Windy City Rooter

Max charged the second installment on my debit card without my knowledge using the card info without my signature.
He never sent me a receipt because he never had it.
Never put your debit card in hand of Max because I have no idea how he can chargeYour debit card without your signature or passwords.
Use only a check or maybe a credit card so you have some time to disputed.
Every time I ask for my receipt he sends me the original contract that has my signature on it with first installment payment only and he keeps telling me I sent it to you but he never could produce a receipt with a signature of the second payment.
And Every time I ask for a receipt he threatens me  saying he will talk to his lawyer he will take me to the court.
All what  I'm asking Is  a receipt for the second installment with my signature on it which is normal every business should provide receipts for payments.
the way he talk to me is very unprofessional, disrespectful, and impolite.
An Absolute ConMan.

They came for a estimate and broke more pipes. then tried to charge us over $5500 to fix what they broke.

The team at Windy City Rooter are great. They are very professional, respectful, and showed real empathy for our situation. We had a problem with our city sewer line. Max and his team identified the problem and worked directly with the city to get the sewer line fixed. They also helped us out of another jam when we had flooding in our basement stairwell. They responded immediately to pump out the water and setup sandbags and pumps to control any further flooding until they could come back and fix the issue with the drainage. They advised us on the correct way to route the drain, something that two previous plumbers could not (or did not) do properly. These guys will be our go-to plumbers moving forward. I highly recommend them.

Your verbose reply affirms my feeling.   I'm sure you've been hung up on before.  No one said anything about parking,  they were in the GRASS!  It's irrelevant and I know what i was told!  Your attempted jabs have nothing to do with the work you performed or your rude/high handed staff.  DO BETTER.

Exceptionally good service. Windy City Rooters responded quickly to my call and came out immediately. All three workers--Joe, Brian, and Brandon--were courteous and efficient. They diagnosed the problem (blocked up sewer pipes), explained the solution to me, and then resolved the issue. The cost was very reasonable. And the dispatcher Dan was knowledgeable and witty.
I highly recommend Windy City Rooters.

What started out as a small job of changing out 2 faucets and fixing a clog turned out to be a bigger job. Thankfully Shanon was great. He was honest about what needed to be done and the day of service he showed up promptly with another employee and they got the work done in 2 hours (an hour less than every other place quoted). The work was clean and the guys were very thorough.

Had a sewage pipe that was seemingly backed up again after a different plumber supposedly fixed it.  Turns out the previous plumber did not fix the root issue.  Max and his crew came out (on a Thanksgiving weekend no-less) and fixed the issue and even helped me navigate the insurance claim process.  Can't thank them enough for taking care of this major issue quickly and efficiently.

Antioch residents BEWARE! Do NOT use this service ever! I am an Antioch resident and I live in Red Wing View subdivision. These men are dishonest cons that stole from me, creating extra problems and trying to swindle me out of $5500!

First I want those reading this to know they can trust my review, my wife and I are professional individuals that champion small businesses, however this business is not honest. I have taken video of everything they did and missed (from my 2nd opinion contractor) that I would be happy to share if you are considering using.

My situation was that I had a toliet back up because my sewer line was plugged.

Here are the ridiculous things they did before I got a 2nd opinion and they issued fully resolved This place shows NO craftsmans ship. Will only drain your wallet:

1) Dump Sewage in Garbage Cans? - The crew could not find the cleanout outside, they then asked me how many garbage cans I had and that they wanted to open my sewer in my basement. They told me anyone would do this and that they were not liable for the mess. Hmmm, I believed them. We carried the cans downstairs before I begged them to find another way. Reluctantly, the guy asked me if I had a toliet above us. He then asked me if could pull my own toliet or he would charge me. ** The person that did it right. **The person that did it right found my cleanout, and dug down too it

2) Toliet left uninstalled - He then said he would pull the toliet but I would have to put it back. He literally left me high and dry! No toliet, hoping I would call him back for the much larger service he lied about me needing! How unprofessional! ** The person that did it right reinstalled my toliet for free.

3) Kitchen Snake for Sewer Line - The crew brought in there kitchen snake to clear my sewer line, my SEWER LINE! He was able to poke a hole in the plug so the line flushed. **The person that did it right brought a snake wider than a half dollar and cleared my entire line.

4)False Broken Line - The crew then opened my line and had me flush water through it. With a flashlight they claimed that the water would just fall off out of the pipe into the ground. I was informed that their service ended here and that I needed to have my yard excavated and new pipe installed $5500. He could have it done first thing in the morning. Had I said yes, my yard/landscaping would have been ripped up and I would be out $$$$. ** The person that did it right brought his snake came and showed me that my lines were still connected and that I just need to have them ground clean. The water flowing out in to the ground was really water flowing from a small pipe to a large pipe. I have video of this.

5) Lies - The crew told me that my sewer line settled with my house and this caused it to be break. They told me this ALWAYS happens. I have never seen anyone in my neighborhood have work done.

6) Hard Selling - All the next day the guy was hounding me to make a deal while I was having my 2nd opinion done. He told me he could camera my line too and that he is cheaper etc. If they had the capability to do this, why not do it right first and save us all $$$$, time, and heartache!

7) No refund- I asked for my money back since he didnt clear the line properly. Rather than explaining that he made a mistake. I heard nothing. He stole my money, tried to charge me $5500, left my toliet disconnected and then didnt have the decency to talk to me or admit the job was not done. Is this how you run a business?  

The person that did it right charged me minimally for a couple hours of work. The person who did the work was a true plumber! . My new plumber even admitted he would drive by Windy City on 173 and think about working for them, but he never will again after he saw the work and level of dishonesty they allow. Show some craftsmanship!

I even made a promise that if Windy City would refund me! I would give half to my plumber in the name of the trade! But I have heard nothing. $300 for a peahole drilling, leaving me with a mess. I hope this review at least saves somone else's time and money!

Bathtub backed up with brownish slime coming out of drain. I used the online messaging system and had a response in a few minutes. The owner was up front and made no promises about same day service (on a sunday), but said he would call if there was a cancellation. A couple hours later and I get a call from the office saying they could fit me in. My issue was resolved, and had some great tips regarding other problem areas. I couldn't of asked for better service, and will use Windy City Rooter for future plumbing needs. Thank you!

Max and Randy really fixed my condo up quick.  They arrived on time, conducted a pressure test, and cleaned 7 drains and 2 toilets in about 25 minutes, start to finish!  Max (the owner) is someone you can tell takes pride in his work and will go the extra mile to develop a lasting relationship.  Windy City Rooter gained my business as a customer for life. Highly recommended. $$$$

I recently hired Max and his team for two large jobs at my 120 year old home in Chicago, IL and couldn't be happier with the results.  When called for an estimate, Max came out to my home, listened to what was happening and we discussed our options.  You can tell Max knows what he's doing and he's able to give an estimate for the work on the spot.  He always walked me through what his team was doing and even took the time to teach me a few things as a new home owner.  The work was completed quickly and correctly the first time.  Max also followed up with me after a couple of rainy days to make sure everything was working properly and we were 100% satisfied with the completed work.  I would highly recommend Windy City Rooter and will continue to turn to Max and his team for my plumbing needs.

We discovered a wet, gaping hole in our basement under our first floor (the one and only!) bathroom. After a bit of shopping around, we discovered that most plumbers either never call back to follow up on needing a repair estimate, or if they do, their estimate will be very high. Max and Windy City Rooter, on the other hand, were fast, communicative, and gave me an estimate that came in at exactly half of another I had gotten.

Max went above and beyond in his estimate, ideas, and advice, and clearly showed us that he knows his stuff and doesn't play around. We did have him do the repairs, which (as he forewarned) were more complicated than we first thought/hoped they would be, but he and Joe were professional, quick, as clean as possible; and the higher bill still came in at a very reasonable price.

We are planning a more extensive repair project in that bathroom and will be going straight to these guys to do all of the plumbing work, because we have no doubt it will be done right, and for a fair price.

I rarely write reviews, so hopefully this is a testament to how good these guys really are. If you're reading this, it's probably because you're like me. There's an issue (possibly major) and the problem is out of your skill set. You're freaking out and don't want to get stiffed financially.  You're not sure who to trust. Enter Max...and Windy City Rooter (WCR).
The first time Max came to see our issue, he put our mind to ease immediately. He knew exactly where we needed to start and was very honest with what issues may present itself. He was 100% honest and was never pushy. He took his time to help us understand what could be the problem.
There was no way to predict all the issues we had, but Max, and his son Cort, were there to explain and calm our worries whenever the next issue came. Cort was on scene every day and was amazing to work with.
In the end, we had: cracked sewer on our property which revealed a broken city water line at the B-Box which revealed a cracked water line on our property, which revealed more cracked sewer lines from our property to the street. Besides all that, we needed our catch basin cleaned out (probably first time in 100 years!), our sump pump rerouted, and we still needed to install a cleanout in the front yard...which I JUST got done landscaping. The situation was overwhelming.
Besides all those headaches, the bill ended up being way higher than we were prepared to pay, BUT Max did mention that it was a possibility. Even though he mentioned it, he helped us with discounts and was an integral part in dealing with our insurance.
When I first filed a claim with our insurance company, Max said to patch him in 3-way on the call and he can help explain the issues. I would've had no idea how to explain everything to them.  Again, Max was patient and knew EXACTLY how to deal with them several times over the following 9 days. Insurance tried their hardest not to pay, but Max took his time to explain everything to them and provided them with all the pictures and documents they needed. The best about all this extra help was that there was no extra charge for this. That's Max. Insurance ended up paying for 55% of our total cost, which Max predicted.
I'd say the best thing about Max, Cort, and the whole WCR team is their responsiveness. Any time I had a question, I'd text Max or Cort and they got back to me almost right away.  During this whole ordeal, I was able to text Max from 6am-11pm and he was never evasive or made me feel like I was being intrusive.
I emphatically recommend Windy City Rooters for any plumbing need you have. Honestly, I wouldn't call or trust anyone else in the future.

This was a long time ago, so I don't feel the need to elaborate much more. I do want to clarify however, since I was accused is sneaking out, which wasn't the case and attempts to discredit my review. As I mentioned, they made me late for my appointment because they arrived significantly late! I told them as they were inspecting , and before they were packed up that I would need to rush out as soon as possible, and at the time they seemed to understand this and agreed. Many, and at that time, most service providers I was working with either settled up by mail or phone. Given that I had spoken to them in advance, I think it's very  unfair to characterize my leaving quickly as sneaking out!
If this is what the office manager who called me thought, that might explain why she was so rude and nasty to me. This experience would have been significantly less painful without her contribution. I also want to add that I took her call the moment I arrived back from my appointment. I didn't avoid her, and I paid in full even though I was no better off than when I had started. Much worse, in fact,  for having a very unsettling experience. I feel it's necessary to add these details because the owner is so vigorously trying to discredit me.

We had an emergency plumbing issue with a gas leak from an outside Gas grill. We called Windy City Rooter and had Joseph Sjostrom came out to our home. Windy City plumbing was the quickest to not only respond, look at issue but also to follow up to set up an appointment. Joseph came the next morning since we could wait a bit and fixed and replaced the issue with a matter of time. He was very professional the entire time. He was very knowledgeable about what he was doing and he took care of exactly what we needed to in a timely manner.
We really appreciate their thoroughness taking the time to explain everything thoroughly and quality of service.

Great service, very efficient and reasonable pricing compared to many plumbers. Totally trust their work and they don't oversell services.  Will keep and highly recommend as our plumbing service for Reggies in Chicago IL.

Our water softener had problems and rust was staining our plumbing fixtures.  Larry fixed the system and went above and beyond.  He cleaned up all the rust stains in the bathrooms - the shower, bathtub, sinks.  He was so helpful and saved me a lot of work.  Call Windy City Rooter if you have plumbing issues.

My family had a plumbing emergency and reached out to multiple plumbing companies in the North Shore area.  Windy City Rooter was the first to show up but while he arrived, we had another (more affordable) plumber call and say that he was on the way.  My wife decided to tell the plumber from Windy City Rooter that she didn't need his service since we had another plumber on the way.  That 2nd plumber tried to work on the clog in our main sewer but was unsuccessful.  He recommended calling another company more capable of handling heavy duty repairs.  My wife decided to call Windy City Rooter back and within an hour and a half, they showed up for the 2nd time, this time with Max the owner.  I feel that most plumbing companies would not have returned after being turned away initially.  We were appreciative that Max and his company came back.
Within an hour, Max and his son assessed the cause of our problems.  We needed a complete sewer line replacement due to terrible root issues and a collapsed pipe  He walked me through multiple options and the various costs for each.  We made the decision to go ahead with WCR after getting approval from our insurance company.  Max and his company were quick to organize and plan out the repair.  Early the next morning, one of Max's sons, Cort, showed up bright and early with a crew of men and heavy machinery to start working.  The guys were all prompt, professional, and friendly.  Within a few days, their crew was able to finish a complete sewer replacement which would have taken over a week for most other companies.  
Throughout the process, Max was on the phone keeping me updated and even constantly communicating with the claims adjuster.  
My family has the utmost respect for Max and his company because of their responsiveness, quality of work, speed, and overall affordability.  We highly recommend them to anyone who has plumbing needs.

Max came out to fix my sink quickly and competently.  He is great to work with and seems like he knows what he's doing.  I wouldn't hesitate to call him again in the future.

After 32 years in the restaurant business, I finally found a plumber that I can trust and depend on no matter how small or how challenging the job. Max and his crew are simply the best in the business. I have used Windy City Rooter to repair several major issues with our plumbing in our commercial kitchen and public restrooms. They also conquered a huge project at my home which required the excavation of the entire foundation to replace improperly installed drain tiles by my home's original contractor. Windy City Rooter has stepped up and fixed issues that no one else could and they did so in a fast and friendly manner. Professional work, fast response time, and great communication all at reasonable prices. When Max shakes your hand and tells you he'll do the job right, you can absolutely depend on him following through. Highly recommended - I simply won't call anyone else!

I called Windy City when I had a clogged pipe in my 1950's home (with original pipe). The first plumber couldn't open the drain, left a leaky pipe and a mess. He also told me we needed about 1k of new plumbing work done.
I called Max, the owner, and explained my situation. He refunded my money, which I was shocked. I expected to pay for the job. He also said he would send someone out the next day to deal with the leaky pipe. The next day Joe showed up determined to fix the leak and clear the clog in the pipe and HE DID!!!! Joe left my house clean and with my pipe running wonderfully.
I would reccommend Windy City 100% even after their first visit. They are determined to do right by their customer and have great customer service! Will be using them again.

I called and they came out within a matter of hours max took care of the plumbing job did it with very experienced hands and very reasonable price and I recommend them to anyone Mr.B.

They showed up on time, wearing masks and coverings over their shoes.  They found and fixed my clog, but needed to cut into the ceiling since the waste pipe was frozen.  They were unbelievably neat and not only swept up, but also wiped the floor down.  Their prices were in line with anyone else, in fact, slightly less money.

Max, Joe and the team are wonderful and very professional!  He performed a very large job at my house around 2008.  It was over Christmas until New Years.  He and his son did an amazing job!  

I contacted him 12 years later and he helped me out again.  This man and business is the best in Chicago land, and I would NEVER call another!!!!

I called the company for a clogged tub. I tried to unclog it my self but could not. I was told the plumber would be at my house between 8:00 and 10:00 AM. After several calls from the company telling me the plumber was behind schedule,  the plumber arrived at around 1:30 PM. The plumber told me the cost up front to rod out the tub and he also looked at the pipes. It took 5 minutes to unclog the tub. When I asked how he did it, the plumber told me it was a secret.  The total cost for the 5 to 15 minute visit...... $225.00. Oh well, he did tell me the price up front, but I thought being it only took a couple of minutes it would have been a little cheaper.

The owner is a horrible human being   He should not be in business  and no one should use his services

Max and his team are amazing!!!
I had a pipe separate under the building, which was causing backups. He used his camera to show me exactly where the issue was, thoroughly explained how he could fix it, and made me feel at ease. I live out of state, so he was in constant contact via text and email, photographing the job at each step, to reassure me of the progress. He and his team worked with my tenants to schedule each day, were on time or early, and took the utmost care to work clean. They protected the floors, furniture, and left the apartment clean daily. I would HIGHLY  recommend Windy City to anyone who needs plumbing done. Many owners show up to get the job and then to get paid - not Max.!
He arranged his schedule to ensure he was there for the project, in its entirety.

Leaving a great review after James came out this morning. He was able to figure out we had a cracked closet collar. He happened to have the part we needed on him and fixed it quick. I was very happy he wore boot covers and a mask (unlike a past company we had our for a separate issue).

I recently hired Windy City Rooters to take care of sewer back up in the basement of rental building in South Chicago. The technician arrived on time the next day and analyzed the issue thoroughly. Max, the owner, explained me the issue in detail and recommended to replace main sewer lines. The work was started the following week and completed in two days, as promised. Since I don't live in the city, Max kept me updated on timely basis by calling and sending photographs of the work being done. He handled the project very professionally and I will use Windy City Rooter for any future plumbing needs. Thanks Max and your crew for all the good work!!!

Long read but definitely worth it join me on my roller coaster of the day. So something happened today that absolutley blew my mind. I've never experienced anything like it. This morning I woke to find the smell of gas in my kitchen so I did what any sane man would do and call a local plumbing company that recieved great reviews from my favorite radio station as well as Google, windy city rooter a gentleman by the name of Max picked up the phone and after telling him of my plight he promptly told me to call Nicor as they generally fix these type of issues for free (after calling three other plumbers each told me this is absolutley incorrect and they would just shut off my gas until its fixed) so I thought cool and did as was told and of course nicor shows up says yup you have a leak and promptly locks me out of my gas. Now why this is a problem, normally most companies can come out with a sniffer tool and find the leak without shutting it off. If the gas is shut off the plumbing company has to come out and pressurize the system which costs close to $500 compared to $100 to $150. In comes max after I call him to tell them nicor just shut off my gas he tells me he needs to now send his guy to do the $459 test now that the gas is off. OK I feel weird about it seems like he tried to pad the bill BUT WITH A NEWBORN IN THE HOUSE I needed the gas on. So I agree. Then his guys do the test find the leak and tell me he could have done it without the gas being off and its going to be an additional $279 to fix the issue. I call max back credit card in hand to tell him to start the job but it was kinda bs how it played out and how his advice costed me and additional $459 bucks then it needed to and I wont be using him again because of it. Max proceeds to tell me off about how I wasted his time and that he doesn't need my buisness and how he tried to help me out and to keep all my money he's going to walk away tell his guys to leave and good luck finding a better price. So here I am now with gas shut off looking for a new company to fix the leak and making sure I can get as many people to read this as possible stay away from Windy City Rooter.

in response to Max You are correct with the riots going on and my company shutting down a newborn and now a gas leak I was having a ruff day and i believe the on one of the calls we shared i apologized profusely about being frustrated and it rubbing off on the conversation and you are correct after Nicor shut off my gas you told me you would now have to charge me $479 to do a pressure test and because I didn't have a choice at that point I agreed to it. Here's the update after speaking to true professionals after he walked off the job and speaking to the nicor rep. Per Nicor rep apparently this is common practice to call nicor so that they find the leak and max and his team don have too. Unfortunately that left me with my gas shut off. Max informed me there where a bunch of leaks and they would have to cut and rethread pipe to fix the issue turns out a couple of fittings just needed to be tightened I will say they had to cut one pipe but with under $10 dollar nipples and a coupler it was fixed the whole job said and paid for with another company was under $100. SO your crime sir in my eyes was making sure a customers gas was shut off so you could secure a service  call and padded the bill over $500 bucks you wished me luck finding a better price and in my research I FOund significantly cheaper pricing and Plumbers that dont' go off on his customer base when they feel like somethings hinky. Oh and by the way just to prove to everyone on here your guys lied below are photos from the day of the job and after it was finished showing where the leaks where and how amazingly there was no 4 inches of water.

I had my first interaction with Windy City Rooter this week for a malfunctioning kitchen  garbage disposal.  I didn't have the time to service it myself and it needed to be done within 24 hours.  Max (owner) came out to the location within hours.  Max is friendly, prompt, honest and thorough.  He was able to get it working without any overhaul or major time spent.  He didn't even charge me for the service and shared some important advice on general maintenance.  Windy City Rooter will be my go to plumbing provider from now on.

Windy City Rooter came out just a few hours after we had a flash flood. They unclogged a main drain within minutes. They also came back a few days later to upgrade our sump pump and install a back-up system, in which they were honest about our options and didn't try to up-sell us the most expensive option, but truly encouraged us to upgrade what was necessary so the flooding didn't happen again. Basically they got us the best bang for our buck without breaking the bank. They were professional, approachable, reliable, and efficient. I would recommend them to everyone I know.

Worst company! 1 star is to much!!! They dropped a slab of concrete and a brick wall for my patio! Max's son denied it and only after his crew turned there heads and laughed, he admitted he damaged my wall AND ripped out the electric!! He said he denied it because his dad would be mad. Max's son said he would pay to fix it. After almost a year of blowing me off. I got a hold of Max. Max said he would come take a look at it and work something out. Max is a lier!! He never came and kept blowing me off. The wall cost $8,500.00 and I still have to replace the concrete!      
HEY MAX!? You drained my wallet!! You lied to me, you! cheated me! And without making restitution, you stole from me.

Great company to do business with!  Discovered a leak in the tub of a townhouse we were getting ready to sell.  Called late on Friday afternoon and was able to schedule an appointment for Monday AM as it was a non-emergency.  Brian called Monday and met us at the property and repaired our leak.  He was knowledgeable, courteous and very friendly.  I would highly recommend WCR!

Really more of 2.5 but I rounded up.

The Good: Quick to reply, the owner cares about the business and making customers happy. The scheduling/online team are great. Free, no obligation quotes.

The Bad: Like any company with employees (vs solo plumber) it can be hit and miss with the quality of the plumber you get and unfortunately I got a miss. I had a drip on my bathtub faucet and I figured while they were there I'd have them flush my water heater.

Cost: Their prices are NOT CHEAP. Expect to pay around $250/hr for even basic tasks and don't expect even the smallest job to run you under $300. My faucet drip and water heater flush cost almost $600. Keep in mind my water heater is electric and has a drain right next to it. Probably the easiest water heater to drain. Maybe the prices are high to compensate for the people that do not hire them after a quote. They do quote you up front and businesses are free to charge as they please..not docking them for this. Just sharing to give an idea of cost.

The mediocre: Did not seem very prepared or professional. Don't expect white glove service with shoe covers, sweeping after or any of those bells and whistles. I'm not docking them stars for this, but I have paid less and gotten better service before.

Side note: Also I noticed many of the 5 star reviews are for times when Max (the owner) was at the job site. Most (if not all) the 1 star reviews are at times when he wasn't.

My outcome: As soon as they left the drip they fixed started again. Long story short I hired someone else to do it right as I was in a hurry. Owner called, apologized and offered a small discount (under 20%) that didn't even cover what I paid the other guy to fix it right.

The verdict: If you need someone in a pinch, go for it. They will show up and they have good availability.  However, I would definitely shop around and get a few quotes before going with them on any major jobs. For minor jobs don't expect the best bang for your buck.

Would I hire again: Maybe....but I would definitely be very particular about getting everything in writing and getting multiple quotes before starting the work.

Someone else would have probably given a 1 star review and disputed with the credit card company, but I did appreciate their responsiveness.....but sometimes getting the job done right is more important than proactive follow up.

I used Windy City Rooter for the second time as I needed a plumber, again. Again, Max came out but this time I was here and able to physically meet him. He's a nice guy and a professional plumber. He had his young assistant with him. They did a great job and we're finished in ten minutes.

The focal point of this review is to let the reader know some important,  yelp related issues: In the past, I have used Your Helpful Plumber and I did call them for an estimate today, as well as calling Max and Windy City Rooter. Anyway,  Windy City Rooter gave me an estimate of $149.00 and DELIVERED on the $149.00. Your Helpful Plumber gave me an estimate of $225.00 - $275.00. Another time I got an estimate form YHP to move the hose to the other side of the building for Well over $1,000. Windy City gave me a quote for $650.00 and delivered on the $650.00.

Obviously I went with Max/Windy City Rooter and I'm glad I did. Great job, Max!

I will send my complaint to Better Business Bureau. This clearly is your We drain your pipes and not your wallet moto comes from. Very poor response and customer service...

I'll recommend Windy City Rooter to anyone that will listen. My initial call to them was for a camera inspection on my sewer line. Shannon showed up and made sure to answer any questions I had before beginning any work. After putting the camera down the line,  a blockage of tree roots was discovered. Shannon went over the options on how to proceed and offered his advice when asked. He gave up front costs on all the options, so that I could make as an informed decision as possible. To make a long story short, I decided to replace the clay tile sewer line with PVC. Shannon got me a contract and I put the 50% deposit down, he also took the time to explain what was and wasn't going to be included in this work.

Fast forward to a week later, the permit is approved, materials dropped off and a crew of guys shows up ready to work. Cort took the time to go over the scope of work again and answer any questions I had. Shortly after Cort and his crew started, Max showed up to see if they needed anything. Over the course of the next 6 hours, the old sewer line was dug up, the new sewer line was put in place and the trench was filled in. Cort explained about how the trench will settle and level out and what my city will be coming to do as cleanup. The crew did a sweep of my property to make sure nothing was forgotten or left behind and cleaned up everything.

This is all a very long winded way of saying Windy City Rooter did an exceptional job.

Oh and did I mention that it was done at a very affordable price? Because it was. After talking with Max, he makes it very clear he want's to save the customer money whenever possible.

5 Stars
10/10 would recommend.

If you have any plumbing problems, Windy City Rooter should be your first call.

Their work is exemplary and their customer service is outstanding. The owner Ted is closely involved and ensures customers are satisfied. Cannot say enough great things about these guys. Use them!!

Awesome plumbing company. Fair pricing and reliable. I had them quote me for a large job at my house (which I decided to wait on for now), but because of their rates and how they worked with me on the estimate, I called them when I had an issue at a rental property of mine. They showed up quickly, took care of the issue for the tenant, and called me separately for payment. Couldn't have been easier. Highly recommended.

A few weeks ago I had to use Windy City Rooter service for Plumbing...in my vacation home Twin Lakes Wi....when they came at 9pm....and fixed problem with pipe under kitchen....water was leaking..... they added missing gasket and charge 397$ I had to agree to pay since I had people who rent my house at that time and want to avoid any issues as soon as possible..... but when they tried to Scam me for 5.800$ I felt something is not right.....We just had flood in our Twin Lake Wi.....so Shannon Walker and owner Joe looked at Well and saw cap on the top is leaking.....and immediately realized that they can Rip me off for that problem,.... by saying that my pipes under ground are broken...... they made video and send it to me to say that I  need to replace broken pipe under ground asp, cause it will create major big problems for me soon...and I felt that they are pushing me make this decision right away.....I told them I need to talk to my husband send estimate I cant give you answer now.....When I received estimate I called Well company Huemann Well Drilling Contractors for the second opinion....When they came they checked pipes under ground with special equipment and told me that pipes are not broken...... Cap is leaking because its flood and water is several inches up in the lake... the cap they will fix when water subside...its no need to replace pipes.....but even if I had this problem the cost would be from 1.500$- to 2.000$ the most.....not 5.800$ what Windy City Rooter gave me.....Also Windy City Rooter only  pipe company not Well company and dont even have License to repair Wells.....but fond way to Scam people like me by having one small problem to turn in their big profit....Its DISHONEST way conduct business.....also when I called owner Joe and confront him of his dishonesty he threatened me to place video from leaking cap....so Joe please post this video that everyone can see how you Rip people off.......leaking cap has nothing to do with broken pipes under ground.....People please be Aware of that company....Windy City Rooter....I will also report them to Better Business Bureau. Olga.

Had a clogged toilet at my rental property. Called and scheduled an appointment for what I thought was going to be a $325 drain clearing service. The service tech Vince came out the next day and identified a problem with the switch on the ejector pump, meaning that he didn't need to do that service. I was very happy when the charge was only $45. He recommended replacing the pump with a model that had a different switch type. After some conversation, we came to the mutual conclusion that he could just replace the switch instead to a different type that would work more reliably. The deal was I would supply the switch, and he would install it the next day between 9-12am for $225. A high price for an hour of work, but still relatively reasonable for working on a sewage pump. Every aspect of the job was discussed and agreed upon. So far, five stars. I dropped the switch off at the property that evening, so it would be there for the service in the AM.

At 7am the next morning, I get a call from the harsh-speaking Max, owner of this business. In another review they stated he was yelling. I wouldn't call his tone yelling, but it was ridiculously hostile. He reneged entirely on the agreed upon service and rate, and instead wanted $450 - DOUBLE. He claimed the price was going up because the pump would have to be removed and reinstalled. Didn't really care to hear that we already expected that the day before and it was included in the $225 price. Then he said it's because the new switch is an aftermarket product, and he couldn't guarantee it. I told him I understood, and any defects in the switch are my problem because I'm supplying it. Then he basically just shut down and stopped reasoning, trying instead to extort money from me because he perceived I was on the hook with him.

Anyway, the guys a real jerk and doesn't honor deals made by his employees. Told him to cancel the service. I was really hoping I had found a plumbing company I could turn to without hesitation in the future, but I guess next time I'll be going down the Yelp list once more, and skipping over Windy City Rooter.

We hired Max and his company to fix our sewer problem.  He charged us $7,000.00 for one day of work for 3 or 4 guys. His son assured me that they  would clean up the dirt excess in the spring .When I called the company in March,  Max started screaming at me and accusing me of lying.  He refused to come  out and clean the dirt excess. He said  that $7,000.00 for 1 day of work was a bargain and he would not waste any more resources on me.  I believe the way he talked to me was extremely unprofessional, rude and disrespectful. Also, when  his son  was fixing our jacuzzi jets (for an additional $400.00),  he unplugged the electrical door bell from inside of the drive wall and forgot to plug it back in. It cost us an extra $250.00 to open up a dry wall and fix the door bell.  My advice is: don't use these guys,  but if you  decide to use them anyway,  make sure to put all of their promises in writing.

Small jobs,Big jobs they do it all I have used them for both! Working with MAX the owner is a real pleasure when your happy he is happy.He stands 100% behind his work.

I had an issue with my toilet and wasn't getting anywhere figuring out myself. Windy City Rooter came out and diagnosed the issue quickly. James offered a simple solution that saved me time and money. Even though I ended up not needing a pro for the fix, WCR will be my first call the next time I have an issue..

Max/Windy City Rooter was the 12th plumber I'd interviewed over a month span. By the 11th plumber I had my mind made up. Then here comes Max, fast talking, smooth OG giving me a call.I'd told him I found my plumber already but he'd made some interesting points that convinced me to meet with him. Trust me I tried to find every reason not to, I was tired of meeting with plumbers. Ladies and gentleman I'm happy I did. ! Max has a big, passionate personality that may frighten some. He's not a bad guy. Such a down to earth, funny, real person who boasts about being a family man. I felt super comfortable. I was persistent in getting work done that other plumbers had mentioned. Max felt the opposite. I thought he wanted to give me a patch job because he didn't want to do what the others said. I was wrong, he just wouldn't let me waste money. Compared to what others were trying to charge me for unnecessary add-ons. I seriously saved $7,000. He even threw in some serious extras without charging. Why? He's more about relationships not money. It speaks volumes of his character. His team is amazing and highly professional. They really love what they do. My wife even agreed. She kept mentioning how it sounded like they were having a lot of fun doing the job. A lot of laughter and positive energy was exhuberating from our basement. They finished my job in one day. Left no evidence that they were even here other than the awesome results. They hauled all the concrete out without damaging my furniture, walls or floors. Covered it all up beforehand. If there is an award for great customer plumbing service; Windy City Rooter should receive it. Thanks for not being money hungry. Thanks for taking care of me and my family during a hard time. Thanks for being respectful to my home. Thanks for being men of your WORD and abiding by the contract. You guys are a blessing to society. You made our experience with you PEACEFUL, just how me and my wife like it!``

So very happy with the service from these guys!

Had to use 4 plumbing companies in the past 2 months, but finally chose the right company.

Vince and his coworker were both great and knowledgeable.

I know who I will be using from here on out.

Thanks again!

So grateful! I messaged Windy City yesterday Nd they had gotten back to me in less then 2 hours and were able to set up an appointment for the next morning. They were able to get here by 8 am and were done by 8:40. I had another plumber come out the day before and they were here for 3 hours and couldn't fix it. Called Windy City and they were able to fix it in 40 mins. Guys were super nice and kept me informed which I do like a lot. I am so happy to have my bathroom back and working.

Excellent company, very dependable. 2 of my toilets clogged at the same time on a Sunday. I called a number of plumbers to get someone  out right away. Windy City Rooter was the only company that did not charge a weekend fee. Other companies quoted  $150 - $200 just to come out. I spoke to Laura who assured me that someone would come out within 2 hours. Vince and Randy arrived on time and were extremely professional. I enjoyed the interaction and Vince explained everything  to me while fixing both toilets. Vince goes beyond solving the problem, he wasn't happy with the sound the toilet made after he removed the clog and continued to work on it until he was satisfied! I discovered a leak after they left, called Laura to explain the problem and she once again assured me that  Vince and Randy would take care of it. They returned   to my place to fix the leak and everything is working well. I will contact this company again if needed. Great job at customer service Laura, Vince and Randy, I enjoyed the experience.

James & Larry came out to service two different jobs at our condo buildings in the past week. They work great as a team, and are very efficient in diagnosing the problems and offering different solutions that best suit your budget and appetite for hassles (such as patch-up work/paint jobs, etc.). As true pros, they're very patient with savvy lay people who know very little but ask lots of questions.

Windy City Rooter was very responsive from the initial email, to setting up a time to come give me an estimate for repairs. They were able to diagnose the issue and repair it in a very timely fashion for a reasonable price. I will definitely be calling them again if I need a plumber.

Joe and his team did a decent job overall, but every time they had to lift a broom you hadn't specified in the contract ahead of time they charged a couple thousand extra.  Be very careful with these guys or you will get your pants pulled down.  I definitely wouldn't recommend using them as they don't have the moral character of most trades I work with.

Quick to respond! And very helpful and honest!  Answered every question and have good recommendations on how to fix the problem.

Amazing customer service! They were very professional. Showed up early. Diagnosed issue with my jacuzzi tube in  15 minutes. And didn't charge outrageous fee. I will definitely use them again. Couldn't be more pleased.

Thanks to Alan, after a long day at work, I will be able to take a bath and actually have the tub drain... and also use my kitchen sink that was completely plugged. But more to the point, the service was exceptional, our problem happened after supper and they were at our doorstep by 8 AM, cleaned up so well that I would've never known they were there, and fixed four of our drains. They are professional, courteous, and Alan explained everything so well. It was extremely affordable compared to other plumbing services we've had. I will definitely use them again, and would recommend them to my neighbors, colleagues and friends.  Thank you Windy City Rooter for making a big inconvenience disappear! This business is the complete package...

I was tired of water coming through the walls and drain in my basement.  I called a number of plumbers for estimates.  While the estimates were all similar, this company stood out to me.  Max came to estimate an overhead sewer for me.  He explained the process with the heart of a teacher.  I knew very little of the plumbing world, but Max took his time to explain what an overhead sewer would entail.  In addition, he looked at my open walls (the basement flooded the day before Thanksgiving). He explained the need for a drain tile system with a sump pump.  (I did know that I would eventually have to have that done.)  I accepted his estimate.  A few weeks later Cort and his crew came to work on the drain tile system and the overhead sewer.  I was not prepared for how big and dirty this job was, yet every day these men worked and cleaned up after themselves.  Their kindness was overwhelming to me.  Cort explained the day's work to me when I got home, or he called me when my time home did not match their end of the day.  James also came with a few guys to work on the new pipes, connections, and so on.  This is a great company!  I highly recommend them for those who need any kind of plumbing work.  

They are also general contractors who will be remodeling (bathroom had to be moved in the process) and repairing water damaged floors and walls.  I look forward to the next part of this process!  Thank you, Windy City Rooter!!

Update: Hal did an outstanding job completing the basement and bathroom. He is an outstanding craftsman! James and Justin completed the installation of the water pipes and toilet to finish the bathroom.

I highly recommend this company. The workmanship is high quality and affordable!

They get your job done and arrive on time but they quote a price out of the blue & they are way overpriced, you can't even tell how did they come up with the price, its a roughly quote out of the guy mind who came that day.
I paid off the price because I just wanted to get it done otherwise I would definitely have it done with another company.

Thanks to the other Yelp reviews, I called Windy City Rooter to come out and rod our sewer line that always backs up each spring.  Max came out the next day and assured me that he would do a thorough assessment of the problem. Max determined that the problem was a collapsed sewer pipe and no rodding was going to make things better.  Furthermore, after gaining access to the collapsed pipe under the basement, it was determined that the sewer line ou to the main line was also damaged.  The work included repairing damaged plumbing under the basement floor, re-routing the plumbing, installing new sump pits, and replacing the sewer line out to the main line.  Very professional, respectful and best of all, extremely competent.  I highly recommend Windy City Rooter and would definitely recommend them.

Windy City Rooter performed an in-depth sewer inspection separate from our regular home inspection as we suspected there might be a sewer problem. In fact, there was a sewer break and they were able to visualize the issue using a camera snaked through the sewer line. We were able to negotiate a pricing concession before closing. Since then, we closed on the house and scheduled the work. Windy City handled the permits and was able to schedule the work promptly. The crew was great! They kept us informed along the way and were respectful of our neighbors. Many thanks to them for a job well done.

Called Windy City rooter because I bought a floor model jacuzzi off of craigslist that was missing parts. I had explained my situation to the woman on the phone and told her to make sure she could help me because I had called other plumbing company's and they told me that most places wouldn't be able to help, she said that they do that all the time and they would be able to help me out. I made an appointment on Thursday and took off work to make it only to be told they are too busy and that they could be there first thing Friday at 7:30. I called them this morning to be told the appointment was to be from 8-10 which wasn't a big deal I would j grab breakfast. The guy eventually came only to tell me he wouldn't be the guy to install the tub and that they don't really do that kind of thing. I'm in the trades and the tub is
Mostly ready I have the water heater right below it and it's all framed out but non attached I just need work on the actual tub. I talked to his boss only to have him tell me that they don't do that kind of thing, deny blowing me off on Thursday then giving me an outlandish quote of 2600$ to do it on Monday even though I had already taken two days off of work to put in the tub without the guarantee of him being able to hook up the jets. this is a 1000$ job and I only bought the tub for 400$ why on gods green earth would I spend 2600$ when I could just buy A new tub and install it for 1400$. Conclusion, do not call these people!

Had an emergency with our sewer line on a Saturday night(late).  Called 2 places that night and left messages.  Called Windy City Rooter Sunday morning and they came out that day before either of the other places even returned my call.  Great service and very understanding with the current times we are dealing with today.

Thanks again.

AVOID AT ALL COSTS, had to cancel a job and a check because they refused to do the work, and wanted to keep my money for 2 weeks before they would process a refund.  BEWARE OF THIS COMPANY!  Max was rude, screaming obscenities at both me and my wife on two separate calls.  This guy is a real piece of work, BEWARE!!!

Our sump pump and backup needed replacement. Being new to the area, we looked through yelp for well rated plumbing places that offered the service and found Windy City Rooter.
My husband placed the call and was told that someone was on a call in our area and would respond as soon as he completed that service.
Within and hour we had an appointment set for 11:30. By 12:30 they had assessed, and replaced our sump pump and battery with a new one that needs no maintenance.
The gentlemen that came to do the work were just that, gentlemen. They were respectful, informative and worked efficiently.
If we ever need plumbing work in the future, we will definitely call them and you should too.

I called these folks to get an estimate for a new water service that is mandated by the Village of Norridge to meet the current plumbing code. I spoke with the owner and told us that we didn't need to add a new water service since is not required. They even went out of their way  by sending us the link to the Illinois Department of Public Health. What can I say, their HONESTY is unheard of considering this their business rely on these type of work. I am in lost of words and can not thank these guys enough since a new water service will run us from 15k to 20k. If I ever need plumbing services, these guys are the only one I will use.

We purchased a new home that has some plumbing challenges. I called Windy City for a consultation, and Shannon met with us the same day.  I was concerned that the consultation would be a push for expensive services, but that was not the case.  Shannon walked through the house with us and pointed out areas that could be an issue in the future, and ideas for preventative measures to take.  These suggestions did not involve immediate revenue for his company, but showed us that he had our best interest in mind.  For that reason, I will call Windy City first when service is needed.  I will come back later to review their actual work, but I was impressed with this customer focused initial approach.

Windy City Rooter is a life saver.

The first time my toilet got a little stopped up I called Captain Rooter - this turned out to be a $1375.00 mistake. Their guy came out and 'fixed' the issue in 15 minutes but charged me $375.00. Then, a week later my toilet massively overflowed causing significant water damage and costing me $1,000, my insurance deductable.  

I now know what a good - no great - plumbing service looks like! Windy City came out the very next day and identified both the actual issue and the solution. Their service term is both competent and phenomenally easy work with. They are responsive to questions and very clear about the work they will preform in their invoices.

I won't be using another plumber again, it's Windy City Rooter from here on out.

We had an excellent experience with Windy City Rooter.  Max (the owner) and his son came to my house to diagnose the problem and give a free estimate.  Unlike with other big name companies, I felt comfortable with  their diagnosis.  Windy City Rooter sends actual licensed plumbers to your house and not uneducated salesmen guessing what the problem is and trying to sell you expensive sump pumps or experimental fixes.  Although the diagnosis was not good (we had a blocked overhead sewer with a leak in our basement), Max was huge help in making the ordeal as painless as possible.   He explained the entire process of replacing our sewer, including city construction codes, digging, replacing pipe, sealing walls, and clean up.  Windy City Rooter does all their own work, they don't contract out anyone else (one of Max's sons is in charge of the excavating).  Therefore they know everything that is going to get done, how much it will cost, and how long it will take.  They dug up the sewer, replaced it, sealed our walls, and cleaned up all in one day as I was at work.  Max was phone call or text away, keeping me updated on the entire process.  In addition he also helped by talking directly to our insurance adjuster to ensure we could get some money for the damages.  Windy City Rooter is a highly experienced family run business and it is obvious that their goal is to make the customer happy.    I will use them for all my future plumbing needs.

My first review said it all. But now I'm hiring another plumber to redo the work not three years old yet because it was done with such poor quality. Just don't bother with this guy.

Windy City Rooter charged me 4,000$ for work he DID NOT DO, he got that signed contract in his hands and came by, with several men, I thought, great this will be done in a few days he ended up blaming me for sewer line problems claiming the City and me were fighting etc he LEFT ME with nothing close to being finished 0 ZERO STARS FOR A ZERO dishonest person I would have agreed to pay for gas a Some for his workers but he acted like a typical Bully the real issue to Everyone out there is he didn't finish and left me to hire another crew that did the OTHER 90% of the work, so take Max's words as truth but LETThe Buyer Beware!...Now THE FOLLOW UP!  Today's date MAY 21st, 2019. Went to court, the Fuckin judge ruled in his favor before he was Even there, he,the judge kept stating to Windy City Rooters Lawyers that your client is not present, the fool (got caught in traffic) Whereas I got up at 04:00 hours, Nevertheless the judge waited long enough for Said Fool to make it to court, the judge was not even close to being cognizant of construction practices and ruled in the Fools favor. I even had issues with some buildings inspectors those Chumps thought I busted my own fuckin sewer line idiots. Now it's on to the IRS as I NEVER GOT AN OFFICIAL BILL. The fool took it out of my DISCOVER CARD

Thks for installing my hot water heater, very satisfied.

Max was very efficient on doing the job. He explained to me what were the problems and how to resolve it. Thanks alot Windy City Rooters. It was nice doing business with you.

I had an issue at one of my rentals.   The water had to be shut off.  They came to look and told me the hot water heater and the rusty pipes needed to be replaced ....asked when they could start they told me tomorrow but would need a check to get on the schedule...i gave them a check for 3,900 the next day they called and said they were stuck on another job..the next day same excuse on the third day same thing....my tenants are still without water.   Tenant called conversation got heated and the owner came out to do work around 8pm...Long story the person who installed the heater twisted the pipes so much it broke. Called them back they told me I needed all new piping and that they would have to rip up kitchen floor and bathroom walls gave me a bid for 12,500.00 that did not include replacing floor or bathroom wall.  Called another plumber got the job done for 1,500.00.  BEWARE

Nice work, very professional.  Fair price, although plumbing work is not cheap, I could not repair this leak in the wall.

I need to stop and say THANK YOU to Jessica,Brian, Cody and Dan for making our plumbing experience superior. I was definitely in a pickle and needed a plumber that would provide a video of the sewer line inspection. My clients had paid for one inspection and that inspector did not provide the video after he said he would. And then Windy City came to the rescue. Caring compassionate knowledgeable and absolutely the best in the business. My clients and I noted the additional information above and beyond just a sewer line inspection Brian provided and the suggestions he made to help them keep their home water free and from backing up in the future. It certainly was a pleasure meeting Brian and Cody.
I did take a stack of business cards to share with my friends and family. They have the right tools and knowledge for any leak or plumbing issue. Of course the professionalism and kindness was above the competition, you kind of can tell they enjoy what they do and the service they provide.

I want to thank Max & Windy City Rooter for having just completed the fix of a major sewer problem for us. From the start, the transparency and diligence was outstanding. They kept us informed daily of the status, and were always available for any questions we had along the way. We will definitely use them again if we have any other problem or need any maintenance!

THE WORST! Beware of this company as the owner and their employees are not people of their word. They kept my money without fully making the repair. The owner swore continuously at me after A simple  plumbing repair required two trips and then a scheduled third trip which I requested on a Saturday one week in advance. The  plumber blamed prior plumbers because he was unable to make the repair. He also insisted that main valves with in a multiunit Chicago condo building required the water to be turned off which was not the case, this should've been my first clues that they are inexperienced. On the scheduled Saturday for which.  the plumber was to return for the full third time within a four hour window. I placed several calls trying to understand what time the  arrival would be and their office personnel laughed at me  and  told me that they were unaware of where their driver was and that they would get back to me. More than an hour later I received a call from the from the plumber himself indicating he could not find a parking spot and there was simply too much traffic for them to complete my plumbing repair that day therefore he left downtown Chicago in return to Antioch and that's why he would not be servicing my repair job. The crass aggressive foul mouthed owner Max called me to tell me it was my fault and that I should not have requested a Saturday during summer festivals and parades and they would only return on Monday through Friday. I offered spot hero,  I offered my condo garage,  I offered a parking pass all for which was refused. Stay far far away from this company as they do not stand behind their work and they lie (like other customers indicated) they are inefficient and the owner is an unprofessional crass thug who once they have your Payment they don't warrantee their work. This company is likely not not last with all the bad reviews they have and with an owner like Max.

Danger!Danger! Way over priced needed pipe snaked for clogged floor drain from kitchen sink. Was charged $700.00 and was not done correctly. Had to have another plumber come out next day to clear and flush drain for 400.00. Very rude ! Do your homework before you use this company read all reviews.

Fast response l.
Polite, efficient, beyond competent. Reasonable costs and they followed CDC Covid guidelines.?

Our water supply had blown out in the winter resulting in a water bill of thousands of dollars. It was unable to detect the problem to an untrained eye, but we had these guys come out and they were able to immediately arrive to the site and have this problem solved within 6 hours of diagnosing the problem. This was a big job, so i consider this to be incredibly fast. They had to dig a line from the street side all the way to the building and dismantle a fence and run new water lines all the way from the street into the middle of the basement. Not only did they do a great job but also they are going to mediate the situation between us and the insurance company so we don't have to lose thousands on this. Altogether very knowledgeable, professional, and keeps customer service a priority. Call these guys when the s*^%t hits the fan and you will be in good hands!

So I wanted to wait awhile to be able to assess the quality of work they performed before I reviewed windy city rooter. Max was prompt in coming out for and giving me an estimate to install a sump pump and discontinuing our antiquated catch basin. He didn't hesitate to take on the project and tackle the issue. With the heavy rainfalls and small residential lot we have,  there was leaking and cracking in our basement. Max was also very patient answering all of my questions and clarifying things if I didn't understand. I haven't had any leaking since then and I also had him upgrade my other existing sump (on the other end of the house) to his preferred zoeller manufacturer that houses a marine battery that doesn't need the hassle of refilling with distilled water. I am more at ease when it rains! I also use his company to camera our sewer system regularly to check for tree roots or blockages because we have a massive tree in our front parkway. Thanks again to Max and his workers!