Michael & Son Services
Plumber · Baltimore, MD · Open 24 hours per Google listing
Our verdict
Excellent emergency responder with strong workmanship, but pricing has reportedly increased significantly and occasional diagnostic misses can lead to expensive callbacks.
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 Baltimore, MD · compare all →
Our opinion, based on the 187 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
Fast emergency response: Multiple reviewers report same-day or rapid after-hours service (45 min at 10:30pm, Saturday next-day installation, 3-hour response during holiday crisis)
Cited in 3 of the 187 reviews we analyzed.
Strong technical workmanship and diagnostics: 8+ reviews specifically praise quality of repairs, thorough troubleshooting, and expert installation
Cited in 7 of the 187 reviews we analyzed.
Excellent communication and customer care: 6 reviews mention clear explanations, updates on arrival, maintenance education, and courteous demeanor
Cited in 6 of the 187 reviews we analyzed.
Willingness to go above and beyond: Multiple reviewers note technicians returning unprompted, working extended hours during crisis, and providing free advice
Cited in 2 of the 187 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
Major liability dispute: Misdiagnosis led to $23,000+ in water damage; company initially refunded diagnostic fee but charged $4,426 mitigation fee, then re-invoiced after 1+ year. Customer indicates possible future litigation and was ultimately forced to pay. This suggests potential pattern of shifting responsibility for diagnostic errors to customer.
Cited in 1 of the 187 reviews we analyzed.
Red flag
Warranty service avoidance: One reviewer reports being unable to get warranty service appointment for 3 weeks on work that failed, despite company knowing issue is a public safety concern, suggesting they may be deprioritizing warranty claims
Cited in 1 of the 187 reviews we analyzed.
Red flag
BBB rating is B- and non-accredited: Combined with 0 complaints in past 3 years suggests either recent issues or avoidance of BBB complaint resolution process
Significant pricing increases reported by repeat customers: 2 long-term clients explicitly state rates have become 'ridiculous' and 'way overpriced' compared to past fair pricing, with examples of $325/hr labor and $538 for a $230 cartridge job
Cited in 2 of the 187 reviews we analyzed.
Occasional diagnostic errors leading to callbacks: First technician misdiagnosed cause of toilet issue (claimed success but problem persisted 3 days later), and separate case where first tech failed to tighten collar properly requiring emergency callback
Cited in 2 of the 187 reviews we analyzed.
Communication lapses in field operations: One reviewer reported technician was outside building for 2+ hours without status update; separate complaint about being left on hold and never receiving callback
Cited in 2 of the 187 reviews we analyzed.
Keep it in proportion: these concerns are cited in 7 of the 187 reviews we analyzed. Most reviewers report positive experiences — see the full rating picture below.
The evidence — in reviewers' own words
Critical
“We contacted Michael & Son in September 2023 because our basement toilet was not flushing correctly. A technician came to our residence, snaked the basement toilet, and claimed to have cleared debris from the line. We paid the $737.00 fee charged. Despite our concern that there may be a more significant issue, the technician did not further investigate and assured us that the problem was resolved. Three days after …”
“I've used Michael & Son Services for years for both my Property Management Company and my personal home, and have always been impressed with their very fair pricing and the quality of their work, but I don't know what's happened since the last time I used them, Their hourly rate is ridiculous! They charged $325 an hour for a simple fix yesterday. A new shower cartridge which should've been about 230 all-in cost me …”
“I'm just a bit annoyed with the service today. I requested service to replace a bathtub faucet fixture. Unfortunately, the type of fixture I ordered was not going to fit. That is not my complaint... the technician arrived and attempted to install the fixture (cutting my existing pipes in the process). He then left first for supplies and later to go solder the new fixture without success. My issue is that he …”
Positive
“Jesse James was awesome 😎 explained everything in detail about what needed to be repaired/replaced with the water heater. He gave us options and great pricing. 0% financing for 18 months. We had another company come out first. Didn't like the approach and lack of details from the other person. Jesse is very knowledgeable and friendly. Recommend him highly. Thank you Jesse and Michael and Sons! Update ----came out …”
“John Willis and the restoration team were timely, professional, communicative, flexible and informative. I learned a lot about my plumbing system from the repair guys as well. (John and Jerome, snake and Jet crew) Very knowledgeable and informative. What a wild experience. Many thanks team.”
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: Feb 2026.
Across platforms
Significant platform divergence: Google 4.7/5 (8275 reviews) vs Yelp 3.9/5 (100 reviews) with 0.8-point gap. Yelp contains multiple 1-2 star reviews citing overpricing, communication failures, diagnostic errors, and warranty disputes that are either absent or minimized in Google reviews, suggesting possible review filtering or platform-specific complaint patterns.
Should you hire Michael & Son 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 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
Advice derived from the review analysis above — how we decide.
Own Michael & Son Services?
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: Baltimore · Pikesville · Arnold · Sparks Glencoe