Russell Plumbing & Supplies

L W.

Someone from Russell Plumbing came and gave a wrong diagnosis on the problem with the shower. When I called them about it, the person answering the phone argued with me and said ""are you going to pay or not?"" She was referring to the $115 consultation fee. Last time we used them, the plumber they sent charged us for two hours ($90+ per hour) even though he was in the condo for a total of 15 mins. They've really gone downhill over the years. I don't get the sense that they care about anything other than money. Sadly, it's time for us to take our business elsewhere.

Rios R.

I called 5 times for an emergency and wait for more than 2 hrs and nobody showed up. Please, change your call center and remove your 24/7 service because it's not true. Even to cancel the service, the call center asked me again for all my information like I'd never called.

Will S.

We live in El Cajon in a Senior Park one of the units had a plumbing problem. There was fecal matter and toilet paper all over our streets even running up to the next street over called and let them know twice and still here we are with fecal matter and toilet paper all around. Isnt this an unhealthy situation???? Who do you call next?

Catherine H.

Eric came shortly after my call. Did not make me sign a contract. Came into the house saw the problem 2 backed up sinks and one leaking under the sink. Fixed it all in 15 minutes, gave me a 10 % discount and I could not be more pleased. This was after spending and entire morning only to get scammed by a crooked ARS technician who arrived 3 hours late tried to get me to sign a contract and charge 3 times more than Russell plumbing. Russell Plumbing has been taking good care of me for 40 years. They are my story and I am sticking to them. Highly recommended service by honest and skilled technicians.

John H.

I approached a Russel employee while he was in his service truck, wanted to ask him some questions about a job I was going to hire him for, he didn't give me the time of day. Asked for a business card and said didn't have any oh well I guess they don't need my business! John

Kerstin W.

This is the second time I've used Russell plumbing, the first was to update my second bathroom's shower fixtures (which was done 7 months ago and still has a slow leak...). This time, I tried again and was hoping it would be better. It wasn't, my Dad was at my house while I was getting home from work, and he said the manner in which the guy (guy with long beard, talks to himself while he works, cusses a lot, Brian?) acted was super unprofessional. He wanted to make a hole in the wall so he could fix the water taps since they wouldn't turn, and I need them to turn off to put in a new washer/dryer. My Dad asked him to wait for him to call the HOA before he could make a hole, and the repair guy said ""I'll make a damn hole if I need to"". HOW UNPROFESSIONAL, ARE YOU SERIOUS???

While I was there, the taps didn't quite sit well after the the repair, so he asked for zip ties to hole them together...ok? And then at the end, you ask do I need to clean my mess up? WHAT THE HELL IS THE MATTER WITH YOU, IF YOU DO REPAIRS YOU CLEAN UP AFTER, ITS COMMON SENSE!!! My Dad, roommate and I looked at each other puzzled, what the hell?? And then, he charged us for 2 hours when he only spent one hour doing the repair and half an hour getting parts off property.

Needless to say, your office people are nice ladies, but the repair guys are garbage and it's disgraceful to charge people so much for half an effort, like seriously? NEVER AGAIN.

Lisa B.

I will start by saying I have used Russell Plumbing 2 other time before with no issues & was satisfied. I prefer family owned businesses that are not big chains to support our community.

Recently we had a clogged drain that I called them on Thur office staff said they didn't have the schedule and would call back. Friday morning I discussed with office staff the issue. She said they were booked that day but she could try to squeeze us in But it would be around 4pm. I told her that would be great if they can get to us but if they can't to let me know and I'll book someone else. I asked the cost of general drain clogs, have me various quotes for different scenarios. At NO TIME during the conversation did she mention overtime charges for squeezing me in!! The plumber arrived at 5pm, unclogged the drain (& will grant them that the work was completed & satisfied with this aspect). However I was not happy when the cost included OT charges! I told the plumber I would talk to the office, as they didn't inform me.

When I spoke with the office the lady insisted over and over that she did tell me there would be overtime charges and I said to go ahead. Not true. She refused to reimburse the OT. There are plenty of plumbers out there and could have easily saved the $65 of OT charge. As I stated if you can't make it I will go with someone else...if I knew there was OT I would have done the same. Besides this, most people would prefer there customers to be satisfied and have repeat the business. I work in a field where I deal with large customers accounts and would have easily reimbursed a client even if I was sure they were wrong, just for a good experience and repeat business. I could have raved that the office staff was great and gave reimbursement on here but for the office lady being rude, argumentative and insistent on being right - I'm writing this review instead and will never use them again. Extremely disappointed!

Symphony H.

This company was called by a 94 year old woman to unclog some drainage in her home. From the several times I have come in to assist her with some in home assistance, she has made the comment that her washing machine backs up into her showers. Earlier this week it was brought to my attention that she called Russell's to resolve this issue. A plumber was sent out on Tuesday and ""performed his job"". Upon re-visiting this woman, she told me that the plumber had come and unclogged her plumbing but there were a lot more deeper issues that it being clogged that also needed to be resolved. With hearing that the plumber came, I proceeded to assist her with a load of laundry because the problem was ""resolved"" but it was not. Water spewed everywhere in her garage so Russell's was called again and asked why the washing machine was not looked at. Shamara (unsure of how to spell her name) stated that a call for only the showers came in but another plumber was to come out as soon as possible. I was there when the second plumber arrived and stayed with this elderly woman through the entire ""resolving"" of this problem which went ended with the plumber stating that after using his 60ft cable to try and unclog the plumbing, he or someone else would have to return to finish the rest and that there was so much still coming out of the piping and a longer cable was needed. We went over other things such as jetting, the washing machine drain pipe had a hole in it and needed replacement, and her previous visit from he previous plumber. I explained that I would not be able to oversee the visit until Friday and that Russells would be called back to schedule another visit. I observed, myself, this plumber replace the washing machine where it was found. I did leave before he did, but upon my exit, the plumber was in his car talking to who I will assume is his office. This woman gave some resistance to the plumber regarding payment for services because she was concerned that now a third plumber (or a repeat one) was to come out, she would have to pay them AGAIN, and the job was still not complete; which is understood coming from a 94 year old woman who is fully aware that she could possibly be taken advantage of. Russells was called on Thursday to schedule another visit from another plumber. Speaking with Shamara, she explained that due to resistance, this woman was charged only $50 but that it would be refunded to her and that no plumber would be going out due to the plumbers feeling ""unsafe"" and that they have families to provide for and pretty much cannot settle for a $50 payment. Some how or another, it was agreed that Russells will be going back out between 12pm-4pm to finish the job and that I would be contacted so that I can oversee that no words of frustration or miscommunication would occur. Friday, July 26 at 3:04pm, I receive a call from a gentleman named John, who ""re-capped"" the events of what happened. I interrupted him by completing his events recap because it was 50mins to the window ending and I needed to know when a plumber was coming. John proceeded to tell me that is why he was calling, to inform me that no one was coming out. I asked why I was called with only 50 min notice and why had the office not called me. He stated he called on their behalf for the same reasons above. Nowhere in the hour and 15 minutes that I was there, was this woman threatening or verbally abusing this service provider. I understand the frustrations of having to repeat oneself over and over again but in no way is that to be used against someone like her and used as an excuse not to come back. If these men cannot handle the words of a non ambulatory, 94 year old woman then they should not be sent or should receive some training on how to de-escalate a situation like this. Like mentioned, I left prior to the plumber himself leaving but in no way was his services interrupted by her or I, in anyway or could she have threatened this man to the point where I now have to speak with their manager Pete on Monday to explain the inconsistencies of this company.

Joe M.

They have gotten even worse. We call on a Thursday morning because we obviously have a water leak, as the meter reader notified us it was spinning. The bill that came 2 days later at $750 was confirmation it was leaking bad. They can't make it until Monday. Ok, damn we will wait.

Luckily he shows up on Friday, walks in to the bathrooms and just walks out without saying a thing to any of the employees. We call and ask what is going on and why did he just leave? The office has no clue, and says they will call him and find out what is going on. Hours pass, no response.

Wait until Monday and wait until about 1pm to see if he was coming back. Nope, we call the office again and I ask what the hell is going on. Again they say they will contact him again and find out what's going on. 2:45pm still no response. Contact the office yet again. First person says she knows nothing about it and transfers me to Lindsey who tells me she told us Friday that it was two running toilets. She DID NOT. 2 running toilets do not equal $700 in water and of course that was the first thing we checked before calling in the first place. It was also something they told me years ago ""that it was a running toilet"". Well that time it cost us about $1,000 in wasted water because we listed to them. Got another company, who came out and they found a pipe outside had burst and had clearly been leaking for months.

I blame myself for using this place again. I guess I try to buy local and you get burned by incompetence.

Ronnie R.

We had a slab leak in our newly purchased home. We had our home warranty send us a company out to fix the problem. They came 4 different times and still could not figure out what the problem was or where the leak was coming from. So, we dropped them and hired Russell Plumbing. We got Mason and Renee' out here and immediately they new what and where the problem lies. They were able to detect the leak instantly and began the work. We had them re-route all the plumbing, since we are going to be here forever. Mason and Renee' were excellent to have in my home. They explained as they went, they cleaned up before they went to lunch every day and before they left for the day. They are really courteous and they did an EXCELLENT JOB! I will recommend them to everyone I know and I will use them again...For Sure if I need a plumber. Thank You Mason and Renee' it was a pleasure.Oh, sorry I forgot to mention the Office Staff was very courteous and a pleasure to do business with, Thank You Stacy R. Lakeside