Pipe Spy is great, trustworthy and customer service oriented. They helped answer a ton of questions and concerns for my clients. As an agent, that is a priceless value! Jordan and Sonny are top-notch! read more

We cannot speak highly enough of Sonny and Alex! This is the third time we've had Pipe Spy out (inspection, lateral reroute and test, lateral replacement and test), and each time is better than the next. Sonny has been great when it comes to communication about the work and providing us with a breakdown of what is needed. Per HOA compliance, EBMUD required documentation before scheduling the newest work and Alex worked with us to get everything compiled and sent in within a matter of hours. Being a part of a tiny HOA, we were nervous about sending all the documentation in ourselves, but with his help, we're confident everything has been completed as expected. Huge thanks to the entire Pipe Spy team!! read more

Had to bring the sewer lateral up to code when purchasing a home and Pipe Spy did a very thorough, prompt job! 10/10 would hire them again for any exterior plumbing work that we needed. Made the whole process smooth, from inspection to quote to permitting. Thanks again Pipe Spy! read more

I called Pipe Spy last week for an estimate on replacement of a sewer lateral line at our home in Oakland. I knew it wasn't going to be cheap, but when I received their estimate, I was floored! I called two other contractors for the same quote. To my surprise, and delight, the two other contractors diagnosed the sewer line placement requirements in the exact same manner as the Pipe Spy rep (Raymond). Here comes the delight ... Both contractor bids were within $100 of each other, and both were $5000 cheaper, for the same job!!! That's not a type-o, $5000!!! I'm not saying that Pipe Spy isn't a good company, or that they don't do quality work, but if you do hire them, be prepared to pay a PREMIUM! ... And for what, the fancy little green flags, the fancy business card, or the cool logo? Just based on the cost factor alone, I have to rate them low on the star factor. After all, cost is a significant factor. There are lots of excellent sewer companies out there (hint - call Harry Clark Plumbing Co.). If you get a quote from Pipe Spy, take my advice and get at least two other quotes. You'll be pleasantly surprised. And remember, at the end of the day, you are buying a sewer! read more

We used Pipe Spy to replace our sewer lateral (the pipe connecting our house with the sewer main in the street). They did an excellent job on the work itself -- got it done within one day, then the city inspectors came the next day and they closed up the holes -- and they cleaned up well. They also did a good job when they gave us their initial estimate of explaining the issues, looking for the least expensive solution etc. The reason I'm giving them only three stars was in scheduling the job. They scheduled it once, then called to reschedule. Then they didn't show up on the day they had rescheduled. I stayed home from work waiting for them -- I finally called them, and the guy in charge of our job said "oops, we had something else come up yesterday." Unprofessional and annoying. How hard is it to call the night before to say "hey, can we reschedule again?" On the other hand, they did a good job on fixing the pipe. read more

No one ever wants to hear that there's a blockage in their sewer line. When the guy who cleans our drains told us the news, our hearts sank. We called Pipe Spy at his recommendation, and they came out the very next day. Turns out that the blockage was an orange plastic cone - the kind that you use to block traffic or something. Our new next door neighbors had built a staircase in the rear of their property, and somehow during the construction the cone was inserted into our sewer line. We were able to prove this by showing them the DVD that Pipe Spy provided us. Recommended! read more

In short, Pipe Spy is my new "hero". They saved my plumbing life on a holiday week and I'm forever grateful. It's one day before New Year's Eve (of course) and our plumbing starts to back up into our toilets and showers. Gross! I call a plumber I'd used previously for a rooting job and they came out but said, basically, "Sorry, you're screwed. We can't root the line. Your line has totally failed and needs to be replaced. And we can't replace it...or recommend anyone to do it. Bye." OMG. I panicked. We were facing 4 days with no ability to use toilets, showers/baths or the kitchen sink. Nada. I immediately went on Yelp and started making frantic phone calls to companies who can do trenchless sewer replacement. First call back (in minutes) was from Pipe Spy. The woman was incredibly helpful and spent hours trying to move heaven and earth to get a crew out to our house and not leave us stranded. She kept me updated the entire time and helped me relax. Finally, they got a crew out, who DID root the line (they had a larger, more powerful machine) in 15 minutes. I about hugged the guys. Then, 20 minutes later, Pipe Spy called to say they were sending out another crew to camera the line (which I'd requested) that day, so I didn't have to spend the whole holiday weekend wondering if the line truly needed replacing. They arrived 20 minutes after that, ran the camera and immediately said there was NOTHING wrong with the line that the rooting couldn't fix. They could have snowed me and done the work, but they didn't. They said "just root the line once a year and you'll be fine". I love Pipe Spy. They'll be my first call in ANY plumbing situation in the future. read more

Great service and communication. From start to finish we were pleased. read more

These guys are great - very professional and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them. We have a large site in West Berkeley that had to inspect/renovate multiple laterals due to site construction permits. I had two other firms out who couldn't even get the inspection part done correctly. Heiko and crew came out, gave me an accurate estimate, and handled the entire job including repair work. Additionally, they are well know at the Berkeley City Engineers office and have an excellent working relationship there. They handled all the paperwork and reviews meaning I had no hassles at all. If you have a large old or complex industrial site needing renovations, these are your guys in the East Bay area. read more

We are very happy with the work Pipe Spy completed. They replaced our sewer lateral line to get in compliance with the city of Oakland. Sonny came out initially and estimated the work. He was friendly and meticulous​. Once the work was scheduled​ they arrived with a large and organized crew the first day. They worked well into the evening to make sure we had water to our home when they ran into an unexpected tree root problem. The city inspected the work and signed off. We are really happy with the work they performed specifically where they had to cut the concrete. They did a really professional job (straight lines!) on the street and at our front walkway. read more

Excellent work. Replaced ~120 LF of sewer line using the pipe burst & trenchless method. Everything went smoothly. Had to be careful about a gas line at one of the pits - no problems. Conscientious about the quality of work and appreciate the clean-up and restoration of disturbed areas. There are disturbed areas, mostly landscaped areas, but the trenchless method reduces it significantly. Got 4 bids for this project and Pipe Spy was the highest bid; #2 bidder was close in price. Pipe Spy specializes in this work and it shows and I'm glad I went with them. read more

Pipe Spy did a fantastic job replacing my old lateral sewer line and I recommend them without reservation. Sonny managed my project. They are clearly experts in this kind of work. They were highly organized and very professional, keeping me informed and taking care of every detail. They arrived exactly on time with a large crew for one full day and returned part of the next day with a smaller group to finish up their work and get the city's final sign-off. They were very careful to minimize any impact on nearby garden plantings and the adjacent sprinkler system, they cleverly rerouted gutter downspouts that could no longer drain into the sewer system, and they cleaned up very well at the end of the work. They did everything necessary for a successful project. I had two other bids for the work. Pipe Spy's bid was a bit over a bid from a very small firm that would not take any responsibility for landscape or sprinkler damage and that did not inspire my confidence, and was significantly lower than a third bid I'd gotten from a company that handles a wide range of plumbing and heating work. Considering the scope and the high quality of the work Pipe Spy did, I feel it was an eminently reasonable price. Pipe Spy has also done this kind of work for a number of neighbors on my block, and everyone I've spoken to has expressed strong satisfaction. read more

About 6 years ago we re-did our back yard--a masonry wall, flagstone patio. Should we have replaced our sewer line then? Of course, but who has the dough? Fast forward six years, ankle deep in the overflow from our downstairs toilet. I'm calculating..."$10k to redo the masonary wall, $10k for the sewer repair, kids are looking at colleges...." A friend recommends Pipe Spy. Paul comes out, researches where the sewer main is, "You know that the sewer main runs right under this tree and through this wall--probably just underneath the wall, actually." I recalculate..."$15k for the sewer repair" I'm sweaty. Paul says, "We can take care of it, we'll dig down here and tunnel over." On one hand I'm relieved, on the other I'm thinking, "Is this guy full of baloney?" I'm sure that this will be one of those projects that will double in scope and cost. Paul gives me an estimate. It isn't cheap, but it's competitive. His crew arrives when he says it will. I'm figuring we'll be without water for a week. His crew has the new pipe in that day and they stay late and hook it up so we can use the shower and toilet that night. Simply amazing. The crew of six guys they throw at this job are quick, professional, and skilled. The following day the inspections are done, and the dirt goes back into the holes. When they are finished, the back yard looks EXACTLY like it did before they started, only cleaner. The cement work they did was perfect. The workmanship was superb. The estimate was honored to the penny. I told Paul about how impressed I was with his crew's skill, and he said, "We pay our workers well, they have medical benefits, paid vacation, retirement plan and profit sharing...they're taken care of. They work hard and stay with us." Clearly a good investment, and a terrific business. read more

A Company to depend on. I recently had to put in a sewer lateral as a result of sale of one of my clients properties. I did three quotes and Pipe Spy, Inc. was professional from beginning to end. They to came to the property first assessed the situation, then used cameras to review the pipes, and then gave me a quote that my clients felt was the most fair. They said the job would take three days and they were done in three days!!! I am very impressed with the professionalism of the whole company from the first call to the issuance of the digital certificate of compliance. Thanks Pipe Spy, Inc., you made me a hero with my clients! read more

After getting several Private Sewer Lateral Compliance quotes in the area, we decided to go with Pipe Spy due to their professionalism, focus on PSL work (only) and efficiency. From the initial in person inspection by Sonny to the detailed follow up by him and the team at Pipe Spy (including sewer lateral maps, additional visit in person to go over our questions), we knew we were in good hands. Sonny and the Pipe Spy team (Lynsey is fantastic) responded to all our questions and calls and reassured us that even they were booking 6-8 weeks out for PSL work, our PSL compliance would be done before our deadline. An estimated 3 day job only took 2 days thanks to Walter, the foreman and his hard working and efficient crew. The Pipe Spy team was organized, friendly and focused on being COVID-safe. Our PSL compliance was a tough job (12ft dig, easement right at our property line) but Pipe Spy got it done and left our garden in great condition. If you need to get your PSL work done, hire Pipe Spy! read more

Pipe Spy - Dirt from the 12ft dig for our PSL work - Plumbing Near Me - Oakland, California

This company and their personnel were amazing. They kept me informed, went out of their way to make sure nothing was disrupted and all was put back in its original place with nothing damaged.  This included tying back a plant, removing and replanting a plant, moving gravel, etc.  They kept me informed every step of the way and they were very easy to communicate with and work with.  I had a huge job and they were done efficiently and stayed late to keep my sewer working for me. i have only positive things to say about the company interaction, crew and job as well.  Everyone was extremely nice and did an excellent job. It passed inspection with no problems and it was done with my complete customer satisfaction.  I would recommend them to anyone. read more

Sonny did the initial inspection to give us an estimate. He responded quickly to our email questions afterwards. Gabriel and crew came to do the sewer lateral work on the date specified. They were courteous and efficient, and showed us what they were doing before, during, and after. They dug the hole for the pipe opening, and also cut out the originally cracked portion of the cement so the final cement block looked nice. Because it may rain during the night, they covered up the holes outside the house and next to the sidewalk before the city and EBMUD inspectors came the next day. They coiled up the water hose neatly after use, cleared all the dirt and took away the debris before they left. Sonny called later in the day to ask if the work went well. He sent us the EBMUD compliance certificate and the city permit when they became available. All in all, it was a pleasant experience with Pipe Spy. read more

Overall a great job. The crew showed up on time, kept me apprised of status and when they were finished with the clean up, one would not know they were there. Very professional. We had a misunderstanding on where the clean out would be moved to and when I informed them that it would need to moved, they stepped in and said that they would make it right. I would highly recommend them. read more

The quote sonny the technician gave me was non negotiable and wasn't very competitive. It was the most expensive out of the estimates i received from 6 different bay area companies and they're the only one who charges $150 for the inspection. Do your homework and dont give anything to these crooks. read more

Talk about crisis: Our old pipes (house built 1890) started backing up right around New Years Eve. After two different plumbers were hired over two weeks time, PipeSpy got it done after a few days. It wasn't easy, we have old clay pipes under our home, and odd connections all over the place. I was impressed with Paul's technical analysis of our problem and resolve to get the job done. yes this is a glowing review, because I have three kids and three adults that depend on first world water conditions in our home-- raw sewage floating down the street past our neighbors wasnt a good look. It was a tough grease plug that two other plumbers couldn't get with over 6 hrs of snaking. I was already in the hole for more than I wanted to pay. Paul, Craig, Sonny and their crew brought all their pro equipment, cameras and hyrdro jets and took care of any ugly plug. (nasty looked like a dead alligator when it floated out) Paul gives great direction and analysis that any Oaklander dealing with these issues long term needs to know. Everyone was personal and invested, even if they couldn't solve the problem on their first try. In the end, they cleared a stubborn pipe, installed a cleanout in a 7ft deep clay lateral, and diagnosed the bigger system problems that brought EBMud out the next day. They also cleaned up afterwards, hauled out sh*t that wasn't their own, and left my yard looking better than they found it. 100 percent professional, and money well spent. PS This is my first Yelp review: I said I wouldn't write anything until I had something good to say. This is it, thanks. R read more

Imagine an auto shop where you "paid" for an "inspection" only to be told they've found the problem but won't give you the details ... because you might seek competitive bids. They instead would like you to choose them to do the work. read more

I had a broken sewer line and after receiving 6+ estimates, Pipe Spy was initially the most economical choice. And even after they scoped my line and found that my sewer replacement wasn't going to be as straight forward as originally anticipated (therefore more costly), they were still well below the higher estimates that only included pulling through a new plastic sewer, and not trenching and regrading which was what I was faced with in the end. I don't blame Pipe Spy for the additional charges incurred to complete the extra work, in fact I kind of expected to have to pay more (as it usually is in ANY kind of construction project), but I was glad to have a reasonable starting place with them and was able to stay somewhat within budget overall. Now I don't have sewage coming out of my tub or a gurgling toilet when I run my dishwasher or take a shower (YUCK!) and I am so glad for that. Of course dealing with "less than ideal" situations is not fun, especially when they pop up seemingly out of nowhere, but overall, I really liked working with Heiko, who was very attentive and explained the whole replacement process in detail to me. My only complaint was that their scheduling was not very consistent. My job took parts of about 5 days to complete, but they weren't always back to back. But that wasn't a huge problem. More importantly, Heiko was great even after I received my final bill and disputed one of the charges, which he removed immediately and was still happy to help me answer any final questions that I had. I recommend getting multiple quotes when doing any project, but would definitely put Pipe Spy at the top of my list of reasonable and capable plumbers for the next time I am faced with having to deal with some water/waste issue in my home. read more

Ordered a Sewer Inspection for a house I was purchasing. The rep was courteous, on time, knowledgeable. The cost was very reasonable and they give you a CD of the inspection. How refreshing to find value and service. read more

Thank you - after what was months dealing with this issue and another plumbing outfit - my contractor had me call pipespy - Cory came in 2 days had a look and told me that no amount of rootering or power washing was going to fix the issue and that I would need to have our 80 year old sewer line replaced - He did not know if it would be a patch job or a complete replacement - but would give me a worst case scenario quote. The crew was out here the following week - did the job (which was much worse than we originally thought) in one day - and had the city out twice for inspection and final approval. bottom line - they knew what they were doing and got to the issue at hand - professionally and without any BS Thank you.. read more

Searched for a plumbing company to repair leaking natural gas lines in an older building (1928) in Oakland. I reached out to Pipe Spy Inc. via Yelp; they responded very quickly. I explained what I needed and they advised they did not do this work. However. they referred me to Ocelot Plumbing, also of Oakland. I contacted Ocelot, advised they were referred, and they visited to review the job. We decided to use Ocelot Plumbing and they did a great job - thank you Pipe Spy Inc. read more

I talked to Heiko about replacing my sewer lateral. He did a quick camera view as part of the estimate and got me an estimate the next day. It wasn't super cheap, but reasonable, and after talking to a couple companies I have the impression that Pipe Spy does very solid work with no corners cut. They did most of the work in a single day, and had the hole paved and cleaned up the next day. All in all pretty painless. read more

Enthusiastic, experienced specialists, willing to answer questions, provide expertise and take the extra step. It helps to make sure they have clear requests and that you follow up, as with any small, busy firm. I've used Pipe Spy successfully on both commercial and residential projects and recommend them. read more

I was absolutely impressed by PipeSpy from beginning to end. From the initial phone conversation, 1st visit to assess the situation and finally, to Pedro and his crew and the e cells that job they did in one day. I totally recommend this company and their tram. read more

Pipe Spy was SUPER! easy to schedule for estimate. Sonny came on time, and was so kind, professional and efficient. He did a great job. Trusted him immediately. I highly recommend this company for any job. read more

Great group of people who worked very hard all day at a very dirty job. They cleaned-up at the end of the day every day, very responsive to our needs. Refinished the surface to look as if nothing had ever happened. read more

Call them! When my sewer lateral backed-up I was caught completely by surprise needing to do a major, costly repair. A friend recommended a "discount" guy who oddly enough quoted me an astronomical price, think between a new fully loaded Camry and a basic Porch Boxter. The whole process with "that guy" felt very uneasy, like I was being taken. So I hit pause and started quickly looking around. I got three new bids and PipeSpy was the lowest by a couple grand. I know, not always a good sign. However, the consultation was superb. They scoped the line all the way to the main, instead of just to the curb like the others. They explained the process and scheduled the repair. They handled everything flawlessly... utility marking, obtained the sewer permit, put up no-parking signs the day before, which all happened ahead of schedule. When they came across a sinkhole under the road, they got their most experienced excavator out to devise a solution. They ended up having to excavate twice the area and back-fill a sinkhole that wasn't even their fault. They lost several hours to this and still finished on-time! When the bill came I was expecting an up-charge for that darn sinkhole... they kept to their estimate!!! I was so relieved and am still very grateful. I've been so happy with their work that I want to pay them more, because we need more honest contractors out there. Like I said, call them -they will take care of your plumbing problems. read more

I had concerns about an offset in the upper sewer lateral of my 75+ year old house. James came with the CCTV camera, did a thorough inspection and explained that the problem was minor. It actually didn't need immediate repair work in my situation. The three other companies I called for quotes didn't bring camera equipment to inspect the line, and gave wildly varying quotes speculating where the offset actually was on the property. I was happy to pay the fee for the camera inspection as it gave me peace of mind and saved me thousands of dollars. James was great about explaining the situation and did not try to sell me work I didn't need. I would recommend PipeSpy to anyone seeking an accurate and reasonable quote. read more

Fabulous service from Pipe Spy this morning on an exterior water pipe break situation. Alex who takes the calls was fantastically helpful. Heiko was here quickly, diagnosed and solved the problem in no time and shared his knowledge freely to advise on related matters. Truly extraordinary service!! read more

We had a complicated sewer lateral issue and called Pipe Spy. Heiko was thorough in his presentation of the proposed solution, professional in his management of his crew, and a pleasure to work with. We can recommend Pipe Spy's services without reservation because the job was done on time and on budget and the workers were attentive to every details including cleanup. read more

This is a superbly profession company that is also extremely focused on relationships. We are a small HOA in Oakland that needed to comply with EBMUD's sewer lateral regulations. They took us through the whole confusing process with clarity and transparency. We initially received a few different bids (from different companies) for the work and received conflicting recommendations. Sonny came out a second time at no charge to ensure we felt comfortable with his findings. We couldn't be more happy with the bidding process, the work (neat, efficient, organized), and the final outcome. If I could give 6 stars, I would. read more

The owner of the company, Paul Cooper, showed integrity and honesty by apologizing for the disappointing service I had received and, without my requesting it, returned the $150 I had paid fire the inspection. I'm going to give the company the benefit of a doubt and have upgraded my rating from a1 to a 3. read more

My sewer lateral was leaking, so I contacted Pipe Spy (on the recommendation of another company that was unavailable). I was told there first had to be a diagnosis (seemed reasonable) and that they would come camera the line for $200. Guy appears, says he's used a camera and the pipe is entirely clogged with tree roots. He suggests replacing the entire line from the house to the street or removing a section of the line and replacing it. Both options were in the thousands of dollars. I then called a "roto-rooter" type company, who simply snaked the line and the problem was solved. Interestingly, when I asked Pipe Spy for the video they supposedly took, I was told it mysteriously did not record and they would come back and camera the line again. The "second" video showed there were no excessive tree roots or anything other than typical back up (which is why the snake worked). Beware of this company - they will try to rip you off. read more

Working with Pipe Spy was a really great experience. Our HOA needed to replace an exterior sewer lateral, while we needed to find a separate plumbing contractor for an interior line replacement too. For the exterior sewer lateral, Sonny B., the Pipe Spy estimator came out, ran a series of video cameras and did all of the exterior diagnostic work. He explained what he'd found and gave us a really fair price, with a detailed line item estimate. Last week, when the work began, the Pipe Spy team was all hands on deck. They were strategic about how they attacked the sewer line replacement......from the City main sewer connector....from the cleanout inside the condominium courtyard.....and from another midpoint excavation on the sidewalk, in between. They stayed late into the evening on days one and two......and the job was done, ahead of schedule. It was truly impressive!! They take their work seriously, but with a sense of humor too.......hire them and you'll find out what I mean.....your mission, should you decide to accept it. Thanks Sonny, Pedro, Alex and Team Pipe Spy........ read more

Contacted on a weekend, Paul was quick to reply. I confirmed on Monday for a next day appointment. Tech called ahead of time and advised of his arrival time, he was prompt. After he went over the cost options I accepted and he was in and out. Price was what I expected. Overall great experience. read more

Tuesday, 1/3: I call to request a plumber to come check out my house. The lady takes my name, number and description of my problem. I tell her I'm calling because I've tried other local plumbers who won't return my calls for some reason. She tells me to expect a call back within 24 hours to arrange an appointment. No call ever came. Friday, 1/6: I call again. The same lady answers, and I tell her no one ever called me back. She says, "Yes, I see your message right here. I'm surprised no one has called you back." Me too, man, me too. She says, "Do you want me to send the office another message to call you back?" "Will that help?" "Uh...yes." "Will someone call me back this time?" "...Yes, sir." "Okay." She confirmed the phone number she had written down the first time was correct and told me I would get a call soon. I'm peeved I never got an "I'm sorry", but she did call me "sir", so, whatever. Maybe it's a fluke and I'm just the 1 out of 1000 people this has happened to at this highly rated place. But no, it's no fluke. Today is now Wednesday, 1/11, and STILL no one has called me back. Incredible. Even after I told them the entire reason I chose to call them in the first place is because other plumbers had been terrible at calling me back, they ignore my call not once, but TWICE. This is apparently how they operate. I'm tired of having to call and beg people to do their jobs and take my money. Call people back when you say you will. read more