R P Holmes

RP Holmes is the best plumbing company in Newton. This company, run by a woman, who is a master Plumber. Holmes is responsive. No waiting  Same  day service if you have a problem. Reasonable prices with a senior discount. Respectful and courteous employees who take the time to explain what they are doing. Never oversteps the bounds but wait, however long it takes,  to get permission to enter your house. Holmes works for you, the home owner, not for a relative if your who feigns an interest in you or who covets  your house for any reason. We go back 30 years with Holmes and appreciate this family firms' continued loyalty to the two of us and highly recommend them for this reason.

It's a pity that we did not review web review on this company before the work. We hired this company to instal a new water heater to replace an old one. After the installation the trap primer started to leak caused by the re-positioning of the piping. We called for correction, and the job was done in the second visit, but we were charged another $641 for this correction. The guy insisted it's not their responsibility to handle the  pipe and trap primer  (which are directly connected to the water heater within 3 feet) to avoid leak is not part of the water heater installation, after a second look in the 3rd visit. He insisted that since the installation of the water heater in the 1st visit and the changing on piping in the 2nd visit were completed, we have to pay for the both two visits. They even denied on the newly installed piping which caused the leak as their installation, but insisted it's the old piping (with visible new screw and mounting on the wall).
This company underperformed their profession as Plumber by just working on the water heater but overlooking the subsequent water primer leak caused by the pipe change. However, you still have to pay for their omissions.
If you do not have a certain level of knowledge of plubming which means you can professionally judge their work they claimed for done, I do not recommend you to use them.
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RP Holmes is one of the worst local business with which I have attempted to work. My steam boiler was broken so I called them because they were close to my house. They drove less than 2 miles, spent about 4 minutes in my house only to tell me they couldn't fix it and that I needed a new boiler (but that they wouldn't be able to install for a few weeks). For this they charged my $150. Yes, it's their policy, but everyone else should be aware that they offer no flexibility on this policy. Plus, every time I spoke with their office, they made me feel as if I was a major inconvenience to them.

I ended up having a new boiler installed that week from another Newton company (Y.G. Services) that was attentive, worked with me on cost, and went above and beyond.

There are dozens of other options in the area. Choose anyone else. Not worth the aggravation or the cost.

Do not use this company.

They informed me it would cost $750 to warranty my water heater (still under warranty). That's for materials and labor COD too. What is it 1989?  Am I ordering a skateboard from transworld? Cash on delivery means one thing. -We don't stand behind our work and when you find out you've been ripped off you're not getting refunded. -

The old heater failed.  .  .still under warranty, so they would receive $750 for an easy install (unless they're daft, it couldn't take more than an hour to install. Two max ) Then they'd be credited for turning in the old heater. Who knows how much they're credited for that.

I was all ready to write The heater manufacturer a bad review when I decided to call them.
Just have a plumber call us to verify the leak and they can pick up the new heater, no charge .

Jaw droppingly easy

Until today, I had a positive opinion of RP Holmes.  In 2005, the one other time I used them, they came out after a snowstorm and replaced a failed boiler on my heating system.  They were professional, the work was of high quality, and they managed to get the new boiler down & old boiler up a steep, narrow flight of basement steps since the direct exterior entry to the basement was buried in snow.  Upon replacement, I even found the 1967 installation tag on the old boiler so I thought it was sort of karma that they'd done the work.

I'm now selling the house and the buyers' home inspector highlighted two plumbing issues for repair.  Because of my previous good experience, I called Holmes.  I told them EXACTLY what the problems were and what the inspector identified would be required to fix them.  I needed a new expansion tank for the boiler THEY INSTALLED (I even told them that they had installed it in case they needed to look up the model to determine what size tank was required) and my water heater was not venting properly.  I told them that I had a 3 vent pipe connecting the water heater to the chimney.  

The plumber arrived on time, identified the issues and promptly left to go back to the shop and get needed parts.  I didn't think anything of this - at the time. Stay tuned.  Holmes' shop is 3.4 miles from my house.  He was gone for over 45 minutes.  He returned, installed the 4 vent required by code, replaced the expansion tank and gave me the bill for $300.  I thought that was a fair price and I headed upstairs to call my credit card number in to their office to make payment.  

Holmes called me before I could call them.  They called to tell me that the bill was incorrect and that the charge is really $420.49!  The woman who called said He charged you for 2 hours of labor and it really took 3.  So I asked Does that include the time that he spent driving back and forth to your office to get the parts?  And she said Yes, that's billable time and that's our policy.  So I paid $120.49 for this guy to drive a van 6.8 miles.  

I suggested to the woman that perhaps he could have brought the required parts with him the first time SINCE I HAD TOLD THEM PRECISELY WHAT WAS NEEDED WHEN I MADE THE APPOINTMENT!  She responded that they couldn't possibly know what parts are needed until they assess each job.  I agreed with her, but again reminded her that I had told them EXACTLY what was needed when I made the appointment. I said But I told you that I needed to replace the expansion tank for a boiler you installed and that my water heater wasn't venting properly.   I even told you I had a 3 vent pipe. She immediately interrupted me and said That's not code.  Code requires 4.  I thanked her for making my point for me but she was insufficiently astute to grasp my meaning.  

They had me over a barrel.  I could have raised a real stink and told them that I would pay $300 because that's what the written bill from them said the charge was.  But seeing the sort of people I now know them to be, they probably would have both sued me and charged the poor plumber for the shortage.  And I need to close on the sale of this house in 3 weeks.  So I paid it.  And I told the woman that my previously high opinion of their company had been shattered.  That requiring me to pay $120 an hour for their employee to drive to and from their shop is absurd - I could have chauffeured him in a limo for less than that.  I said that they should either charge a reduced driving time rate or send a junior person back and forth at $15 an hour and charge me $25.  But that the only term for what they do is ripoff. Plain, pure and simply, R.P. Holmes is a ripoff.  I even told her that I work for a major bank and that if we engaged in a similar business practice?  My CEO would be skinned alive in the press and by the regulators.  I received yet another that's our policy in response.

So I closed the chapter royally pissed off, feeling as though I'd been completely ripped off and unable to do anything about it except what I promised her I would do:  tell everyone I know. I said I'm sure I will again need to hire a plumber.  I'm equally certain that it will NOT be R.P. Holmes.  I live in a tight neighborhood.  I will make sure to tell ALL my neighbors at our upcoming block party never to do business with R.P. Holmes - and why.  I will be certain to tell the buyers of my house never to do business with R.P. Holmes - and why. And I will tell both my realtor and the realtor who listed the Newton Centre house I am buying exactly what you did and that they should never use your company.  

The last thing I said to her was And you can look for it on Yelp!  So here it is - exactly as promised and within the hour.  RIP, R.P. Holmes.  You do a dirty business - plumbing - in a filthy way.

Very disappointed and no longer recommend Holmes after being happy in the past. They fixed a running toilet for us, a simple job. Two months later it's running again and we are 1 month past their warranty of 30 days. We're told we have to pay them to do the same job again.

They have done several plumbing repairs for us in Newton, and also for other family members in the metrowest area.  They do a good job, they are always punctual and polite.  I especially like working with Allan, who is a wizard with old pipes.

This company has serviced our home for MANY years. They always come when scheduled, offer the best advice and service! Many times their workers have gone beyond the call of a service call. You can't go wrong with calling RP Holmes!

I've used them for  20 years. They are not cheap but then again they always come fast, on time and they have always done the job right. You get what you pay for.

I have found them to be knowledgeable and professional... Tom is one of The best diagnosticians in the Boston area!

Called and left a message after I discovered that my water heater was leaking. Got a prompt call back right away and assistance in switching off the water and the gas to the unit and an appointment set for a few days after the call. The plumbing team arrived on time and finished the inspection and installation of a new unit in about two hours. They pulled all the permits. I was satisfied with the service.

I had a good opinion about Holmes having been a customer for over 20 years, but the latest encounter made me change my mind. I called them to take care of a blocked kitchen sink. I later called them to let them know that the sink was dislodged while trying to use a plunger to clear the blockage. So now there were two problems, the dislodged sink and the blocked sink. When their plumber came and saw the dislodged sink he said he would not touch it until sink was repaired and left.
I was able to find someone to repair the sink and then called Holmes to clear the blockage. A second plumber came and sink blockage was cleared. Holmes charged for the first visit even though they knew they wouldn't work on the sink until it was secure. They claimed they never received the call telling them about the dislodged sink and that I would have to pay for both visits. I cannot trust a company that denies the facts. They did not seem to care we have done business with them for 20+ years. They seemed very fixated on getting paid for both visits with no compromise. If you are going to use Holmes, proceed at your own peril.

George
Newton, MA

This company refinished a bathroom for me.  I would not use them again - not because of the product - the workmen were fine - the tile guy excellent - but they way overcharged - about 25% above estimate although there was no upgrade from what was initially discussed.
Part of the fault was mine for accepting a shabbily itemized estimate, but I didn't know enough about what was required for a bathroom - counted on them to educate me.  I've never had this problem in the past when refinishing a kitchen and then later a bedroom.
A friend who also used R P Holmes also felt they were dishonest and overcharged her on a lesser job.

We've had them here to do general work -- sink, dishwasher, water-heater. Each time the plumber (we've had 2 different ones) was on-time, professional and friendly. They always leave the area clean and they work quickly.

They charge hourly rate but charge work hours NOT honestly.  They even charge half hour from their office Newton to LaGrange at Newton for this job.  The plumber came late and went out so many times to bring his stuff and take long time to come back.

I have a medical practice in Chestnut Hill. R P Holmes was hired to fix a drain issue in my office. One person showed up and assessed the situation and said they needed to have another person help with the job and the machinery that was needed. They fixed the problem and charged close to $1200.00 (outrageous). I phoned the office and a snippy woman said that was their fee for the job. (I asked a friend who is also a plumber and he told me that it should have been under $600.00 for the work that was done). NOW a month later I am having the SAME problem and I called the snippy woman to ask if the job is warrantied and she said NO we do not warranty drain work. I cannot understand how they can NOT warranty their work in such a short time period and get away with charging such outrageous prices for a job NOT well done!!!

Work is good and reliable BUT they inflate the number of hours the plumbers worked on the job. This is an ongoing problem. Their response to complaints about this is snippy and arrogant. Would use them again because the work is good but would watch the time on the job carefully.

Spent thousands on a new gas heating system. Had one year warranty. Only lasted one season (one year and 2 months). Owner charged me 300$ to fix it. Would not budge on price. Now she's suing me. A real sweetheart.