Plumber Suggestions - Ankeny

[khardbored]

I'm looking for a plumber for a large project currently. I wanted to check out your friend's services and went to his website. He's a NO GO for me. He's proudly wearing a hawkeye shirt and has forced that upon his children, based on the photo on the about me section. No way can I support that.










Just kidding, I would rather give my business to a small business owner like him even though he's a hawk fan (my first paragraph was pure sarcasm). I'll add him to my list of plumbers to contact.

In before someone points out that the wife is wearing an ISU shirt because (1) it's ISU, and (2) it's a wife.

EDIT: Not in before . . .

 

[khardbored]

Glad you were able to get someone!

I had a need for a plumber about a month ago, when it was blazing hot, and called like 5-6 places (inc. Golden Rule) who couldn't get to me for 2, 3, or 4 days because they were so booked up with HVAC work -- most of the well-known companies also do HVAC -- because everyone's AC was giving out.

Finally got Roto-Rooter b/c they are plumbing only (I think), came out, did a fine job for a fair price.

About Golden Rule . . . I've used them twice in 3 years, I felt like they did a good job, were timely and professional. There is the offer to up-sell the warranty both times, but that's not a big deal, so not sure what the fuss is about. They were up-front about the $70 trip charge, so I don't think you can call that a scam if you know ahead of time (and it's on you if you don't ask). Yes, they were more expensive than Roto-Rooter for the same thing, but sometimes it's worth paying more to get same-day service (especially if you can't wash dishes, can't use the toilet, etc.)

 

[BillBrasky4Cy]

In before someone points out that the wife is wearing an ISU shirt because (1) it's ISU, and (2) it's a wife.

Would...

 

[jdcyclone19]

I have a hard time being critical about Service Legends because of all the HVAC companies I have tried in Des Moines they have by far provided me with the best service over the years and come out promptly. I probably do pay a bit more by paying $20 a month for their club membership but it's more than paid for itself over the years and most larger HVAC companies have similar membership programs. That membership gets you annual inspections on both your AC and furnace and 20% off repairs. The 2 biggest impacts that membership paid off for me though was if you are buying a new home they will come out and inspect the AC and furnace for no charge when you do your home inspection prior to closing. The house we bought 4 years ago they found the furnace had heat exchanger seals that were in bad shape and we were able to use the inspection report as leverage to get the owners to put money towards a new furnace from all the neglect it had. The home inspector even admitted the things they found he would have never been able to tell that because they don't have the tools to do thorough HVAC inspections. The nice thing too is they have very good warranties on the new furnace or AC they install. The other time they really came through for us I was out of town and my wife was home with our infant child when the heat index had been over 100 for several days straight. The AC was running but was not cooling the house, she called first thing in the morning and they were there by 11am and fixed the problem free of charge because it was a result of something they didn't put back in place right that shorted out the main board when they inspected it earlier that year. Meanwhile the neighbor across the street also had their AC go out at the same time and had to go somewhere else for at least 3 days while they waited on a part.

I currently use Service Legends as I have a friend who works and am getting his one free Gold Club Friends & Family membership. I will say the service is usually pretty good but they are expensive. If it wasn't for the free membership I'd probably use someone else but its more of a convenience factor for me. Last July my AC quit working on a 96f day. I called at 6am when we realized the AC was blowing hot air. They were there by 11am due to being a club member. Cost $160 for a new capacitor.

I'm putting a new HVAC system in my house. Furnace, AC and duct work. Even after the discounts for the same equipment, they were $4,000 higher than the company I have selected to do the work. They do have a couple nice guarantees but they aren't worth $4k with the same equipment and a 10 year parts/labor warranty.

 

[BillBrasky4Cy]

I had to use Golden Rule last year due to a weekend emergency... They bent me over the barrel and I would never use them again.

 

[Farnsworth]

In before someone points out that the wife is wearing an ISU shirt because (1) it's ISU, and (2) it's a wife.

beat you by a post (end of page 1).

I knew I shouldn't have opened this thread though. We just passed 2 years in our house in Ankeny with no major issues yet, and I'm sure a plumbing thing will hit us now in the near future.

 

[CYdTracked]

I'm looking for a plumber for a large project currently. I wanted to check out your friend's services and went to his website. He's a NO GO for me. He's proudly wearing a hawkeye shirt and has forced that upon his children, based on the photo on the about me section. No way can I support that.










Just kidding, I would rather give my business to a small business owner like him even though he's a hawk fan (my first paragraph was pure sarcasm). I'll add him to my list of plumbers to contact.

Ha! Yeah that's the 1 drawback that he's a huge Hawk fan but he does great work that I can look past that. If you check out his business Facebook page videos there is a pretty funny TV ad that he runs on Medicom that his wife is in. I'd rather give my business to a guy like him that built his business up from scratch and put in a lot of hard work to get it to where it is today than one of these big name companies in Des Moines I've tried over the years that usually are over priced and hit or miss with quality of work they do.

 

[Farnsworth]

Ha! Yeah that's the 1 drawback that he's a huge Hawk fan but he does great work that I can look past that. If you check out his business Facebook page videos there is a pretty funny TV ad that he runs on Medicom that his wife is in. I'd rather give my business to a guy like him that built his business up from scratch and put in a lot of hard work to get it to where it is today than one of these big name companies in Des Moines I've tried over the years that usually are over priced and hit or miss with quality of work they do.

Commercial was funny, and I think his truck is funny.

Also at least he's a Hawk fan that actually went to Iowa.

I'll use him when our problem inevitably happens.

 

[ianoconnor]

I’m shocked you were able to get Smith’s out. They seem to mostly focus on commercial business. I tried to get them when our line backed up in the basement and they gave me a 48 hr wait time. Then we had a similar problem at work and they were there in 20 minutes.

That's weird - I've had Smith's out 3-4 times & never an issue coming out within an hour or two.

Count me in as another that would not recommend Golden Rule. Had them out to quote a repair of a broken pipe in my basement. They were ~2x the price as the company I went with (Plumbing Technologies out of Stuart - would recommend - http://www.plumbingtechnologiesiowa.com/) on a ~$900 job.

 

[AdRock4Cy]

Update: Smith's Sewer Service did an ok job, they got rid of the gurgling sound by boring out the pipes to the septic tank. BUT... they did not get rid of the sewage smell that i get every morning after the shower has been run. Also, when he was there, he said i may want to add another wax ring. DUDE, I called HIM to do that. Also, they seemed to be in a hurry to get out of there and didn't do any testing. So I grade them a C overall, but it should probably be an incomplete.

 

[AgronAlum]

Bumping this. Our kitchen sink is backing up and I’m at a point where it’s beyond me. A plunger and 25’ of snake didn’t do it. Short of tearing out drywall in the basement and cutting pipe I don’t know where to go from here.

Has anyone used Practical Plumbing out of Bondurant? It was recommended by a friend of my parents.

 

[DSMCy]

Bumping for any new plumber suggestions
I know title is Ankeny but looking for WDM area if it matters

We need to replace our outdoor faucets and possibly add one

 

[NoCreativity]

I wish I would have seen this thread back in 2018 before I let Golden Rule into my house. Very sketchy business practices.

 

[Ankency]

Have used Home Run Plumbing a few times and they have done a good job at a reasonable price and were able to get here quickly and very friendly

 

[DSMCy]

I wish I would have seen this thread back in 2018 before I let Golden Rule into my house. Very sketchy business practices.

I’ve always heard to avoid them and Schaal

 

[AllInForISU]

I wish I would have seen this thread back in 2018 before I let Golden Rule into my house. Very sketchy business practices.

I have a hard line rule of never using a company in the trades that uses TV/Radio Ads.

 

[FerShizzle]

We use Service Legends. They mostly do furnace/AC but I think they have branched out into plumbing and electrical as well.

I haven’t used them for plumbing.

 

[CycloneEggie]

Thrashers has been good to me.

 

[Pope]

Premier Plumbing in Ankeny has my recommendation. I had them build a new bathroom in my basement which involved busting up the concrete floor. They did a super job that was on time and on budget. Very professional and very respectful. Would not hesitate to use them again.

 

[DSMCy]

We use Service Legends. They mostly do furnace/AC but I think they have branched out into plumbing and electrical as well.

I haven’t used them for plumbing.

I've been using Lozier for my HVAC for years but they don't do plumbing either.
I might give them a call to see if they have a plumber they recommend.