ARS / Rescue Rooter

John S.

Called to ask for an estimate to recharge an HVAC system. It was temporarily removed to repave the area. The company wanted to charge me $99 for a technician to diagnose the ""problem."" There is no problem. I know what needs to be done. I just wanted an estimate. Don't waste your time with this company. Plenty out there to go to.

Ross F.

Unfortunately had a bad experience with ARS Rescue Rooter over the last two days - one that started as positive but quickly became negative as it progressed.

Firstly, I'd like to say that the tech, Chris, was courteous and responsive. This review isn't for this but for the supervisor and for the company's practices of which I'm going to share here.

Yesterday morning, we had sewage backing up into our bath tub in one bathroom and standing water in the shower in the other. I called ARS because I saw they had a $69 drain clearing special. They were responsive and polite and had the tech, Chris, out looking at the problem less than two hours later.

The clog in the main sewage line was detected, and I was told it was ""not a big deal"" and that it would be addressed quickly. Apparently a few minutes later, the supervisor showed up, and the situation was described as much worse than previously thought. The main line had cracks in the top and was ""partially collapsed"". All the sirens went off and I was told that they needed to start work right away to the tune of $8200 to do a spot repair, replace the sweeps and the excavation that all entailed. Furthermore, they were adamant that the main sewer line was on ""borrowed time"" and quoted close to $15000 to inject a CIPP liner into the line to repair it. Total estimate: well north of $22000. The supervisor laid on the sense of urgency thick. I agreed to have them address the sweeps and excavation first, because I was worried we wouldn't have water, and that I needed to think about the CIPP due to the high cost.

Today, I had not one but two other plumbing companies tell me not only could they do the same job for a fraction of the price, but that the ARS guys had done the job with the sweeps incorrectly. (They didn't use the right fitting, and refused to acknowledge as such.) I immediately sensed that something was not right and I called ARS and provided a written cancellation of my contract with them. Had I not made that cancellation, they would have returned and filled in the hole with the work incorrectly done, and I would have owed them another $7400 on top of what I already paid.

Chris came back out and was polite enough about the cancellation. But then his supervisor showed up, and they handed me a bill. Despite having paid them $800 already, they said that I had a balance of $2500. In short, that means I paid $3300 to have them clear the clog (legit), camera the pipe (also legit) and dig the whole down to redo the sweeps (yes, also legit). HERE'S THE PROBLEM: the work was done incorrectly, and they refused to acknowledge it. Had I not cancelled that contract, they would have just come back, filled the hole, and I would have been on the hook for the entire $8200. There's a BIG difference between ARS being more expensive than other plumbing companies and being unethical. They clearly don't stand by their work, and were clearly upset that I actually got a second opinion on a $20K+ project - oh, and for pointing out that they did job incorrectly, and charged thousands for it. $3200 to clean out a clog, camera it and dig a hole? I'm sad that Chris refused to acknowledge this - who knows, maybe he was pressured by his Hard Sell Supervisor?

If I was simply quoted a higher price and paid more, that would not warrant a one-star review. ARS RESCUE ROOTER DOING THE JOB INCORRECTLY AND LITERALLY BURYING IT DOES. It was straight up unethical. Further, the whole strong-arm-$2500-on-the-back-end...yeah, that didn't help. And at the end of the day, another company has to come back and fix what they incorrectly.

I am thankful I called around and found ethical companies to do the work ARS wanted to gouge me for. PLEASE get multiple estimates before projects like this! An expensive lesson learned...

R. W.

I was given an appointment to have my HVAC system tuned up by this company by one of their schedulers. I was informed it would be $59.00 for the service. I informed the scheduler that I wanted the entire system tuned up which includes the heating and air conditioning. In San Diego, it can get hot enough to need the AC one day and cold enough to need the heater the next. The scheduler said okay and I was told it would be $59.00 to do this service.
Today when the service tech arrived he proceeded to start the service. Before going up to the attack he informed the service was for the heating system only. I advised him of what the scheduler had told me when I made the appointment. He said it would cost an additional $89.00 to tune up the air conditioning system.
I was told by the scheduler that both heating and air conditioning systems would cost $59.00 total. A Home Depot special being given now.
I had to let the service tech know I couldn't afford the additional $89.00 for air conditioner tune up on top of the $59.00 for the heating system tune up.
The technician was very friendly and cordial and I was told there were other customers who have experienced similar problems with this company.
This is the same company that sold and installed my HVAC system and let me tell you there were many problems with the installation.
This is not the way to treat customer who has paid for ""good customer service"" as well as ""good products"".

PB P.

Made appointment and waited for the timeline they set and they no showed and didn't even call. Bad business!!!

Anthony S.

I wish i would have looked at the reviews before calling. All the warnings are in the reviews and I was overcharged left worse off than before. I had a clog in my main line so I called to get it snaked and cleared out. They charged me 300 to unclog it but they were not able to clear it. Saying i needed a whole new main line and the pipe could be collapsed and it would cost almost $7,000. I chose to get a second opinion and they also left my toilet removed and I had to reinstall it myself. I paid someone else to jet clean it and the pipe was cleared. I saw the pipe after it was cleaned and there was no problem was in good condition. I was very disappointed in the service and very angry that they tried to have unnecessary expensive work done. I would never use this company for any services that they provide they over charge and underserve the customer.

Phil L.

Main sewer line plugged with roots -- called ARS they ran a cable with nothing on the end thru it. Then they offered to fix the problem for $5835.00, which included digging up pipe in the clogged area and replacing, this repair was no guarantee it would fix the problem. You have got to be joking! Told them no but to clean out the pipe as requested -- they said they couldn't as it may damage the pipe -- I said ok no problem but they wouldn't do it and left after taking there minimum charge from me.
Called Pacific drain -- yeah!!! For $200 they cleaned out both drains and I'm fully operational again.
ARS just wants to over charge -- they say it standard rates but we all know plumbing companies like these are crooks are just trying to steal your money.
Anybody that writes a good review on this company must work for them, cause its not true

David T.

Charged $500 for a sump pump inspection. My manager called Ars and they concluded I needed a offset pipe for the sump pump and replace the pump for around $10,000 lol

Had Touchdown plumbing come out and identify the pinched float, they fixed it in under 2 hours. cost came in at $600.

Based on previous reviews, they love adding in unnecessary work and billing for it.

There are more ethical plumbers out there.

Kathleen W.

A broken sweep joint caused our toilets to back up in the house and a frantic call to ARS. They came out on a Sunday and do not charge differently for after hours or weekend calls. They gave us an estimate and a game plan for assessing/repairing the damage. The only disappointment was that we were told we would have working toilets by 4 pm and due to commitments on other jobs, they didn't get there with the necessary equipment until 6:30 pm. We were able to use restrooms at a local park, but finding a restroom after dark during Covid-19 means going to a box store. Ultimately, the repair was made. They even contacted the City and arranged the permit and were there to meet the city inspector. I cannot express the kindness and helpfulness of the technicians and supervisor (Eddie, Frank, Eli) who came to our house. Understanding, compassionate and professional. I highly recommend!

Jean G.

Do not use this company. It is completely disorganzied and does shoddy work. Needed faucets replaced. First guy sweet but did half-baked job. One faucet came loose, another wouldn't drain. Leak started in ceiling below bathroom. Called them back and second guy (not same as first) came at 6 p.m. and had no idea what had gone before. Was defensive about the leak and refused to explore cause. We figured out why sink not draining and fixed it (no help from them) Third guy came out at 6 p.m. (after we were told first thing in the morning) after leak began again and did not speak adequate English to understand what we needed. He left. Dispatch was useless in conveying what was needed. $625 bill. Just a sh*t show.

SriHarsha S.

Covid safety was all well and good. The point I wish to discuss is the demeanor of one Mr. Marino. I had a Rinnai tankless water heater installed by our community technician. He has just installed the exact same equipment in an adjacent unit (community of condominiums). However, in ours' we were faced with an issue where the heater's ignition switches on and then off in a moment without giving out proper running water. Looking up on Google, I saw that ARS are licensed professionals to service Rinnai heaters, so I call them and make an appointment for the next morning with the technician present too.
He arrives, just looks at the installation and says that everything is wrong with it. I asked him if there is anything that's blunderly wrong. Please note that the parts we've used were exactly as recommended by Rinnai including dimensions, so I wanted to know what was so wrong that he was just able to look and tell. He says, you got to pay me 200$ for diagnostics and only then I'll tell you what's wrong. He then goes on and on about how he doesn't do his job for free, how he is unwilling to share even a shred of 'concerns', without me paying him said 200$. He went so far to ask me if I have a job and if I would take up a job without being paid. Little did he know that I myself am an Electrical Engineer and I have already narrowed down the issue to one simple thing before he arrived. Just wished to have a professional concur the same. I replied him saying I'd only take up a job after 'knowing' what the job is and negotiating my pay accordingly, just not blindly ask them to pay me an arbitrary amount.
Even if that's the way their company works, I'd hope for a polite expression explaining what's done as a part of diagnostics that I'd be paying 200 bucks. Not 10, not 50, but 200$. He also tells me to redo the entire thing it would cost about 2500$. The cost of heater and its hardware alone was 1300$, go figure! I politely asked them to leave. Minutes later, turns out that it was only the vent pipe dimension that was different causing to switch off due to inadequate pressure, so the installer switched it to the right one for this heater. The installation is up and running with no said diagnostics/ repairs, whatsoever. If this isn't an attempt to steal money, I'm not sure what else is! The management better get this sort of behavior with prospective customers, straightened out. Thank you.