We were replacing a gas water heater with a hybrid electric heat pump water heater. Generally, this type of heater costs twice as much (price and installation) as a traditional electric water heater, but costs a lot less to run (and therefore you recoup the additional cost in a few years from lower operating costs). I had a very easy experience getting an on-site quote from Justin, the owner. This is a small company so I communicated only with Justin throughout the process. I really like that, because with bigger companies, communicating with different staff can be like a game of telephone and has resulted in a lot more work for me as the homeowner. And ultimately part of what you're paying for is the additional office staff, bureaucracy, etc. I received 3 quotes for this job. 2 quotes from bigger companies both came in around $7100. I went with Justin's quote at around $6700 and I am very happy with my decision. Justin also included an additional mixing valve as part of his quote, which effectively increases the usable capacity of our 65-gallon tank to about 80 gallons. Overall price was not a big part of my decision, but brand of water heater was. After doing some research online, the most recommended brands are AO Smith and Rheem (GE). Both higher quotes were for Navien, which has only been making heat pump water heaters for 1 year, but I was told that it is the most reliable brand. I did not understand how this claim could be made, given the short duration of evaluation for Navien's product. Even the worst appliances usually work for at least a year. So I requested a quote for AO Smith or Rheem, which I did not get from either plumbing companies. This made me question whether I should go with a company that either has communication issues or maybe some type of deal with Navien that I was not informed about. Many water heater installers are preferred installers of certain brands, which means they can get better pricing, etc. I did not want to be a guinea pig for Navien. Justin installs State heat pump water heaters (a pro brand of AO Smith that is made in the US). It was really easy working with him and he got the permit very quickly. He came an additional time to our house, because our electrician didn't finish his part of the install. He didn't need to do this. I feel he is a very trustworthy person and stands by his work. We're very happy we selected him for this install! read more

My mother had an issue with no running water in the entire from the hot side of the faucet. Justin came in and immediately saw the problem. It was a wall-mounted flood monitor that had malfunctioned and turned off the water inlet to the water heater. All he did was press the button and turn the flood monitor back on, problem solved. He could have charged my mother, but he didn't. Wow! Prompt service and very honest too! This you don't see much anymore. I would give him 10 stars if I could! read more

Justin Aulday is terrific. He was prompt, an expert, and managed the project perfectly. I recommend him highly for his specialty. A really great experience. read more

So relieved to find this company, honest, quick to respond, very experienced, reasonable price, explained how the previous installation was substandard but did not try to benefit from this. read more

The AP Water Heaters team is exactly the type of company we all hope for. Responsive, knowledgeable of equipment and rebates/incentives, professional, timely, reasonable, very respectful of the work area and home, flexible with schedule, and honest. All of my questions were answered even more thoroughly than I asked and in terms that were understandable. This equipped me to make a clear and confident decision on equipment type and was able to plan swiftly for the work to be tackled. Managing a family and balancing income life (in the Bay Area) in itself is a lot! Add on managing the entire home and surrounding property with the need for trustworthy contractors is pretty paramount. AP Water Heaters is a true partner for us home owners and I highly recommend them. Equipment installed: Electric Heat Pump Water Heater read more

Justin was great. Returned my call within a half an hour. He replaced our water heater the very next day.

AP Water Heaters came to the rescue right away on a holiday weekend and my hot water heater was fixed within 2 hours. Justin was great to work with and followed up to make sure everything was in working order. read more

AP Water Heater provided me with excellent assistance on a water heater malfunction. Great experience.

My sink was wet underneath and when I called Justin, he showed up the same day I called. He discovered my drain was totally rusted. By the next morning he had all the parts, installed them in less than 1/2 hour, and my sink is working better than ever. Definitely glad to have Aulday Plumbing in my area!! read more

Justin went out of his service area to replace a part on our water heater under warranty. After contacting 3 other authorized plumbers by the manufacturer, Justin was the only one who was willing to commute. Arrived earlier than expected, finished earlier than expected. Great text communication. read more

If you know a good plumber, you know who to call when you have issues with your pipes or have a dream project in mind. The rest of us use yelp to help us find services. That's why I like to write reviews, for people like me and you. I work in Construction and always like meeting qualified subcontractors that are easy to work with. Plumbing issues or home remodeling projects are not as fun as they may seem, so having someone who is fair, easy to get along with, prompt and does quality work can make all the difference. I met Justin a couple years ago, but recently had the opportunity of hiring him to replace a toilet at my new place. He came out to the city to check out my project and I decided on switching out the toilet instead of another repair. The toilet we had was previously repaired by another plumber but continued to run. After a couple months of larger water bills, I finally just replaced the whole commode. Might as well take care of business, lol. We purchased a low-flow Kohler toilet and it was installed within the hour. I was really pleased with his service and recommend him for all new plumbing and remodeling projects. read more

Not sure why this is the first review since 2014, but Justin came over to fix a number of things - hot water heater, replace a toilet tank and fix a leaky kitchen sink. Not only was he great to work with in terms of scheduling and discussions about the best hot water heater for me, but when he came to do the work it was fast, super well done and fairly good clean up job. I appreciated Justin's flexibility, knowledge and professionalism. Also helped that the plumbing supply store team spoke highly of him and his work. I'm actually calling him back today to do the next round of work. Phew! Finally found a great plumber. read more

Justin came to the rescue for our plumbing needs in our very first home. We knew some of the work in the home was shotty - some work was done without permits, and we had a feeling (based on the inspection report) that some of the plumbing was done by Joe Schmoe, Handyman Extraordinaire from craigslist. And nothing against Joe Schmoe, Handyman Extraordinaire, if there really is one. I'm sure he's a very nice person, a good samaritan, friend to all. Justin responded quickly to an email I'd sent him and I was able to book him for an estimate within a couple hours of my email. After reviewing Mr. Schmoe's plumbing work, Justin confirmed that the work was A. shotty, and B. easy to fix. We had Justin estimate an an auto gas shutoff install, too. Now, based on the 5 stars I've given Justin, the following is a given: - he was punctual - plumbing was completed quickly, efficiently - Justin is indeed easy to get along with (you want to crack open a beer with the guy and talk about plumbing, Bad Religion, or annoying golf buddies) - the plumbing is fixed and functional BUT, as a first time home buyer, here's the stuff that was really great: - he showed me how to light the pilot light on my water heater (I had no clue how to do this. I think I've just up'ed my manliness meter by 5%) - showed me how to turn my gas back on on the auto gas shutoff - walked through the house and talked about how to shutoff the plumbing in the bathroom/kitchen, and walked me through the different shutoffs in the garage (internal shutoff vs external...we can keep the sprinklers on if we leave town, but we can also turn off all water to the house and save us from overflowing appliances) - gave me a list of things to check before leaving town (things I should make a habit) - and he's a cool dude The walkthrough stuff was an unexpected bonus, and I really appreciated it. Book him. Seriously. You won't regret it. read more

I had a leak and 1 phone call later 2 jolly men where looking at the problem. Figured out a solution on the spot but told us they would need to come back at a later date for a proper fix. scheduling was done via text message and they where promp, on time and the quote was dead on. read more

I usually try to do small things myself, because I have an ever-changing schedule and it's difficult to predict where I will be at any given time. However, I know when I am beyond my ability. Then I text Justin. Yes, you read that right, I *text* him. It is much more convenient for me to use text messaging when I am going place to place. Sure enough, within an hour I get a return message and can schedule at my convenience. He couldn't make it any easier for me! He shows up when he's supposed to, gives me options with costs, and performs as promised. (He actually apologized for the last small job because he had to charge a full hour for 10 minutes work. Dude, you gotta make a living. 20 minutes each way and gas in addition to 10 minutes.) he just makes it easy for me, which is why I want a plumber to begin with! read more

Reliable, quick service and less than half the price of the quotes I received from the competitors. I had a giant water heater stuffed into a small closet that needed to be replaced. The drain was broken off of the old water heater and the other plumbers said that the water would leak out all over the floor. All I could think of was, "great 50 gallons all over the floor, there goes the house". justin never spilled a drop and didn't complain about having to get an new giant water heater into a tiny closet. Why would you go anywhere else, such reasonable prices and high quality work? read more

I am happy to say that after experiencing a total disaster in our kitchen sink these guys made my day! They were very efficient, professional, and inexpensive. They had to come back twice in one day and arrived immediately when asked to return. They cleaned up well and even helped me install a part for my new dishwasher for free. I will definately use them again. read more

I've been working 6 days a week since September- but when I finally got around to patching the hole in the wall, that's when I started looking. If you'd used a drill and a 1" bit, I wouldn't have a 2" hole to patch. And once I redo your hole, so the pipe is parallel with the wall- I'll then have a 3" hole to patch. The hole looks like it was punched with a hammer. I'll also have to paint since the wall is scuffed with black marks. If it was a 5 star job, and I'm being unreasonable, then why have the pictures removed? The real test will be when we sell and an inspector wants it cleaned up... read more

Our poor old water heater decided to spring a leak on Saturday, blowing out the pilot light and spewing water everywhere. I checked Yelp and found the great reviews for Aulday Plumbing and gave him a call. It was the end of his day when we spoke and he promised to come out early the next day to shut down the water heater itself so we would at least have water running in the house. The heater was ancient and rusty and clearly dead and in need of replacement. He gave a fair estimate and said he would be here by noon on Monday. He was here half an hour early, got the job done and left the area clean and secure, including replacing the earth quake straps that secure the water heater in place in case of a shaker with up-to-code, far more secure fixings. Justin Aulday couldn't have been nicer. He gave us a fair price and was at all times friendly, informative and good to his word. My husband and I are disabled and couldn't take care of these things without the help of professionals. When the professional in question is so personable and decent, it makes it that much better. As for the lady who wrote that she didn't get a call back from him; Even the nicest people deserve to take holidays off. What I am sure of is that if Justin is available, he WILL return your calls, he WILL show up as promised and he WILL do a great job. A terrific guy I would call on again without hesitation. read more

Awesome. Incredibly helpful on the phone. Saved me a bunch of money.Thank you!!! Mike read more

Called in and asked if he could come in and check out a leak that is occurring underneath my house. He let me know right away the issue, didn't try to upsell me or anything. A very honest man. In fact, he told me what I should do, and gave me a referral. In the end, he didn't ask for one penny. Nothing. Aulday came alll the way to my house, gave free advice, and left. WOW! This man is honest, on-time, and gives free advice! read more

The pipe that feeds our sprinkler system began to leak. I called Aulday and Justin told me when he could stop by. He arrived on time, looked at the problem, fixed it with a screwdriver, and would not have charged me anything had I not specifically asked to pay him. I would definitely use Aulday again for any plumbing job. read more

These guys saved the day at a great rate. I just had a kitchen counter and sink installed on Christmas Eve and I needed the plumbing done because we were having family over for dinner on Christmas. After calling around and talking to several of the plumbers listed I contacted these guys and they told me that they would be able to do the install the same afternoon! The showed up on time and finished the job quickly and under the estimated time even while helping me with another additional install in the bathroom. Very professional and cleaned up well. Thanks again guys!! read more

This is your man! Dear god did he help us out. Opening a restaurant isn't easy with all that old pipes but this guy banged it out and with integrity and honesty. I would recommend him highly! read more

Thank my lucky stars I found Justin at the last minute! There I was with a broken kitchen faucet that was rotted through, water pouring out under the sink, not to mention dishes piling high as I (unsuccessfully) tried to replace it myself. Whew! Sometimes it's all about paying for your sanity folks! Called Justin yesterday AFTER business hours and he answered (really? awesome) then scheduled me for today. No hassle, super polite, easy going, showed up on time and did a fantastic job. He has a reasonable hourly rate too, which at the last minute was such a relief. There's a reviewer who is clearly a little trigger happy with their nasty yelp review - tisk tisk. We can't be perfect all the time but in this situation Aulday Plumbing delivered top-notch service from start to finish. Thanks Justin! read more

Thanks Justin for finding time to reply through Yelp. Im sorry that you think I wrote my review on the same day I called you, , waited for your response, then looked for another plumber and got the job done. But I understand that you are just trying to make an excuse. I am not writing a review of your service Justin. The reason why I called you is because I believe what people say about you in Yelp. This review should not gauge how well you do your job. I was just frustrated that you can't respond to calls and phone messages. That led me to believe then that you alone run everything in this business. read more

I just had a wonderful experience with Justin and want to share it. I had a really weird and unusual water leak which had baffled the first two plumbers who had come to look at the problem. I was getting frustrated trying to 1) identify the problem and 2) coming up with a way to correct it. Justin looked at the leak and was able to assess the problem, drawing from his extensive experience. In addition he gave me a great solution which I can implement myself. He didn't charge me for the visit. Justin -- thank you so much for your expertise and your honesty and integrity! You will be the FIRST person I call next time i have a plumbing problem. read more

I think Justin is Great! I moved to a new home in El Cerrito and discovered that the sink was leaking in the kitchen. Obviously, I didn't want this to go on for too long and it is hard to find a good plumber. I called Justin and he was able to come over quickly and install my new sink. He did a good job, was fair, and actually seems like a pretty cool guy. I got the feeling that he isn't out there just to rip people off like many plumbers are, he want's to do a good job and have you be a satisfied customer. read more

Justin knows plumbing. I had an odd configuration in a newly remodeled island under the sink where the pluming waste and supply lines come up through the slab. He said oh this is a little complicated, and then got right to work. Taa-daa. He got it all hooked up, disposal with air switch, dishwasher, sink, and extended the gas line for my range. He showed me how to reset the earthquake auto shut-off gas valve, and how to relight my water heater. He is really nice, punctual, and didn't mind me watching (I learn a lot from watching professsional tradesmen at work). Thank you Justin! read more

Justin has been our plumber for years. He has done several projects for me, my family, and my friends, everything from dealing with clogs all the way up to a complete re-piping. He is responsive and friendly, works efficiently, and his work has held up beautifully over the 10 years we've been in our home. I could not recommend him or his services more highly. read more

Justin's great! Always responsive, both via email and phone. Very friendly and easy going. Always walks you through what he's doing while he repairs, and honest! He's nursed our poor old water heater through its end of days. Not sure what the person expected who phoned on JULY THE FOURTH.... I certainly wouldn't expect a business to be open unless it was a major grocery store chain. He would always be my first call for plumbing needs! read more

Justin just left my house. I called him to say that my toilet wouldn't stop running, and he arrived at my house within minutes, only to find that it mysteriously started working again. He didn't charge me at all, which was really nice of him, given that he'd literally dropped what he was doing to drive over. read more

THE ABSOLUTE BEST THERE IS!!!!! Installed my New Water Heater into a spot that was almost impossible. Made it work and did a first class job. No problem referring him to others and if I need a Plumber: He's now the guy.....Thanks read more

As good as they come. Justin returns all phone calls and texts very promptly. He was running late by a few mins, but kept me informed on his progress and ETA. He arrived, looked at the problem, diagnosed it. He also told me that he could do the work, but it would be better (and cheaper) to call roto-rooter. Wow! Even though I took his advice and didn't use his services, I feel very comfortable calling him in the future for any issues. read more

We had a problem, Justin was on it. He called me right back (on a Sunday on a holiday weekend!), came over quickly to check out the problem, and then gave me great advice about how to handle it. Even though he could have sold me on him doing the work, he convinced me that we'd be overpaying if he did it (because of the local permitting red tape in my city which is in coco county) and to hire someone who does more work where i live. He seems super honest, straightforward and totally reliable. I would definitely work with him in the future. read more

I needed to get my electric water heater replaced at my office, and had gotten an unbelievably high quote from another leading plumber. I called Justin, he came by the next day, installed it in an hour and charged me very reasonably for his time. That's how it should be done! Bada bing bada boom! I know whom I'm calling first next time I need a plumber. Thanks Justin! read more

Very impressed. I needed a gas pipe moved as part of a kitchen remodel and Justin was everything you could hope for in a plumber. Punctual, friendly, did a great job and cleaned up afterwards. Thanks! read more

We had Justin come out and fix our leaking water regulator valve. It had been dripping for about a year and was leaking about a gallon an hour. He was able to fix whatever mistakes were done in the past (this is a new home for us) and was extremely nice! I also appreciated that he came out when it was raining and fixed the leak for us. The system works and looks great now. Couldn't be happier! read more

Justin first offered a solution that we could implement on the plumbing issue at my father's rental property. That is very professional in my opinion. I do the same thing in my business and people really appreciate it. I was unable to take care of it. So, I called back and had Justin take care of it. Happy tenants! Thank you! read more

Justin does great work at a bargain. Out of 6 different plumbers he gave us the most affordable bid and was able to start within a week. We ordered a new Noritz tankless water heater installed and he got it done in no time. He also installed a dishwasher and icemaker line with no problems. read more