Bill West Plumbing and Heating

Robert A.

we have used this company a couple times and each time we have been happy with the service. We have a building built in 1923 and when things go wrong they fixed it. Michael did a great job, fast and professional.

Rivian B.

We used Bill West about five years ago to put in a new gas line for a kitchen remodel. All went well. We forgot about them, it seems, until a recent mailer. We called to see about fixing an indoor gas grill that no one -- and I mean NO ONE -- could fix. We had called the Gas Co. when the pilot went out, they could not relight it, and tried to put in a new copper line. No deal. No one since then would handle it. Neither grill companies nor plumbers.

Until Mike Jones showed up last week on what he thought was just a simple repair on a leaking faucet. He did that, and we decided to show him the gas grill. He realized right away that this was a unit closer to the function of a heater, and he was able to connect the right copper line. Still, the pilot would not stay lit. He took photos, told us he was ""on a mission,"" and he'd be back this week. He came back, told us he found a new control valve, what the cost would be, and did we want it? We said YES, he got it, came back, did the install, and the pilot stayed lit. But not always. So he stayed and tweaked everything until it was right.

So I give five stars to Mike Jones for following through and solving a big problem for us. We have been without the use of a grill we used virtually every night, so now we can return to using what to us is a vital piece of kitchen equipment. Thanks, Mike!!

Ken W.

I had a leak resulting in a small pond under my house and called Bill West Plumbing. They misdiagnosed the cause of the leak and could not fully fix it. They told me the source of the leak was a shower basin and that the shower needed to be hot mopped and re-tiled. Not true. The shower drain was scoped by an insurance inspector and the leak was found in the drain pipe. Another plumber fixed it for $125. That was Dale Pitman Plumbing. They are terrific.

Bill West Plumbing told me I had mold under the house from the leak. They referred me to California Restoration, a company that attempted to defraud me by billing me for services not provided. My insurance company inspector told me there was never any mold. Cal Restoration billed me $10,000. We settled after a lawsuit for $3,500, a fair amount for water removal from under the house. In a deposition related to that lawsuit, California Restoration admitted to paying a kickback to Bill West Plumbing. Paying kickbacks is illegal, although apparently accepting kickbacks is not illegal.

Avoid this company. They are not honest!

Eugenia L.

I've used Bill West plumbers over a period of at least 20 years. The other day I found that there is apparently a new pricing system. In the past, the quite recent past, one would pay the hourly rate and the plumber would do everything you had for him, charge that rate and add the cost of materials. Now apparently there is a separate and quite large charge for every separate task. It's like going to the doctor. The cost had at least doubled since the last time I called this company a few months ago. I ended up with a good job at a cost similar to what I would have paid in the past, but this involved some unpleasant (to me) negotiating. Unfortunately, I don't think I would call my old reliable plumbing company again. When I called, the person on the phone said that a ""technician"" would be coming to my house. I guess I should have known then. Let's call a plumber a plumber. It's a respectable trade.

Craig G.

Alfonzo was a perfect professional. He was on-time, courteous, explained what he would do very well, and was in and out. I'd highly recommend Bill West Plumbing.

Joan S.

Based on a recommendation, I've been doing business with Bill West Plumbing and Heating for the past 5 years. I've also used other jobbers but only if I couldn't get these guys on short notice. I prefer Bill West though. You can call early and they will be out that same day. Bill West P & H is the best. They do electrical work as well. They are courteous; they communicate with you and they follow up. The most recent plumber to work here was a gentleman named Travis. He was friendly and knowledgable. He will try to fix the problem without replacing the part if he can and if he can't he will offer whatever affordable options may be available. They provide service with good customer service from their offices and out in the field. They are my ""go to"". I'll ask for Travis again - by name! He's professional knowledgeable and positively good natured. I will specifically ask for him by name as I know there will be more help needed from Bill West.

Chris T.

So I find myself in the uncomfortable situation of being between my parents and their long time plumbers. These guys used to be a stand up kind of place with good service and reasonable prices.

When I was out of the picture the tech convinced my seventy something father that he needed a new water heater for a cost around 2K. And this is not tankless mind you! I entered the picture and asked why the hech it would be so much. Supposedly CA has new laws requiring a more expensive tank and the city of LA requires permits. Also some sort of ten year warranty was being offered. More on that later.

They had told my father on the telephone they would be there between 10 am - 12 noon. The tech showed up at 12:10 p.m. Okay that's not the end of the world!

But what was not acceptable was that when I asked for a breakdown in the costs, what was for the tank, how much for the labor, how much for the permits, no one could give it to me. Later when talking to Rob some sort of manager about that and other things I was told they don't give that out. He also refused to give me an estimate in writing. He wouldn't even give me the model or make of the tank.

But that's not even the really bad part. In addition to taking prepayment for the full amount (which is illegal and even on the face of the contract) and promising to come right back and that he wouldn't take a lunch, then the tech left for several hours. I was later told by a manager that their crew needed to do the job couldn't make it for some reason and didn't answer their phones. Why didn't the tech check to see if the job could in fact be performed that day. Maybe he did who knows. Sure someone from the company called at 2:00 p.m. to say they hadn't forgotten about us. But at 4:30 we hadn't heard back again from them. So I called and raised a fuss. After being offered the option by someone who called me back from the answering machine message i left, we decided we want to bid the job and get two other estimates! I got nothing but excuses. The absolute lack of communication was the worst part! We were left not knowing if the hot water would be on for the evening for several hours! Additionally, the gentleman Rob was surly and clearly upset that I had taken up his co worker on the offer to cancel the job because the water heater supposedly hadn't been purchased yet. I was made to feel by this person that I was in the wrong when in fact Bill West Plumbing had let us down.

It just doesn't make any sense, if you charge high prices for west side poor customer service.

Also it turns out that great warranty really wasn't. Its a 6 years on the tank from the manufacturer, only one year for ""workmanship"", and then an additional 4 years on the tank from Bill West. So its not such a great deal that it sounds at first. Especially when they don't give you a break down on the tank and labor. Who knows if they will still be in business by then as well.

Even worse they then said they would charge us $199 to turn the hot water back on! Who cares its their tech that left the hot water off for hours?
Different guy shows up at 6pm. Spends five minutes for that $199. I felt robbed. Yes you got someone here by the end of the work day and we didn't go without hot water for the night. The business has some sense and Rob did follow up and make contact with me to try and remedy the situation. Eventually we were told that they would not charge us the $199 fee. But I wonder had I not threatened to go on yelp with a poor review if that would have happened and whether the offer would have been made.

I want to stress that the manager liked to say that permits were required by law but then claims they didn't ask for full prepayment even though I have a Home Improvement contract that says the entire contract price was paid up front. BTW the contractors law makes the practice of asking for full prepayment illegal. You can't have your cake and eat it too! All the law's apply not just the ones that allow you to justify higher contract prices!

Anna M.

I WOULD GIVE THEM ZERO STARS IF POSSIBLE. The owner of the company came out to my property, seemed knowledgeable and nice, and gave me an estimate for my work.

When I tried to set up an appointment to do the work, they did not return my phone calls for over a week, despite me calling three times. They finally set an appointment (which required coordination with the gardener) and confirmed the day before. Great, right? Well, five minutes before the two hour window, I received a call saying they were not coming. At all. They suggested I hire a different plumber.

They just abandoned me. No apology, no explanation, no nothing. Plus, I had taken a day off work to coordinate everything and now have to pay the gardener for his time, which is wasted.

Adam C.

Terrible. They just abandoned me. My kid broke our kitchen sink. Without that you can't clean, cook or be hygenic. So i expressed ordered the faucet on a friday. I called and had long conversation with Bill West Plumbing about what the cost would be to come out saturday. I was fine with it. We discussed the time and the woman i spoke to set me at ease that we'd be taken care of. Well... at about 15 minutes before the appointment the plumber calls and says ""sorry, can't make it i got another call."" What!? Not even another guy. They just aren't gonna show up. Sorry... that's a stab in the back when you got kids and need that kitchen sink repaired. Shame on them!

Mark S.

The people at Bill West Plumbing are amazing. Always on-time, courteous and competent. We have used them for everything from simple faucet repairs to MAJOR sewer line replacements. Also use them for semi-annual drain line maintenance. Highly recommend their services.

update 2015... i understand that bill west plumbing business was sold. Some of the staff are still working and are still doing great work, but some of the guys (some of my favorites) have moved on.