Bull City Plumbing

Omidjan O.

Based on my experience with them, don't go with these folks unless you want to pay $ 100 more than other plumbers would charge. I am not one to leave negative reviews, but my experience with Bull City Plumbing was so disappointing that I had to leave a note of warning for future customers. I am a real customer, and had them come out to fix a leak under my kitchen sink on June 8, 2018. Here is the good: they are very responsive on YELP, and actually came when they said they would. And they did the job. And that's where the bad--or I should say exorbitantly costly--start. They put in a 99$ garbage disposal under my sink (i checked the price). They arrived at my house at 9:20 or so, ran to a store to pick it up, came back, installed it, and were out by 10:15. In other words, including the driving to the store to get the item time, they spent less than an hour in my house. The bill was for $ 360.13. Ouch. I got suspicious that it was not itemized, but as a whole item. So I called them, and asked for a clarification since most plumbers charge 100-150 per hour. In other words, the total should have been $250 (which I would have gladly paid). Here was where the difficulty started. The owner (Tray, who had been very charming and funny until then) started referring me to their secretary who answers the phone. She told me to get quotes from other people. I got quotes from two other people who also had five stars on YELP, and it was $ 140 for installing and $150 for installing. I reported it back to them, and they still refused to adjust the price. The secretary actually told me that I was paying for their office, the secretary, insurance, etc. I have been a home owner for 20 years, and have had lots of experiences with plumbers, but this was really disappointing. I gave them lots of chances to do right, but they refused. I think what is particularly disappointing is that I really liked to recommend them for their work, but I think their greedy and frankly unreasonable prices are something that customers should be on guard about. Sadly, avoid unless you want to pay $100 more than you should.

Mark S.

Filled out a request for water heater replacement quote on their website and never got a response. Nothing.

David F.

Note that this review is based on a 'feeling' (you'll see what I mean. But perception is reality so, it's real to me.

I needed my outside hose/valve replaced since I mistakenly left the hose connected through the winter and the pipe right behind the valve cracked. I called Bull City plumbing because they have great reviews online. Yes, they were here quickly and did the job correctly. But 1) when I called to have them come over they didn't inform me that if they didn't get the job they would charge a $49 'estimate fee' (or whatever they call it) and 2) They quoted me $258 for the job.

It was only when I told them I had homeowners insurance a (with a $100 deductible) that I was told about the $49 fee if I didn't use them. I didn't want to be a prick about it, and if I then paid the $49 and went with my insurance the difference would 'only' be $100. I asked if he could come down in price a bit but he said no and, well, I said ok.

The job took all of 15min. So that's $258 for 30 min (if I include the initial time to look at the job). The parts should have cost all of $10-20, if that much. I feel that I was taken advantage of and overcharged. Again, this is my feeling, even more so when reviewing plumbing costs online. Again, this was a very easy job. Easy access, quick, no expensive parts.

So I give them 3 stars for being responsive and doing the job but subtract 2 for cost.

Petunia J.

SO and I called out Bull City and another plumber to take a look at our tub faucets because there was brown water coming out of them for a second or so right after we turned them on. I liked that Bull City had online scheduling and what not, along with such glowing reviews on Yelp. The other company had pretty bad ratings on Yelp and no online scheduling or online systems in place. I thought we would like Bull City way better than the other plumber.

Anywho, first plumber shows up, we show him the problem, he takes a look at the faucets and goes into the crawl space looking for galvanized pipes that lead to the tubs. Around that time, Bull City shows up so SO is hanging out with plumber #1 and I'm hanging out with Bull City. Bull City shows up with two guys, Trey and another dude.

They come in and seem to barely notice the tub faucet or hear me when I explain the problem. They immediately begin poking around at the back of the toilets, behind the washing machine, basically, everywhere BUT the tub faucets. While doing this other dude is saying things like ""hey Trey, come take a look at this,"" and ""oh wow!""

Finally, they ask about the faucet so I explain what's going on. We talk briefly about the problem and then I show them out to the crawlspace. They start digging in the dirt around the water main, crawling all over the place looking at the piping. Other dude is like the peanut gallery. It almost felt like he was brought along to do all of the theatrical exclamations and in general create drama about our plumbing. Yep, we totally get it. Our plumbing is not to code. Our house is 80 years old. There are other things that need to be fixed and we know that, but we called you here to fix the brown water (so fix the $^%& brown water!).

So after a long while of them poking around with their flashlights and pointing out everything wrong with our plumbing *except* for the culprit to the brown water for our tub faucets they come out of the crawlspace and inform us that the brown water is coming from our water main and that all of our plumbing as well as the water main needs to be replaced in order to fix the tub faucets. I question this because there has never been brown water from any other faucet. Trey says I must not have noticed it. Seriously?! I continued to press him on it, we have white sinks in both bathrooms how would we not have noticed brown water hitting a white sink? He just shrugs and says that we must have missed it.

I'm getting gaslighted by a plumber. Well isn't that awesome.

Around this time, other dude starts poking around at the water pipe coming from the street and saying ""oh there is definitely some galvanized pipe in here!"" Trey again says that the water main needs to be replaced and all of our plumbing needs redone. My SO comes over as the other plumber has left at this point and asks if they found any galvanized pipes anywhere that could be causing the problem. Their answer: no. It's the water main.

I could see she was done with them. We listen to Trey's blustery speech about how he wants to do things right and do the best job blah blah blah. Oh ya, and that will be a $49 service fee please (plumber #1 charges no service fee). They leave.

Come to find out, the other plumber with crappy reviews and no online scheduling found a small bit of rusty pipe that ran off a pipe in the wall and led right to the tub faucet. Huh. VERY INTERESTING. So we have plumber #1 come back out and they literally unscrew the tub faucet from the wall, unscrew a segment of pipe about 6 inches long from it, replace it, put the tub faucet back on and guess what?! NO BROWN WATER!

Bull City was also incredibly slow in getting our estimate to us. Plumber #1 sends over an estimate by email within minutes of leaving. Bull City on the other hand... After 3 days I emailed asking for a copy of the estimate. No response. The next day, 4 days after I paid them a $50 service fee I email demanding the estimate or a refund of their fee. Finally I get the estimate and a whole lot of bluster about how it must have been their online system malfunctioning. Right, ok. Whatever.

It's possible that in the process of the $5,000+ scope of work that was proposed that Bull City would have addressed the problem we asked them to. But it's also possible that they would have bled us of thousands more in the process. These guys are like a shady car mechanic who takes the $cenic route to replacing a spark plug. We will stick with plumber #1 and their old fashioned system. At least they are honest.

Lesson learned: Always, **ALWAYS** get a second quote.

Alex S.

We had a pipe 'burst' in the middle of the night. After getting the water turned off and calling the insurance company I started researching plumbers. Bull City had rave reviews so I gave them a ring even though they aren't 24hrs/day because I was willing to wait for exceptional service. Someone actually picked up (at 5am!) which was amazing.

The work completed was good (it ended up not being a very complicated issue) but we did have some issues on the first visit. HOWEVER, the owner himself came to make things right. His professionalism and commitment to honest, good work was very admirable and I am happy with the service he provided. I believe our original issue was an anomaly and am confident that Bull City will continue to live up to it's reputation.

Helen A.

Tray had to come out on a Saturday afternoon because my ceiling was leaking. He was very courteous and traced down the leak and repaired it. He kept me informed as they went along. I really appreciated everything and would call them again.

Jessie V.

My AC quit and I called around, everyone said they could help in 3 days. Then I called Bull City, they said they would squeeze me in or if they couldn't they would come out after hours for a extra fee. I was floored I don't know any company that's willing to come after hours!!! Just like the previous companies gave me a timeline of 3 days without AC in 95 degree weather. Well they were able to squeeze me in and fix my problem within 30 minutes! They were very kind and professional. My dad was the one who was there during the appointment and he was so impressed that he plans on using them from now on and signing me up for bi-yearly check so hopefully they can catch anything before it breaks. I'm very impressed at how pain free and easy it was. Thank you, you have a convert for life!!!

Jessica W.

Tray and Angel were absolutely fantastic. I recently bought a refurbished warehouse condo with some very, um, interesting plumbing patterns, and it was VERY obvious that I needed my under-sink kitchen piping redone ASAP to avoid catastrophe (you're welcome, downstairs neighbors!).

I initially approached another local plumbing business who first gave me a quote that seemed high, then dropped off the radar altogether when I mentioned the somewhat unusual piping layout in the condo. Then I contacted Tray -- who has been in the business for 24 years and is a lifelong Durhamite. He's worked almost everywhere in this area multiple times, including my weird little building; the logistics didn't throw him off at all, and the repairs were cleanly and efficiently done. He had a clear and fair spreadsheet for his pricing and explained to me how the total was being calculated every step of the way. The job ultimately took them 45-60 minutes longer than they had planned (only because they had some good luck with regard to the spatial layout and thus made the decision to run out to the supply house for different parts in order to make the final product look cleaner), but I was not charged for the extra time. Bless their hearts, these two even agreed to start my job at 7:30 in the morning (!) so that I could get to a previously scheduled appointment on time later that day!

In short, I can't speak highly enough about these guys and this business. Experienced, respectful, and very reasonable pricing compared to others in the area. Their magnet will remain front and center on my fridge in case of disaster -- and I already know who I'll be calling in a year or two when it's time for the bathroom upgrades. ;)

Thanks again, Tray and Angel! You guys are amazing.

D W.

You will not be disappointed calling Tray Boone of Bull City Plumbing! I have never Yelped before but had to say to anyone new to the Durham area (as I am) and without a plumber, or to anyone dissatisfied with the plumber they have... you will not be disappointed calling Tray Boone of Bull City Plumbing! He is prompt, cost effective, and very conscientious...It's really refreshing to see someone take pride in their work...and I believe you will appreciate it as much as I do!

Rob I.

Great service. Plumber came in after hours to perform repairs quickly and professionally. Would highly recommend to anyone in the Triangle area.