Dan R.

2/25/2012

This guy did a great job at a reasonable price. What more could you ask for? I had a badly clogged kitchen drain line. He was able to remove the blockage and replace some poorly done DIY plumbing that the previous home owner had installed.

Carmen S.

01/04/2014 12:00:00 SA

Zivko comes to the rescue once again! The pipe to our kitchen sink froze and Zivko came the next day to look at it. He recommended wrapping the pipe with heating tape due to the location, and to wait and see if that helps before considering moving the whole thing to prevent further freezing. We'll definitely call him if we need any other plumbing help.

Mahesh R.

05/04/2014 12:00:00 SA

There is no one better to call when your grandma decides to stuff a bunch of cucumber peels down the drain without running the disposal. Zivko showed up within 2 hours, squeezing us in between two appointments. As usual, Zivko found and fixed the problem with ease but also found poor plumbing design issues that were causing leaks. Though he was pressed for time, he stuck around and did what he could to fix the poor design issues. Fantastic mind, fantastic guy. Dont think twice, call payless.

Andy M.

09/06/2013 12:00:00 SA

Z was the man, super efficient and nice...he got back to me quickly and showed up as well as finished the job within about an hour. I recommend him for anyone looking for a plumber, also he's been doing it for 15 years and knows his stuff.

Patrick T.

01/11/2018 12:00:00 SA

Good work, and they do a good job of setting up appointments. You can do it all online, instead of trying to play phone tag.

h d.

3/26/2021

No problems at all. We'd use them again in a heartbeat, and plan to contact them to check our AC soon. Zivko came to check a noise in our furnace and talked to me about it pretty thoroughly. No fix needed, as far as he could tell. He did notice our hot water tank, though, and identified multiple problems with the way it was installed. We are newer to our house and know there was some deferred maintenance, so again he talked me through concerns and things to watch for. He sent a reasonable quote for replacing it, and then there was no pressure after that. When I finally got it together to schedule him, he came with another guy and were in and out so fast, and so clean. I can't say enough good things about him - I know more than I ever thought I'd know about hot water tanks now... it ended up being a much more urgent job than even he realized so we are pleased that he said something. It didn't feel like an upsell, etc. because Zivko was very clear he thought the furnace fix might eliminate a noise that wasn't a problem but that I'd just suddenly started to notice. I like these kinds of pros, and when they're as good as he is I really want to invite him to look around my whole entire house for stuff he, himself would want to address!!!

Steve L.

11/17/2017

Zivka is great. I messaged with him through Yelp and sent pictures of the problem. He was able to give me a quote and make it out within the week. He is very personable and very professional. Took care of the issue I knew about and pointed out the broken straps normally securing the pipes to the floor joist. Saved me from impending doom. Got right to work and did a fantastic job fixing a copper pipe that passed through a cinder wall and travelled into the crawl space. The final cost was just a little higher than quoted but acceptable with the additional strap placement.

Kevin R.

02/08/2019 12:00:00 SA

I was more than happy that Zivko waited for me to arrive home as I was running late stuck in traffic. Fixed my hot water heater quickly and provided great information for me to use in the future. Great customer service and will be used in the future when necessary. Responded to my messages within the hour. Still can't believe he waited for me to arrive when I know so many others would have left.

Give_Me_Sunshine S.

04/05/2021 12:00:00 SA

The plumber arrived on time and with all of the tools needed. He performed the job (changing a sump pump motor) efficiently. I appreciate that he took the time to point out some things about the tubing and the check value. He was very friendly, wore a mask, and asked permission about wearing shoes and locking the door while he went to his truck. He also threw in a free, quick repair of the kitchen faucet handle, something I very much appreciated.

I highly recommend him.

Ryan W.

08/03/2017 12:00:00 SA

Had a leak in the line supplying water to our refrigerator related to a old filter. Found and contacted Payless through Yelp and they lived up to the good reviews. Showed up right at the beginning of the promised timeframe, finished in about 45 minutes and the price was fair. Couldn't ask for anything more.

Svetlana I.

10/27/2015

We called Zivko twice. He replaced our kitchen faucet and then we had a leaky pipe in the basement-both jobs were very well done. He went above and beyond, explained what needed to be done and answered all follow up questions I had. He was punctual, professional, efficient and pleasure to work with.

I hope we will not need a plumber any time soon but if we do we will not think twice about who to call.

Thanks again, Zivko for all your hard work!

Steve L.

8/31/2016

Needed help fixing what the last plumber messed up. I should have called Payless Plumbing first. The last plumber left the shower valve rough-in sticking out about 1/2 too far, which meant the shower lever trim would not sit flush against the tile wall.

Zivko gave a ballpark estimate based on pictures I provided. In the end, when he discovered the fix was simpler than he had thought, he charged me less and also performed additional work (extended/cut bath spout rough-in, installed bath spout trim & caulked, caulked drain overflow trim, replaced shower spout).

I understand when the price must sometimes go up because of unexpected situations, but I appreciate Zivko's honestly and willingness to lower the price when things go unexpectedly well.

Also, he's got a wealth of plumbing knowledge/experience and has always been happy to educate on best practices for future DIY work, while on the job.

Also... in response to a negative review I see on yelp about charging too much for 30 minutes of work: there is probably a reason why he charged you $289 to replace a capacitor. If you ask someone how much it costs to replace a capacitor, you may get a lower price. But if you ask someone to fix a broken HVAC unit, will you even know which capacitor to replace, or that it is the capacitor, and not another part, that needs replacing? It's like how you pay a surgeon $10,000 to make a few tiny cuts in your body. Any idiot can make a cut in your body, but you pay the surgeon because he knows exactly where to make the cuts. Anyways, I promise I'm not a shill. Just sticking up for the Zivko since I'm still sore about my mistake of hiring a slightly cheaper plumber and paying twice to fix the first guy's mistakes.

Rainys Andrew B.

03/12/2020 12:00:00 SA

Zivko is a tremendous plumber. He's very personable and always suggests to you the most affordable options.

Barbara W.

3/31/2021

Zivko was quick in responding, in setting up an appointment and solving my clogged toilet problem. Excellent service.

Todd D.

08/06/2020 12:00:00 SA

I never write reviews, but this company does really good work. I don't have a lot to compare it to, but it took the plumber less time to remove and install the old toilet than it does for me to change my car battery - so he was in and out very quickly. The work was also really well done, he had a difficult situation with the way our floor was, but was able to handle it no problem - and was very up front about costs and explaining things to us.

Nina S.

2/23/2014

I had a problem with my toilet: my toilet is not straightforward but an ecoflush which required more work than someone like me knew how to fix when I had an issue. The whole thing needed to be replaced and I had to order the parts. Once my part arrived, I called Payless Plumbing. They were very responsive, able to show up at the last minute, and install my replacement part. As this was the only toilet in my apartment, I appreciated the responsiveness and flexibility. A job well done.

M J.

10/22/2012

Very friendly and courteous. Came in right on estimate.

Sonya B.

10/17/2019

I contacted this company based on the yelp reviews. Though, I indicated clearly and specifically my situation and need, I received one email follow up saying- need more information. I again restated the situation and need in even more detail, and I was never contacted.

Barbara C.

4/20/2012

Absolutely outstanding service!!!

Couldn't agree more with the previous posts about Zivko and Payless Plumbing. I've used Zivko on several occassions - anything from installing water lines, connecting basement kitchenette, adding more spigots outside my house, to just recently replacing a water heater. Every time I called, Zivko always showed up on time, diagnosed the problem, and explained what needs to be done. His prices are very reasonable and he's nice and easy to work with, and most of all, very knowledgable. Everything he's done in my house, whether it was a year ago, or two weeks ago, still works. I am a very happy customer and would strongly recommend Zivko and Payless Plumbing to all my friends and family.

J L.

12/21/2015

woke up with no heat on a cold Sat morning. Went to Yelp and called a few HVAC guys with top reviews. Payless plumbing and heating came first and fixed the problem within an hour. Zivko is honest & efficient. And his service charge is reasonable. He is also fun to talk to. Would highly recommend his service

Jean-Louis R.

10/06/2022 12:00:00 SA

Zivko and his trainee arrived on time and in a jolly mood, which was just great with me! After diagnosing the several issues I noted in our new home, they went to work to fix the most urgent ones, taking the time to explain things while repairing/adjusting.
In the end, all of the smaller issues were dealt with swiftly, and I've received and estimate for the larger issue.
Not sure we'll embark on the more important work quite yet, but I am thoroughly satisfied with this outfit and recommend them without hesitation.

Ann L.

4/27/2018

He did a great job and explained everything he was going to do. He was very thorough and quite reasonable.

Ruslan P.

5/15/2020

Bottom line: yes hire them.

My water heater disintegrated in the middle of the night, flooding the basement with gallons of hot water. Frustrated and tired after sleepless night, I started looking for plumbers. Payless plumbing was among my first and top choices. The company had good reviews both on Yelp and Angie's list. I emailed the owner, explained the situation, send some pictures, and received a quote within minutes. Oh yes, it was Sunday, Mother's Day. I emailed Zivko many times after that, asking additional questions and looking for options. Zivko responded promptly and always on point. Long story short, after spending several days looking for plumbers, and receiving many quotes, I returned to Payless plumbing. Their price was fair and I respected straightforward answers to my questions. The installation went great. They arrived on-time, worked efficiently, and left the place in pristine condition. They respected the codes and did not cut any corners. Great experience overall.

Jake H.

4/20/2021

Quick in responding and setting an appointment, had everything he needed to get the job done the first time, even on our old shower. Showed up with a mask on and took his shoes off when he came in, both of which were greatly appreciated. His work was quick and efficient, and his price was reasonable. He'll be my first call the next time I need a plumber.

Brett D.

12/21/2022

Payless was super responsive to my Yelp inquiry, discussing all the necessary details to complete the work, and working around my busy schedule. They came out the next day and completed a very challenging venting task exactly as I had hoped it would be done. I can't recommend them enough!

Jenny M.

10/03/2013 12:00:00 SA

I joined Yelp, just to give Zivko a review! He's your plumber if you live in DC. Reasonable rates, pride in his work, does what he says he will, and dedicated to building a loyal, long-term customer-base.

We've used him for annual servicing of our central AC and radiator heating units, and unlike the past two companies, he didn't try to sell us on upgrading our systems and in fact, told us favorable news of maintaining our current unit with minor modifications.

We haven't needed him for water issues (knock on pipes) but have peace of mind in knowing that we have our plumber, if that day should arrive. Better to text or email him, has been our experience as Zivko's a one-man operation and doesn't like picking up calls with a wrench and plunger in-hand. Deserves all 5 stars.

Waleed Y.

4/22/2016

Very professional resource, he took the time to explain to me why he cannot do the job and I should be going to a Sprinkler system professional for help.

Stephen H.

8/16/2022

Payless provided a quick and accurate estimate for work on an exterior faucet and was able to come out the very next day. Team is respectful, kind, and effective. Willing to explain work before, during, and after. Would recommend for any plumbing work - five stars all around

Sharon H.

6/14/2014

Zivko did a super job. 100% recommend.

We had a leak from the pipe to our outdoor spigot into our basement. Not a good thing to hear water rushing and not seeing it come out of the hose. Zivko called me back right away and came promptly, as promised. He had to do some investigating to figure out where the pipe was and finally came to the conclusion that he could not access the broken pipe and had to go around the pipe and install a new spigot. We scheduled an appointment the following week. He called us to tell us he was able to come back earlier to complete the job. Great work, great value, great person.

S. Leigh G.

7/29/2012

From start to finish Payless has been easy to work with, responsive, efficient and extremely professional. In addition to being multi-talented, Zivko's attention to detail is laudable. He uncovered a potential serious issue when he noticed, through a floor opening, that a sink in the half bath was not connected to the sewer line, but rather draining to the crawl space! The area was exposed as a result of having new floors installed. He fixed it on the spot and the floor project was able to continue without delay.

We have hired Payless Plumbing on multiple occasions and would not hesitate to do so in the future. You can hire Payless Plumbing with confidence.

Marketta K.

02/06/2018 12:00:00 SA

Zivko was prompt courteous and very reasonably prized. I have used his services before, too, and always been happy with the results. I wholeheartedly recommend Payless Plumbing and Heating for any plumbing or heating problems.

David M.

8/22/2020

Showed up same day on Saturday to check out our water heater that was having issues. It seemed to be working by the time he showed up, discussed what might be causing intermittent issue and will return when issue arises again. Prompt service, courteous, and did not try to talk us into anything unnecessary. Will call again.

T L.

03/07/2022 12:00:00 SA

Provided next day service for a clogged kitchen sink. Fast, friendly, and honest. Will hire again.

Tara S.

8/30/2012

My fiance and I recently moved to the area and needed a plumber, saw the excellent reviews, and decided to call Payless. We needed someone urgently, and Zivko arrived within 15 minutes after we called.

He quickly diagnosed the problem and gave us a repair estimate significantly lower than we'd gotten from another plumber. He did the work in no time. He's a really friendly guy, fast, responsive, and reasonably priced -- what more could you ask for in a plumber?

We'll definitely call Zivko next time we have a problem!

Jon K.

09/11/2016 12:00:00 SA

Let me tell you Zivko is the absolute best, I'm glad I found him again. He came out to fix a broken sink in our basement laundry room. I had lost his business card but my wife recently found it and I'm glad she did. I have a home and a condo that I rent. A few weeks ago, I had the AC unit run out of freon at my condo and I had a new renter in there. I needed someone fast and I couldn't find Zivko's card so I ended up hiring someone that overcharged me, never again. When my wife found Zivko's card we had a sink that was leaking in the basement and Zivko came out right away and fixed it. He is an absolute pro, you will not find someone in his profession who is more honest, has better rates, and wants to do right by his customers. He is a genuine nice guy who will do his best to solve your problem. He deserves way more than 5 stars too. The absolute best!!!

Robin R.

6/19/2019

What more can I say - best price, arrived on time, explained the work , cleaned up, showed end product
Polite efficient outstanding

Pete E.

01/05/2016 12:00:00 SA

Called Payless Plumbing to deal with a blocked kitchen double sink. Zivko called back within an hour and said he would be over in 40 minutes. What should have been a simple 1 hour snake clean out with a 60' wire turned into a 6 hour marathon. About 20 feet in it became really difficult. Turns out my original contractor (since gone out of business 8 years ago) took some shortcuts and installed T junction and capped one end of the drainage pipe. The snake turned the wrong direction and ended up punching through the cap and then kinking. After removing some drywall and drop ceiling tiles Zivko was able to cut the snake in order to free it and completely replace the damage pipe and junction and remove the blockage. He very kindly reduced the cost as the snake clean out did not fix the original problem.
Payless is very committed to its customers - highly recommend.

Lavinia K.

11/08/2019 12:00:00 SA

I've used Payless Plumbing multiple times and can't say enough good things about them. Always clean and courteous. Prompt response. Knowledgeable and willing to think outside the box.

Jennifer H.

06/06/2016 12:00:00 SA

While I did not contract with this company because we weren't in their servicing area, they did reply promptly to my request for a quote and even provided a possible reason for why my A/C wasn't working. I appreciated both the quick response and the information.

Kerstin H.

6/26/2021

Zivko responded quickly to my messages and came out at the appointed time. He got the job done quickly (replacing 6' section of copper water pipe), including a run to the store to get parts he didn't have in his van. He did charge $50 more than the price range he quoted $350-$450. I figured he had contingencies figured into the range. But still a good experience.

Sandeep S.

7/31/2023

Our AC stopped working during the heat wave and they responded within 20 minutes with an appointment for the next day on Saturday which we were grateful for. He was punctual, kind, and took the time to explain what he was and wasn't seeing. He figured out the issue was a dead pump and he replaced it quickly. He didn't try to upcharge me in any way and even explained why I didn't need to do more expensive work (I was worried about the fan motor noise, which resolved when he fixed the pump). Lastly, he was kind of enough to also replace an outdoor pipe that I asked about last minute, which saved me money on the diagnostic fee for having someone come out again. Overall amazing customer service and work, would hire again.

Pratik P.

12/22/2018

Great guy. Very freindly and knowledgeble. Replaced hot water heater expansion tank. Quick response. Gave some good suggestion on maintainence.

Amy H.

8/25/2013

Went to my basement on Friday night to get a screwdriver and stepped into a puddle of water...not good. Saw that my ac unit was condensing and dripping water from the pan, all of which was nicely soaking into my carpet. Knowing that I didnt have time to screw around, went to yelp and saw the reviews for local shops, Payless plumbing and Zivko getting high marks. Though it was after hours I left a message and expected a phone call in the morning. 2 hours later I get a text from Zivko that he can be at my house at 9 am to diagnose the issue. I was totally impressed with his expediency.

9am comes and he's at the door on the dot and quickly finds the issue. Not only does he fix it but explains to me potential risks of the original design of the system that led to the issue, then went on to fix the root cause so it would not happen again.

What was fantastic was his thinking of how the entire system operates, not just looking for a problem and fixing only that issue. Zivko thinks about the big picture and what he needs to do to fix your problem today, AND prevent it and others from happening in the future.

His rates were fantastic. No matter, throughout the whole process I got the feeling that his goal was to his best work, not to take my money. Which i would happily give to him again for any plumbing needs in the future, he is a fantastic guy to work with.

Don't even give it a second thought, call Zivko and Payless if you need this service.

Ann C.

7/27/2016

Our central AC stopped blowing cold air. We noticed the fan on the unit stopped running. My family member is usually one to fix things for us when things break down, but unfortunately, we couldn't go to him because of a family emergency. We went with Payless Plumbing because of the good reviews whose authenticity I highly question at this point.

Made it on time for appointment and was very responsive with communication. I would prefer to be told the price of repair after checkup to see if I wanted to proceed. Didn't think it would be that much as I watched him install a generic capacitor to fix the fan. I thought maybe that's why he went ahead and did it without telling me the price.

I was definitely surprised when my total came to $289 some less than 30 minutes later. This was the price for part, labor and diagnostic. Called around afterwards to check if this is the normal rate. The ones I contacted quoted $150 for parts and labor including diagnostics.

I definitely feel overcharged and will try one of the other companies I contacted next time there's a problem. I'm looking for a reliable company I could trust to turn to, and this one is unfortunately not it.

Barbara R.

2/16/2017

Awesome service. The plumber arrived in less than an hour, identified the problem, and fixed it. The price was reasonable as well. I will be calling this plumber again.

Brian M.

05/02/2017 12:00:00 SA

I found Zivko from Yelp and have had him come out several times to do work on my old, outdated house. He is very quick, friendly, and professional. He also takes the extra step to help you understand the problem and ensure you are getting the best service from him.

Highly recommend him!

Laurie M.

10/20/2016

Super helpful on phone with photos to help with problem! Will use them again! Fast replies!

Joy B.

12/16/2013

Payless Plumbing did a wonderful job replacing my hot water heater. Zivko was honest and reliable. He spent a lot of time explaining to me the various brands of heaters and what type to purchase. He got the water heater for me and installed it the same day. He showed up at the agreed upon time and worked diligently until the job was completed. He did a great job. I would recommend him highly.

Darren B.

12/19/2017

This is my go-to plumber for leaky toilets and pipes now. I had a different toilet leaking and he fixed it fast and correctly and for a fair price. He installed manufacturer parts (OEM) for what needed to be replaced too. That's important. A lot people don't. He does.

Vilnius B.

7/19/2018

I needed a valve to be replaced because the old one was faulty. The sillcock was also old but functioning.
I contacted the owner of Payless Plumbing and Heating (his first name was Zivko) via the Yelp website and email. He responded in less than 30 minutes.
I thought he'd come out with the same propane torch like I tried to use when I failed to heat the copper pipe to the proper temperature.
Instead he came out with a machine that somehow provides enough pressure to clamp rubber seals inside special copper connectors.
It worked like a charm!
And to top it off Zivco also added a sillcock (he called it a hose bib) for a nominal extra fee. The full cost was much less than you'd expect to pay if you call one of the bigger plumbing companies.
This is one very satisfied customer who will call him again when I have another plumbing project that I can't do myself.
One final comment: you couldn't meet a more friendly and personable plumber than Zivco. A genuinely decent guy.

Patrick C.

09/07/2022 12:00:00 SA

AC failed on move in day to the new house, after DIY filter change and letting it rest did not fix things I contacted Payless the next morning. They were out in an hour and diagnosed the problem as a broken capacitor.

They also identified several other HVAC issues that we were aware of from our pre-move in inspection and offered to fix them on the spot which was great. Friendly and explained the work they were doing and demonstrated for me how the previous capacitor was failing a test.

Cliff B.

08/10/2015 12:00:00 SA

I got in touch with Payless Plumbing on Yelp and they got back to me immediately. They said a plumber would arrive at my home around 8:00 A.M, which he did. The guy they sent, unfortunately I don't have his name, was friendly informative and got right to work. He was finished repairing the pipe, to my water heater, in less then 1 hour. The soldering job on the pipe was seamless. When he finished the job, he didn't have a invoice, but promised he'd mail me one, which I received in 2 days. I was more then happy. Just wish I knew his name,which wasn't legible on the invoice.

N K.

03/03/2013 12:00:00 SA

Zivko is a great plumber, honest, dependable, friendly, supremely competent. I got a referral from my usual handyman and was not disappointed at all. He fixed a drip in my furnace by installing an overflow tank. He explained everything and charged an extremely reasonable rate. When I was concerned about some water I found by the furnace, he came right over and didn't charge me for the visit. He stands by his work and doesn't gouge his customers. He's a great guy too!

Harry A.

07/08/2017 12:00:00 SA

Awesome guy, extremely detailed, and very accommodating with his time to get my sink leak fixed properly.

Marilyn P.

06/11/2014 12:00:00 SA

KIVKO...he is a plumbing angel! My lively and spry 87-year old mom has had another plumbing company out to fix her outside faucets however, they never fixed anything even after a second attempt. We have since noticed that everyone in the neighborhood that has used them also has had them for the same problem more than once. (Hint: They have TV ads touting their work and the company goes by a three letter mans name ... the Plumber.) Well no more nonsense and no more outrageous bills...from now on we will always use and highly recommend the best...Payless Plumbing...Kivko you are the best! Not only did he return the phone call promptly, he was there shortly after exactly when he said he would be (a rarity these days)...he was so nice, polite, knowledgeable and so reasonable! Best part the faucets are fixed and work perfectly!!! What a remarkable find--thank you YELP! ....Mom is happy again!

J L.

5/27/2014

To our recently moved-in house that is over 70 years old, Zivko from Payless Plumbing performed the work to replace the original galvanized water pipe with copper. This involved tearing out a good chunk of the front yard, and using heavy construction equipment. Zivko was very thorough in explaining the entire process, and performed the work exactly as promised.

Furthermore, he has been extremely responsive and helpful in resolving various unrelated water issues I've had since then. His patience in dealing with my late night texts asking questions, and his solution to one of the issues determined from camera phone pictures, is very much appreciated. He will be our go-to guy on all things plumbing in the future.

E V.

08/02/2012 12:00:00 SA

Another great review for Payless Plumbing! I called them and he agreed to come out that same day if I was home. Since I was not home, he came the next day. He was right on time (even a few minutes early) which is always a plus.

He also explained everything he needed to do and didn't pressure me to do any additional work. His rate was good and he fixed the job quickly. When I didn't have the replacement parts he ran to Home Depot to get them and then came back and finished the job. No hourly nickel and diming - he told me the rate for what needed to be fixed and let me choose if I wanted to do it or not.

Gabby M.

08/06/2018 12:00:00 SA

Great service. Zivko was punctual, amiable and professional. Would definitely recommend him without hesitation. Give him a try.

Bill R.

02/01/2019 12:00:00 SA

Needed a new hot water heater in a hurry and requested proposals from three different plumbers, including Payless. Payless responded immediately, and as the name might suggest, was the most price-competitive of the three. I especially liked that they were able to quote the job based solely on photos of the existing equipment, which many plumbers are unwilling to do. The installation experience was just as painless. They arrived on time, did top-quality work, thoroughly tested the new heater, explained its operation, hauled away the old one, and cleaned up after themselves. The owner, Zivko, is extremely courteous and personable, and totally committed to customer satisfaction. Can't say enough good things about him and his firm. Will definitely use again.

Rich W.

01/05/2019 12:00:00 SA

Once again Zivko came to the rescue. After a pinhole leak ruptured in our ceiling last night, I had to shut off the main water supply valve. We called him first thing in the morning, When he didn't call back right away, my wife suggest we try another plumber, but I insisted that we wait for Zivko. He responded an hour or so later (he may have been on another job), and showed up at the promised time. He diagnosed the site of the leak, replaced a length of defective pipe that he pointed out already had a half-dozen self-sealing leaks, showed my daughter how to sweep up the debris, and was out the door like a bearded Mary Poppins. I can't speak highly enough of him!

Jason A.

06/03/2014 12:00:00 SA

While in escrow on our house, thieves stole a claw foot bathtub by sawing through the taps. (See below.) We'd tried to cap the lines, but failed. Zivko did an excellent job finding a solution to my unique problem that enabled us to turn the water back on in the whole house. I also paid him to rehabilitate a basement toilet that I plan to replace after the rest of the renovations are competed. This old toilet now functions well and is a great alternative to having a porto-loo in our front yard during construction! Many thanks Zivko!

For those, like me, who've never heard of such a ridiculous crime, here's the back story. This bath tub is the only thing they took, and they knew exactly what they were doing, mostly. They did shut the water off before cutting through the pipes, but did not open a tap anywhere to bleed the lines. Our main shut off is very old and slightly incomplete. As a consequence, pressure built during the four days between the theft and the discovery so water leaked from the attic to the main level causing considerable damage to the plaster walls and the hardwood floors. Oh, and they were very sloppy in how they got this tub down three flights of stairs and out the front door. Did they not realize how HEAVY cast iron is? Good grief.

It's truly amazing what some people feel entitled to take. Worst of all, this original bathroom was in the best shape and a fairly simple restoration. My guess is that it was someone from the former occupant's moving crew that spotted it and made a plan to steal it, but that's pure speculation. (The owner was elderly and moving away; the odds of her taking it are nil.)

But hey, this gave me the opportunity to meet a creative plumber I'll call in the future!

Anthony H.

3/15/2016

I called for some help with a busted toilet and a leaking sink. Both were repaired quickly and the prices were very fair.
I would/ will use this company again.

Kim B.

7/14/2016

Very skilled, great work. Good communication and personable. Highly recommend!

Russ G.

9/28/2020

We've found our new plumber! We used to have a terrific plumber--reliable, well-priced, did amazing work, but he retired. Since then, we've had mediocre work at insane prices and plumbers that would come in pairs and waste a lot of time--with one of them standing around a lot.

We hired Zivko to replace some copper tubing that was leaking and poorly soldered and reinstall a tub spout. He was on-time, super friendly, explained things really clearly, did quality work, did it fast (he installed two local shut-off valves in literally a few minutes) and the price was really reasonable.

There's a reason this guy has so many 5-star reviews.

John F.

11/25/2019

I agree with the others I have read here.

I had a new toilet and kitchen & bathroom faucets installed.

It was a very pleasant experience from the first time they came into to look at the work and the day it was completed.

It was professional in every way and a sincere pleasure to have them do the work.

Shawn D.

01/02/2018 12:00:00 SA

Zivka is amazing! He responded quickly when our heat went out midday. It is true that email works best. He solved the problem with creative ideas and didn't overcharge. He is definitely our go to plumber!

MJ T.

7/22/2018

Great work, fair prices, and takes the time to explain what going on and what is required to fix the issue. Will definitely use them again.

Claire P.

7/15/2014

I clogged the toilet with lysol wipes,so embarrassing. Tried everything to fix the situation myself but after a few days and trips to home depot, gave up. Zivko came right away and fixed the problem for me. His price was fair- I think better than other plumbers in the area especially given his good customer service and punctuality as well as knowledge. He explained my entire water system to me! Also,I liked that I could text with Zivko because I am in the generation that hates making calls. Really glad we went with Zivko.

Ryan A.

08/03/2022 12:00:00 SA

Very efficient and very effective! I reached out about a busted diverter in our shower, and he came the next morning to replace it. I'm so glad we found a great local plumber--we will definitely use Payless next time we need help!

Kati E.

11/14/2014

Zivko came out on Saturday, he was very helpful and the service was remarkable. Highly recommended.

Lawrence R.

07/09/2022 12:00:00 SA

Another 5 Star experience. Water all over my Mom's basement around the water heater. Zivko was there super promptly. Correctly diagnosed that it was the AC drain line, not the heater. Could easily have sold me a new WH. Gotta love it when your tradesman doesn't upsell you.

Patrick B.

07/09/2021 12:00:00 SA

I had a tricky problem with getting a sump pump to drain properly. Zivko responded quickly to my request, then spent a good amount of time thinking through a solution to this unique problem. Issue solved. Thank you Zivko, I'm so pleased that you sorted this out!

Rob P.

09/11/2016 12:00:00 SA

Zivko was extremely helpful! My partner and I thought we were going to have to spend significant money to cut into concrete to repair a leaky pipe, but Zivko quickly identified the issue as one that required minimal effort to repair (a seal needing to be replaced). He could've easily taken advantage of our naivete but didn't. He also took some time after finishing the repair to help us anticipate our needs for a future remodel that will require some plumbing work. He was very friendly and outgoing and was very fast to respond to my initial request. Altogether it took less than 48 Hours from when I contacted him for him to get back to me, schedule the appointment and complete the requested service. I will definitely use Payless Plumbing again!

Sean S.

8/26/2016

After a quick back and forth over Yelp email system we agreed upon a price and time for the repair. Zivko was on time and completed the work in a professional manner. Price was quite reasonable IMO. He took the time to explain the repair and walked me through the testing so I could see that everything was taken care of properly with no negative side effects. Looks like we found our new go to plumber!

Philip L.

02/08/2023 12:00:00 SA

Fast, responsive, reasonable price, good work - what more do you want from plumber? We had him install a garbage disposal for us - no drama, and all worked out. Will be hiring again!

Jonathan S.

1/25/2021

Courteous, friendly and quick. Not only fixed the problem but explained why it had happened and how to prevent it from happening again. Top notch professional.

Bradley M.

8/22/2012

Absolutely outstanding. Great, fast, reliable and friendly service. And very good pricing. In one trip, Zivko fixed two running toilets and my AC. All of this in a couple of hours and for a very reasonable price. If you need a plumber, Zivko is the one to call.

Amanda C.

10/20/2019

Great experience from start to finish! The owner was very quick to respond to my quote request and came to our house to evaluate the problem within a few days (he could have come sooner but my schedule couldn't accommodate it). He was also very knowledgeable and fixed the issue during the same visit. Our water heater is working perfectly now and he also followed up a few days later to make sure the issue was resolved. Would definitely recommend this business, and will plan to use them again in the future!

Andrew Y.

6/30/2014

We had Zivko come to our home twice to address plumbing issues in our home. On both occasions he was professional, thorough, and able to effectively fix the problems. Zivko didn't just treat the jobs as repairs and simply left, but took the time to explain to us what the problem was, how the problem occurred, how he was going to fix it, and what to do to prevent the problem from repeating itself in the future. I was impressed by his candor and willingness to share his insight with the customer.

Zivko was able to correct plumbing issues that existed when our home was first built and the errors made by the previous homeowner. Zivko was able to replace our garbage disposal with a new one he already had on hand. He was well prepared and properly equipped. His rates were also fair.

If you have plumbing issues, I would not hesitate to recommend Payless Plumbing. I'm grateful that I contacted Payless Plumbing first before attempting any repairs myself. I would have likely made things worse without Zivko's help!

Christina D.

7/16/2014

These five star reviews are all correct! We had a clogged outside drain that was backing up and leading to rain water getting in our basement. With all the very bad thunderstorms we've had, I called first thing in the morning because we were expecting thunderstorms later that day. Z called and said that we didn't even need to come home from work, he would take care of it. And he did! Problem solved. And the price was reasonable. We have found a new plumber!

John B.

5/21/2015

I was extremely happy with the work, and he explained every issue with my HVAC very well. I'm more prepared to properly maintain and repair it myself now, and if there are any problems I can't handle I am certainly planning to call him back.

Tony C.

7/28/2015

We had an AC problem over the weekend and needed help fast due to hosting guests, including my wife's elderly grandmother. I contacted 3 places on Yelp that received high marks and Payless is the only one who responded the same day. Made it hard to compare pricing, but it was an emergency.

Zivko communicated by text to discuss the problem and he arrived on Sunday morning around 9am. He quickly diagnosed the problem and more. He found other issues with the setup of our AC system that needed to be resolved and though he lacked the proper part Sunday morning he returned that afternoon and installed the broken part.

Bottom line is that I was very impressed with the speed, quality and overall skill demonstrated by Zivko. We are so glad to have found a good, local, quality HVAC service!

Bill C.

05/02/2018 12:00:00 SA

Arrived at the time he said he would. Very thorough. Charged me less than the quote.
Had the clog cleared in no time.

Elizabeth L.

05/02/2019 12:00:00 SA

This is the third time I have used this company. This is a small business and Zivko works hard. He has replaced a gas water heater in my home and fixed a leak in the ceiling from the bathtub upstairs. He replaced a gas water heater at my dad's as well. He is very good at what he does and he does not upsell. Don't hesitate to use this hardworking small business.

Jeff V.

8/13/2021

Zivko is the master plumber you want no matter your plumbing need. We asked four plumbers for estimates to replace two non-standard tub spouts and his was the most competitive, so we went with him since his Yelp reviews were good. He found a solution to a tricky issue with one replacement that was the cost-friendly alternative. He talked about some of the details about why he was doing certain steps certain ways and it was actually quite interesting. He was very friendly, wore a mask, and asked permission about wearing shoes in the house. He has a high-energy personality, and is both funny and witty. He snaked the tub out no extra charge (using our snake) and did a better job than I had because he had a trick to twist the snaked a lot and inch the snake back up while twisting. That got out more daughter's long hair than I ever did by a lot! Highly recommend.

Kelly K.

7/30/2023

Payless Plumbing is EXPENSIVE! My experience with Payless Plumbing was similar to that of another reviewer (Beth S. of Bethesda, MD who left a Yelp review in 2019). When my AC broke, Zivko could not fix it for me either. Beth wrote in her review that she had to pay the diagnostic fee and so she used up money and a lot of time by trying Payless. Despite that, in the end, we still had a broken AC. Well, I would have been fine with paying just the diagnostic fee to find out that my AC was not repairable. I not only paid the diagnostic fee but because the technician put 5 lbs of refrigerant in my AC in an attempt to get it to work, my total bill came out to be $759. Who knew that refrigerant was so expensive! He informed me that refrigerant was expensive right before telling me how much I owed him for his services. while trying to repair the air conditioner, he told me the compressor must have had issues in the past because he saw that there was a hard start capacitor installed in the unit, but he didn't tell me up front that putting in the refrigerant was going to be costly and might end up being a total waste of money. Well, all that refrigerant and his efforts to start the compressor failed to work in the end, and I was still left with a broken AC. When I contacted Zivko (the technician/owner) a couple of hours after he left my house to let him know that the AC was still not working, he said he did all he could and that I needed to replace the compressor or the AC. I asked him for a quote for a new AC, and I was hoping that he would give me some sort of a discount knowing that he got paid $759 but i was still left with a non-working AC. I think he did make an effort to give me a break and gave me quotes for different options for new AC installation. Well, it turned out that his quotes were several hundred dollars more expensive than other quotes I got.
In fact, the best price he was willing to give me was $800 more expensive than the quote I got from the company that I ended up hiring (and yes, it was for the exact same AC that Zivko gave me a quote for). I learned from this experience that Payless Plumbing's rates are not that that good. So, even though Zivko is a nice guy, it would not be worth it for me to use them again.

Justin And Meredith D.

7/19/2012

We are so excited to offer yet another stellar review of Zivko.

He came out to our house on the same day we had called him. In the middle of a rainstorm, he avoided disaster by snaking and recapping a drain that was about to overflow into our basement.

He was fast, had quality work, and was very reasonable with his pricing. We have already called Zivko to come on back to help with larger projects as we continue larger home renovations.

Laura S.

08/12/2021 12:00:00 SA

Zivko installed our new 50 gallon electric water heater. His quote was excellent--made me realize what a rip off the big guys are! He was good with communication, even texted the next day to make sure all was well. We are very happy with the service and happy to have a new plumber to call when we need one!

Jamila M.

5/24/2018

PPH has serviced my home on several occasions and he is AWESOME! He's prompt, informative, communicative and friendly. Always great service and competitive prices.

Nicole W.

5/19/2015

Zivko is the best! My A/C went out while my husband was away on business and my two little boys were sweating it out in our home while is was 90 degrees outside plus humidity. I called every company in a panic and Payless is the only one that agreed to come out the next day. In a matter of hours Zivko had replaced a motor that had burnt out and had my A/C woking again. On top of it all, my A/C is made by a company that no longers exists, nor do their parts. He went to 3 shops to find a comparable part that would be compatible. I am so happy with his service. Additonally, we was very nice and charged a reasonable price.

Rob L.

07/11/2020 12:00:00 SA

Very quick and easy repair.

I had a leak under the kitchen sink. I tried checking the connections and couldn't figure it out. The plumber came over and found the leak that I missed in about 1 minute. Mildly embarrassing for my own sense of DYI pride, but I can't argue with the repair.

If I have a plumbing issue in the future, I'll be calling Payless back for sure.

Sunny G.

07/10/2017 12:00:00 SA

Great service, explained everything. Arrived on time and was available the day of. Thanks

Matthew B.

4/20/2023

Quoted 200, charged 489. 90 minutes in the house total. The job was just a clogged drain that got a little complicated. Could have replaced the entire sink for that cost.

Megan D.

12/23/2015

Zivko was great! He worked with our limited schedule and got the job done quickly and efficiently. He was very informative and let us know if our sink gave us additional problems that he would come back and fix it for no additional cost.

M C.

9/17/2018

I needed an external drain snaked on a recently purchased home. I haven't moved in yet, so going to the house to meet contractors is time consuming. Zivko was willing to stop by the house and perform the job without me there and within just a few hours of contacting him.

He was efficient, polite, and spoke with me on the phone afterward about what he saw and with tips about keeping the drain clear moving forward. He also sent me pictures and a video of the work he performed. Couldn't have asked for more! Great experience!

Renny B.

12/28/2017

Zivka was quick to respond to my request and was able to sort out the issue with my HVAC system in a morning. I also feel like he charged a fair price. I'm very grateful for his service. Thank you!

Lauren H.

10/04/2015 12:00:00 SA

Loved working with Zivko! He was fast, knowledgable, and efficient. Correctly diagnosed the problem and worked quickly to fix it. A job that he thought might take 2-3 hours to fix he was able to complete in 1.5 hours. Highly recommend.

Tim V.

11/20/2012

Zivko did a great job for us. We just moved to a new home. He showed up on time, explained everything he was doing, gave me a little tutorial on my mechanicals, and showed me a number of things that were above and beyond what he needed to do. Very personable, polite, reasonable price.

Tad P.

12/15/2018

I had Payless Plumbing come to replace some long outdated pipes and install new hardware in a shower. Zivko was prompt, courteous, knowledgeable, efficient and clean. He walked me through everything he was going to do before he started the job and again walked me through everything he did once he finished the job. I will 100% use him again for any of my plumbing needs. Highly recommend!

Josy S.

03/08/2019 12:00:00 SA

Great, very responsive and timely. Friendly and honest. Would definitely recommend to anyone looking for a plumber in the area

Michael F.

7/18/2019

The installed a water heater and were helpful courteous and professional the quality of the work was great I couldn't be more pleased and if we need work done in the future I'd seek them out again.

Louis P.

9/19/2017

Based on other Yelp reviews, I decided to contact Payless Plumbing to replace the valves in my house. Initially it was 4 and Zivko was a really nice guy and was able to get them relatively quickly. Called him a few days later to replace another 6 valves and, again, he was able to come by quickly and get them replaced. Was also very helpful in explaining the issue(s) as well as offer up some advice to me for replacing a couple other items in the house. Overall, really happy with the jobs he performed as they were both done quickly and reasonably priced. Now that he's replaced all the valves in the house I can move forward on a couple other projects. Great guy and excellent plumber.

Sarah S.

2/25/2019

Responsive and very helpful. Contacted the company due to my heating going out on a saturday evening. Company was honest saying they could come out on Sunday for a surcharge, but it would probably not do much considering parts stores were closed. Came out on Monday, took a look, and quickly diagnosed the issue. Very pleasant to deal with, would work with again.

Gerry B.

01/05/2015 12:00:00 SA

My main water supply gate valve into the house started dripping after WSSC installed a new water meter. This was the first valve from the street into the house so will need to have WSSC shut off the line to the house if Zivko cannot stop the drip.
With a small turn of his pliers, he got the leak to stop, and showed me how to tweak the valve again if necessary. Its a thirty year old valve, so it will need replacing in the future at some point, but thanks to Payless, I can now schedule that time instead of the valve scheduling it.
Still not happy with WSSC, valve wasn't leaking before this, called their customer service line, not their problem.

Renee N.

10/08/2021 12:00:00 SA

My garbage disposal stopped working. It was Saturday and I was expecting company that evening. I called several plumbers that said they were open 24/7 or at least on Saturday. Payless responded quickly and true to their name had the lowest price. He said he would be at my home with 90 minutes and he was. He quickly diagnosed the problem, unjammed the disposal and handed me a rather chewed up dime. The cause of the problem. I was very pleased with Payless Plumbing and will call them again.

Beth S.

5/17/2019

Very polite, but when our AC broke, he could not fix it. We paid the diagnostic fee, so we used up money and a lot of time by trying Payless. Despite that, in the end, we still had a broken AC. When we did have it fixed by another company, it turns out that the issue wasn't anything exotic. It was a run of the mill issue.

Joan R.

9/24/2013

We absolutely agree with all of the other 5 star reviews for Zivko at Payless Plumbing! He was here this afternoon, took care of several problems including a clogged shower drain, a leak under the kitchen sink and a splashy toilet, . He was able to diagnose each problem and fix it efficiently. As he went along, he noticed other small nuisances that had been bothering us, pointed these out from his side and quickly fixed them as well. He is very knowledgeable and a truly delightful person! His rates are quite reasonable and, no doubt, considerably better than most other plumbers we might have called. We're very grateful to Yelp reviewers for having steered us to him. Highly recommend!!

Brandon S.

10/15/2012

Zivko truly is as good as it gets. He arrived on time, was professional, nice as can be, did great work, and the best part was the price. He charged me $110 for the same job another a-hole plumber wanted over $600 for. I'm not kidding. It actually sickens me that I even let that other plumber in my home. I will actually be calling Zivko again soon, because I need his helping fixing a problem he told me I could probably do my self for about $3. I was willing to pay $600 and he said I could do it myself for $3!! That really sums up Payless.

Kash A.

01/06/2019 12:00:00 SA

I called and left several messages and never got a call back. I suppose this company could have been busy, or didn't want to do the job, but the least you could do is call and say that you're not willing or too tied up to do it. Not sure why they have a 100% response rate.

Syj T.

10/10/2017 12:00:00 SA

Zivko is simply awesome! We reached out to him after reading his positive Yelp reviews. He is very responsive and knowledgeable. He diagnosed the problem and gave us a great price for replacing the water heater and pipes. We weren't able to stay home for the inspection due to work schedule conflicts. He proactively waited at our house for the inspector and communicated the results to us right after. Of course, the inspection passed! He will be only plumber we call from now on!

El B.

02/07/2019 12:00:00 SA

Disclaimer: I haven't used their service at all. This quote is based on customer service alone.

Last year I had a whole house humidifier installed and it stopped working this season. My toddler just had surgery to take out her tonsils and adenoids, and one of the recommendations to help soothe and heal was to ensure adequate humidity levels in the house. I didn't have enough time to troubleshoot because we're expecting another baby very soon so my time is spent preparing and taking care of the toddler, etc. Long story short, I needed to get it fixed ASAP because she was having a rough time sleeping, and waking up in pain. I sought quotes on Yelp and got about 10 responses, but most of them wanted additional information even though I shared the location of the home and the model/age of the humidifier (seriously, what more information do you need?). No, seriously. What more information would you like? Could you at least ask specific questions? I'm pretty technical and handy about the house so I typically would know what relevant information to share, but I was stumped. Some other quotes I got were giving me a charge for diagnosis. Some wanted me to call them to discuss first. And then there was Payless Plumbing and Heating. They simply responded letting me know the problem was most likely that the water needed to be turned on. They were absolutely correct. Even if I didn't use their service I appreciate the kind gesture of sharing what the issue was so I could troubleshoot it. If I had listened, I would have saved myself some cash, but I didn't believe it was the issue because I hadn't turned off the water and I'm the only one who does these things around the house. Wife has never stepped in the HVAC room. Well, it turns out when we were getting some renovations done in the basement, the contractor must have shut off the water at some point. I do recall them shutting off water to the whole house, but didn't imagine they'd also shut it to the humidifier. Either way, thanks guys!

Lee C.

5/13/2018

Zivko at Payless Plumbing was great. He responded to my initial contact within 5-10 minutes and was able to come fix our issue the very next morning. He showed up on time! Was very friendly, worked quickly and fixed our problem for a reasonable price. What more do you want from a plumber ... or any other service provider?? I would definitely use him again - but let's hope I don't need to!!

Leo V.

12/04/2013 12:00:00 SA

I have a few properties and he has fixed both boiler and forced air electric heater issues. Zivko is punctual, honest, works fast and is reasonably priced. If only I had other types of contractors as good as him. I can't recommend him highly enough. I had tenants whose boiler died in January and he totally could have tried to rob me but he fixed it for a price so low I felt obliged gave him a tip.

Laura R.

3/29/2016

Zivko is awesome! Responded in minutes to messaged request! Came the same day, fixed problem and there you have it! Best plumbing experience!

Ann C.

8/29/2020

Payless is exceptional in every way: expertise, responsiveness, courtesy, and reliability. Zivko is as personable and authentic as he is polite. We had an issue pop up with two of our toilets - Zivko and I exchanged a few emails and I sent him pictures and info on the part manufacturers, and set up an appointment time within a few hours and three email exchanges. He arrived early, and was thorough and efficient - and very willing throughout to explain what he was doing and why.

Payless is our definitely our go to and first choice plumber.

Terry H.

4/13/2014

So I thought the plumber and his assistant were really nice but they were at my house for 50 minutes, replaced two 5 cent washers and a 10 dollar connector. They charged me 300. That is a ridiculous price and I will not be using these guys again !!!

J.D. M.

10/27/2022

Zivko arrived at the actual appointment time today (what a rarity!) He was able to quickly assess what needed to be done, encountered some unexpected difficulties due to how my toilet was installed, and still had the repair done much more quickly than I was expecting. 5 stars all the way!

Jessica R.

11/10/2017 12:00:00 SA

Great service! He is a very nice guy. He took the time to explain the situation before making his recommendation. He also let me know that in the future I should consider replacing the toilet and not to waste the money trying to fix it. He was thorough and detailed with his analysis of the issue. I also appreciate how responsive he was to my reaching out via Yelp. It was same day; quick and easy to set my appointment.