Your plumbing is not often exciting. It will go on for years, faithfully filling, flowing, and flushing. As a pipe leaks water through your kitchen ceiling, however, the excitement may be more than you can stand. You need a plumber. There are firms out there that will soak you, but we’ve found dozens that do top-quality work at a good price.

Read our article and findings (available exclusively to CHECKBOOK subscribers)

Back to Chicago Consumers' CHECKBOOK Table of Contents.

Sample Subscriber Comments/Reviews About Plumbers

CHECKBOOK provides subscriber comments on their experiences with the firms they use. Please remember that individual subscriber comments are informal. Subscriber comments may give you insight into the types of features and problems that exist in a service field, but are not the best basis for selecting or rejecting a specific firm. To assess the quality of a firm's performance, we recommend that you give more weight to the percentages of favorable ratings. Those percentages are generally based on much larger numbers of consumers' ratings (the number of consumer ratings is noted above).

As You Can See Below, Some Plumbers Get High Praise from Their Customers. Some Others Don't. So Choose Carefully.
Here Are a Few Samples of the Thousands of Comments CHECKBOOK Has Collected on Hundreds of Different Plumbers.

• Subscriber from ARLINGTON HTS, IL wrote Another Plumber: The "boss" (Steve) did his usual fine job. His assistant this time seemed not interested..........
• Subscriber from DEERFIELD, IL wrote Another Plumber: Booth Plumbing came to my home to repair a leaking faucet. While removing the top..........
• Subscriber from CALUMET CITY, IL wrote Another Plumber: Never showed up to do the job, didn't return phone calls.......
• Subscriber from DES PLAINES, IL wrote Another Plumber: Arrived on time. Made diagnosis after having a conversation about how the bathroom drain problem..........
• Subscriber from NORTHBROOK, IL wrote Another Plumber: $50.00 charge to come out for an estimate. Outragious quote for a very small job...........
• Subscriber from RIVER FOREST, IL wrote Another Plumber: These people not only charged a service call for a 1/2 hour job but charged..........
• Subscriber from CHICAGO, IL wrote Another Plumber: I requested quotes from them based on good ratings in Checkbook. They did not show..........
• Subscriber from DES PLAINES, IL wrote Another Plumber: Fixed shut-off valve to incoming water line satisfactorily, but charged us $300.00, which I thought..........
• Subscriber from GLENVIEW, IL wrote Another Plumber: They appear to give fair recommendations about choices of fixtures--the best, not necessarily the cheapest..........
• Subscriber from AURORA, IL wrote Another Plumber: I chose this company based on their good rating with Consumer checkbook. I was very..........
• Subscriber from WILMETTE, IL wrote Another Plumber: Very prompt and price is very reasonable. Follow through on everything - call back, come..........
• Subscriber from MONTGOMERY, IL wrote Another Plumber: I liked the work he did, and that he told me what he really thought,..........
• Subscriber from SCHAUMBURG, IL wrote Another Plumber: Toilet wouldn't flush property in old cottage with septic system. They ran into unexpected underground..........
• Subscriber from SCHAUMBURG, IL wrote Another Plumber: The plumbers working for this company are reliable and professional. The office staff returns calls..........
• Subscriber from LK BARRINGTON, IL wrote Another Plumber: They have added electrical service to their business which is totally inferior (at least the..........
• Subscriber from GLENVIEW, IL wrote Another Plumber: I called this company based on Checkbook recommendations and was not disappointed. Punctual, reasonable, pleasant...........
• Subscriber from SKOKIE, IL wrote Another Plumber: Said they would follow up on where to get replacement faucet like the one we..........
• Subscriber from NAPERVILLE, IL wrote Another Plumber: Without asking me, the technician had trouble replacing a heavy toilet so charged me $500..........
• Subscriber from LK BARRINGTON, IL wrote Another Plumber: The only thing exceptional here are the prices....$250 for a faucet cartridge, $650 for a..........
• Subscriber from HINSDALE, IL wrote Another Plumber: The guy they sent out totally did not know what he was doing. Then we..........
• Subscriber from DES PLAINES, IL wrote Another Plumber: To fix just a kitchen trap cost $283. This is high in my book. I..........
• Subscriber from MORTON GROVE, IL wrote Another Plumber: They were great. My only complaint is that I had to wait (for flood control..........
• Subscriber from BUFFALO GROVE, IL wrote Another Plumber: They have been able to diagnose problems that others could not. Eager to give advice..........
• Subscriber from ORLAND PARK, IL wrote Another Plumber: A little on the expensive side, but for such quality work, it is very well..........
• Subscriber from CHICAGO, IL wrote Another Plumber: All the work handled by Netzel Plumbing has always met or exceeded expectations........
• Subscriber from SCHILLER PARK, IL wrote Another Plumber: Midcity Plumbing's service is very prompt. The employees are knowledgeable and professional. They are also..........
• Subscriber from EVANSTON, IL wrote Another Plumber: Performed work properly. BUT.... very expensive plus stiff travel fee. Plumber worked too slowly and..........
• Subscriber from ELMHURST, IL wrote Another Plumber: Installation of a backup sump pump was completed improperly - clamps on pipes were not..........
• Subscriber from CHICAGO, IL wrote Another Plumber: Kuhn is on the near north side of Chicago. I have used their services several..........
• Subscriber from AURORA, IL wrote Another Plumber: Called to replace sump pumps. Given quote for back-up system inquiry. Called back to discuss..........
• Subscriber from LA GRANGE PARK, IL wrote Another Plumber: These folks are good at what they do. It was a straight forward experience. Every..........
• Subscriber from HIGHLAND PARK, IL wrote Another Plumber: Tom Mahoney is excellent, as are some of this employees. But, the quality of the..........
• Subscriber from CHICAGO, IL wrote Another Plumber: John Baethke & Sons egregiously overcharges for their services. I would not recommend this company..........
• Subscriber from NORTHBROOK, IL wrote Another Plumber: Overpriced crooks........
• Subscriber from PARK RIDGE, IL wrote Another Plumber: I called six companies and this one called back first, most professional, scheduled promptly, and..........
• Subscriber from ORLAND PARK, IL wrote Another Plumber: plumber was very professional. explained everything he was doing and made sure everything was cleaned..........
• Subscriber from CHICAGO, IL wrote Another Plumber: Have used Larsen's for years - they understand the plumbing vagaries of older homes. They..........
• Subscriber from BOLINGBROOK, IL wrote Another Plumber: they were prompt and effeciant.......
• Subscriber from OAK LAWN, IL wrote Another Plumber: Sunday AM main sewer back-up; called back w/in 45 mins. Was able to come out..........
• Subscriber from CHICAGO, IL wrote Another Plumber: I have used Roto-Rooter 3 times and have been very pleased. The same plumber, Farok,..........
• Subscriber from OAK PARK, IL wrote Another Plumber: I have used Thiesse many times and have always been happy with the work........
• Subscriber from SCHAUMBURG, IL wrote Another Plumber: I was not getting any hot water from our water heater. The pilot light was..........
• Subscriber from CRETE, IL wrote Another Plumber: Dave did an excellent job. Very friendly, trustworthy, on time. Now I know who I..........
• Subscriber from CHICAGO, IL wrote Another Plumber: We needed work and replacement on the down spout line and on the catch basin...........
• Subscriber from SKOKIE, IL wrote Another Plumber: Plumber was very professional with several years of experience. He explained everything before he began..........
• Subscriber from WILMETTE, IL wrote Another Plumber: Always friendly and helpful. Never had a problem with Glenbrook........
• Subscriber from LIBERTYVILLE, IL wrote Another Plumber: Service was good and timely, however felt they were a bit pricey........
• Subscriber from GLEN ELLYN, IL wrote Another Plumber: I dealt with the owner, Karl Meyer. He was efficient and, overall, a pleasure to..........
• Subscriber from CHICAGO, IL wrote Another Plumber: I recommend Kuhn Plumbing because they are careful and neat when working. Also, I had..........
• Subscriber from CHICAGO, IL wrote Another Plumber: The plumber examined my system and said everything was in good order except for the..........