A-1 Plumbing Inc
Plumber · Salem, OR
Our verdict
Fast emergency response and skilled work when jobs go smoothly, but hidden fees and aggressive billing disputes create serious risk on service calls.
Scores are our editorial reading of published customer reviews — not a verification, license check, or guarantee.
Ranked #15 of 15 plumbers we've reviewed in Salem, OR · compare all →
Our opinion, based on the 5 reviews we analyzed from Google, Yelp and BBB · Analysis updated Jun 2026 · How we decide ↗
Only 5 reviews analyzed — treat this assessment as a first impression, not a track record.
What reviewers praise
Exceptional emergency responsiveness: called at 8am, both jobs completed same day before 11am
1 cited review
“Called at 8am, both jobs completed same day before 11am”
Strong workmanship and problem-solving when engaged properly: reviewers praise knowledge, creativity, detail, and professional demeanor
1 cited review
“Called at 8am, both jobs completed same day before 11am”
Cited in 2 of the 5 reviews we analyzed — 1 cited review not excerpted here.
High Google rating (4.5/5 from 419 reviews) suggests positive experiences for majority of customers
What reviewers report — the concerns
Other directories bury these. We think you should read them before you call. Every concern below comes from the reviews it cites.
Red flag
Pattern of surprise charges and fee disputes: 3 of 5 reviews mention unexpected, undisclosed, or contested billing ($410 crawlspace fee, $800 unfinished drain work, $362 warranty diagnostic fee)
“charge us $410 to enter crawlspace. why was this not conveyed”
1 more cited review
“charged $800 for drain cleaning they didn't even finish”
Cited in 3 of the 5 reviews we analyzed — 1 cited review not excerpted here.
Red flag
Hostile customer relations when disputes arise: owner/staff dismissive during conflict, blamed customer for miscommunication, made unfriendly warranty dispute call, complained about customer's request despite prior company policy
“charge us $410 to enter crawlspace. why was this not conveyed”
Cited in 2 of the 5 reviews we analyzed.
Red flag
Work quality concerns: at least one review reports service not completed despite charging full price ($800 for drain cleaning 'they didn't even finish')
“charged $800 for drain cleaning they didn't even finish”
Two reviews report incomplete work or work not performed despite full charges: $800 drain cleaning left unfinished, and $362 diagnostic fee charged when warranty obligation already existed
“charged $800 for drain cleaning they didn't even finish”
Cited in 2 of the 5 reviews we analyzed.
Critical pricing transparency failures: crawlspace evaluation quoted at $59 but charged $410 without advance notice; customer explicitly told fee was never conveyed upfront despite multiple conversations
“charge us $410 to enter crawlspace. why was this not conveyed”
High variance in customer experience (score variance 45) indicates inconsistent service quality and billing practices across jobs
Keep it in proportion: these concerns are cited in 3 of the 5 reviews we analyzed. Most reviewers report positive experiences — see the full rating picture below.
The evidence — in reviewers' own words
Critical
“They suck . Charge a single mother for cleaning a drain out that they didn’t even finish they didn’t do one thing and then we’re charged $800. We’ll see him in court.”
“I am a licensed principal broker in Or. I contacted A-1 Plumbing to inquire about getting a quote for repairs that were called out in a home inspection report. I asked if someone could come out to evaluate the crawl space and they said yes. I told them specifically what we needed a professional to evaluate and asked their availability. They said they could go out same day. I booked the appointment and after …”
“Beware when doing business here A1 plumbing came out to do a repair at my mom‘s house and this is a follow up of our experience with them. After talking with Carl, he said their company policy on their work is a one year warranty. Needless to say, the conversation was not fun, neither one of us were very nice, but Carl made it very clear that to many people have wasted his time with issues like this. Great customer …”
Positive
“Replaced water heater and a hose bib. Called at 8am, both jobs completed same day before 11am. Couldn't be happier with the work, very professional and friendly. The the best part was it felt like they were trying to fix my issues the way I wanted and it didn't feel like a sales call.”
“A great experience with the visit from A-1 Plumbing. I had some unusual plumbing applications and found their knowledge, creativity, and detail to be just what was needed. The estimate of cost came through very quickly. Possibly in an hour or so. I found the costs to be very fare to both A-1 and myself. They were personable and professional as well as respectful and considerate. No question who I will use for my …”
Quotes are reproduced verbatim from public reviews on the platforms shown; we select which to feature, and selection reflects our editorial judgment. Report a quote that doesn't match its source ↗
The rating picture
Small sample — we've analyzed only 5 of 419 reviews so far. Treat this as a first read.
Newest review in our sample: Nov 2025.
Should you hire A-1 Plumbing Inc?
Best for
- Water heater install/repair
Hire if
- You need fast same-day or after-hours response
- You need clear communication and upfront explanations
Think twice if
- You need predictable, consistent service across every visit
- You need rock-bottom prices with zero flexibility on the quote
- You need airtight scheduling and guaranteed arrival times
Look elsewhere if
- You're highly price-sensitive
- You need this for a complex or high-stakes install
Advice derived from the review analysis above — how we decide.
Own A-1 Plumbing Inc?
You can respond to our analysis, correct business facts, or dispute the accuracy of a quoted review. Responses that check out get published on this page, and factual errors get corrected — see our corrections policy. We don't remove accurate quotes, but we'll re-run your assessment as your reviews change.