Baethke Plumbing
Plumber · Evanston, IL
Our verdict
Same-day emergency response with consistently friendly technicians, but pricing fairness scores 17 points lower than workmanship—expect higher costs for premium service.
Scores are our editorial reading of published customer reviews — not a verification, license check, or guarantee.
Our opinion, based on the 96 reviews we analyzed from Google, Yelp and BBB · Analysis updated Jun 2026 · How we decide ↗
What reviewers praise
Exceptional same-day and rapid response capability—5 reviews explicitly mention same-day arrival or quick scheduling even on weekends
1 cited review
“Helpful, friendly, and transparent. Came out same day on time”
Cited in 5 of the 96 reviews we analyzed — 4 cited reviews not excerpted here.
Technicians consistently praised for explanation and transparency—8+ reviews highlight clear communication about problems, options, and pricing before work begins
2 cited reviews
“Friendly, knowledgeable, and answered all my questions”
“Helpful, friendly, and transparent. Came out same day on time”
Cited in 7 of the 96 reviews we analyzed — 5 cited reviews not excerpted here.
Named technicians (Isaac, Jack, Billy, Sam, Chazz, Josh Hall) consistently receive individual praise across multiple reviews, suggesting quality culture and repeat customer requests
1 cited review
“Friendly, knowledgeable, and answered all my questions”
Cited in 7 of the 96 reviews we analyzed — 6 cited reviews not excerpted here.
Long-term customer retention—multiple reviews mention 'years' of service with annual membership commitment and exclusive use for future projects
Cited in 3 of the 96 reviews we analyzed.
Handles complex multi-day projects with leadership involvement—CEO John Baethke personally worked on-site during 3-day flood backup valve installation
Cited in 1 of the 96 reviews we analyzed.
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.
Pricing fairness dimension scored 17 points below workmanship (75 vs 92), suggesting cost concerns despite quality—one review notes 'reasonably priced' but no reviews highlight pricing as a strength
Cited in 1 of the 96 reviews we analyzed.
Keep it in proportion: these concerns are cited in 1 of the 96 reviews we analyzed. Most reviewers report positive experiences — see the full rating picture below.
The evidence — in reviewers' own words
Critical
“Do not use this company! They are over priced and rude. They quoted me $1900 for something that should take under 2 hours for a professional and $30 in parts. When asked why it was so much, he said I should just do it myself. I ended up having my husband do the the job himself after he got home from work and it took him an hour and a half, including a trip to the hardware store and it cost us $11 for the purchase of …”
“Had them come out for a kitchen clog. It took about 45 minutes to identify the issue and do a couple tests. I paid $129 them to just come and the options for a solution ranged from a $250 drain clearing solution to $800+ for using bigger auger. Pricing seemed high all around. What I didn’t appreciate in addition to the pricing was that he continued to ask me if I needed to talk to my husband to make the decision. …”
Positive
“Baethke did a great job of presenting options for a variety of plumbing issues. We proceeded with the most crucial items. Technician Jack Elkin did an excellent job of repiping one area and pursuing additional problems that we discovered along the way. The work was professional and communication with the company was easy.”
“If you need plumbing services call Baethke Plumbing. If you are lucky your technician will be Billy McMahon. He was knowledgeable, professional and honest. He explained all my options with ease and clarity. I would use them again and again. Thank you Billy for a job well done!”
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
Newest review in our sample: Mar 2026.
Across platforms
Should you hire Baethke Plumbing?
Best for
- Emergency and same-day calls
- Water heater install/repair
Hire if
- You need a plumber who actually shows up when scheduled
- You need high-quality work that holds up over time
Think twice if
- You need rock-bottom prices with zero flexibility on the quote
- You need detailed walkthroughs and written estimates before work starts
Advice derived from the review analysis above — how we decide.
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Baethke Plumbingisn't in one of our ranked city guides yet — the nearest covered markets are below.
Nearby: Evanston