North Lake Plumbing Inc

Ashley K.

DO NOT use this company. I had a leak under my kitchen sink as well as a broken kitchen faucet. Ken came out to fix the problem. He replaced the faucet and told us he was sure that he fixed the leak. After he left, we found that we still had a leak under the sink. I called him and he came back without issue. He asked me where the leak was coming from, which is the reason I called him, so he could figure that out. I told him I did not know, but water was gathering in our cabinet below the sink. He fiddled with the faucet and said he fixed the leak. He left. A day later we found the leak again. I let him know we were leaving Tahoe on a Monday and we'd like the work done while we were there. He didn't call back until Tuesday when we weren't home to meet him (keep in mind when he thought it was new business he called us back right away). When I finally did reach him, he went off on me. He was angry and shockingly rude. He had the nerve to tell me that the leak that I called him to fix was not his responsibility to fix, despite charging me over $700 for the visit that took less than two hours. He was angry and upset with me, saying that I ""needed to make this job easy"" for him to fix the leak and I was responsible for diagnosing the issue and pointing out exactly what he was supposed to fix. He then complained that he ""had a lot of other jobs to do"" and wasn't going to waste time coming back to my neighborhood just to fix my problem and he'd only stop by if he was already in that neighborhood (keep in mind I have an active leak that is causing damage to my cabinets). I was fairly shocked on the phone and I couldn't believe he was speaking to me like this. This wasn't bad customer service, it was horrible, inexcusable rudeness and a total lack of professionalism. Rather than let this man back into my house, I was forced to hire someone else to help me, someone who values their clients and treats people with kindness and consideration. After I told some neighbors about my experience, they told me that they had also heard the same stories from other people about Ken. I then looked through the reviews and saw that this is not unusual for Ken, I wish I had read the reviews prior to hiring him. Lastly, his prices are not reasonable, you can do much better with other vendors and have a much more pleasant experience.

Chuck K.

We had a second story bathtub that was leaking down to the first floor when draining. North Lake responded quickly and showed up right on time for our appointment. Ken figured out the problem very quickly and was able to apply a simple and effective repair. We really appreciated his responsiveness and professional approach.

Janine S.

Our dishwasher stopped draining and our kitchen faucet had a small leak. Called North Lake. The woman who answered the phone and took job details didn't say anything about not dealing with dishwashers. The plumber/ business owner gives me a follow up call within an hour to say he can come by in the next 30 mins. Also doesn't say he doesn't fix dishwashers. He comes out and tells me in person. Says fixing the faucet is in his wheelhouse but we should replace the faucet as any fix would just be a temporary patch. Installs a standard, no frills faucet. Charges me over $500 - claims this is the price quoted in his ""book"" for parts/ installation/ tax.

I assumed it'd be much cheaper to replace the faucet - as it's a job I could do myself. I was foolish not to check. Thought that in today's world of Yelp reviews, he'd be more concerned to be left a good review and generate new or repeat business.

John G.

Got a call from tenant---no hot water. Saturday night, first night of rental. Called handyman, who went to site, confirmed no hot water, diagnosed bad interior fill pipe not moving cold water to bottom of tank, but good burner....suggested call Ken Fielding.

He responded immediately, and drove to site first thing Sunday morning, just before Christmas. Found leaking shower faucet, fixed it, verified water heater was working, tenants happy.

Ken suggested how to decide whether 31-year-old water heater should be replaced, and a schedule that worked, in his busiest week of the year.

Very happy with rapid response. Can't comment yet on pricing, but very happy with Ken's expertise and professionalism.

Cathi D.

I was referred to NorthLake Plumbing by a friend, wait until I tell him my experience with Ken I seriously doubt he'll refer him to anyone again. I called and left a message with his answering service and he called back within 15 minutes. I told him my water heater was not heating up, he said he was just leaving a job and he'd come right over.

Prior to Ken arriving earlier in the day a friend came over who is very knowledgable and competent to see if he could help me out. He tried relighting the pilot quite a few time and it just wouldn't light, decided it was most likely the Thermal Coupler, so he went and purchased one to install, but was having a difficult time getting one of the bolts off and he didn't want to risk damaging anything so that's when we decided to call
Ken to complete the job.

The minute he came in and saw we had tried to fix it he became very irate and rude and it escalated from there. He asked how old the heater was (6yrs old GE ) purchased from Home Depot. As soon as he heard this he said it was a piece of crap, why did I buy it and start to getting increasingly agitated. He said he could try and fix it and in stall the new thermal coupler and it would cost at least $300 but he couldn't guarantee it would work, I said yes please go ahead and do that....OR he could sell me a NEW water heater and install it for $2,000, which I said NO too. When I said No in his rude irate manner he said wouldn't even be worthwhile trying to fix my existing water heater because it's a piece of crap....even thou it is only 6 years old, and I would be throwing good money after bad.

When I said no to the new water heater he threw his tools together and stormed out. I have never encounter such a nasty, rude service person, it was very clear he didn't want to help or fix my water heater and possibly make $300 he wanted to sell me a very expensive new one. When I decided to write this review and read some of the reviews others had left, some good, and some not so good and several had the same experience as I did. NOT a good way to run your business....rude inconsiderate man.

D S.

We were referred to him by a local Tahoe City Plumber (Leslie at Tahoe's Best Plumbing) we found on Yelp for another plumbing issue we are still working on. Leslie was out of town when I called Saturday morning but she referred Ken at North Lake Plumbing to me.

I called Ken and got his answering service and left my phone number. He called back within 30 min and I described to him the issue. I have renter in my house and no hot water, because I think the thermo couple may need replacement. He asked how old the heater was and said it could also be a gas valve issue. I told him I had purchased this high-altitude water heater from Ace Hardware about 6 years ago. As soon as he heard this was purchased from Ace Hardware, he said it wouldn't even be worthwhile for him to go and inspect it, because it is just not a good water heater, and I would just be throwing good money after bad.

Then I asked him for his recommendation. He proceeded to say that I need to install a new water heater - something that he carries, but it wouldn't be one that they sell at Hardware stores. I asked him how much it would be, he said to install on a Saturday it would be at least $2,000.

Wow!

I respectfully thanked him for his time, and I called Ace Hardware and asked to speak with someone in charge and asked Ace Hardware to defend the quality of their water heaters. They did, and i was satisfied with the quality of what Ace Hardware carries and sells. If someone says to me: ""Don't buy groceries from Safeway because they are just not good groceries. You should only buy good groceries that I carry at my store."" I would have a hard time believing in that.

I hate to use this analogy but, to me, this almost reminds of Donald Trump saying that you shouldn't listen to CNN, CNBC, ABC, NBC, CBS, PBS, or the polls, or believe in any news coverage from The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, or The Washington Post. It's all Fake News. The only credible news that is believable is His own news - published on his own Twitter account directly to the American public and the world - 30 times a day.

No, I'm not going to buy your $2,000 water heater and throw away a perfectly functioning, good, high altitude water heater I bought from Ace Hardware a few years ago. I support local businesses and local hardware stores, and I don't throw them under the bus because they are honest people who provide a good, valuable, and honest service for everyone who lives in the Truckee, Northstar, Squaw/Alpine and the greater North Lake Area. I don't think the products carried by Ace Hardware is sub-standard, and I will not buy something only you approve or carry because you say I should do it.

Please understand that consumers can ask questions, evaluate, and make sound decisions based on gathering information and research.

May this review serve as valuable research for the next consumer looking for a good, honest plumber or businesses.

Arkady H.

I called North Lake Plumbing at 8PM and they were out to my house doing work the following day moving a gas line and installing a shutoff valve where it was supposed to be. Their hourly rate is not cheap but I am very satisfied with the quality of their work.

Joe S.

Too expensive. I them him to fix a problem and was way overcharged. I showed another plumber the invoice who was working on another project of mine and he agreed. The plumbers who price fairly will get more business as word of mouth advertising is the best. The price gougers only hurt themselves in the long run.

Joan C.

Ok, so seeing all these fantastic reviews here makes me suspicious. I have to post my experience. It was much like the one described by Linda B.

I was given more information up front than the she apparently got, including that I would have to pay for a trip charge (and therefore had to give my credit card number up front). Then I would be called with the estimate to do the actual work. They showed up on time. So far so good, but the good ended there.

First, I never got the call. Next, they didn't have the exact part with them and ended up adapting the one my tenant had purchased when he first tried to do the repair himself. He told me the plumbers were there for well less than an hour and that one seemed to be in training. Changing a tub spout was definitely not a two person job.

To my surprise I got a call saying I owed something over $300. Huh? For less than an hour when the only part they supplied was a pipe nipple?! I questioned the charge and the owner himself (whom I had not met in person) immediately laid into me about what a favor he had done, that my tenant was without hot water and couldn't be left in that situation and it was hardly worth his time to have driven over (his decision, not mine). I never said anything about being desperate. That was his assumption. My tenant was without a shower - the tub diverter had broken - not without a bathtub or hot water, and honestly he wasn't in a rush. I'd have continued calling other plumbers had I known this one would be so expensive. This was only my second call.

Anyway, he later conceded that they should have gotten my approval before doing the work and grudgingly said I only had to pay the trip charge which I think was $120 or $125. I thought about it after that and decided to pay $200 which I felt was a very generous compromise between what they originally billed me and what the job was worth, only because I would probably have paid the $300+ charge had they bothered to have called for my permission as promised (though I would have been pretty unhappy after I learned how simple the job had been).

Anyway, here's my past-due review.

Rebecca L.

Thanks to North Lake Plumbing for working with us as we coordinated clearing furnace vents and getting water heater up and running again up in Serene Lakes--patient, prompt, friendly. You made it happen.