C. Lee Plumbing Services
Plumber · Stow, OH
Our verdict
C. Lee Plumbing (Stow) shows a 4.8 Google star but deep review analysis across 22 reviews reveals a near-even split: 11 five-star vs 9 one-star, with reviewConsistency at 0.084 — recurring complaints of $150/hr for non-plumbing work, bait-and-switch quotes, and a camera-charge-with-no-photos incident.
Scores are our editorial reading of published customer reviews — not a verification, license check, or guarantee.
Ranked #12 of 15 plumbers we've reviewed in Stow, OH · compare all →
Our opinion, based on the 22 reviews we analyzed from Google, Yelp and BBB · Analysis updated Jun 2026 · How we decide ↗
What reviewers praise
Chris Lee praised for personal responsiveness and kindness by first-time homeowners — accommodated scheduling needs and worked hands-on with clients during gas line and valve jobs.
1 cited review
“We just moved into our new home and desperately needed someone to fix our washing machine valves and run a gas leak check. Chris and Harrison from C Lee Plumbing Services were absolutely fantastic!”
Cited in 2 of the 22 reviews we analyzed — 1 cited review not excerpted here.
Work quality praised when done correctly — no call-backs on faucets, disposals, and toilets by reviewer who explicitly chose C. Lee over cheaper alternatives for quality.
Cited in 1 of the 22 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.
Red flag
Camera inspection charged but photos not produced; excavation quote for a sewer break in a location where no pipe existed — reviewer reports overcharge and misdiagnosis.
“Over charged for services. Missed a drain they were to clean out. Charged for 'camera' but couldn't produce photos of 'broken line.' Happily provided a $8,500 estimate for repairs. Dug where supposed break was- THERE WAS NO LINE THERE. Won't return calls.”
Red flag
Price not disclosed over phone; estimate fee charged on arrival then applied toward inflated labor rate — pattern flagged by multiple 1-star reviewers.
“Don't use this company. They charge unbelievably high labor costs. $385 to install a kitchen faucet that took less than an hour to install. They first told me over the phone that they would charge $59 to come out and that they would take that off of the cost of the job if they were selected.”
Cited in 2 of the 22 reviews we analyzed.
Pricing volatility: $385 to install one kitchen faucet (under 1 hour), $150/hr billed for non-plumbing carpentry work, and inflated $1,400 estimate for 4 faucets cited across multiple reviewers.
“Don't use this company. They charge unbelievably high labor costs. $385 to install a kitchen faucet that took less than an hour to install. They first told me over the phone that they would charge $59 to come out and that they would take that off of the cost of the job if they were selected.”
1 more cited review
“CHARGED ME $150 PER HOUR FOR NON-PLUMBING WORK A retired fireman working for Lee Services spent about two hours installing a 1"x2" wood brace in the top of each of four kitchen cabinets. I was aghast when Lee Services billed us $340 for that work.”
Guarantee disputes and repeat-visit failures: drain cleaned for $285 re-clogged within months; $8,500 estimate cited for a broken line that didn't exist when excavated.
“Over charged for services. Missed a drain they were to clean out. Charged for 'camera' but couldn't produce photos of 'broken line.' Happily provided a $8,500 estimate for repairs. Dug where supposed break was- THERE WAS NO LINE THERE. Won't return calls.”
Cited in 2 of the 22 reviews we analyzed.
Keep it in proportion: these concerns are cited in 5 of the 22 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!!!! In May of this year, I was referred to C Lee Plumbing Services by Home Builder. I contacted them because water was overflowing from my 2nd Floor to my 1st Floor. Some on came out on May 28th and informed me that my branch line was clogged. I was charged 285.64 to clear this line in my basement. Once this service was provided I was told that their is a 1-year guarantee on service …”
“So the plumber that came out was very nice and very knowledgeable and yes he quoted me the price for tightening my toilet and adjust the guts on my other toilet assuming he would fix the issues. So total work done was adjust the handle and fill rate on 2 toilets and tighten down 1 toilet total cost was 265.00 and my one toilet is still not flushing properly and was told to replace the toilet so isn't any better then …”
“This is a very expensive plumbing services. I regretted very much for calling them to fix my drainage problem. For the price of $350 and reduced to $325 because I ask for a discount, the problem was still there after the following day, so I have to call another company to fix the problem and it turned out that the other company charged me only $165 for doing the same job. One more thing, C Lee Plumbing told me …”
Positive
“As a first time home buyer in stow our house is on a slab and our biggest fear was the plumbing. The house was foreclosed and 'as is' when we bought it. Right away, every sink was clogged, badly. I looked around online and called a few places but when I called C.Lee plumbing just how nice Chris was towards me alone is why he was who we used for his services. Being younger and a new homebuyer we have had so many …”
“Chris Lee is FANTASTIC!!! I have had his company perform work several times for me on faucets, garbage disposals, outside spigots, and toilets. He is top-notch and very professional. His services are not cheap, but you get what you pay for when it comes to plumbing, and I have never had any problems with his work afterward, whereas in the past when I have gone with the cheaper plumbers, the work was sub-par at best.”
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
Our sample skews heavily toward critical reviews — it disagrees with the Google average shown above.
Newest review in our sample: Dec 2014.
Across platforms
Google shows 4.8 stars but analyzed reviews split 11 five-star vs 9 one-star (reviewConsistency 0.084) — surface rating significantly overstates actual customer experience distribution.
Should you hire C. Lee Plumbing Services?
Hire if
- You need fast same-day or after-hours response
- You need high-quality work that holds up over time
Think twice if
- You need predictable, consistent service across every visit
- You want detailed upfront explanations
- 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 C. Lee Plumbing Services?
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Nearby: Stow · Chagrin Falls