Cabrillo Plumbing, Heating & Air

Scott R.

Cabrillo is not the cheapest, but I've used them twice now for plumbing projects and can say they are far better (and more honest) than any other plumbing company out there.

There was some dry rot near a house outlet, which I assumed was water leaking into the wall. Turns out it wasn't the case and they didn't sell me an unnecessary pipe repair.

I have a downspout pipe which fills up with crud and has to be taken apart and cleaned out every year. Previously, Roto Rooter just came and snaked it, and in a year it was full of crud again. Cabrillo put a cap at the bottom so it can be opened and be more accessible (i.e. future cleaning will be easier and cheaper).

Neighbors were stealing our water (including to fill a cement mixer during a remodel)! Cabrillo put a locking cap on the outside, but the plumber told me that skeleton keys are easy to buy, and he put a switch inside to turn off the water, as well as an extra bracket to mount the hose more securely.

Cabrillo has always shown up on time, done an excellent job, and have had very courteous and helpful plumbers.

EDIT: They also stand by their work. We bought a new faucet from Cabrillo and it failed. Even though I'm fairly sure it was well out of warranty, Cabrillo fixed it at no charge the same day we called them.

Kathy U.

Not sure why the aggregate stars are so low, because I have had nothing but great service from Cabrillo regarding a chronic toilet clog problem. Since the beginning of this year I've had to call Cabrillo out numerous times (I think we're at the fifth visit now) to unclog a toilet that probably needs to be replaced at this point. Each time both the customer service on the phone and in my home was excellent. They did everything they could to accomodate my schedule and to figure out what the problem was with my toilet. In fact, for two of the visits they didn't charge me because the problem kept recurring. Short of removing the toilet and searching for blockage, they did all they could. I highly recommend their service.

Suzanne S.

We have been very happy with our Cabrillo service. We are repeat customers because their service and quality are fantastic. Their technicians are very courteous and knowledgeable. They seem to be higher-priced, but they seem to know their stuff.

Jeff R.

We had a clogged kitchen sink and after numerous tries to unclog it ourselves, we were forced to get a plumber. We called Cabrillo and they were able to get someone out that day. They were in and out in about 20 minutes. It was painless. There was a cost for an estimate but they told us that up front prior to our committing to using them. Overall it was a positive experience and I would recommend them.

Marc K.

Very professional, genuinely caring, solved the problem and very courteous. Can't say anything bad. When I need a plumber I'll definitely call them again.

Clifford L.

P.S.

Reliability overview:
I just did a 'star' count among the reviews and the mediocre-to-low ratings outnumber the high ones; meaning, at best, inconsistency is bad business. Correct me if I 'm wrong.

#2: The service call was not to repair the furnace.

#3 Violation of safety code was not urgently expressed immediately to us at the time of the service call.

Melissa W.

I called to get an estimate for a new heating system and the guy came out and took measurements. The price keep spiraling up and up as he tested where I would say something was too much. I called to get the information on all the measurements and possibilities was told all I could get was the price until I paid for their services. How could i compare their $30,000 heating system to the $12-15,000 quote I got from other venders without seeing what kind of golden pipes with diamond studs they would use...

Dale R.

I needed a new water heater (replace failing old one with similar basic new one) and called Cabrillo because the previous owner used them and because I wanted a larger company, having been burned before by the one-man-operation thing.

My single star rating is due to one factor: price. I'll say right away, in every other aspect they seem fine. The guy was super nice, as was the lady I booked the appointment with. The guy was late for my appointment (scheduled for 4-6pm but they arrived at 6:45pm) but that was not a problem for me.

I should have seen the first red flag when I made the appointment. They charge $29.95 just to come and give and estimate. That's kind of ridiculous, nobody charges for giving an estimate....on anything. But I said yes, thinking I would most likely use them for the job and they do refund it by applying it toward service you have them do.

They gave me an estimate for $2,495.00 which is completely outrageous. The water heater unit itself is around $380-400 (I've researched online) and there is nothing special about the location or accessibility of my water heater. I do live up three flights of stairs so possibly and extra $50 or something for that, but still.

Before going over the estimate the guy did say, ""We're not the cheapest ones out there"" (understatement, and 2nd red flag) and he also said, ""We give the estimate as a total cost rather than breaking it down into x amount of hours, cost for each piece of hardware, etc."" That was a big red flag #3. Very convenient for them because the customer doesn't know exactly where they are being ripped off.

Two other estimates came in at $1,000 and $1,200. These are in line with what I would have expected.

Bottom line, please don't call Cabrillo. I can't stand the idea of a rip off house like this getting business because people don't know any better. I don't mind paying a little extra for certain value-adds that various companies might offer, but this place is a rip off plain and simple.

Suzanne B.

I've used Cabrillo Plumbing twice for bathroom/kitchen plumbing issues. The first time they were the company chosen by my property manager, and the man who came out was really courteous. He discovered 1-2 more problems than I was aware of and called my property manager to get approval. He fixed everything that was approved and left my bathroom clean. After dealing with multiple other plumbers, many who left my bathroom a mess, I was pleased.

The second time was a plumbing issue that I caused by dropping something down the drain. I called Cabrillo back, based on our last experience with them. Like many plumbers, they don't provide estimates (or even ranges) over the phone, but if you end up going with them, they drop the diagnosis fee. The man who came out most recently, Dave, was also very courteous. He offered to snake the drain because that's what I'd asked him to do, but advised that it wasn't necessary. The fix was actually much easier and less costly than I was expecting and I appreciated that he didn't take advantage of me.

They've been nothing but easy and pleasant to work with.

C B.

Had a bunch of things that had built up over time that needed to get taken care of. Replacing faucets, disposals, toilet mechanisms, etc, etc. All fairly small items. While It certainly was an expensive visit - I've got the say the quality of the work was great
- the customer focused attitude of the plumber was spot on
- arrived on time
- explained exactly what he was going to do
- Didn't try and upsell me or find other ""problems"" to fix.
- Office staff were friendly and efficient each time I called
All in all a good experience. Just wish it didn't hurt the hip pocket so much.