A1 Sewer & Drain Plumbing & Water Heaters

Don't be fooled! When you call for information or to schedule an appointment, their customer service is great, but if you have any issues/complaints, the customer service quickly goes down hill. The work done was good, although everything wasn't discussed prior to the work being done. When we had an issue with the billing, everyone from the owner, Jimmy, to the office manager, Candice and Cindy were all rude. I have never been talked to so negatively and from so many people at one company. I can honestly say they do not value customer service AT ALL. If you want to risk everything being done with no issues, then give them a call but if anything can possibly go wrong, don't expect them to be nice enough to fix/solve it.

I called this service for some plumbing issue and I received service within 30 minutes.  My three bathrooms were repaired in no time.
The repair person Justin was helpful, knowledgeable and gave great advice.  I will definitely use this service again.

So I called on Wednesday afternoon about leaks under my kitchen sink and was told that a dispatcher would call me in the morning to schedule something. On Thursday morning she called and said that someone would be there on Friday morning at 7:30am for sure. At 7:30am on Friday she called and said they were having a meeting and she would call when someone was heading over...At 9:30 someone showed up, replaced a part that didnt need to be replaced and charged me an arm and leg.....argh. Not a good experience.

January 29th
I received a phone call from the city stating that they had not received the paperwork. I also received a voicemail from A-1 asking me to call them.
I called A-1 and spoke to the receptionist. She informed me that the tech didn't realize that he was inspecting two devices, and that he only charged me for one. She stated that I owed them another $149. I told her that I disagreed, since I asked her specifically what the price was for both devices when I made the appointment, and the invoice specifically detailed the inspection was for both devices. We went back and forth about it, and she transferred me to the office manager.
The manager and I then got into an argument about the price. She threatened to send only one of the forms to the city, since in her opinion, I only paid for one backflow inspection. I told her that I was not paying them anymore money, that the invoice specifically detailed the work that was done included both devices, and the invoice was a contract from them stating that the work done was paid in full. The office manager hung up on me.

Later in the day, January 29th
I received a call from Jimmy, who stated he was the owner of A-1. We began another conversation about the inspection. Jimmy told me that the tech that came out on Monday was new and did not know that the price was $149 per device. I stated again that that didn't make sense because I had two prior invoices that detailed the same inspection for $149. He said that the other tech who did the inspections the two years before was probably just hooking me up but the actual price should have been $149 each.

He told me he would cut me a deal, and if I sent him a check for another $75 he would call it even, send the paperwork, and even give me the same deal next year. I told him I was not paying him another dime. He got angry and said fine I'll send the paperwork, but we don't want your business again. I agreed and made him state again that he would send the paperwork that afternoon. He agreed and hung up on me.

January 30th
I received a call from the city in the morning stating that they had not received the paperwork and that my water was going to be shut off. I went to my store to verify the water was off & immediately drove to 516 S. Military Hwy, the office of A-1, to speak to Jimmy.
I was buzzed into the office, and I asked to speak to Jimmy. I was told he was in a meeting. After waiting for twenty minutes, I stood up to ask one of the people in the office how much longer it would be. A lady sitting at a desk was startled because she did not notice me before, and asked who I was. I stated that I was waiting to speak to Jimmy.
She asked repeatedly what I wanted, and I told her that I was an unhappy customer who wanted to talk to Jimmy about some paperwork that he said he was going to send to the city the day before. She apparently was the person I spoke to the day before, because she realized who I was and immediately started cursing at me and yelled for Jimmy.
Jimmy came out of the adjacent room, and after she told him who I was, he immediately screamed at me to get out, threatened to call the police, and threatened to fight me. I asked him why he lied to me about sending the paperwork, and reminded him that he promised me he would send the paperwork. He stated I'm not sending the city anything. and again screamed at me to leave.
I left the building immediately. I called my landlord and told them what was happening. They gave me a number to a plumber that they contract with, and that plumber called Stephen Motley from the city of VA Beach, so that he could turn the water back on and we could complete the inspection. The plumber arrived at my store within the hour, and the inspection was completed again. I faxed the paperwork to the city, and the problem was resolved.

I have all dated documentation, recordings and notes of this incident as proof.

Thanks to the previous home owners who were DIYers, We had an emergency. These guys came out and took care of the job, did it well, but the Master plumber didn't watch out for his assistant. Human error. My reasoning for a low star rating was the owner of the company.

He became defiant over the phone to me while talking with him. And he wouldn't let me finish at first until I became rude right back. Will I use them again? I really don't know. It totally depends on the situation. What we spent on the repair was at least 2 years of sacrifice on 2 years of vacation. So yeah, Mr. Owner, I took it personally. What ever happened to the days of the customer is always right? Common courtesy goes a long way, and it works both ways.

They get one star for showing up on a Saturday morning, but that's it. Thet weren't able to fix the clogged sewer line. They then told me I'd need to have all of the pipes under my house replaced for thousands of dollars. A few hours later my father in law came over, unclogged the pipe and diagnosed a leaky toilet.  I'm not sure if they are incompetent or unscrupulous,  but I would recommend you give your business to someone else.

Had a bathroom leak that needed immediate attention. Talked to Carol in the office and she told me a plumber would be there shortly. She was super sweet! John C. Came to fix the issue. He was so courteous and kind. He took the time to show me exactly what was wrong and what needed to happen to fix it. He went over everything in detail and did the job well! I was home alone with my toddler and after he left he came back to let me know about a sketchy guy he had seen outside our place. Someone who doesn't even know me but took the time to make me aware of things in the neighborhood makes me have faith in humanity. Would recommend this company to anyone!!!

Do not waste your time!  We live in Virginia Beach and had our grinder pump fail and needed it replaced along with remediation for under the house.  The tech came out Friday before Christmas- told us what the issue was and was going to line everything up for Tuesday.  The tech sat in our driveway Friday afternoon for 30 minutes and we assumed he was lining everything up.  Tuesday rolls around and we call and nobody has a clue what is happening. The remediation company is not getting calls back we have nothing scheduled.  We call nobody call us back.  Now Wednesday morning we are told the tech it was assigned to is not in so they will check the next day.  We ask the job be reassigned to a new tech.  Again they have no availability today.  24 hour 7 is a joke and we now have someone fixing us today.

I use them anytime I need help with my plumbing!  They do an excellent job, usually come out the same day (if an emergency) and are reasonably priced. Their technicians are also very knowledgeable.

I liked the service guy, Keith and Melissa in the office were nice too however there was confusion over when I was to be seen and what phone numbers they were calling. I was not sure how they had miscommunicated  this info with our warranty company.

The other odd thing is our warranty co. said the fee is $50 but A1 charged us $134 just come and see if there was a leak. Of course it is a Sat. but no one said it would be an extra charge. Is this the normal rate? if so, I am in the wrong business.

Called A-1 to handle a burst pipe in a rental home I own - I live out if state.  

There was poor communication on when they would arrive.  When I heard the plumber I'd on his way, what they meant was, the plumber will get to you some time later today.

After the plumber arrived he gave a reasonable estimate for labor and material and I authorized the work.  After competing the project, the plumber called back and said that his material cost was more than 3 times the HIGH end of his estimate.  

Since it was a Sunday, I asked for someone from management to call me...8 days later and still nothing.

Absolutely terrible. Called at 11am on a Saturday and was told 1-4pm arrival time for a plumber.  At 4 o'clock I had no technician and was told that it wouldn't happen before 5:30. I rescheduled for 8-10am Sunday morning. At 10am, still no technician. When I called the service center to ask the status, I was told that we open at 8am so I don't know why they would've scheduled you so early. No apology.

I will never call them again.

We called for an emergency water heater replacement and they came out same day and did a great job.  The guys were professional, knowledgeable, and the office had great communication calling several times to let us know the approximate arrival time.  The price was fair and we were very happy with the results.  We would definitely recommend this company to our family and friends.

I referred them my client, and they cleared the problem in less than 24hrs for a very fair price.

I had a couple of water stain on my ceiling and knew I needed a plumber. I called A1 and they were extremely friendly and helpful on the phone. They sent someone out within an hour.
Justin showed up and was courteous and professional. He got right to work and was careful to cover and cleanup. He kept me informed on what was going on and everything he was doing.
The price was reasonable and I would highly recommend!

This company should not be allowed to do business. I will be contacting the BBC and the state regulatory licensing agency. My experience was horrible a week long ordeal.  4 different technicians came to my residence within the 7 days none with proper PPE. One tech caused a gas leak which could have killed my family as we slept (tech left at 9pm) The next day when I left out to run an errand and returned I smelled gas before I entered the house. Mind you I told the tech I thought I smelled gas he sprayed some bubbles and said I must be smelling WD40 that he used. I called the gas company and they confirmed the gas leak and turned the gas off. All of this for a simple part replacement on a water heater. Not such a complicated job right? Well it was for this company. I recommend you ignore any positive reviews and seek recommendations from neighbor, colleague, family and friend. This company is the worst.

I had a kitchen sink emergency - large back up with water coming back into the sink. Called on a Sunday and was told that the emergency rate was $249 for the call + that per hour for the labor charge. I received a text message with a clear window for when the technician would arrive, and he arrived on time per the text message. Logan did a great job getting the drain cleared out and back to functioning in an efficient amount of time.

I went ahead and signed off on the tablet, and then later received my bill, which actually charge me $100 more than the quoted rate! Thus, between the service call and the hourly rate, I was charged $150 more than the original quote on the phone when I booked the appointment. I'm happy the problem was solved, but I dislike companies that aren't honest about fees upfront and then change them on the back end. Probably my fault for not scrutinizing the tablet billing system more rigorously, but there were many click through issues and I only received the final number.

For the actual service Logan provided - a solid 4-5 stars. For the interaction with the company and the billing 1 star. I'll likely find another company for my next plumbing emergency need.

In reading some of these reviews of dissatisfied customers from a few years ago, I was hoping that my experience would not be the same and thankfully, both of my contractors, Andrew and JB were fantastic!! From the phone call to set the appointment, was great. The woman who called was pleasant and flexible which satisfied me. Both techs were knowledgeable and talked with me through the whole process. Even though they came out due to my warranty with AHS, I would totally use A1 again and request both of these gentlemen to tend to the repairs.

Shop other competitors first.  Paid $195 for an estimate for hot water tank change out.  Other competitors' estimates were less expensive, and one came out for FREE.  They wanted $2,375 for a power-vented gas hot water tank install.  Found same make and model tank for $1,900 installed.  Shop around!  These folks are responsive, very polished, and professional.  And they charge dearly for it.

Terrible, terrible.  We purchased a reverse osmosis system for 200.00....I put most of it together, but realized the plumbing wasnt going to work (connectors were not the same size).  We knew it wouldnt take a plumber more than 1 hour to handle the job, and figured that was better than multiple trips to Home depot and some frustration.  We called A1.  They came out and quoted 1 hour for the job, and maybe 1.5.  The guy moved like tar, and took his time.  Multiple trips to the truck, etc.  You know the drill - took 3 hours.  They should never charge by the hour (should be by the job).  But anyway, we agreed to the 1 hour, and maybe 1.5 hour job.  Because it took 3 hours, we were charged 471.50 (dont forget the service charge).  Almost 500.00 to install a R/O.  Wow, should have called a buddy or someone else...Anyway, my wife called to complain and the owner hung up on her.  Not the best manners.  

After some bad face book reviews, the owner called me and left me a message.  I called him back and left a message....nothing back yet.  Anyway, lame that they wouldnt just give great service without me having to do the reviews?  Anyway, the BBB is next I suppose.

Terrible customer service. Tech was unaware of the job issue. My appointment was scheduled for a later time than agreed upon. Tech never showed up. When he called , he stated he could not help that evening. I waited around from 1 to after 7. I was not even given priority for the next day.

Horrible experience. So switched from septic to city sewer 2 weeks ago. They destroyed my yard. Didnt bother putting dirt in the massive hole correct so now i have no grass to cover it there since they didnt save it. The spot infront of my flowerbed is super patchy as well... the hole in between my driveway is sinking in and the side of my house was just thrown on the hole j spent 45 mins smacking it flat and leveling it out and still had to spread grass seed since once again they didnt save my grass to lay back down. Its been another week and still have a giant hole waiting for them to cover up cause I cant be scheduled sooner. Was set for 8-11am today for that still no one here and called a 2nd time was told oh well they are on another job... we are emergency service so they had to do that first i asked why no one calls and shes like oh well we were about to... yea okay. Don't waste your time with this company... go with zieggler they show up on time and don't destroy your yard. My neighbors yard is proof.

So we had a couple different jobs done by them. They were done to property we own but currently have a renter in, as we are on military assignment. It's an awful feeling to have your home being flooded with water and you are so far away. So I did my best to find a reputable plumber. First 2 jobs, no problem. This last time, huge issue. The suspected problem is tree roots. For which they 'think' is the problem and want to build me a new plumbing system, circumventing the old system, for $7,100. My insurance said no way. The new plumber scoped the line properly, found the problem spot, and is doing the job for under $3,000. Since my portion to pay is materials, this is way better for me too. Also sounds way more honest. The guy was there for less than 5 minutes and wanted $7k? No way. I would suggest a different plumber.

I did not use their service in the end.  We asked them to come quote a job to put in a new water heater.  Somebody came out within a couple business days (great!) and he told me he would need to go back to the office to figure the quote (fine) and it would be e-mailed tomorrow.  Tomorrow came and went, then a week, so I called to request the quote.  I was told it would be sent via e-mail the next day.  Another week went by so I called again and was told it would be sent via e-mail that day.  I received the quote later that day and it was a scan of a piece of paper that had water heater install: $5,000 scribbled on it.  This whole process seemed unprofessional, so I went somewhere else.

I had A1 Sewer & Drain remove my old gas water heater (through American Home Shield) and install a new one. Their plumber, Dewrel Burleson and his partner, did a great job. Initially, I was not thrilled with the response time to my request for service. I had submitted my ticket to AHS on Friday afternoon and received a message that I would hear from A1 S & D within 24 hour business day. I definitely expected to hear from them by Monday afternoon. I finally had to call them on Tuesday evening.

The woman who answered the phone was very friendly and apologized for not reaching out to me earlier. She asked me when I would like for them to come. It's so unusual in this day and time, to call a service provider and they allow you to choose the day and exact time! Were they for real?

Sure enough, they showed up on the exact day and time I requested them to arrive. Amazing! Dewrel & his partner were very friendly and put little booties over their shoes whenever they walked into the house. They would remove them before walking out and put them on again before entering the house. I have great respect for skilled service providers who show respect for my home.

After checking out my gas water heater (which we've had serviced at least a half dozen times within the last 2 years by other companies), they quickly identified areas of concern (it was leaking brown gunk from the top, all the way down and pooling in the water-catching tray, making noise like popcorn being popped, pilot light would go out repeatedly whenever we had a windy day, etc.) They noted that it was 19 years old and was beyond repair.

Within 2 hours, the tank was drained, disassembled, removed and the new one installed. They cleaned up after themselves and even took the trash bag with them! They were also very tolerant of my obnoxiously friendly french bulldog. They were both very personable, professional and were great representatives for their company.

I have had the best experience with A1 Sewer and Drain and Aaron.  A leak was discovered in my main sewer line yesterday.  I was able to get an appointment right away.  This morning on the way I had a confirmation that they were en route and even a photograph of my technician.    Aaron was really amazing.  He came thing this morning.  Looked at the damage and explained to me what was found and what needed to happen for the repair to completed.    It was all done in a little over an hour and was much less than I had budgeted for.    I have a few more small projects in my home where I will need a plumber and I will definitely be calling A1 Sewer and Drain again and requesting Aaron.   Great customer service and great value.

So I need someone to replace a sewer line for my elderly mom. Who has dementia. So I called A1 Sewer & Drain. So they come out 2 hours late. So it now dark outside. They say my sewer line is damaged and needs replacing. So they sign me up for financing, long story short. They left doo doo and doo doo glove they used that night. So I decided to go somewhere else. So they send me a invoice for $445 for snaking my sewer line. It gets worse. The financial company they paired me with, charged me $950. So I called the financial company and asked why was I being charged $950. They said A1 Sewer and crooks. Was paid $950. And I needed to call A1 Sewer to straighten it out. Mind you I never had my sewer line replaced only cleaned out. So I call A1 Sewer and tell them that I was being charged by Greensky, for work not done. The lady tells me. They was going to call me and inform me that they was going to return payment to Greensky. But why would you take a payment for work you did not do. A1 Sewer and Crooks. My advice stay very far away from this company.

The team at A-1 is top notch. I had my main water line from the house brake at 7pm on Wednesday. Obviously, not a good situation and being without water is tough! (First world problems)

I called 12 different companies that night and A-1 was the first to answer, give me valuable info and get me scheduled in. I had 3 different companies come out the next day to quote me on the problem. A-1 came in the best price and handled everything for me, Miss.Utility, permitting, etc. They even set me up with temporary water file the night! (No other company even offered that as an option)

They sent me text message updates with photos of each tech when they were on their way and every employee honestly seemed happy and was so friendly! I live all the way out in Smithfield and some of the techs came later in the evening. Even that didn't stop them from providing excellent customer service.

What I really appreciated was the fact that they took the time to walk me through the process and explain what they were doing with the water line.

Great Job A-1 and team! I would definitely recommend friends and family!

Andrew P was friendly, informative, and fast with my toilet repair. Excellent service.

Chris showed up and got right to work on the clogged drain...he worked quickly and efficiently. He cleared the line and made sure that the water was draining freely. Bill was a little high but, all and all, he did exactly what we asked for so we're pleased with the service we received.

This was by far the worst service I have ever received!! There was no communication at all. Over charged us! Bought a product for $59 and changed us $115. I called to complain and they said they do mark up items. Double!! This is crazy! Can't get a hold of anyone who can help. Would never use again and will tell everyone how awful their service is. STAY AWAY!

They serviced so promptly and with care. They let you know how much is the price, and what to expect. They explained clearly before they begin to perform the task--- delivered with  honest work. My job request in my kitchen sink/ grinder was outstanding!! Thank you so much to the crew (and to Karon S.)
to their everyday service!!

Ok, I was going to give them a 2, but after reading all their responses to the reviews posted on yelp brought it down to a 1. Their responses are filled with sarcasm and anger, not the kind of people I want to deal with. And no, I do not have the wrong company!! Had them take out a water filtration system, very easy job (the whole job took less than an hour) and the work was satisfactory, but then I got a bill for just shy of $300!!! The guy had to run to the store to buy 2 small pieces (also got charged $26 for that, which I know did not cost $26!!) and took an hour. I paid the bill and verified I was getting charged for his travel time, yep (and also $25 trip charge for them to come to your house) immediately called the office, she asked if she could reimburse me $25 to make me happy or if I would like to speak to the manager. I told her it was going to take a lot more than $25 and requested a call from the manager. Never heard back. I do not usually hire companies that want to charge you for them to come to your house, ridiculous way for them to make more money. Will not hire anyone again that charges by the hour and will always get a receipt for materials bought! Will never use again or recommend to anyone, but will def NOT recommend them to others

Terry showed up right on schedule and repaired the clogged line quickly at a fair price. He even gave suggestions to prevent the problem reoccurring. I will use them again in the future.

My first impression and recent experience with A1 was a positive one.
There was a problem with a backup at a rental and the cause required extra work.
I was given two quotes and the tech advised which to go with first to deal with the clogging and that seems it was the right choice.
They're communication with the tenants and myself was excellent.
Customer Support (Michelle) and Production Mgmt (Tim) answered all my concerns and the Techs even provided photos on the job...that was very helpful  
My thanks to All that were involved in seeing this project through.

I waited for the technician to come to the scheduled appointment between 3-6 on December 26. They never showed and when I called that same day, they had no information for me. They called on the 27th at 9:45 to tell me their technician, couldn't get ahold of me. Then the girl on the line proceeded to tell me that their was no availability today despite my appointment not being met the day prior. I understand that they are busy however, I would expect an appointment the next day since they couldn't meet the prior day's appointment. I was getting frustrated and was told there is nothing they could do.

Service was appropriate, arrived on schedule ---at the end customer did not get any info regarding the $25 coupon which was at the web site.Very poor customer service by Candice at the  office .

their technician was here for less than 5 minutes and it was all bad from the start. he was extremely rude and disrespectful. i am in this line of business myself, so understanding the price mark-ups to a point i accepted his price quote even though it did not seem just. he then went to move his vehicle and carelessly ran over the cable box in my front yard and never even apologized. at this point we had enough and called the office to tell their technician to leave. we also gave them another chance to earn our business and asked them to send someone new out. a few minutes later they called me back and cancelled the appointment saying they would not be sending anyone to my house because they believed the technician was not at fault for anything that happened. in the end i had an amazing guy named sean come out from atomic plumbing and could not be more pleased with his service and his overall attitude. thank you for allowing us to give our business to a worthy company instead!

OVER PRICED service charged me 447.00 for 2:30 hours of labor and 90 dollars for material. just to install a hot water heater, i see about 5 feet of copper pipe, 4 fittings.
and i supplied the hot water heater it came with fittings.  and they used the original PEX pipe and shut off valve, i would have thought i would have got a new valve out of the deal.

Quality of work was satisfactory,

We started hearing running water behind a wall but couldn't locate where it was coming from.  We turned the water off for the house and called A1 Sewer & Drain.  Within 1 1/2 hours Justin arrived and located the busted pipe immediately.  He went to work and fixed it quickly.  He was so pleasant especially for working on his day off.  The total was very reasonable and well worth it!  I would highly recommend this company and will definitely use them in the future!

Steer clear of A-1 Sewer and Drain. If you need emergency service, they cannot and will not help you. This company doesn't even have the decency to call and let you know that their technician will NOT be coming after scheduling a time and not showing up. Four calls later and nothing. Customer service at its worst. I had one great experience before but guess things went downhill for them. It's unfortunate.

Woke up to a leaking hot water heater that had saturated my entire living room. A-1 was the first company I called based on their high Google rating and they did not disappoint. They showed up earlier than anticipated and knocked the job out super fast. Very friendly and knowledgeable team and I would call them again in a heartbeat.

I had A-1 come out my house near Smithfield to clear a clogged house gutter drain.  I paid $435 for the plumber to run the hydro blaster and he assured me the clog was clear, quote, I'm 95% sure the clog is cleared.  Well, not only did he leave a huge mess for ME to clean up, he got his money and left.  The line was still very much clogged   I called the company twice, being kind and respectful, and asked for at least half the money back.  I thought that was fair.  The receptionist told me the owner of the company was in the office and she contacted him about the issue.  Never heard anything back.  So beware everyone- make sure you test whatever this company does for you.  Once they get your money, for a failed job, you never hear back from them.

I see many bad reviews from other military on A-1.  Do not let them get away with this in our military town.  Spread the word

they came out did good Job doing the repairs my issue is the aftermath of the work found holes all over my house now the ceiling is coming apart from work in attic I know the house is old but I would have better hiring a construction company .at over 5k in repairs now  dealing with a rodents which I never had because of all the holes ,my advice is to contract a contractor first...

Have used A-1 numerous times before and had good luck. The last conversation I had with whoever answers the phones has assured they will never be used again by me or my family. The secretary was so completely and unnecessarily rude that I didn't even bother to schedule them.

Reliable as in they came right away.  Replaced my hot water heater.  Alas the reason for my call was nothing to do with a hot water heater, but while I had them out there for a bursted pipe, I went ahead and had them replace my heater.  Service was decent; a little pricey, but they did the job in replacing some of my quest piping and hot water heater.  When they left, I was satisfied, but I noticed my hot water was extremely hot.  Well it wasn't until I had a slab leak about six months later did I realize my heater was set too high.  I had a very small crack, in more quest piping, under my slab.  The crack happened on a small bend.  When the plumber went in after drilling through my foundation, he burned the hell out of his hand.  You know why?  Because my hot water had a temperature of 132 degrees.  This is completely unsatisfactory.  Yes, I should have known that my hot water was a little too hot, but I probably shouldn't have been left with hot water measuring over 130 degrees either.  Thankfully over those sixth months, nobody in my household was scalded, with the exception of my current plumber.  I can't entirely blame A-1 Sewer & Drain for my ignorance on the hot water, but I can surely blame the temperature of the hot water for having the slab leak.  I am glad they came lickety-split, but kind of disappointed in their oversight.  One of my children could have really been hurt.

If I could give zero stars I would. My hot water heater exploded and I was given the run around by a different company so I called A-1 (Norfolk location). They sounded fantastic; quick, in my price range, and very nice. We scheduled an appointment for 3pm (I was not told they would arrive ANY time after three, because the made a huge deal out of 3pm being a late time as it was). No problem, I scheduled the service.

At 4pm the following day, I called A-1 to see if they were backlogged and when they were going to arrive. They informed me that they weren't late and they never said the appointment was scheduled for 3, it was scheduled for any time after 3. Still, not a big deal. The finally get to my residence and call me, saying they can't do the job. The heater is on a raised platform and they need 3 people, not two to do the work. I also needed to have AC duct work removed prior to them replacing the heater. (I received 4 other quotes along with A-1 and NO ONE else had a problem with the platform nor the duct work). My tenant has now been without hot water for 2 days. When I got in touch with an AC contractor they informed me that the AC was not in the way and that they shouldn't have a problem getting the heater down, they probably just didn't want to do it.

I contacted the office to let them know my concerns and frustration and I was completely shut down. It was my fault that the AC duct needed to be removed (even though it didn't need to be), even though I mentioned it was raised, because it wasn't noted on the form, that was my fault. It was also my fault that the times were miscommunicated. They did nothing to go out of their way to help my situation. And it blows my mind that the contractors made the decision that my AC duct needed to be removed so they could get the heater down when NO OTHER company had a problem with it.

I DO NOT recommend A-1 at all. I would have at least expected them to hear my concerns and help me work the situation out. It still blows my mind that I would have spent $100s of more dollars disassembling and reassembling my ac vent because their repairmen didn't want to deal with the location of my heater.

Had a plumbing emergency with my sink and it's of course Sunday. I called A1 who said they could be out from 4-6 which was 2 hours from the time I called but the Pat was able to be here 10 minutes after I called! Pat is my hero! I literally had a science experiment in my sink from trying to use drain cleaner that didn't work. He cleared the issue within the hour. After hours service has a price but it was worth it! I will use this company again for sure!!

Second time customer because Zach with A1 is awesome!! Appreciate the ability to schedule our follow-up work with Zach. Office staff is very friendly and helpful!

This company's work quality is less than one star. Prices are way too high. They make a complete mess and then point out that they do not clean up after themselves. It's is the fine print. Service manager is arrogant.

I've never left a review on Yelp, but I'm very upset about the fact that these people #1 will rip you off for the unresolved issue #2 are incredibly rude.

Here we go.

Day 1. A1 was called regarding some bathroom issues. A plumber(so they call themselves) came over and did work. The plumber seemed to resolved the issue at the time.

Dat 2. The next day, there was a leaking issue that was not there initially. A1 was called again and a plumber came over to assess the situation. He said that it was a different issued and gave us the bill for $800+. We called the company and told them the issue and they said, he's just doing his job and asking adequate payment because he took a long time to figure out the extra issue. FIGURE OUT. At this point nothing was fixed. $800+ for fixing nothing. The plumber all of the sudden changed his mind and said that, I charged too much initially and will drop the charge to $430.  NEVER FIXED ANYTHING. $430! We just paid for it because they were being so nasty to the point where things were almost scary. We will not be dealing with them. EVER

We ended up calling another business later that day and was only charged $300 and they actually resolved the issue. The new mechanic actually told us that there were a lot of dirt and rocks in both toilets most likely because the plumber before didn't clean the area properly.

Never go with these people. They will be nasty with you and rip you off for the service they did not provide. Avoid at all cost.

I'm hoping this is the A-1 Sewer and Drain that helped me and my husband out, because it's my understanding there's multiple companies with this name in my area, and people are leaving bad reviews for the wrong company!

*UPDATE*
Justin and John were sent to install the line, and were very courteous and professional. I had a few questions about the gas line, and they were very helpful and knowledgeable about their craft. They had to get access into my attic to reignite the gas water heater when they were finished, and were very insightful on tips regarding my HVAC issues. When they left, they immediately notified Sherry (their permits officer), and reminded me that now the county would have to come out and inspect the work. I was warned that the county  is very hard to get an exact date and time with for inspections, and that do not schedule any inspection times with the individual, and usually show up at their leisure.

Almost a week went by, and still nothing from the Inspector. Whole days were wasted waiting on someone who never showed up! However, A-1 Sewer and Drain were very understanding and sympathetic to my needs by frequently emailing and calling the county for any updates. They were finally able to get a hold of the James City County permits office - AFTER A WHOLE WEEK - to send an inspector out to test the gas pressure and fixtures that A-1 installed.

After the inspection was complete, the inspector told me he wanted the fixture caulked in the crawlspace in order to give it a Pass. I immediately called A-1, and since they knew I'd been waiting so long, Sherry graciously re-routed a technician to my house to get the job done as soon as possible.

David arrived less than half an hour later, and was very understanding and helpful with everything. He showed me how to tighten the gas fixture and flex hose he installed on my new stove, reminded me of the soap/water mixture test for leaks, as well as reminded me to make sure I mount the anti-tip safety bracket before the installation (we opted to install the stove ourselves to save on costs).

I am overwhelmed by the courtesy, value, and professionalism A1 Sewer and Drain has provided, and my husband and I will definitely be using them for all our future plumbing needs! They have definitely earned their 5 stars!

*INITIAL REVIEW*
Robin of Truck 37 came out to give us a free quote on converting our electric stove to gas, by running a new gas line for us. He was very friendly and answered any and all questions I had about the process.

My husband and I wanted to shop around for the best price on this project, and sure enough A-1 was the cheapest out of three different companies. We will definitely be using them to complete the project. I am only deducting one star (although I wish it was half) because he was about 15 minutes late to our appointed time, when he told us that traffic was not an issue.

The following is the feedback I provided to A1 Sewer and Drain in response to their after 'service' email requesting such.  As it has been over a week and I have not heard from them I am posting my feedback here....

I called Friday, 5/14, because my kitchen sink was clogged very badly.  I was sent an inexperienced plumber who seemed intent from the get go to sell me on having my flooring demo'd so that the line could be replaced (I'm on a slab...).  From the first phone call before he even came out he mentioned that as a possibility.  The estimate started at 10k to demolish my living room floor and the floor in our office and replace the line.

After he arrived, his first attempt at clearing the clog was to use a hydrojet with an inappropriate 75' attachment that he had never used before (it was new..).   He proceeded to climb onto my 2nd story roof which is extremely steep to get to the roof vent.  The hydrojet attachment was only 75 feet of which probably 30-40ft was used just to get to the pipe on the roof leaving him maybe 35ft to insert into the 2nd story roof vent.  The nozzle on the end was 3-4 inches in length and solid metal. There was no way he was going to make any turns with that.  Even so it was at least another 30-40ft to the sink and the clog was at least 60+ feet beyond the sink.  Then they had trouble even getting the water flowing to run the machine as apparently it was not set up correctly.  After this failed attempt (which it was obvious from the beginning that it would be) it took him at least 15 minutes to come down from the roof as he was terrified of the incline.  He partner was considering calling the fire department to get him down.  It was then that we noticed that he appeared to be wearing cowboy boots....  incredible.

Anyway, after getting down off of the roof he finally asked where the kitchen sink was located (I had told him in the beginning thinking he would start troubleshooting there but I pointed it out to him again).  So, then he tried to go in through the p-trap under the kitchen sink with an auger with the corkscrew at the end of it.  He got in about 60ft (according to him) and pulled it back out and it had hair and other crap on it.  He quickly wound it all back into the machine and made no attempt to run it back through again.  Instead, he put the p-trap cap back on and ran the water which still backed up.  He didn't seem to want to try again at the kitchen sink with his auger and instead was intent on trying to sell me on having the line replaced for $10,000 which would require them to demo my floor in my living room and office to replace the line.  Before leaving he did give it one more try through the access port in my laundry room.  He ran a 100-foot auger through and came up dry.  Needless to say that the drain in kitchen was still clogged....  Then after he made several phone calls (apparently to someone at A1) he came back and told me they could replace the line (demoing my floor in LR and office for only $4750 since it was only one line. It was always one line).  Anyway, after 2+ hours and nothing being fixed I was charged $195  I paid him $200 in cash and didn't get a receipt, didn't even think about that at the time after being subjected to all that BS.  Even on the way out he was telling me that as an 'expert' he knew the only way to clear the clog was to replace the line from the sink going through the foundation and that he would hold onto the estimate for when I decided to do it.

On Tue, 5/18, I had another company, Tony and Son Plumbing, come out.  Tony cut an access port into the existing piping behind some drywall on the other side of where the kitchen sink is and ran another auger with a cutter at the end through and my line was cleared in minutes.  Needless to say, I will not be calling A1 Sewer and Drain for service ever again.

If I had one word to describe my experience it would be Shysters...   In my opinion you should be ashamed of yourselves for this service (or lack there of) and should return my $200, but I won't hold my breath...

I called A-1 at 9:00am after having a busted pipe in my bathroom, the water had to be shut down in our whole complex (12 different condos) the operator said a plumber would be out in 20 minutes. An hour later I got a call saying the plumber was in the tunnel and will be there shortly, The plumber finally got to my house at 10:55am. After 3 hours of being in the bathroom he leaves, comes back and tells us, I should have done a patch job because it would have been an in & out job less than an hour, but since I didn't I now don't have enough pipe and have to go back to the warehouse. (in Virginia Beach, I live in Newport News). I tried to call the office and was given excuse after excuse. The plumber left and went to the VB warehouse and then came back to my house the plumber was gone for more than hour, yet only ONE HOUR was taken off my bill. Our Home Owner Association told us they were to be billed, yet we receive a call from the office saying our HOA refused to pay. We paid the $675 bill and contacted our HOA the next morning and the HOA explained to the office they needed to review the bill before paying. Dealing with A-1 was a complete nightmare from having a plumber who could have done the job in an hour to making it a 6 hour job to the office being dishonest with us just to get paid right away. We will never deal with A-1 again!

Great job.  Technician Jeremy is neat and on time.  Always gets the job done.  Service is professional in every way.

We had a pipe break next to the water meter the night of a snow in the area. We called the city who came out and looked, they said the pipe was on our side, and after trying to fix it ourselves we needed a plumber. The one we called Friday night wasn't going to be able to get out til Monday morning. Meanwhile we had no water. Saturday morning we weren't going to wait and called A1. They were out within an hour.

It took one young man an hour and a half on his knees in the snow. He took a break to go to the hardware store for parts since the standard 3/4 pipe didn't want to fit. It ended up around 2 hours with the store trip. It was under $300 and we're extremely grateful. It could of been much worse. I was ready to get a hotel for a couple days and still pay a plumber. But A1 were nice on the phone and able to diagnose and quickly fix the problem in bad conditions, that day!

17 Complaints with BBB over the last 3 years all for same offenses... apparently they have been practicing being shady and not above board for quite sometime.

Make sure you have a solid estimate and  and materials required to complete the scope of work to be performed.

OR,

Find another company with better ethics.

This company lacks competency and class with the Principals and Management.  

Needed a direct vent water heater installed...they recommended a more expensive, and un-nessecary, tankless boiler for 6k bid!!!
failed to give complete overview and cost of tankless boiler. Also, failed to state the new unit would also require power.

A-1 Sewer & Drain left the job incomplete! and un-able to pass inspection.

Reputable companies make sure jobs are complete  when they pull a permit and pass inspection . Hard to believe they have never worked with, or had to contract with an electrician on larger jobs like this.

Company told the owner it was her responsibility to hire and electrician to finish
their job and call for inspection on THEIR Permit.

A Reputable Professional Plumbing Contractor would have been able to get the necessary trade out to complete the job, if they couldn't handle it .

A-1 Sewer & Drain left the unit plugged in with electrical cord running from closet to bedroom.

A-1 Sewer & Drain is a poorly managed company that sorely lacks customer service and communication skills.

Do Not Trust. Stay Away.

We had a pipe burst under the slab.  The A1 plumber recommended a complete re-pipe of the house, which we agreed to for a certain price.  During the work, other items came up and the plumber requested we pay in cash, totaling almost $900 extra.  As it turned out, he was ripping us off.

A month later, A1 called and asked if we had problems with that particular plumber.  I explained the situation, and all of the unresolved issues the plumber left; banging pipes and some sloppy workmanship.  A1 promised to make things right, and did send another plumber out.  The 2nd plumber did not fix anything and the problems still exist.  We've called A1 and they say they'll have the 2nd plumber call us back, but he never does.  Now, I'll have to call another company to repair the unresolved issues A1 promised to fix and didn't.  

For me, the moral of the story is that A1 will lie to you.  I highly recommend finding a different plumbing company.