Most people are not in a happy place when they need to call a plumber. I would rather have a root canal. I live in UTC area. This area is plagued with plumbing issues due to sloppy, fast construction and aging structures. I have had numerous emergencies and expensive disasters. I have about 9 plumbers on my phone. For my most recent issue, my trusted plumber was booked and it was an active leak. A friend and his friend both had a good experience with Bill Howe Plumbing. Even though it is a big-name company. From phone to finish, upbeat and professional. You can feel when a team is cohesive and is "into" their work. This is such a team. I asked for someone highly experienced due to the age of my property. Isaiah Maher was the plumber they sent. He explained everything to me and as a woman I didn't get the mansplain version. Appreciated the respect, detail of the problem and possible solution plan. $ Price was within a fair and reasonable range. Very happy with what they charge compared to other plumbers I have used. I will use them again. And sadly, with the history of this place, I am pretty sure that I will need them again. read more

Bill Howe Plumbing, Heating & Air, Restoration & Flood Services - Active leak was coming for the neighbors pipes which his tenants ignored because they "were moving out." - Plumbing Near Me - San Diego, California

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We have hot water, and I don't have to shut off the water to my leaky toilet after every flush! We've lived in this house for 14 years, and getting hot water has always been a problem. I thought it was because we had a tankless heater, but it turns out that when you have a good tankless water heater installed by good plumbers, you get hot water when you turn on the hot water faucet! They removed my toilet and replaced the part that was causing problems, so that works! The plumbers were extremely nice and respectful, and they arrived when they said they would and did what they said they would. Now I know why plumbers are well paid; they worked their butts off. read more

they quoted me $5500 to replace a leaky valve , that they said could not be rebuilt...my handyman did the job for $250.... "they know how" to rip off senior citizens that is ... don't be fooled by their sincere sounding ads ...they will f you over if you let them... shame on them...and find a good handyman...and give them a nice tip...good carma goes a long way...bad carma ...well that will be seen read more

I do not recommend Bill Howe after having a negative experience with a seemingly dishonest and predatory plumber who came for my initial inspection before performing work. He tried to upsell me on an unnecessary water heater replacement and refused to discuss diagnostics and repair. I called and reported it to the company on February 13, 2026, and requested to speak with a manager, but it's been over a week and I've received no calls back, so here is my review. I called Bill Howe for three specific projects: a water treatment system consultation, a garbage disposal replacement, and a shower arm repair. They sent a plumber to do the initial inspection and consultation, and during this time, I didn't express any concerns about my water heater. The projects I ultimately contracted for (the garbage disposal and shower arm) also did not call for any inspection of the water heater. But for some reason, the plumber took it upon himself to stop at the water heater closet outside my front door while he was headed downstairs to prepare an estimate for the work we verbally agreed on, which was only going to cost about $500 or so. He called me outside and told me that my water heater wasn't installed according to code compliance, that it was missing some valve connections, and that I had a gas leak. Notably, I go into that closet about once a month to check for insects and because I keep a broom in there, and I had never smelled a gas leak before this plumber showed up. He proceeded to tell me how "urgent" it is that I replace the entire water heater, and when he came back with an estimate, he quoted me a minimum of almost $3,000 just for the water heater alone. I pointed out that it looked relatively new and when I asked him about repairing the valve connections and other parts that weren't installed correctly, he just kept pushing for me to replace the whole thing and wouldn't even discuss repairs. He didn't even try to locate the source of the "leak" to fix it temporarily, which leads me to question his competence and believe that he intentionally caused the "leak." The next day, I called a different plumbing company for a second opinion on the water heater, and the second plumber who came out was excellent. He showed me how to locate the gas leak, and he repaired it simply by tightening a metal nut, and just like that, there was no more gas leak. Unfortunately, calling the second plumber out for that tiny repair cost me $180, but I suppose the education he offered during the visit made it worth it. He showed me how to find the age of the water heater (which is still under warranty) and he told me that although there were some missing valve connections, it was a simple fix that I could do myself as opposed to paying him or anyone else another few hundred dollars. He also explained that although the water heater installation wasn't code compliant, I didn't need to replace it right away, and he estimated that I still had at least 2-3 more years with it. He also explained that the water heater replacement would cost roughly $2,800, but he explained why it was so expensive and made the price more transparent and justifiable to me, unlike the Bill Howe plumber who was just interesting in making a sales pitch based on a false sense of urgency. Guess who I'll be going to for a water heater replacement in a few years? If it was up to me, I'd give Bill Howe zero stars for sending a plumber who seemingly tried to take advantage of me and unnecessarily cost me several thousand dollars. Shame on that plumber, and shame on Bill Howe as a company for doing nothing to remedy the situation after I reported it to them. But to their credit, they sent a different plumber to actually perform the garbage disposal replacement and shower arm repair, and he was professional the entire time. However, I will be going to the second company I called from now on. read more

My A/C went out last week, and Bryan was sent to assess the issue. He was friendly, prompt, and knowledgeable - arriving right at the start of my appointment window. He quickly identified the problem and clearly explained the possible solutions and timeline. Replacement parts were needed, so it took a day, but the install was quick and smooth once they arrived. Overall, a great experience and even better service! read more

Bill Howe tech, Allan, responded to our call for a possible active leak in our dining room ceiling. He was very thorough and professional. He gave us a diagnosis and recommendations but because he didn't do any actual plumbing work, the visit was free. Free!!! Wow! I nearly cried! We have used Bill Howe several times over the years (probably more than 20 years all together) which included a flood in our kitchen years ago which caused extensive water damage. Because the leak was hidden behind our cabinets, it caused serious mold issues which led to a total kitchen remodel. We met with a few companies who specialized in kitchen remodels for quotes and design recommendations (including Bill Howe) and chose to give the job to Bill Howe because they were not only competitive but went above and beyond to give us a lovely new kitchen. We found their entire team to be hard working, prompt, respectful and easy to deal with. And now our experience today, confirms our faith in this great team and we are happy we made the call. We will not hesitate to reach out to them in the future for our plumbing needs and confidently recommend them to our friends and family. read more

Out of all the plumbers that came to check my plumbing, Bill Howe really pulled through for me when I couldn't afford to pay for repiping my place when the piping was corroded and consistently clogged. They were a well oiled and organized machine. Every worker that came by knew how to handle the situation effectively and efficiently. Better yet, they have an amazing goodleap financing relationship whom as a team make it possible for homeowners and landlords that have a tight budget to finally get the real true permanent plumbing fixes they need. I had such an epic and relaxed plumbing experience with them and their 0 down financing seriously makes me not way to go hiring independent plumbers anymore for big jobs like repiping. Bille Howe is gonna be around for many many years to come and will likely warranty my place long long time from now. Could not be happier. I had a private plumber before but honestly, bille howe really does know How. P.s Their song drove me bonkers, but I kept singing it over and over again. read more

Horrible service! Do not recommend this company. Brian Rice came out to our house. Our water valve to the toilet was not shutting off and most likely needed to be replaced. He first started by criticizing the installation of our valve by the builder. He then said his company doesn't replace valves due to it being a condo complex with more than 4 units attached. He said they would have to do asbestos testing in the wall and his company doesn't offer that. My building is newer and built in 2018. He either is not very educated or was too lazy and didn't want to do the job. I think it is the latter. He continued to say everything looked fine and just left. His attitude was horrible. Do yourself a favor and find any other company besides this one. read more

Over priced, lacked communication, lacked educated the customer, lacked quality assurance. Looked for short cuts. Left a mess in my front yard. read more

They were on time and cleaned the drain. they were professional and would use them again for any future plumbing issue.

Second experience with Bille Howe (& Deshawn Elliott) within 2.5 years. Top notch treatment!! Deshawn takes his time explaining the issue and educating us how to take care to avoid further issues. Will always go to Bill Howe and hope to have Deshawn. read more

thank you very much for the efficient service and help in time of need! Jay was fantastic and knowledgeable and helped us immensely. I would definitely recommend Bill Howe Plumbing to anyone and everyone in need of this quality service read more

Problems with toilet wax ring leaking... came out to fix it, found roots and fixed for now and offered estimate for a more thorough resolution (replace flange). I love Bill Howe. Plumber was very friendly. He got gifted a dalmatian when he was in the 4th grade and asked about mine b/c of all the pictures around. We had a nice conversation. So, great work to fix, and also establishing a personal connection which is why we keep calling you when there is a problem. Last plumber from BH a year ago replaced a water heater and had to spend 2 extra hours because the expansion tank wouldn't fit in the space - he reworked it from scratch. read more

Horrible service. They said they couldn't fix a pipe that was 2 inches above the stab. They said gotta do a whole repiping. These guys are a scam and try to up charge you. Stay away from them. read more

I wish I could remember the name of our technician but he was wonderful. We had an active water leak behind a bathroom wall. He talked me through what he was going to do, and was very patient when I asked for time to call my husband. He diagnosed the issue immediately and was able to resolve it quickly for a very reasonable cost. He even called out a few other items to our attention and offered to fix them while he was working. We will absolutely be calling Bill Howe Plumbing for future plumbing needs. read more

We have been doing business with Bill Howe for a number of years now. Family run businesses have a quality that shines consistently...longevity and dedication of employees is reflected in their service. Today we experienced what I believe was a plumbing emergency. I called Bill Howe and within one hour I was notified that Brian was on his way. Brian is an example of this legacy. He is a consummate professional, and knowledgeable in his plumbing skills. I highly recommend Bill Howe Plumbing, Heating, and Air etc. read more

There are a few good professionals working here - the senior ones mainly. Mostly though its a revolving merry-go-round for which surly or rude guy will be sent out, and mistakes and re-dos tend to happen. From what I've heard, this business used to be good but the operation has grown quite large... So you get what you pay for in terms of impersonal and not necessarily quality read more

First Day an arrogant punk salesperson shows up,I tell him I want all my cast iron plumbing replaced. He gives me a price of 3900 for kitchen and 1 bathroom.This was 4 years ago.I signed the contract on his phone.(Hard to see) 4 years later have plumbing inspected under my house to find out they didn't replace everything and placed new pipe to old cracked pipes. Called BH plumbing and they said they would not go above floor joist.They never told me they were not going to do a complete job, and left it.The BH manager said I got a steal.Quality not even close.Its a shame crooks like this are out there takin advantage of people.I feel sorry for the elderly read more

Bill Howe have consistently exceeded my hopes for plumbers. They have come out, diagnosed issues, and expected no payment unless I agree to the work. They've never quoted one number, found an issue, and come back for more. They have always either been on time or clearly communicated. They have consistently been polite and interested in what I've wanted to achieve, not just what's most profitable for them to sell. That's basically exactly what I hope for from a contractor. Might someone else quote a slightly lower price before tricking me with hidden costs? Sure. But not having to worry about hidden costs means Bill Howe have my loyalty. read more

Bill Howe does a great job by providing superior service at a competative price. The technicians are always friendly, and their goal is to fix the problem quickly and efficiently. I have used Bill Howe over the years for jobs big and small. I highly recommend then - they have been around for decades and won't disappoint you. read more

Called at 4pm, tech showed up at 5:20. We decided to replace the 13 year old water heater. The price was under $3K for a 40 gallon tank installed. The brand they used was Bradford White. Asher Cart was my install guy. You can see the before and after photos and the after photos show a person who take pride in his work and offers a very clean installation. Great copper work and left a clean install site. Thank you. read more

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Second time Bill Howe has bailed us out! Living in an older Clairemont neighborhood has its advantages but the disadvantage is that we are living in homes with cast iron and clay plumbing that is over 60 years old. This time our shower and bathtub (both bathrooms) were backing up and not draining at all. Called Bill Howe Plumbing at 7:30am and someone answered! The person who assisted us was super friendly and she let me know someone would be out between 2-5pm but she would work to see if anyone could swing by earlier between jobs. I am bummed I didn't write down the lady's name who answered the call because she was amazing! By 7:48am we received a text that Robby S was on his way! Robby called shortly after the text to let us know he was about 15 minutes away and would be at our home soon. Robby listened to what wet had tried and then explained his plan to clear the drain. Super professional and really nice. By 845am our clog was cleared and drains open and operating as necessary! And the cost for this service was affordable and well worth paying! Highly recommend Bill Howe plumbing and if you live in Clairemont might want to have their number tucked away as it's kinda what we have to deal with :-) Thanks Robby and the person who helped this AM, you both are truly assets and amazing to work with. read more

Bill Howe Plumbing, Heating & Air, Restoration & Flood Services - Bathtub belching up grossness - Plumbing Near Me - San Diego, California

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Thank you, Bill Howe Plumbing and your plumber David, for rescuing me at the last minute just as guests were due to arrive for a wedding in the family. Of course, a toilet began to leak hours before I was due to pick family up at the airport. And water leaking, especially from the toilet, is not something that you want to present to houseguests, even if they are family! We would be down one toilet when we needed all hands on deck, so to speak. I decided to give Bill Howe a call, hoping that they could fit me in right away, and they had a plumber out to my house in just over an hour! David fixed the problem quickly, understanding the urgency of the situation. He was pleasant and helpful, and made everything better! So happy with the whole experience. I have some other non-urgent plumbing projects coming up, and I know who I'll be calling! read more

I have called upon Bill Howe for all manner of issues at our home (ah, the joys of home ownership) ranging from plumbing repairs (leaks, valve replacements) and installations (toilets, disposals) to heater and AC checks. All of the service people have been great, especially Josh, and have provided careful and thorough work. They are a bit more expensive than some of the independent plumbers I have used but they are the go-to provider for bigger, more involved jobs. Also, they are still an independent, local company (not run by a national corporate office) and I support that. Highly recommended. read more

Classic Bait and Switch Scam. Quoted reasonable hourly rates on phone and then switched on site to charge 5 times as much under distress.

They do not know how to itemize an estimate, despite the fact that they might identify subcategories of work. Estimates are high anyway. Also, cannot provide proper / sufficient documentation for incidents that may likely result in insurance claims. Initial work to repair problem was good. However, plumber lost focus on the real reason there / initial problem, and failed to document properly. read more

The City of San Diego said that we needed to have a licensed plumber at our house when the City technician changed our water meter. Bill Howe Plumbing found us a great plumber, Dave, for the job. Dave interacted really well with the City rep, and we now have a perfect new water meter. read more

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When we have plumbing or heating issues, Bill Howe Plumbing has always been the company we trust to deliver great service. Today was no exception. The technician, Josh, was friendly, knowledgeable and extremely efficient. Took care of our repairs and explained everything to us. Thanks Bill Howe Plumbing read more

I've used them a couple times and they were good. This last time though, they charged me close to $600 to switch out 3 angle valves. In and out in 40 minutes. Absolutely rip off. Didn't tell me under after it was all done. They did other work for half that cost with a much bigger job scope. Unless they offer to refund me for the price gouging I'll be looking elsewhere in the future. read more

I did reach out to them, and they lied again and basically told me to go jump off a bridge, They are rude, and lie. And they have gotten too big foor heir britches. TThe message below is an automated message. This place is horrible. When Bill actually ran the place it was a polite, humble company that valued their customers. read more

We had a gas leak at the meter and were locked out by SDGE when they came. Bill Howe sent Darryl whom I could tell right away he knows exactly what he is dealing with. He told me the whole process and showed me detailed information of what he found and what needs to be replaced. Darryl did an excellent job placing the pipe that is attached to the meter. His workmanship was very neat, clean and looks very professional in other areas he had to do as well. Glad we called Bill Howe and had Darryl come to the rescue! read more

Bill Howe Plumbing, Heating & Air, Restoration & Flood Services - Gas line to the house now attached to the wall - Plumbing Near Me - San Diego, California

Again Bill Howe's service is the best. Doug came to install two new shower heads, repair one and install a garbage disposal, and he was terrific. Professional, quick, polite and great communication, the whole company is just the best. read more

My tenant phoned me at 7:00 p.m. to tell me the tub faucet wouldn't turn off and it was just blasting water out of the spout. (we know what water costs!). I phoned Bill Howe, Leslie was super patient with me and friendly and dispatched a plumber right away. She told me they would be there between 7:30 and 9. Jesus phoned me to give me an eta of arrival, he showed up around 8:15, fixed it quickly and was finished before 9:00. This prompt and professional service enabled my tenants with 3 small children to get their kids to bed with little disruption while being assured the faucet was fixed in a professional manner. Bill Howe has always come to our rescue, thank you! read more

Our garbage disposal sounded terrible and our kitchen sink wasn't draining well. Called and they sent Christian out the next morning and he took care of it beautifully! He replaced the disposal very neatly and made sure there were no leaks. He cleaned out the drain line and it hasn't worked this well in years. Highly recommend- thank you! read more

Xavier, the technician who replaced our garbage disposal, performed his work flawlessly, efficiently, and explained what was needed. We called BH at 10am and the work was completed by 1pm. This technician is a consummate professional and takes the time to listen to his clients. read more

I have used Bill Howe three times now. Their people always do a good job for a very fair price.

I can't say enough good things about Bill Howe after my experience today! I originally called them for a second opinion after another company (Elite Rooter) quoted me an outrageous $4,200 to fix a clogged kitchen sink. Elite Rooter claimed I needed hydro jetting and a pipe replacement. Thankfully, I decided to double-check. Dawshawn from Bill Howe showed up, was super professional, and diagnosed the problem quickly. He cleared the clog efficiently -- no unnecessary repairs -- and only charged me $180. I was honestly shocked (in the best way possible). He also gave me helpful advice for future maintenance and was just overall kind, honest, and efficient. I used to assume bigger companies would be more expensive, but this experience completely changed my mind. Lesson learned: I'll always call Bill Howe from now on, and I'll be asking for Dawshawn read more

Severely Disappointing: Unprofessional Restoration and Ongoing Problems This review has been long delayed, stemming from a project that began in the spring of 2023. I had hoped for a resolution and refrained from posting earlier, but after reaching out to Bill Howe's office and leaders Haley Howe and Derick Taylor on multiple occasions, I have yet to receive the courtesy of a response. My experience with this company has been a study in unprofessionalism, poor project management, and inadequate workmanship. My home incurred water damage in the bathroom, and despite my insurance company recommending a "select vendor," I chose Bill Howe based on their exceptional reviews and a friend's experience. Unfortunately, my trust in these reviews turned out to be misplaced. While the flood mitigation, demolition, and plumbing portions of the job were handled well, the restoration phase quickly devolved into a disaster that I am still dealing with to this day. Flood Mitigation, Demo, and Plumbing: The Only Saving Grace The initial phases--flood mitigation, demolition, and plumbing--were AMAZING - timely, knowledgeable, and very efficient. At that point, I felt confident in my decision to work with Bill Howe. However, this professionalism proved to be short-lived. Restoration and Project Management: A Total Failure From the beginning of the restoration process, it became apparent that Bill Howe's reputation for quality and professionalism was grossly overstated. The timeline for completion was more than doubled with zero communication or explanation from the company. Worse still, they hired an incompetent subcontractor to "speed up" the project, who ended up causing even more damage to my home: Unprofessional conduct: Hot mop (tar) was carelessly spilled across the exterior of my home, including onto my patio furniture. No effort was made to clean this up or even acknowledge the damage. Cigarettes were smoked inside my garage during the job, which is not only unprofessional but also unacceptable in any context. My vanity was scratched, and a hardwood step was broken - all due to the subcontractor's negligence. My hardwood baseboards were replaced with MDF. Instead of rectifying these issues promptly, it took repeated and exhaustive communication to receive compensation. Substandard Workmanship: Long-Term Consequences After the months-long ordeal of restoration, I was left with a home that was arguably in worse condition than before Bill Howe's involvement. At first, I believed the issues to be cosmetic and minor but less than a year later, the shoddy workmanship has resulted in ongoing issues: After minimal use after less than a year, the grout in my shower is crumbling and has been confirmed by Bill Howe's own employees to have been improperly sealed. Tiles are separating from the pony wall, despite never having been exposed to water--clear evidence of incompetent installation. Water is now leaking from the drain access on the exterior of my home, indicating that the waterproof barrier beneath the tile was not installed correctly. This points to potential long-term water damage. Despite all these glaring issues, the company has offered nothing but a dismissive, insufficient response. Lance, the new project lead, proposed simply "resealing" the shower floor--a band-aid solution that ignores the deeper structural issues at hand, including cracked tile, failing grout, and the risk of further water damage. His response exemplifies the lack of accountability and unwillingness to take the necessary steps to fix their mistakes. Shameful Customer Service and Accountability The project manager originally assigned to my case is no longer with the company, and I never signed off on the project's completion. Yet, a year after this nightmare began, I am still left with an unusable shower, ongoing damage, and no reasonable path forward offered by Bill Howe. Their lack of engagement speaks volumes about the company's disregard for customer satisfaction and accountability at the highest levels. While the early stages of the project were handled adequately, the restoration was a catastrophe, marked by delays, property damage, abysmal workmanship, and a total lack of accountability by leadership. It's astounding that a company with such a hard-earned reputation would dismiss these issues. I strongly advise potential customers to look elsewhere, as my experience with Bill Howe has been nothing short of a nightmare. It's disheartening to see this kind of mismanagement and lack of care from a family-owned company. Bill Howe's family-oriented legacy should come with a sense of pride in customer satisfaction and accountability, yet my experience has been the opposite. Please see the attached pictures. read more

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A few years ago Bill Howe installed a new water heater and replaced a cast iron pipe in my condo. The quality of the work was excellent and the price was high but reasonable, the technician was great. I recently needed some work done and decided to call them again. It was extremely expensive, the guy who came first to quote the work gave me a long story of why it was expensive. "That's what the computer says" he said. I saw the work being performed by the technician, the amount of time and materials it took, and I realized Bill Howe really knows how, yes, he really knows how to take your money and give you the least amount of value in return. I was very disappointed but the work was already done and my credit card already charged. My mistake, I screwed up. What happened to the high quality-reasonable price Bill from years ago?? Will I call Bill again? Heck no!! Find a better option, that's what I recommend. read more

James Pompeo was here to unblock our kitchen sink drain. It was a pleasure to see someone well trained and knowledgeable. He fixed the problem in a very timely manner. If you are ever so lucky to have him on the job you are very fortunate. I'd give him a 10 out of 10. Good job James! Thank you! read more