I recently bought my very first condo and I am a proud new homeowner. Even though it is just a studio, it suits me perfectly because I am single and have no plans to constantly clean. I pay the bills, and that's enough. Anyway, I've had several occasions to use Friendly's services lately. Rob's first visit was to replace my leaky kitchen faucet. At least I wanted it replaced, until Rob talked me out of it. He said that my faucet is Made in Italy, designer made, and costs approximately $1,250 retail (only a professional would know that off-hand) and to replace it with the $80 Delta faucet I bought at Home Depot would set back the value of my house fixture. He said I really should watch to make sure that I keep what's good, and ditch the bad, or at least replace it with a much better model to keep up my property value. In the case of my faucet, it just took a new washer to stop it from leaking. After I returned the faucet I bought, I was still substantially ahead considering I was able to keep my original faucet. While Rob was at my house working on the faucet, we got to talking that one of the only things that was a big disappointment for me was that I still had to do my laundry in the building basement. I always thought that after I buy my own place, I would be completely free from communal laundry. Now I have to wait at least two more years until I can upgrade to a house WITH a washer/dryer. After hearing this, Rob asked if he could take a tour. I thought it was nice of him to be glad for me and my new venture, but he really didn't have to go "all metro" on me. The tour lasted 5 minutes, but was time wisely spent because Rob was apparently looking for a way to help solve my laundry issue. He pinpointed that if I empty my linen (a.k.a. junk) closet, a stackable washer/dryer unit can easily fit that space. He said he too had tight budget concerns, but he bought his own washer/dryer from a company called Airport Appliance in Hayward, and he was able to buy a stackable, energy-saving model for under $1,500 out the door with rebates. To make a long story short, I went to Airport Appliance that same day and bought my own washer/dryer, which was delivered the next Tuesday. They were having a sidewalk sale too, which saved me even more because my dryer costed me $400, and the washer $975. Rob installed the hook-ups and both units the same day and I really appreciate Rob's persistence in helping me get what I never knew I could have. Thanks a lot Rob, your fantastic attention to detail really earned my patronage from now on. read more

We had a leak on the ceiling and what I initially hoped was a small job turned out to be bigger and grander. I could not have picked a better company, because for the type of problem we had, I could have easily been ripped-off because it was difficult to determine where the leak was coming from, so I really appreciate the dispatcher sending someone really knowledgeable. It was nice because I actually felt that she listened to me and they had to keep coming back because we couldn't really determine where the original leak was coming from. Thank God it was fixed though, and I didn't have to shell-out as much as I thought. Good I listed to my boss who owns several properties in the city, who highly recommended the company. The gentleman who they sent was gracious and was considerate of our erratic schedule. I have a 3 year old that I take to his classes different times of the week and he was very accommodating in not doing the loud work when my 3 year old was asleep. My son is very curious and was always interested in the work that was going on in the house. Robert was very patient explaining to him the technical details, making my son feel like a grown-up. When he found out that I was potty training my son, Robert suggested that we turn our extra closet space and install a child's toilet. He told me where to purchase the toilet so I could save some money, but I ended up having them purchase it and install it for us since he gave me a really good price for everything. I don't normally don't let people talk me into an extra expense, but with him, I didn't feel as if he was just trying to make extra money off me. Even though I somewhat hesitated at first giving up our extra storage for a toilet that I know my son will outgrow, I now realize that it was well worth it because now my son is not only potty trained, but he's now also comfortable using the kind of toilet he would use in preschool. Now he's ahead of the game. Thanks to Robert's attention to detail for suggesting the toilet, I had no idea these existed. Great customer service is very important to me and I have no hesitation recommending Robert with very high marks for his customer service. read more

Let me start by saying that this may be an unusual review - the reason being that I am commending this business for not doing business with me!! First of all, I needed my garbage disposal fixed. Robert was coming back from a huge job downtown and therefore, he was able to stop by my house just 30 minutes after I called for an appointment. Robert investigated the issue and told me that I really didn't have much of a problem at all. He showed me how to solve it on my own and told me how to avoid it in the future. In passing, I also mentioned my electrical and painting problems going on in the house. Robert then went out of his way to recommend different contractors and stores for me to visit. I insisted that I pay him for the visit. But since it was a problem that I could have solved on my own, Robert just had me pay a $30 trip charge. I don't know if this is obvious in my explanation, but this is extraordinary business practice. I am fairly sure that in some point in my life, I may have been taken advantage of by different professionals, whether it be plumbing, car repair, etc, simply because I would not have much knowledge about that field. Perhaps, I have become a bit jaded, but this kind of integrity is dumbfounding to me. Before visiting me, Robert had just come from a job for that posh department store we all know at Union Square, which sounds like it paid tens of thousands of dollars. For him to be so kind and down-to-earth, to care about a senior citizen saving several hundreds dollars is really heartwarming. I am quite impressed with this company's policies and character. I have been bragging about them to my friends ever since! Next year, I do plan to renovate my master bathroom and I know that I am definitely calling Friendly Plumber. They have my business from now on and if I have any say about it - all of my friends' business as well!!! Thank you so much, Robert!! I'll call you soon!! read more

Friendly Plumber is definitely the appropriate company name for Robert and his crew. Everybody who went to my house was super helpful, and yes, friendly in a quaint East Coast kind of way. Very different for me who grew up in the Bay Area. I'm a new homeowner, and the previous owners of my house had used him before for the remodel, and he apparently did a very good job for them, so I was confident in his abilities. I wanted a tankless water heater installed because now that I have a brand new humongo bathtub, I intend on making good use of it at least once a week. When Robert first came over and I told him what I wanted, he explained to me that I didn't necessarily need such a high powered unit because I'm the only person in the house. He said that those fixtures are for multiple bathroom, multiple people type homes who all get ready at the same time in the morning, and everyone needs hot water simultaneously. Because I'm alone, it would be overkill to go there, and the size of my one bedroom Craftsman definitely doesn't warrant it, even when the time comes for me to sell the house in the future. The next people will have the same issue because once again, a one bedroom and one bath doesn't really say large family moving in next. So I got my new water heater with a tank, and the finished product looks good and appears to be sound. I originally budgeted 2 times over for this project and because of this, I was able to splurge by taking my grandma out to a very nice dinner when she visited me last week. Next weekend, I do plan on buying a new faucet and shower head set to really make a big splash in my bathroom. My new sanctuary! Robert is on the wings for installing those too and I really want to thank him for putting up with all my questions because this is the very first time I've ever done anything like this. Overall, he was responsive, personable and a consummate professional. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!!!! read more

Robert of Friendly Plumber is simply phenomenal! My restaurant's water heater went out around 9 o'clock, last Tuesday evening. I emailed Friendly in hopes they could get to me first thing in the morning. To my surprise, they called me first, beating me to calling them. By 12 o'clock that day, a commercial water heater was in place, replacing my busted one. This water heater was placed on top of a walk-in cooler and I'm positive no other plumber would have touched this job because I went through the exact same thing last time it was replaced. I called around, got several companies to come out and give me a quote, and the end result was that I was getting everything from completely relocating the water heater, to trying to bust open through the other side of my wall, which is an impossibility since I don't own that unit. This time, Robert got the job done for me and that's all I care about. He was courteous, knowledgeable, and the consummate professional. He carefully explained his proposed solution to me and clearly described all my options of the way this can work. Personally, I think he went above and beyond the call of duty when he spotted other plumbing problem areas around the restaurant and proposed solutions for me to get it fixed myself. Robert knew of my budgetary restraints, and I think it was really nice of him to point me in the right direction. As he said, he doesn't want to see a small problem now, turn into a big one. He referred me to a couple of supply houses where I can purchase the materials myself, and I was able to get my husband to fix those problems, because his labor was free after all. Robert is not only excellent and skilled at what he does, but he seems to really enjoy what he does as well. He left my restaurant perfectly clean at the end of the job, so no mess for me to deal with afterwards. Such a boon -- thanks a million!!! read more

My brand new bathtub started leaking from the pipe last week, so I called the homeowner warranty people because this behemoth is not even a month old. The customer service person said that my situation did not warrant an emergency call. I suppose they want it to keep leaking so much more to drill a hole through the floor, then maybe it would be considered an emergency. Nevertheless, they told me their repair technician would not be able to come out for another week. If you ask me, this homeowner warranty thing is just a huge racket! I remembered talking to one of my bosses about his double sink getting repaired recently and so he put me in touch with Friendly Plumber, the company he used, and within a couple of hours, Robert squeezed us in the same day to come out and look at my tub. When he arrived, he proceeded to inspect it. He asked a lot of questions about who uses the tub, when it is used, how often, when did I see the leak; and after all this, he quoted me a price for testing. He tested the thing and found the leak after half an hour. It seemed very difficult to find, so I'm glad I had a professional on my side. Apparently, this is the reason the leak was so inconsistent. I'm glad he was able to find it too because otherwise, I would have had to open up my Carrara marble tile walls and it would have been very, very, very expensive. I can't say thank you enough to Friendly Plumber. I imagine any reliable repair company could have done this job, but unlike other places, Friendly answered the phone quickly, called me back when they promised, and had someone out the same day to appease my concerns. When the front and back office operations are that efficient, I know I'm not getting special treatment because of my boss' referral either. It seems their business is simply very well run. read more

I am not generally a review writer, but I was inspired to post this review because of the experience I just had with Robert and the Friendly Plumber team, which was truly exceptional. Our situation was somewhat unique, but to sum it up, we ran into some serious plumbing related issues, both with the plumbing itself and also with the city inspection department on a building we have been restoring. We were in a pretty tough spot and needed an accomplished professional to help us determine what fixes were needed, and then do those fixes within the context of a difficult situation. Not only did we need someone with creative plumbing chops, but we needed someone that would have compassion for our situation and treat us fairly. If there ever was a situation where we were over a barrel and could be screwed, this was it. We were also not looking to do the minimal necessary to pass inspection, but rather to do the right thing so that we would all feel good about the quality of the final results. Robert really joined us as a partner in assessing the situation, determining what needed to be done, the best way to do it and ultimately doing the work. He just brought a lot of knowledge and integrity to the whole event. We did a lot of work, but Robert kept the costs reasonable and when the inspection came we passed as it was clear that everything that needed to be dealt with was, and we had done an extremely professional job. I am pretty fanatical about associating myself with people I know I can trust, and it is my anticipation that I will have a lifelong association with Robert and Friendly Plumbing. I have given them five stars and I would recommend them to any and all of my friends and family. Regards, Arturo read more

"I have to agree, plumbing and other household maintenance work are something that I don't know much about. Lucky for me, a met a real "know it all" when it comes to plumbing! Usually my fiancé is the one who handles all the repairs around the house, but while he was away last week the toilet decided to clog up and I panicked. It's hard to look for a reliable and honest man to do the job these days so I went with a recommendation from my neighbor. What can I say, I found a gem! When I called to schedule an appointment they could fit me in the very same day! That was amazing and a real relief. Robert was professional; he was on time and very friendly. He wore a uniform and definitely knew his way around the plumbing! He went inside the house and did a thorough assessment first. I liked the fact that before they force a solution onto you, they do a check first and offer the most sensible and cost effective solution. Apparently the pipes that connects to the sewerage system was already corroded and needed replacing. This was only the start of a series of good encounters with them. To cut a long story short, they did an amazingly perfect job. Instead of giving just quick fix solutions, they extended the service and explained to us the importance of regular household maintenance. Robert was friendly and easy to talk to. He patiently explained the entire scenario and provided us with realistic solutions. Even for someone like me who is not very clever when it comes to household DIY, I understood what he was telling me and he was very easy to communicate with. The job was completed as scheduled and they charged us a very fair rate. Truly deserves a five star rating! " read more

I live with my entire extended family, including my mom and my grandmother. Last week, our hot water heater started turning on and off by itself and finally last Wednesday, it completely stopped working and spilled water all over our basement. Only my grandma was at home and everyone else were at work at the time, but luckily my neighbor was home and saw water gushing out of our garage. Well, he called me at work and since I didn't know that this is even a plumbing problem, he told me that I should call Friendly Plumber. While still at work, I was able to give my neighbor the code to our alarm and the two of them found out that the water heater has succumbed to its death, and we need a new one. Plus also a cleaning crew to take care of the flood. Friendly Plumber referred an emergency restoration service to me which I think is a good deal at $200 and he installed a brand spanking new water heater, all in the same afternoon. I appreciate this plumber's professional attitude while working at my house as my I know my grandmother can sometimes get a little chatty, and she even complimented the fact that the plumber seemed to be a really "good boy". I stopped by Friendly Plumber's office to pay the bill yesterday, and I met the plumber who worked at our house. His name is Robert, and he was not a boy! Nevertheless, it was pretty nice of him to go the extra step to make my grandma feel at ease. This is one review I am really glad to have written, and I'm definitely keeping their business card on our fridge just in case. Besides, Grams already know Robert, so maybe this time, she'll answer the door if there's ever another catastrophe for the day again. read more

New month, new problem, with my basement ceiling leaking from the bathroom above. I had my basement in law flooded from the water heater that was faultily connected by the previous plumber, to roots from the tree in front of my house, which is apparently owned by the city - suffice it to say my run of plumbing bad luck had hit a trifecta, and it's just February yet. I got bids and talked to two other plumbers before I turned to the internet to doublecheck on the reputation of these companies I was considering. In the process, I discovered Friendly Plumber and their good reviews, so with a reputation as good as theirs, they must be doing something right. It seemed unreal how they can please so many people. I had to try them for myself since I know that with my share of the insurance deductible, I had better be getting a job with solid results. My insurance company just won't stand for repeat visits anyhow. Friendly Plumber's guy showed up to my house with shoe booties, which I thought was a professional touch. He was courteous, and immediately got to diagnosing the fact that my son and I have a tendency to splash around the tub and water was escaping, causing the leak. Thank God it was nothing major! He also noticed that our water heater still isn't strapped correctly, and this time, I'm no longer taking chances so I had him deal with that too. I am pleased with his expertise and am glad I did my research this time around. I am okay with the price I paid, albeit a little higher than the two other plumbers. Friendly Plumber at least was able to solve the problem. I recommend them in a heartbeat. read more

I was referred to Friendly Plumber by my neighbor when my kitchen sink, bathtub and sewer backed up. I called and found out that they don't work on stoppages, so that's what they mean by stoppage, but they did refer me to another rooter company who had really good customer service too. I did though use Friendly Plumber to put in a new sewer for my house. I'm a relatively new homeowner, so it was important for me to be able to trust my contractor. I got several bids for the job and was at first convinced that I should try to find a company who offers the pipe replacement without disturbing the ground. After talking with Robert, he informed me that the city doesn't always allow that type of plumbing, it wouldn't be up to code and would never pass inspection. Strange, the other plumber before him said that he does it all the time in the city and he highly recommends it. I called the Department of Building Inspection's Plumbing Department to make sure because I really hate being on the fence with conflicting recommendations, but I was told with all authority that yes, in my area, that was definitely not allowed. Can you believe this? What if I went with that guy and in the end my job wouldn't pass? Anyway, I promptly called Friendly Plumber back and they were able to squeeze me into their schedule. Robert re-routed the path of the pipes to avoid having to dig-up my ultra-cool espaliered apple tree, which I appreciate. He was very professional throughout the entire process and I'm very thankful for my neighbor for the last minute recommendation. Thanks Larry, I owe you one dude!!!!!! read more