Sembower Mikesell

J S.

I hired Sembower-Mikesell to cap off a line to a toilet I wanted to remove.

They wouldn't tell me what the job would cost in advance, not even a ballpark number, and sent an apprentice, but then wanted $600/hr. after the job was done. (They lowered the price to $530/hr. when I called to complain.

Just the place to call if you have money to burn.

Rochelle H.

I don't usually knock anyone's hustle (I.e., The way someone makes a living.) However, the folks at Sembower Mikesell take the word ""hustle"" to a whole new level.
On Sunday January 29, 2017, I opened my laundry room only to discover that the entire floor and part of the hallway was covered in fecal matter and other waste materials. Lord Jesus! I couldn't run fast enough to the phone for a plumber. It being Sunday evening, I was hard pressed to find a plumber who would answer my calls. Here's where Sembower Mikesell enters.

Now, I have used their services previously and felt comfortable using them again. (They were expensive, but thorough and efficient.) Their service said that they would have someone contact me immediately after explaining my situation. Long story short, someone called me back and said the soonest I could get service was the next day at around 8:30am.

An employee arrived the next day at the appointed time, stayed almost four (4) hours, no camera or water sensors were used and presented me with a bill for $559 to ""partially"" unclog my sewer line. (Additionally, when I asked him if he needed me to flush all of the toilets or run water in my various sinks/tubs/showers, he said that wasn't necessary) The ""plumber"" said that he unclogged as much as he could but that I needed a new main trap (Estimated Cost = $7,000) and a new pipe inside my house due to the collapse of both. (Estimated Total Cost = $16,000). When I asked him how long I could delay the repairs, he stated, ""Not long at all!"". Not being a complete and total idiot, I called two other plumbing/sewer services to give their opinions the next day.

Upon the arrival of the other two plumbing/sewer services, each of them asked me to flush all of the toilets and run water in my various sinks/tubs/showers so that they could narrow down the ""true cause"". According to both of the other plumbers, apparently the Sembower Mikesell employee didn't go far enough down my sewer line to clear the clog, neither my main trap nor my internal pipes were collapsed (evidenced by camera and sensors) and I did not require the additional work. After unclogging my lines, I was presented with a sticker which notated how many feet of snake (a plumbing tool) was used both inside and outside my house, the point of clogging and what was done for correction. (Cost = $159.99 Plumber 2 and $50 Plumber 3)

Opinion - DO NOT EVER USE SEMBOWER MIKESELL IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO BE RIPPED OFF AND HUSTLED!

Mallory M.

My family used Sembower Mikesell for two separate occasions. Our furnace blew right in the middle of the freezing winter last year, and then this past spring, my dad thought he was a handyman and snapped a pipe while trying to hook up a new washing machine. We are so happy and satisfied with their work for both instances! When the furnace was replaced, the workers were quick and quite, I hardly knew they were there! And the pipe was more of an emergency situation because the water needed to be turned off, they had a man out there within 30 minutes. Great company with hard and reliable workers. Definitely recommend!!

Jessica H.

I had Sembower come out to install a tiny sink in the powder room. The sink was there, all the parts were there - all he used was a little bit of his glue he had in his truck to install it. He was there for half an hour and charged me almost $300. Almost THREE HUNDRED DOLLARS for half an hour. Outrageous. I was going to use them for other things - not now. $300 for half an hour, no parts - only a tiny bit of glue is absolute robbery. I am sickened. I have a special needs child with medical bills through the roof, which the guy knew, and he still charged that for half an hour and NO PARTS. LABOR ONLY. I mean, they must be related to Gillece. I want to cry.

J P.

I was very disappointed that I used this company and would NEVER recommend or use them again. The price was totally ridiculous - they charged me $400 to fix the valve on a toilet and to replace the guts inside the toilet - it would have been cheaper to replace the entire toilet!!! I have several rental units and would have loved to have used them again in the future, but I can't afford their prices!!