would be out to fix the problem, blaming me for the misunderstanding.  This messed up my plans for the rest of the day.  
In the past he has engaged myself and my husband in the process of repair, asking us to check the drains in the house, get the hose, etc.  I was otherwise engaged today but checking in on the progress occasionally.  He was talking on the phone while fixing my plumbing for at least part of the time.  I could not be sure when he was talking to me or the person on the phone at one point.  He has also more than once said we should change the type of toilet tissue we use and the problem would be solved.  This is in spite of the fact that our system worked without problems for many years and we have not changed the toilet tissue.
Although somewhat brusque in previous encounters, he was definitely rude this time both to me and to my neighbor, who came by with a plumbing question.  There really is no need for this rude behavior and there are plenty of good plumbers out there.
Finally, the worst aspect of this plumber is the fact that he does not wear gloves while working.  Today he worked without gloves for an hour, then wrote up the invoice and handed me the pen to sign it.  It's hard to believe that he would work in raw sewage and put his hands on an invoice and pen which I am supposed to use.  We previously called the city out to work on the part of our plumbing outside of his purview and the charming young man who came out said he was the only plumber who worked without gloves and was well known for it.  Although he is at risk for a nasty infection if he has any cuts on his hands, he also exposes everyone else to that risk.
The last point was not obvious until Mike was gone.  He left an incredible mess with toilet tissue residue all over the front entrance, which took us some time to clean up.  
I feel upset and dirty from this experience hours later.  I would not recommend this service to anyone.  I would recommend that you ask any plumber if he wears gloves and takes them off before having any customer contact.
M B.
M B.
7/26/2015
Mike has performed multiple repairs for us over the last several years; he has always been prompt and performed the work well.
Justin S.
Justin S.
2/28/2010
Short and sweet: He-Man Plumbing rocks!  

Had an emergency backup on a Sunday.  Within 15 minutes of calling, he was at our place, up on the roof running a giant snake through our pipes, clearing out all the obstructions; all the while graciously indulging my newbie questions.  A smart, friendly and able professional.

Thanks Mike!
Amanda A.
Amanda A.
04/10/2010 12:00:00 SA
Called him out on a Saturday morning.  Not only was he here within a half hour but on looking at the issue he told us it was a city sewer problem and that they would fix it for us for free.  Then he wouldn't let us pay him for the call out even though we would have been first time customers and he was entitled to charge us for his time.
Amazing.
Herbert A.
Herbert A.
11/30/2010
I contacted Mike a few days ago by phone (on a Saturday) about some plumbing issues that we are experiencing (clogged sewer line, leaking toilet). Mike phoned me back within one hour, and even drove to my house to help me diagnose the problems without charging me and gave me some useful tips, and was friendly, respectful, and trustworthy).  Next time our sewer line clogs (it seems to happen once every 3 months), I will contact Mike. I also have been given good recommendations about Mike Riley/HeMan plumbing from my neighbors.
Glib G.
Glib G.
9/17/2011
Awesome. Called late on a Saturday afternoon -- he's at my house 20 minutes later; worked me in before calling it a day.

With only a couple of questions he quickly diagnosed, explained, snaked and was on his way. A true professional with pleasant demeanor and the ability to succinctly explain what's going on.

His magnet will reside on my fridge to give me his number anytime I need a plumber. If only all problems could be fixed by someone like Mike...
Jaimie W.
Jaimie W.
9/25/2011
Mike's fast, on time, priced well.  He's my go-to guy for plumbing issues that I don't want to handle myself.
Jenna M.
Jenna M.
1/14/2012
Back story:
Saturday @ 4pm on a holiday weekend with the 49ers game on we start to have problems.  While running the Kitchen garbage disposal and the Dishwasher my husband hears a noise in the laundry room.  Sure enough all the food is backing up INTO the washing machine and spilling (flooding) all over our garage..UCK!  

I started to call plumbers (maybe 3-5 calls) from my quick yelp research and landed with Mike from He-Man.  Mike called back within 20minutes, he gave the best rate AND he could be to our home in 10-15 minutes!!  $120 per hour was all it took for him to come, check out our situation, unclog our kitchen/laundry room pipes and we were back in time for the end of that amazing 49ers playoff game!

I would highly recommend Mike, he was professional, quick, and didn't overcharge.  One of the other companies gave me a quote of $600 to drive out! (just to drive out - were they crazy?!)  I don't have a industrial snake at my house so $120 was well worth it.

Thank you Mike for being so great and saving our plumbing!
Clay B.
Clay B.
2/19/2013
After another local plumber spent eight hours at my house without a fix, I decided to pull the rip cord and called Mike. I am so glad I did.

He was here within 20 minutes of my calling on a rainy Tuesday morning. When he arrived, he quickly narrowed down the possible causes of a whole house plumbing issue. (As an aside: Mike is clearly very bright. His card says he has a PhD in engineering from Stanford... and I believe it!) Two hours later, after trying Plan A, Plan B, and Plan C, problem completely solved.

Thanks Mike!
Giuseppe L.
Giuseppe L.
3/19/2013
Was at the site within 10 minutes and fixed a broken water pipe with a patch.
The cost was 30% of what EJ plumbing had asked for!
Chris K.
Chris K.
7/21/2011
Mike is a plumbing god with a Stanford Engineering PhD to boot (seriously?! only in Palo Alto!).  Our pipes clogged and blew crap (literally) all over the place (gross).  Miked was on the scene within 10 minutes of our first call, had called the City utility rep on the way (who, impressively, also arrived within 10 minutes), and had us fixed up and flowing clean and clear in less than an hour.  He was honest, clearly proficient, and super friendly.  He not only took time to explain the in's and out's of the mysterious world of plumbing, but also charged us a very nominal rate for the repair.  It's worth noting that he specializes in complex clogs and sewer lines, though is happy to handle anything you may throw at him.  If nothing else, he has a He-Man figure attached to the back of his van... how awesome is that!
Carol C.
Carol C.
3/31/2015
We had a backup in our kitchen plumbing that caused an overflow from an old laundry pipe into the garage, which was disgusting and stinky.  I was desperate and saw a referral for He-Man from our neighborhood email list so decided to give them a call.  Mike answered right away and was at my house within 20 minutes, which totally shocked me!  He then proceeded to quickly diagnose and resolve the issue the *right* way, not using some temporary stop-gap fix that other plumbers had used for this same issue in the past.  He also cleaned up the mess in the garage and gave me some good advice to mitigate the root problem.  Mike was very professional, friendly and efficient.  He will be my first call for any plumbing issues and I highly recommend him!
Robin S.
Robin S.
2/28/2013
I don't know why this plumber has gotten such good reviews.  I found him very touchy.  I called after reading the reviews, and he asked me to call the next day.  I did and he was not available.  He asked that I call him again, tomorrow and when I asked why he couldn't simply call me when he was available, he said I should find someone else.  Maybe he was having a bad day, but I was taken aback.
Michelle A.
Michelle A.
9/14/2014
Fantastic service. We called him on a Saturday evening for a sewer line blockup which was spreading raw sewage all over the floor of our bathroom. He was at our house within ten minutes and the problem was fixed within an hour. Can't recommend him more highly.
Tim R.
Tim R.
8/17/2013
Mike was here on a Saturday afternoon in 10 minutes from when we called him.  Knew what the problem was immediately, fixed it (snaked the main line) and now everything is working great.   I highly recommend Mike, and would use him again in an instant.
Liz H.
Liz H.
8/17/2013
Highly recommend this plumber. It was easy to get ahold of him and he came by immediately. He efficiently diagnosed the problem and snaked our main line. Easy to communicate with and efficient. Estimate was $180 for an hour of work after checking out the situation for about 10 minutes. Bill was $180, and the work took about an hour. What more can you ask?
Xin T.
Xin T.
04/07/2012 12:00:00 SA
We had a major problem recently with tree-root encroachment on our main sewage line during the weekend. Another plumbing company sent two people who took some roots out but couldn't remove the blockage. They then proposed a $2000 solution involving completely changing the pipes. Fortunately for us, Mike came to our rescue when another plumber had his snake stuck going through the sewage line. He seemed extremely methodical in how he used a second snake to cut away roots that tangled around the first snake and eventually removed the blockage. He is the man to call for difficult plumbing problems!
Bene S.
Bene S.
9/29/2013
Mike has helped us with sink drainage problems twice in the last three years.  He  responded very quickly to our phone calls both times.  The first time he said he would be here in 20 mins, and he did.  The second time he said he would be here in 10 mins, and sure enough, he kept his word.  He is very professional, knowledgeable, and works very quickly and efficiently.  His rate is $120/hr, minimum 1 hr, which I think is very reasonable.  He solved both our drainage problems in less than an hour.
Bruce K.
Bruce K.
09/02/2010 12:00:00 SA
Mark me down as another satisfied customer. I called Mike yesterday morning to camera my sewer line, and he was doing it by that afternoon.  I have no expertise myself and no one to compare him to but it sure felt like he knew his stuff.  He let me watch the camera process, was able to clearly describe what I was seeing, and gave me a DVD of it afterward.  He also fixed a couple other minor plumbing issues while he was here.  I enjoyed my time with him and felt confident in the results.  His rates are $120 per hour + $80 fee for use of the camera equipment.
Victoria H.
Victoria H.
8/21/2014
Please knock it off.  I am in the middle of a job.  I don't have time to waste.  Quote from Mr. He-Man on the phone today as I tried to explain what I needed done.  I am sure he does good work, basis the 75 reviews on Yelp, if you are willing to put up with his rudeness.  I am not.
Sara G.
Sara G.
4/26/2012
Mike Riley is the real deal.  He loves a good clogged drain.  All the good things you have heard about him are true.
Amy W.
Amy W.
6/22/2014
I called last year when I was staying in a short term rental and dropped a small tube of moisturizer into the toilet.  It went down before we could get it out and I didn't want to hurt the home we were staying in.  I was able to get a same day appointment.  He was not able to get the item, but gave me the information about possible scenarios so I could make an informed decision about what to do next.  I appreciated his help and ultimately decided to wait and see.  All went well and I didn't need further service.  If I have a future emergency, I won't hesitate to call.
B C.
B C.
3/19/2011
Mike is everything you want in a plumber. He called back quickly, came to our house on a Saturday and gave a comprehensive, intelligent diagnosis of our problem (leaking drain line). Then he worked fast and stuck to the estimate. He was also organized and neat with his tools, and left no mess behind, even though we're in the middle of a multi-day rainstorm. He will be our first call the next time we need a plumber.
Nicole R.
Nicole R.
4/20/2011
HeMan Plumbing is the best. Twice now our toilet has clogged after hours, and twice now Mike has been responsive, professional and affordable when solving the problem. Totally awesome, he is our first call from now on for any plumbing needs. Fantastic.
Tim R.
Tim R.
02/04/2014 12:00:00 SA
Wow! Mike is the best. I called with plugged drain and he came in 15 minutes!! Very nice man and did a fine job. Even offered helpful tips to avoid his service in the future. Perfect.
Ashish S.
Ashish S.
1/22/2014
I had a problem with my kitchen plumbing pipes this morning. Luckily I was at home and was able to shut the valves before there was serious flooding. I called Mike and he came over within the hour. He was absolutely great to work with and he got the problem fixed. He charged me for just an hour's worth of work even though he went over an hour. I would highly recommend him.
A S.
A S.
1/16/2014
Mike came out a couple of times last year and fixed several problems - corroded traps under the bathroom sinks, a toilet that was not flushing properly and a slow bathroom tub drain.  Everything was done well with no fuss.  He also does not try to sell you on a bigger fix than you need.  Reliable, honest, competent.
Omid K.
Omid K.
5/24/2010
Mike Riley performed great work clearing our drain, which was backing up due to a root invasion problem. Mike explained that his primary focus is drain repair and this is evident in his work. The fact that our older home, when remodeled, was not set up for normal sewer line maintenance (ie no serviceable clean-outs) did not deter him.  Work he performed included removing a toilet to snake out the interior, climbing through our crawlspace to dig the roots out of any pipes he couldn't reach with a snake, and helping us locate an outside clean-out we did not know was there.  Prices were also quite reasonable when compare to a name brand drain service. Mike is very professional, and I learned a lot about drains through consultation of our repair options. The DVD is nice to keep on hand in case future work or maintenance is needed. I give Mike my highest recommendation!
Yelp U.
Yelp U.
11/14/2011
Someone in my neighborhood recommended He-Man Plumbing.  So I checked him here and must admit that all the 5 star ratings made me wonder whether Mike was real (or the reviews all done by friends).  Well, we'd never met before and I have to tell you that I was quite pleased.  I called him at 8:30 a.m. on Monday morning about the plugged drain line from our kitchen to the bathroom/main sewer line.  As noted in other reviews, he asked good questions about the problem and our house, and then quoted his rate ($120/hr, 1 hr min).  I said OK; he said he'd be here before 9 a.m. - and he was!  Very professional.  Wore 'hospital booties' to cover his boots.  Went right to work; explained what he was doing and going to do.  Problem resolved in 30-40 minutes.  Told me what to watch out for and how to help prevent such problems in the future.  I would use him again and recommend him to others.
Karen Z.
Karen Z.
8/24/2012
Mike answered the phone and was here in 15 minutes. Two drains cleaned and cleared in less than an hour. Mike was great - professional, kind, and reasonable; I highly recommend him.
kevin p.
kevin p.
3/19/2013
Mike came out and fixed our drain that had roots growing into it. Cost was reasonable and he got the job done. He responded quickly, too. He's not a barrel of laughs, so if you're looking to kick back after the job is done and trade football stories, he's not your guy. But, if we have the same problem again, I'll give him a call first.
Ant C.
Ant C.
3/23/2013
Mike arrived 10 mins after I called him, gave me an estimate before starting, worked quickly and professionally, and did a fantastic job, even making improvements he didn't charge for. Highly recommend him to anyone with basic plumbing issues (he chooses not to tackle complex jobs).
Nielson G.
Nielson G.
04/12/2013 12:00:00 SA
He-Man of All Plumbers.  Michael is a very honest, reliable (response in 20 minutes if he's available) and professional plumber.  For past clogged/weak toilets, leaks, handyman type work, etc. he gives honest and fair assessment of what's going on--he explains it in simple terms.  Believe you me I have called upon the services of the chain Roto, Toto, whatever plumber vans; but beyond a reasonable doubt, He-man is the best plumber by far in terms of response time, honesty, integrity, reliability, professionalism, and downright awesomeness. I have used him for my business and home.  Stop researching and hours on youtube how to unclog toilet, sink, whatever, give him a call today-I guarantee you won't regret it!
John R.
John R.
09/01/2013 12:00:00 SA
When we recently developed a clogged kitchen sink just before the dinner hour, I called He-Man Plumbing based on the amazing Yelp reviews I found when trying to decide who to call. Mike Riley exceeded all my expectations. Despite the traffic hour, he arrived in less than 20 minutes, and well within his minimum one hour charge he had us back up and running. Emergency calls like this are his only business, he likes doing it (Everyone is happy to see me.), and he's friendly and efficient. I hope not to need him again, but he's on the top of my list if I ever do need this kind of service.
Martin H.
Martin H.
5/16/2011
What to add to all the other rave reviews here? I agree! I've used Mike over a period of about five years and been totally pleased with him, his work, and his rates (which he'll quote ahead of time, unlike some places that will not do that, but rather come out to give a free estimate -- once they're at your place, there's a strong push to say go ahead and do it even if the quote is higher than it should be). Highly recommended.
J P.
J P.
10/17/2011
All the toilets were stuck.  Rotorooter came but could not help. After reading all the positive reviews, I gave Mike, the owner, a call.  Left a message and he called back in less than 30 minutes.  He promised to come at 4:30pm and he did.  After looking around and under the house, he figured out the cause and a solution to solve it.  He told me exactly how he was going to do it, how long it would take and how much he would charge. He did everything he said except it took a hour less.  Mike was very thorough. I am very satisfied with his workDef ike is definitely the person I will call for all the future plumbing problems.
Zachary Z.
Zachary Z.
11/27/2011
I had a sewer line block problem and Street plumbing service man (through my home warranty company) said that the main sewer line need to be replaced and could not fix the problem. It will be expensive as a portion of the line was under my patio concrete. So I found Michael through Yelp. I gave him a call on 11/22. He asked us the problems and gave me his rate ($120/hr and 1 hr min).  I said ok and he came after 1.5 hour as promised He fixed the problem by snaking the pipe and cleared the blockage. He did a thorough check using the camera and even found  a couple more of clear-out that we even don't know. The drain pipe was in pretty good condition and nothing need to be replaced. He was very professional and gave good suggestions. I would recommend him to others.
Janice M.
Janice M.
9/16/2012
My mom had an existing slow leak in her kitchen for over two weeks...she was waiting for my brother to fix this for her. Late Friday afternoon, 9/14 she called me in a panic. I searched YELP and found Mike AKA He-Man Plumbing. We spoke around 3 and he was out at my mom's in less than a hour! Mom's feedback was: efficient, clean job and great service. Mike thank you for being available and as she is on a fixed income (85) not gouging her either. I will consider you again before any of the big guys.
Kenny Q.
Kenny Q.
04/09/2013 12:00:00 SA
very professional, cannot be better than this. Called He-Man (Mike) close to noon today, was told he could be at my house in 5 minutes (My house is in palo alto). Showed up as promised. Took care of the clog by snaking from the roof, fixed the leak connection. Everything within an hour, charged $120 for the entire job (as informed during the first phone conversation). No glitch, no hidden cost, no nothing. Left a note with description of the problem and recommendation for the future. Nicely done, I must say, thanks a lot! This compels me to come up to write him this nice review.
Riley R.
Riley R.
4/15/2013
Mike Riley has to be the nicest most punctual plumber I have ever used. He always gets to the job done quickly and efficiently. He is very honest and even discusses rates up front. When he asked me if it was ok to charge a certain amount (which was reasonable) because it was a Saturday I was shocked. Highly recommend him.
Kristy H.
Kristy H.
10/21/2010
Mike solved the kitchen draing problem like a pro.  Wasted no time at all; one gets the feeling he has seen it all and knows every possible complication that could be causing problems, and what to do about it.  I'm new to the area, and learned that at the first sign of trouble, call the town first (if you're on a sewer), as they'll come immediately for free and confirm it's not a problem in their part of the line from house to street.  It wasn't.  Then I called another plumber who wasn't really a specialist in this area.  He only had a 20 foot snake to send down the sink pipe, and it didn't solve the problem.  That guy didn't charge me anything, very kind and honest, but told me to call a drain specialist.  So I found Mike on Yelp, and he climbed right up on the roof, went in through the vent, and cleared the problem.  Then he told me some useful things my particular pipes, that will help me keep them clog-free, and some ideas if I wanted to make changes to the pipes in the future.  He was just the right person for the job.  I agree with all that the other reviewers said.   And incidentally, on his business card, he indicates after his name PhD, Engineering, Stanford University.
Erick C.
Erick C.
7/15/2013
I called and left a message, and like the other reviewers experienced, Mike called back promptly. He also answers his own calls (as opposed to other companies that use well-intentioned operators that do not have plumbing knowledge and experience). He actually spent at least 5 minutes on the phone, trying to troubleshoot things. He then offered to come over right away, even though my issue was no emergency. Calls to other highly reviewed plumbers in the area resulted in offers for appointments in 7-14days. Mike showed up, did a quick evaluation and solved the problem within five minutes (turned out to be a very simple issue). He then told me that because it was so simple and took so little time, he would not charge me. I told him that I appreciated the offer, but would still like to pay him, and he agreed. I was impressed that he would make such an offer. I then asked him to look at a few minor plumbing issues around the house, and he solved all of those problems quickly, and even showed me what to do if these were to occur in the future. Mike strikes me as a man of great experience and integrity, and I would trust him with any future plumbing job (big or small). It was well worth the $120 for an hour of his time!

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