Blackburn & Davis

When we bought our house in J-Town nearly 4 years ago we found out that the addition (added in '2000) had radiant heat.  I was, like, AWESOME, because while fan-forced heat is the norm, bare feet on a heated floor is a pretty cool thing, especially in the cooler months.

Fast forward to a few weeks ago when Jim (that's me!) noticed that the floor wasn't warm, even though I'd turned the radiant heat on.  Checking the circulation pumps I noticed the one for our bedroom was really but not circulating hot water.  This makes for unhappy Jim, because the sole reason I go barefoot in the bedroom (did ya catch that pun?) is that I likes the warm on the feets.

As realization set it, I decided that as much as I could *try* to replace the circulation pumps myself (Jim is a pretty handy guy), but I didn't want to run into something that would have ended up costing me more to fix and if I'd have called an expert in the first place.

To the yellow pages I go (that's purely a figure of speech any more...seriously) to see abut getting the pumps replaced.  I started w/Drexler (who replaced our HVAC system a couple years ago).  -- They don't do radiant (or, as I've come to learn, Hydronic) heat.

I called Jarboe's -- Nope.
I called Maeser -- Nope.

After a few disappointing phone calls that weren't getting me any closer to warming my feet, I tried a different approach.  Instead of calling and trying my luck, I called the local plumbing supply business and asked the question Who in the area services residential hydronic heating?.  They had one answer.

Blackburn and Davis was that answer.

I called to see if I could get someone out to fix my cold feet problem and they said they'd give me a call on Monday morning to see when someone would be out.  Monday morning I got a phone call and was told they'd be out that morning.  Less than an hour later they were at my front door.

I let them in and told them what the problem was and he started to diagnose the issue.  In less then 10 minutes he had figured it out, said he had the parts he needed on the truck, and gave me an estimate.  A quick call to the wife to let her know what was going on, and they went right to work.

As I watched (I'm an observer, not the hover over a guy and ask a bunch of questions to slow him down kinda guy.) I could tell that he was experienced at replacing these pumps and knew what he was doing.

Remember when I said I thought about buying the pumps and doing it myself?  I was about 2/3 of the way correct.  One of the bolts from the old pump wouldn't come off, so he had to use a nifty little round electrical hand-held saw to for that part (Jim doesn't have one of those).  There were also a couple other parts that were needed that Jim probably didn't have, either.

About 90 minutes later the pumps were replaced, the work area was cleaned up, and Jim's feet were warm again.

I definitely made the right choice in calling Blackburn and Davis.

We called Blackburn Davis to help install a smart toilet, upon arrival the two men stated they had never installed a toilet like that and did not like fancy toilets, they spent over an hour on the telephone (mostly on hold) with the manufacturer. I was eventually handed the phone to explain the issue and was told parts were missing.  Granted missing parts were not Blackburns' fault and ultimately the toilet was sent back and replaced and we installed it personally (all handled by ourselves, not them).  However, we were charged $220.00 for a phone call (I did most of the explaining).  I called owner/manager and was told the charge was the charge and it did not matter if they did anything; the meer fact they were dispatched was the reasoning.  I offered half the service charge as a consult/estimate a very average charge for other services but was told it was unacceptable.  We will NEVER use them again and will not recommend them either.

The Blackburn & Davis office initially wouldn't schedule my service, asking me to call back. They then called me 14 times one morning wondering why I wasn't there to let their techs in (it was because we never scheduled the work). Part of the work order was to install a dishwasher. Upon completion it was an inch below the counter, not level, and the kick plate was leaning against the dishwasher with one screw in only one side. I corrected and finished the dishwasher install myself but they refused to refund me for the job. An absolute garbage company. Have *anyone* else do the work.

DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY!!!!!!!!
They charged me double what they quoted on the phone lied about the charges. Didn't complete the job and then sent me the bill 3 days before it was due with threats 2% additional for late payments and legal action if not payed in bold print across the top of the bill. I'd say if they have to put that on the top of the bill they have a pretty serious scam going on.  
S Creech Louisville

I was looking for a plumber to fix my kitchen faucet, I found Blackburn and Davis in the yellow pages. I thought it was a nice plumbing company different from the other ones I had used. Alas! I was  wrong.

The guy came, and before he started work, I asked him how they charged ?he said their charge was per hour. I further asked how long he thought the work would take(to unclog kitchen pipe) he said 1 hour. True to his word, this job was done in 48 minutes.
I asked him for my bill and was told the bill was going to come in the mail. He even boasted that they were the cheapest plumbing company in Louisville. Finally the bill came about 3 weeks after the plumbing was done-which was not satisfactorily done anyway.
I was surprised when I received a bill for $204.25. broken down as labor $169.25 (I was told their hourly rate was $97/hour), then material $15, and then get this! truck charge $20.

I put a call through to their office and the lady I spoke with insisted that that was their charge, and she  explained that their hourly rate started counting as soon as their technician left their office, its like somebody coming to work and the person starts working as soon as he leaves his house even before he gets to the office.
I found this explanation absurd and ridiculous! I requested to speak her boss, the guy was so rude- probably has never had of what is called customer service, he justified why I have to pay for their truck ($20) -whatever that meant; and also pay for the time of their technician even while he was still on the road or having breakfast on his way to my house!!!

If you choose to allow Blackburn and Davis work for you, then remember that you will pay for their truck! their hourly rate starts as soon as their technician drives out of their office, does not matter if you live 40 miles away.

as for me I am done with them.

Liked that they showed up with mask , had to wait little bit because could not find the address , was knowledgeable & did good job .

People who drive company vehicles should consider how their aggressive driving affects their reputation.

This company is living in 1980.  The only way to pay your bill without a fee is mailing a check which is kind of hilarious except when you mail them a check and they can't find it and try to charge you a late fee.  They also charged too much for the service - won't use them again.

I gave them another chance a few years later on Rec from my contractor friend that I trust. The guys doing the work are pleasant to work with. Danny and Jeremy are super nice guys. The problem is finishing and Billing. Same as before.

I had a massive renovation. We signed a written contract that states that any additional work beyond original scope would be discussed, then put in writing prior to starting anything extra.

Well I got an additional bill for $500 from them for materials and time that I didn't even know were over and beyond our original agreement. I'd done the same process with a different plumber and they never billed me extra for similar things.

They also missed quite a few little things I had to call them back for like installing my water line to fridge, air gap not hooked up, and s few other things.

With the bill, I called to talk to the head guy and he pretty much demeans you until you start thinking you were wrong to call him in the first place. Then off the phone you realize what he did to you. They also flooded my moms basement. I have proof!! And they sent her a bill for their time to fix their mistake. Unbelievable.

Buyer beware. They burned me twice and my mom once. We're done.

Horrible company. Horrible communication. As you can tell by other reviews that are all poor. Can't recommend more to use someone else. Never seen someone try and take advantage of the elderly like these people.

Not the best option for HVAC repairs. They are a small shop and rely on hand written reports and very rough estimates. This puts you on the hook for high priced parts and overstated hours of labor.  Make sure you price check the parts and record hours on-site. They charge for hours outside of on-site labor such as calls to MFG, stores or other contractors. You also get the sales pressure to get a new unit.

In January, this company removed and reinstalled a toilet in our home.  We noticed after they left that it rocked slightly.  It was a low-level annoyance that I did not attempt to address until recently (September).  I attempted to fix the problem myself.  When I took off the plastic cap covering the floor bolt, I discovered the company used a round weld nut rather than the typical hex nut.  I have never seen such a thing (had to Google what it was called).  I called the company to ask how to tighten this type of nut.  They acted as if they didn't understand the situation.  I offered to FaceTime them or send a picture.  Reluctantly, they allowed me to send a picture.  After about 30 minutes, I called to see what they thought the solution was.  They said they had no idea and would need to come out to reset the toilet.  I asked them if they would charge me for the visit.  They said yes.  I asked them why.  They said they had only a 30 day guarantee.  I explained the issue arose well within that 30 day period, but I hadn't called because of COVID and it was a minor problem.  That did not persuade them.  I have used this company for years, but will not any longer.  Disappointing.

We woke up this morning to a furnace that was not working.  Since it was Sunday I just assumed we probably wouldn't be able to get anyone to take a look at it until at least tomorrow.  I tracked down an emergency phone number for Blackburn and Davis and called and left a message.  By the time we left church someone had tried to reach me twice.  I returned the phone call and learned that they could send someone out within the hour.  I was amazed!  One of their technicians showed up promptly, checked our furnace, determined what the problem was and even had the replacement part on his truck, so the furnace was up and running in no time!  We were thrilled, especially since the nighttime lows will be in the teens in the next couple of days.  Thank you Blackburn and Davis!  (BTW - They have helped us out a couple of other times in the last 25 years when we have been in a bind.)

I gave Blackburn a shot because they were local and right down the street from my apartment.  My heater was making a humming noise and then stopped working.  The worker took off two panels, looked at it for about 2 minutes and said the motor was out.  I told him I would have to check with my landlord about the price he wanted to charge ($600) to fix it before I moved forward, and in the meantime they could send me a bill for the 10 minutes it took him to look at it.  A couple weeks later I got a bill for $114. This included a $20 truck fee, because he had to drive about 1 mile to my apartment.  We tried to see if the bill could be taken off the $600 it would cost to fix our heater, but they told us there was nothing they could do.  When we told them we would have to take our business elsewhere, they told us we would come back to them because they are the cheapest.  I will never use them again and will recommend anyone else.  I would rather pay someone else $700 than these people $600.

Blackburn and Davis is a rip off. I called them to check out my a/c because the fan motor stopped working and before the tech even made it to the basement he said I'll bet the heat exchanger is cracked. He pulled the motor out and said yep it's cracked. He said it will cost $6700.00 to replace it. I told him to put it back together, I was going to get another opinion. Later that day, the other company came. The first thing he said is who the hell has been working on this furnace the fan is not on the track and there's no bolts it in, very dangerous. He put it back together and replaced the capacitor and it was fixed, no cracked heat exchanger. I called twice to speak with the owner or manager at Blackburn and Davis but he wouldn't speak with me. They charged me $112.00 and won't refund my money.

Electricians, Cell phone Companies, Cable Companies, Contractors, Car Sales People etc... they all make you cringe when you know you have to call on one of them... I used to put Plumbers in the same group, but that was before Blackburn and Davis became our plumber.  They have provided us with honest, professional, and reasonable prices.  We have an old house.  This old house has seen us remodel two bathrooms, fix leaks, and install a new 75 gallon water heater this month with them.  Their prices are fair and reasonable.  We tried other companies and individuals listed in the other reviews and found they were very proud of their work (outrageous quotes) or there is a reason they are an individual plumber or less expensive (quality of work).  We are on a first name basis with many of the plumbers.  Well I am concluding this review because I need to call about an outdoor spigot that has started to leak, you know who I am going to call.... B&D!

I had the exact opposite experience. Drexler estimated a gas leak and was way over what Blackburn charged and was able to fix it immediately.

This place is a rip-off. I do not recommend their services. They had us waiting weeks for a replacement part we didn't even need. Then WAY overcharged. Terrible way to run a business. Avoid at all costs.