Find Nearby Plumbers In Joliet, Illinois

Perry Brown Plumbing & Heating earns strong marks across all four dimensions, with professionalism and experience being the most consistently praised attributes across a decade-plus of reviews. Multiple reviewers highlight courteous behavior, responsiveness, cleanup habits, and clear communication as standout qualities. Pricing is described as fair and reasonable by several reviewers, though one negative review raises a concern about $500 charged across two visits that failed to resolve the problem. Project completion is generally strong, with timely and thorough work cited repeatedly, but two negative reviews — one for an unresolved recurring issue and one for a failure to return a call — prevent a higher score in this dimension. The overall picture is of a reliable, well-regarded local contractor with isolated but notable service failures.

• Two negative reviews (1-star) exist: one from 2015 citing a recurring issue unresolved after two paid visits and no callback, and one from 2023 citing no response to a voicemail for an emergency water heater issue. These are meaningful signals of inconsistency in responsiveness and problem resolution.
• The majority of reviews (9 out of 14) are dated 2019 or earlier, meaning most data is more than 5 years old. Only 3 reviews are from the past 12 months (2023–2024). Recency weighting reduces confidence in current service quality.
• No strong fake review patterns detected. Reviews vary in length, detail, and tone. Specific job types, names, and personal anecdotes are present throughout, suggesting authentic authorship.
• The 2015 negative review references a competitor by name and phone number, which is unusual and may indicate a motivated or promotional element, though the underlying complaint about unresolved work and no callback appears credible given the 2023 no-response review echoes a similar pattern.

This WW Score is based on 14 reviews spanning roughly a decade, with HIGH mention counts across all dimensions, but reliability is moderately reduced by the fact that most reviews are over 5 years old and two credible negative reviews flag responsiveness and follow-through issues that prospective customers should weigh carefully.

R.A. Plumbing & Mechanical earns strong marks across all four dimensions, driven by consistent praise for responsiveness, next-day availability, and technically competent installations — particularly of water heaters. Pricing is generally described as fair and transparent, with multiple reviewers noting upfront flat-rate quotes and no surprise charges. Project completion is a clear strength, with jobs routinely finished on time and within estimate, and several reviewers noting bonus fixes performed without being asked. However, one detailed 1-star review from 2019 meaningfully drags scores down, describing a no-show, an unprepared technician, an aggravated demeanor, and a failure to ever deliver the promised estimate — touching every dimension negatively. Scores are held conservative to reflect this outlier and the fact that several positive reviews lack specific detail.

• One significant 1-star review (2019-08-19) describes a no-show, arriving without proper tools, unprofessional attitude, and failure to deliver a promised estimate — this is a serious multi-dimension flag and has been weighted accordingly.
• The majority of positive reviews are from 2020–2023, with only two reviews from 2021 and earlier beyond the negative one, suggesting the business may have improved over time but the negative review is now over 5 years old.
• Several positive reviews are somewhat generic in phrasing ('very professional,' 'highly recommend,' 'great experience') with limited specifics, which slightly reduces confidence in those individual data points. However, enough reviews contain specific details (named technicians, described work, timelines) to avoid a fake review flag.
• All positive reviews are 5-star with no 2, 3, or 4-star reviews present, which is a mild pattern worth noting. The single 1-star review is the only deviation, which is a somewhat typical distribution for a small contractor but warrants awareness.
• Most reviews reference the same two or three technicians (Kevin, John, Rob), which is consistent with a small operation and does not suggest fabrication, but limits the breadth of performance data.

This WW Score is moderately reliable — the volume of reviews is sufficient and most contain specific, credible detail, but the all-or-nothing rating distribution and one serious negative review introduce enough uncertainty that prospective customers should read individual reviews carefully before hiring.

H&N Plumbing and Heating demonstrates strong performance across all measured dimensions. Professionalism is consistently praised with mentions of punctuality, responsiveness, ease of communication, and honest dealings across all four reviews. Project completion is exemplary, with multiple complex jobs completed successfully (HVAC replacement, broken pipe repair, water heater replacement, faucet work) and on-time delivery noted. Experience and technical skill are evident through sophisticated problem-solving (surgical pipe repair, excellent troubleshooting) and diverse job scope over decades of service. Pricing is favorably positioned relative to competitors, with customers noting significant savings and transparent, honest billing practices. However, the small sample size (4 reviews) and age of most reviews (3 of 4 from 2019-2022) limit confidence in these scores.

• Small sample size: Only 4 reviews analyzed. Recommend collecting additional recent reviews for more reliable scoring.
• Recency concern: 3 of 4 reviews are from 2019-2022; only 1 review from 2021 or later. Most data is 3+ years old.
• Potential selection bias: All reviews are 5-star ratings with uniformly positive language. No negative or mixed reviews present to provide balance.
• Generic praise patterns: Multiple reviews use similar language ('wonderful', 'honest', 'family owned') without specific technical details in some cases, though substantive examples are provided.

This WW Score of 88.2 should be treated with caution due to the small sample size (4 reviews) and age of most data. While the reviews are detailed and specific enough to suggest genuine customer experiences rather than fabricated testimonials, the lack of recent reviews and absence of any critical feedback limits confidence in how current performance aligns with this score. Additional recent reviews are strongly recommended before making high-stakes decisions based on this assessment.

All four reviews consistently highlight strong professionalism, including punctuality, respectful behavior, clear communication, and transparency — driving a high professionalism score with MODERATE confidence. Project completion is well-supported across three reviews, with reviewers explicitly noting that jobs were finished correctly and problems were resolved before the technician left. Experience is evidenced by specific mentions of systematic troubleshooting, technical knowledge sharing, and handling a complex water heater installation, supporting a solid but conservatively scored experience dimension. Pricing was not mentioned in any review, so that dimension is excluded entirely from the WW Score calculation. The overall score is reliable for what it covers, but the absence of any pricing feedback leaves a meaningful gap in the full picture.

• All 4 reviews are 5-star ratings with no negative feedback — while the reviews contain specific details that reduce fake review suspicion, the uniformly perfect ratings warrant mild caution.
• Review dates span from 2020 to 2023 — two of the four reviews are more than 2 years old (2020 and 2021), which reduces recency confidence. Only one review is within the past 12 months relative to a mid-2024 evaluation window.
• Small sample size of only 4 reviews — all confidence levels are capped at MODERATE and scores should be interpreted conservatively.
• Pricing dimension has NO DATA — the WW Score does not reflect value-for-money performance and may be incomplete for cost-sensitive consumers.

This WW Score is moderately reliable for professionalism, project completion, and experience based on specific and credible reviewer details, but the small sample size, aging reviews, and complete absence of pricing data mean the score should be treated as a promising but preliminary indicator rather than a definitive assessment.

Kevin Szabo Jr Plumbing demonstrates strong professionalism with punctual arrivals, courteous staff, and clear communication across 187 mentions. Technical experience is solid with 142 mentions of skilled workmanship and problem-solving. Project completion is generally reliable (156 mentions), though some callbacks and follow-up issues are noted. Pricing is the weakest dimension (68.0/100) with 52 explicit mentions—customers frequently report high costs, surprise charges, credit card fees (3%), and expensive estimates ($89-$92.50), though some praise fair pricing. The company shows inconsistency: many 5-star reviews contrast sharply with serious complaints about no-shows, unresponsiveness, signature forgery, and incomplete work requiring multiple visits.

• PRICING CONCERNS: Multiple reviews cite high labor costs ($450 for $150 disposal, $7,500 labor quote vs. $1,800 competitor, $600 for pilot light relight, $425 for 20-min drain work). Credit card surcharge (3%) and estimate fees ($89-$92.50) not always disclosed upfront.
• RESPONSIVENESS ISSUES: Several reviews report unreturned calls, missed appointments, and no-shows despite confirmed scheduling. One customer waited 5 days with no water; another left 2 messages 3 days apart with no callback.
• SERIOUS ETHICAL CONCERNS: One 1-star review alleges signature forgery on a check and dismissive owner response ('What's the big deal?'). Police report filed. Another review mentions gang/hate symbols on work vehicles.
• INCOMPLETE/REPEAT WORK: Multiple reviews describe problems requiring 2-4 return visits (clogged drain recurred next day, ejector pump issues recurring, water heater defects requiring 3 replacements, ceiling damage from initial work never repaired).
• ESTIMATE INCONSISTENCY: Estimates vary wildly ($2k vs. $12k for same job; $1,500 competitor vs. $9,000 Szabo for sump pit). Some customers report being pressured or quoted differently based on gender.
• POTENTIAL FAKE REVIEW PATTERN: Approximately 40-50 reviews from 2023-06-10 and 2024-06-09 show identical or near-identical phrasing ('great job,' 'highly recommend,' minimal detail), some with blank text fields, suggesting possible bulk/automated posting. Reduces confidence slightly but HIGH confidence maintained due to volume of detailed, specific negative reviews that appear authentic.
• QUALITY INCONSISTENCY: Same company receives both 'best plumber ever' and 'worst experience' reviews, suggesting high variability in technician quality or service delivery.
• WATER DAMAGE/LIABILITY: One review describes installation error causing basement flooding; company promised repair but drywaller no-showed twice and company became unresponsive.

This WW Score of 78.2 is reliable but reflects a company with significant inconsistency: strong technical skills and professionalism in ~70% of engagements, but serious gaps in pricing transparency, responsiveness, and follow-through in ~15-20% of cases. The pricing dimension (68.0) is particularly concerning given explicit complaints about overcharging and hidden fees. Customers should obtain multiple quotes, confirm all fees in writing, and consider the company's mixed track record on callbacks and appointment reliability before committing.

Callahan Plumbing demonstrates strong professionalism and technical expertise across most reviews, with consistent praise for responsiveness, friendliness, and skilled workmanship. However, the score is tempered by several serious complaints regarding pricing practices (aggressive upselling on water heaters, double-charging for repeat issues) and project completion failures (incomplete work, poor follow-up, management unresponsiveness). While the majority of reviews are positive, the negative reviews reveal systemic issues with diagnosis accuracy, customer service recovery, and management accountability that significantly impact overall trustworthiness.

• FAKE REVIEW PATTERN DETECTED: 8 reviews contain only a 5-star rating with no text content (dates: 2025-05-19, 2024-06-09 x2, 2023-06-10, 2022-06-10, 2021-06-10 x2, 2020-06-10 x2). These appear to be placeholder or artificially generated reviews.
• SERIOUS COMPLAINT - PRICING INTEGRITY: Multiple reviews (2023-06-10, 2023-04-14) describe aggressive upselling tactics on water heater replacements, with customers reporting being pressured into expensive replacements rather than repairs. One customer explicitly states feeling 'ripped off' and 'lied to.'
• SERIOUS COMPLAINT - PROJECT COMPLETION FAILURE: One detailed 2020-06-10 review describes being charged twice for the same drain-clearing service within 3 weeks without resolution, followed by dismissive management response and owner hanging up on customer.
• SERIOUS COMPLAINT - SAFETY/NEGLIGENCE: 2017-04-26 review alleges technician stormed off job without shutting off water, resulting in neighbor property damage and potential legal action.
• MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTABILITY ISSUE: 2018-08-10 review criticizes management as 'difficult, unresponsive, unreliable' with incomplete job scheduling despite detailed work list provided.
• OWNERSHIP/ETHICS CONCERN: 2024-06-09 review questions whether company is still owned by original Callahan family, alleging they 'bought the company name' and are 'hoodwinking' the community.
• RECENCY NOTE: Most negative reviews cluster in 2017-2023 period. Recent reviews (2025, 2024) are predominantly positive but include suspicious empty-text 5-star ratings. This may indicate improved practices or review manipulation.

This score should be treated with CAUTION. While the numerical WW Score of 78.2 reflects generally positive sentiment, the presence of multiple serious complaints regarding pricing practices, project completion failures, and management conduct—combined with suspicious fake review patterns—significantly undermines confidence in the company's reliability. The score is driven heavily by volume of positive reviews, but the severity and specificity of negative complaints (upselling, double-charging, safety negligence, management dismissiveness) suggest real operational and ethical issues that a prospective customer should investigate further before engaging this contractor.