Carson Plumbing
Plumber · Athens, GA
Our verdict
4.4★ on 78 Google reviews; 85 analyzed show 67 five-star vs 14 one/two-star — strong workmanship reputation (themeCounts.workmanship=16) but pricing has escalated sharply: 3 reviews cite costs running 2x competitors and 2 flag surprise billing.
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 Athens, GA · compare all →
Our opinion, based on the 85 reviews we analyzed from Google, Yelp and BBB · Analysis updated Jun 2026 · How we decide ↗
What reviewers praise
After-hours Saturday response confirmed — Bo answered a post-hours call and arrived as promised to stop a Christmas-week refrigerator water-line flood.
1 cited review
“Saturday night, with Christmas a few days away, the refrigerator's water line busted. The cut-off valve to the refrigerator did not work. Water was flooding the kitchen. I called Carson Plumbing after hours. Bo answered my call and said he would fix the problem. That is exactly what he did!”
No emergency fee charged on next-day call (themeCounts.fast_response=11); toilet job came in under $300 when customer expected more.
Cited in 1 of the 85 reviews we analyzed.
Tankless water heater install completed exactly on quoted price with no hidden charges — total cost matched estimate verbatim.
1 cited review
“Recently had a tankless water heater installed. Installation went smoothly and when promised. Total cost was exactly as quoted, no hidden charges. Pete Carson was a pleasure to do business with.”
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
Gas fireplace pilot issue left unresolved on first visit; when customer called back, Carson charged full price again rather than honoring the original service call — customer reported to dispute.
“We called Carson Plumbing because the pilot light on our gas fireplace wouldn't stay lit. They came out and told my wife that nothing was wrong. In less than two weeks, we had the same problem again. We called them and asked them to come back out. They said that they would send someone out but would have to charge us again.”
Pricing has increased significantly — a 15-year customer left after a simple job cost over twice their historical rate and twice competitor phone quotes (themeCounts.expensive=3).
“I've used them for well over 15 years and up until recently, they were always reasonably priced with very high quality workmanship. However, the last simple job cost well over twice what they charged a fairly short time ago and what other plumbers quoted me over the phone.”
2 reviews flag surprise billing: charged again to return for the same unresolved problem, and front desk described as rude on a holiday call.
“We called Carson Plumbing because the pilot light on our gas fireplace wouldn't stay lit. They came out and told my wife that nothing was wrong. In less than two weeks, we had the same problem again. We called them and asked them to come back out. They said that they would send someone out but would have to charge us again.”
Cited in 2 of the 85 reviews we analyzed.
Keep it in proportion: these concerns are cited in 3 of the 85 reviews we analyzed. Most reviewers report positive experiences — see the full rating picture below.
The evidence — in reviewers' own words
Critical
“Had a leak situation and upon calling Carson, the lady on the phone was rude, she sounded annoyed or just was not happy being at work on the Holidays. With such negative customer service experience I would not recommend them to anyone. Looks like their belly’s are full.”
“We notified our leasing agency that we had a water leak in three toilets and they never emailed/called us to let us know a day and time the plumber was coming (leasing agency). The plumber never introduced himself or said what company he was from when I opened the door (which I am sure I had an inquisitive look on my face); his remark was "they didn't let you know I was coming?" No, I'm sorry they didn't tell us a …”
“Three words to describe my experience with this company: unprofessional, unpleasant and unorganized. From the moment I called to set up an appointment, I thought that I should probably just hang up while I was on hold. I wish I had done just that. This company has nonexistent customer service and is completely unorganized with no internal communication. I wish I could comment on their actual plumbing abilities but …”
Positive
“I had a great experience with Carson Plumbing. They were honest, hardworking, and they even played with my dogs throughout their visit. I will use Carson Plumbing again.”
“Jamie & Jackson did phenomenal work at my home. They were so helpful in explaining things I did not understand. They were timely, and got my drains cleared perfectly. On my old house, I'm sure this was no easy task! Huge props to Carson Plumbing.”
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: Nov 2025.
Across platforms
BBB A+ rating (unaccredited) alongside Google 4.4★; no Yelp comparison data but internal review split (14/85 negative) is notable — Google rating masks a 16.5% negative rate.
Should you hire Carson Plumbing?
Hire if
- You need high-quality work that holds up over time
- You need fast same-day or after-hours response
Think twice if
- You need rock-bottom prices with zero flexibility on the quote
- You need detailed walkthroughs and written estimates before work starts
Look elsewhere if
- You're highly price-sensitive
Advice derived from the review analysis above — how we decide.
Own Carson Plumbing?
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.
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Nearby: Athens · Arnoldsville · Ila · Winder