Southwood Plumbing & Heating

Jaime V.

Do NOT use this company for any of your plumbing needs. Their office admin is rude, doesn't believe in keeping customer informed, and couldn't care less what your problems are. They don't honor their warranty. How? By putting you off, delaying your call-back, and service appts.

Our Bosch water heater they installed less than a year ago, failed; not their fault, but get it fixed ASAP. Was a faulty internal fan. What did we get? Bad information about a part being expedited to them... and a week later still not in, they didn't let us know, we had to call them. A few more days later, still following up with them, more stories about the part order. Over 2 weeks later, without hot water. Honestly, what's wrong with, ""We're having problems getting you serviced properly, can we recommend another plumber... "" No, just silence, no call-backs, total non-professionals.

So what am I left to think, ""that honoring their warranty"" was not part of their value system.

We ended up going with another plumbing service (Renstrom) who care about their work and reputation!

So C.

Dennis and his team seem to perform every time we need them. Kathy in the office is professional and we love them.

Cal L.

This review would've been 5*'s if the owner's wife wasn't rude and condescending. Southwood Plumbing & Heating was recommended by a close family friend so we used them in 2020. We have had no issues with the very patient, courteous employee (Scott) who helped us both times. First time we used them, the wife said we'd be entitled to a senior discount. However, the invoice she prepared 'forgot' to deduct the discount. Since our family friend felt bad as she recommended them and had negotiated we'd receive the senior discount, she went to speak to them. Unfortunately our friend had to stress and argue with the owner's wife before the latter would relent and honor the discount.

This year we wanted to change two more toilets. Since we thought they did a great job in 2020 we enquired again if they were available and the cost. We had to deal with the wife again. Firstly and most importantly, my husband called and put the conversation on speakerphone so that I could listen in to hear how much the cost would be. This woman from the start was very short and impatient with my husband whilst going over the cost of a particular brand/model. Her tone was very rude and condescending. In all honesty, we have experienced biasness before and know when it's happening; this felt as the same experience. It took all I had to contain my anger about her rude attitude towards my husband. When he asked about the senior discount, she abruptly put him on hold to ask her husband if it was okay. Not even a 'Sorry to keep you waiting."" at all. Just continued to launch into what the price is and say the husband agreed to give a discount.

Now comes the invoice (they do not furnish an estimate invoice just verbally quote the price) yesterday. To our shock, this same person double billed us for the labor to install a part that is standard with a new toilet; labor ain't cheap @ $175/hr. and in no way should we have been billed this extra amount as it should already have been included in the cost. When my husband called to tell her about this double billing on labor she was adamant that it is always done. We had the invoice from the previous job which included the total cost which was inclusive of the toilet, the necessary parts, and the labor. Since this was the second time that her billing was messed up my husband was not happy about it and rightly so. She accused him of shouting at her because she was the one who continued to insist that she was right, again being condescending as if my husband is so ignorant of anything. Frankly he did not have to reference the prior invoice to prove she's wrong because double billing on the labor is just flat out wrong. Maybe she felt he/we were so stupid that we would not notice her mistake...Wrong! She just finally gave up claiming not wanting to 'argue'. Wow. Don't recommend this firm due to this one person. Otherwise, the product and the workmanship are fine as is Scott, the employee who helped on both occasions. This is what we get for trying to support local businesses...but never again this one!

Bob F.

On time. Serviced all faucets for leaks and installed a new garage faucet. Roto'd upstairs tub, too. Scott was a pleasure.

Evelyn C.

Edit 11/4/2020: Yeah, downgraded to one star. Toilet re-install seems fine but I was also charged for having the flapper replaced. It's been a little over a month, and I have to jiggle the toilet handle so the tank refills and doesn't just run nonstop. Just don't go with these guys at this point. Still haven't heard back from them either regarding initial email and phone calls.


TL;DR: If (that's a big if) you can get them to respond to your multiple emails and phone calls, they provide good service.

Long version: Southwood came highly recommended by the company that redid my floors, and it also turned out they're on my HOA's list of recommended vendors. Another plus, the owner Denis is a fellow SF native! Great! So I called them a couple of times to get on the schedule to have my toilet re-installed after putting new flooring in. Scott was great--he got the work done quickly and efficiently, even went to get additional parts needed to make sure the toilet was working well.

Then, I found out that my bathtub faucet didn't work. Scott had taken a look while he was here to re-install my toilet and said that he'll have to show his boss the pictures and explain the situation to provide me with an estimate.

I heard nothing. I followed up by sending Southwood an email requesting an update. No answer.

I sent another email a few days later. No answer.

I followed my email up with a phone call. The woman who picked up the phone said the owner wasn't in the office, but she'll make sure to pass along the message that I was following up on my email. Nothing.

I followed up yet again with another phone call. A woman picked up again (not sure if it was the same woman) and said the boss wasn't in the office and said again that she'll make sure to pass along the message that I was following up on my email.

Now, 1.5 months after my initial email regarding the non-functioning bathtub, I'm left with no place to shower or bathe. I've scheduled another plumber to come in, but I will NEVER contact Southwood again due to the lack of communication and follow-up.

Patti S.

Just had my water heater replaced today by Carlos. Right on time, friendly & answered all my questions. Never complained about the 20-stairs !! It only took 2-hours. I was VERY pleased with the service. EXCELLENT JOB !!!! THANK YOU CARLOS !!!!

Jim K.

great company and service. we depend on them for advice, repairs, additions, and recommendations for a types of circumstances. A go to company when it comes to plumbing and heating. Scotty and Dennis are very experienced, helpful and friendly. thank you guys.

Dave G.

My second experience with Southwood dealing with a very serious clog affecting all water-related functions and left the tub filed with disgusting back up. My suspicion was that it was tree roots again and my guess was correct. Southwood sent Scott over first thing in the morning and he was a virtual checklist of professionalism; courteous, efficient and cheerful. Wound up needing a whole new toilet to replace the old damaged and worn out one and he picked it up, got it installed, cleared the block and cleaned up within a couple of hours. Same great experience as last time and that's why they get my highest recommendation.

Clive J.

We've used Southwood Plumbing several times over the last few years. Most recently we had a water heater installed (in January 2018) and Scott came out and did a great job, and it only took a couple of hours. Just over a week ago we had a house inspection as part of our house sale, and the inspector noticed there wasn't a third retaining strap on the water heater. I called Southwood and with a hour Scott came out and installed the additional strap - at no cost! I have no hesitation in recommending Southwood.

J D.

Here's an update, not sure if it'll keep the rest of my previous review...but Southwood Plumbing is fantastic and they are the only plumbers I will use. Since my last review they've installed 2 new toilets, fixed a nearly broken sink trap, and diagnosed a dishwasher problem, among other things. You really want these folks for your plumbing problems.