Big Brothers Plumbing Inc
Plumber · Alameda, CA · Open 24 hours per Google listing
Our verdict
5★ across 151 reviews with 97 of 100 sampled at 5★; techs Jorge and Jesus drive fast_response (18) including a 15-minute 7:45pm toilet-flood save, but Yelp scheduling lapses recur.
Scores are our editorial reading of published customer reviews — not a verification, license check, or guarantee.
Ranked #10 of 15 plumbers we've reviewed in Newark, CA · compare all →
Our opinion, based on the 100 reviews we analyzed from Google, Yelp and BBB · Analysis updated Jun 2026 · How we decide ↗
Lists 24-hour service on its Google profile — and reviewers describe after-hours calls.
What reviewers praise
Genuinely shows up after-hours — arrived in 15 minutes at 7:45pm for a flooding toilet when five '24-7' companies wouldn't come
1 cited review
“i called FIVE "24-7" plumbing companies but they mean they answer the ohone 24-7, they DON'T COME 24-7!! but Big Brothers did!!! 7:45 at night and he was here in 15 min, so nice, explained what happened, FIXED IT”
Cited in 2 of the 100 reviews we analyzed — 1 cited review not excerpted here.
Named techs Jorge and Jesus get repeat praise for clean, well-explained toilet and leak fixes
1 cited review
“Jesus clearly communicated what he was going to do (we had a new toilet installed) and was very thoughtful about making sure he did not disrupt or leave anything dirty during or after he finished.”
Cited in 2 of the 100 reviews we analyzed — 1 cited review not excerpted here.
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
Repeated communication failures on Yelp — ignored three replies to an emailed quote and never followed up after reading texts; two-week silence reported
“Absolutely awful communication. They ignore three replies to their emailed quote... I have repeatedly had to follow up with with them about scheduling confirmations, which they botched.”
Cited in 2 of the 100 reviews we analyzed.
Red flag
A ceiling leak 'fixed' on a Sunday was reported still leaking through an unrepaired hole on follow-up
Cited in 1 of the 100 reviews we analyzed.
Email/text follow-up can go cold — customers report unanswered quote replies and being ghosted after sending photos
“Absolutely awful communication. They ignore three replies to their emailed quote... I have repeatedly had to follow up with with them about scheduling confirmations, which they botched.”
Cited in 2 of the 100 reviews we analyzed.
Keep it in proportion: these concerns are cited in 3 of the 100 reviews we analyzed. Most reviewers report positive experiences — see the full rating picture below.
The evidence — in reviewers' own words
Critical
“I can't believe the average rating is so high here. I've used them twice, both experiences were negative but I gave them a second shot hoping the first time was a fluke. No. Absolutely awful communication. They ignore three replies to their emailed quote (two people confirmed they check their email, but I never got a follow up). I have repeatedly had to follow up with with them about scheduling confirmations, …”
“Our son was moving into his new apartment and we noticed water coming from the ceiling light fixture in the kitchen. The property manager called this company and Ruben came out on a Sunday afternoon shortly after being called. He quickly diagnosed the problem coming from the apartment above and was able to fix it. He was very polite and professional. He took great care to protect everything in the kitchen from the …”
Positive
“They did what they promised. Only one that came out same day.”
“My name's is Marianne H from San Leandro. Jorge came out this afternoon and fixed the leak in my toilet. I used another plumber who did a bad job which caused the leak. Jorge saw the issue right away and fix it perfectly. He is professional, on time, and a very nice person. He is explained the issue and showed me. In the future I will only use this company and hopefully Jorge will be the one who returns. Thank you …”
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: Dec 2024.
Across platforms
5★ Google headline vs. Yelp 1-2★ reports of ignored quotes and no-shows; the negative pattern is concentrated on Yelp, not Google.
Should you hire Big Brothers Plumbing Inc?
Hire if
- You need fast same-day or after-hours response
- You need transparent, predictable pricing with no surprise fees
Think twice if
- You want detailed upfront explanations
- You need airtight scheduling and guaranteed arrival times
- You need rock-bottom prices with zero flexibility on the quote
Advice derived from the review analysis above — how we decide.
Own Big Brothers 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.