A $5,000 price I never agreed to. A lower-input heater substitution I never approved. Then a $5,150…read morelien on my property while my pricing and equipment questions remained unresolved. The lien even includes $150 that his own attached invoice makes conditional on card payment. I never paid by card. I would not hire Don McCann again.
PRICE: I received the $5,000 price after the October 5, 2026 installation. The next day I wrote, "Before I can agree to the amount, I need to understand exactly what makes up the $5,000"--and requested labor, material and other costs. His later letter nevertheless called it "the agreed-upon flat fee" and expressly declined itemized labor hours, wholesale material costs and markups.
COMPETING ESTIMATE: Another local plumber gave me a rough replacement estimate of $3,200-$3,500--$1,500-$1,800 below Don's $5,000 base charge, before his added fees. That plumber explained the basis: about $1,800 for the tank, roughly five hours at $185 per hour, and about $500 in other materials. He discussed a pan, expansion tank and possible new gas line. This was an estimate, not a fixed-price quote, but it provided the cost explanation I have repeatedly requested from Don.
EQUIPMENT: Before work, I sent him my old heater's 50-gallon, 50,000-BTU specification. He installed a 50-gallon Bradford White RG150T6N labeled 34,000 BTU/hr without discussing that reduction with me beforehand. He later cited fit constraints and first-hour performance. I had not approved that lower-input substitution.
AVAILABILITY: On October 19 he said the 50/50 would not fit because of the gas piping, so he used "the only thing available that was taller." Ferguson's Anchorage listings that day showed two Bradford White and 73 A. O. Smith 50-gallon/50,000-BTU heaters for pickup. That does not establish October 5 stock or that either would fit unchanged. But he did not discuss alternatives with me before choosing the lower-input unit.
EXTRA TIME AND REWORK: He cited an extra 2 1/2 hours to justify the price, then declined to break down labor hours and material costs because he uses flat-rate pricing. My recordings show a first replacement prepared, tried in the alcove and exchanged. I specifically asked whether the exchange and repeated work were included in my bill. I still have no clear accounting.
COMPLETION: His sworn lien states "Date work was completed: October 5, 2026." My camera shows him back working at the heater on October 6; inspection approval followed October 7. His stated completion date does not account for that follow-up work.
URGENCY: His sworn lien says the work was performed "at the urgent request of the Owner." I made no such urgent request and did not authorize an emergency premium. His October 6 text instead said: "I could see that it's a B&B. And you need it up and running quick for the Housekeeper and the renter." His assumption about my rental business was not an emergency instruction from me. I reported a leak; attributing an urgent request to me misrepresents what I asked for.
FEES: His revised invoice offered Venmo without a fee and added $150 for card payment. The lien recorded October 21 claimed $5,150 and attached that same conditional-fee invoice. A separate letter demanded $5,250, including $250 in administrative and legal fees. Those are different amounts in different documents; I dispute both.
ALASKA LAW AND HIS OWN DEADLINES: His signed notice said a lien would be filed "in ten (10) days after delivery of this Notice as per Alaska Statutes." There is no such ten-day statutory waiting requirement in Alaska's mechanics'-lien law.
His notice arrived October 17, putting its stated filing date at October 27. He recorded the lien October 21--just four days after delivery. He invoked Alaska law to give his deadline authority, then recorded the lien six days before the date his own notice specified. Both discrepancies are documented in his signed notice and the public recording record.
My questions about the price and equipment were straightforward. His replies did not resolve them before he recorded the lien. I found the communication and billing transparency unacceptable. Get the exact model, all-inclusive price and any additional fees in writing before authorizing work.
