Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Eastern Iowa
Plumber · Cedar Rapids, IA · Open 24 hours per Google listing
Our verdict
Fast emergency response (1-hour arrival) but a significant pricing problem: multiple reviews report inflated charges, hidden fees, and incomplete work at premium prices.
Scores are our editorial reading of published customer reviews — not a verification, license check, or guarantee.
Ranked #2 of 15 plumbers we've reviewed in Cedar Rapids, IA · compare all →
Our opinion, based on the 5 reviews we analyzed from Google, Yelp and BBB · Analysis updated Jul 2026 · How we decide ↗
Lists 24-hour service on its Google profile — and reviewers describe after-hours calls.
Only 5 reviews analyzed — treat this assessment as a first impression, not a track record.
What reviewers praise
Exceptional emergency responsiveness: arrived within 1 hour during urgent flooding situation
1 cited review
“showed up within an hour of reaching out”
2 of 5 reviewers praised communication and explanation of work, particularly one technician named Randy
2 cited reviews
“took the time to tell me what needs to be replaced and why”
“showed up within an hour of reaching out”
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 incomplete/failed work: 2 separate instances of major job failure (toilet installation defective; water heater and clog unresolved despite promises), suggesting systemic competency issues
“couldn't fix my water heater and they couldn't fix my sink clog”
1 more cited review
“charged $1200 to set a toilet and left with a kink”
Red flag
Unprofessional conduct during service: left dirty equipment on counter, dumped backed-up water improperly, departed without invoice or notice after charging $356
“couldn't fix my water heater and they couldn't fix my sink clog”
Red flag
Potential manipulation of reviews: one customer reported being offered $200 to remove/downgrade negative review after poor work, raising questions about review authenticity
“charged $1200 to set a toilet and left with a kink”
Severe pricing transparency issues: $124 diagnostic fee disclosed only after service completion; $1,200 toilet installation that left supply line kinked and non-functional; $225 charged for 15-minute estimate visit with undisclosed part-number fee
“charged $1200 to set a toilet and left with a kink”
Cited in 2 of the 5 reviews we analyzed.
Poor workmanship documented: kinked supply line on toilet, unprofessional caulking 'like a child threw paste at it', improper tile drilling technique
“charged $1200 to set a toilet and left with a kink”
Failed to complete primary service requests: unable to fix water heater or sink clog despite assurance from staff member 'Billy' that there would be 'no issue'
“couldn't fix my water heater and they couldn't fix my sink clog”
Keep it in proportion: these concerns are cited in 3 of the 5 reviews we analyzed. Most reviewers report positive experiences — see the full rating picture below.
The evidence — in reviewers' own words
Critical
“I was out of town and my wife called to have a toilet installed. They charged 1200$ to set a toilet and left with a kink in the supply line and stated on the invoice that the water line had a pressure issue. The plumber also caulked around the base of the toilet and left it looking like a child threw paste at it. There was also a complaint of having to drill a pilot hole through tile to mount the unit. Do …”
“Had an issue with water pressure in my tub and had one of their guys come over. Was told that the likely culprit was a valve in the spout and quoted around $550 for replacement. My partner called me (I was at work at the time and now wish so badly I had scheduled a time I was there to call this out) and I told him I would just replace it myself and if there was a further issue, we'd call back and continue services. …”
“I knew this would come down to a he said she said ordeal because as you can see they've totally twisted what they said and what I said. If you look at other reviews I'm far from being the only one to say what horrible treatment was given by this company. This office doesn't care about customer satisfaction only about their money. Look at the pictures is this how you would expect a company to leave your place? That …”
Positive
“Randy C & his assistant from Benjamin Franklin did an excellent job. My brand new toilet works great now. They both took the time to tell me what needs to be replaced and why. This company is a good plumbing company to call to repair bad old plumbing problems.”
“My sump pump went out, the basin was full and time was of the essence before potential flooding. Benjamin Franklin showed up within an hour of reaching out! The lady I scheduled with was detailed and reassuring! Then Randy showed up, my hero without a cape! He explained options and got to work quickly. The standout service was all of the information sharing that went beyond just the new sump pump. I appreciated …”
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The rating picture
Small sample — we've analyzed only 5 of 1,849 reviews so far. Treat this as a first read.
Newest review in our sample: Jun 2026.
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