Schneller Knochelmann Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning
Plumber · Cincinnati, OH · Open 24 hours per Google listing
Our verdict
4.9 stars across 4,963 Google reviews but 100-review sample reveals 26% one-star ratings and reviewConsistency=0.226 — repeated pattern of aggressive same-day replacement upsells and second opinions revealing unnecessary work across 3+ negative reviews.
Scores are our editorial reading of published customer reviews — not a verification, license check, or guarantee.
Ranked #4 of 15 plumbers we've reviewed in Cincinnati, OH · 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
Fast dispatch confirmed in multiple reviews: Saturday morning water heater thermostat replaced in under 2 hours (themeCounts.fast_response=11 across 100 reviews)
1 cited review
“Woke up to no hot water on a Saturday with a 1 degree temperature outside and called your service line. Nick was here in less than two hours to replace the thermostat on our tank. Professional, courteous and competent. Outstanding service!!”
Cited in 2 of the 100 reviews we analyzed — 1 cited review not excerpted here.
Technicians praised for thoroughness and long-duration jobs — 10-hour kitchen plumbing job completed same day with sustained quality per 1 of 12 analyzed reviews
1 cited review
“We had a major plumbing issue in the kitchen. Technicians Charlie and Logan spent 10 hours completing the job. Even on hour 10 they were upbeat, friendly and finished the job perfectly.”
Scheduling and communication logistics strong — reminders sent, arrival times communicated, quick appointments available per 1 of 12 analyzed reviews
Cited in 1 of the 100 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
Second-opinion savings documented at $4,300: AC diagnosed as needing full replacement (no repair option offered) — competitor found no leak, added coolant for $250. Pattern repeated across 3 negative reviews
“I called Schneller Knochelmann when my furnace stopped working. The technician told me it could be repaired, but strongly pushed replacing the entire unit instead. They used aggressive same-day sales tactics, saying the quoted price was only valid that day. I agreed to the replacement and have regretted it ever since. From the moment the new furnace was installed, it was problem after problem.”
1 more cited review
“If this company ever tells you that you need to replace your AC or Furnace, I highly recommend getting a second opinion. I was told by Schneller that my AC (only 5yrs old) had a severe leak that required complete replacement. No option provided to repair. I had Corcoran & Harnist come out, conducted testing finding no leak at all, put in $250 worth of coolant and completely resolved the issue. Getting a second opinion saved me ~$4300.”
Cited in 3 of the 100 reviews we analyzed — 1 cited review not excerpted here.
Red flag
Coupon/pricing dispute: 1-star reviewer reports company refused all service after customer mentioned an Angie's List coupon, calling it deceptive
Cited in 1 of the 100 reviews we analyzed.
Repeated upsell-to-replacement pattern: 3 of 12 analyzed reviews describe being told repairs are impossible and full unit replacement is required, only to find repairs costing a fraction of the quote from a competitor
“I called Schneller Knochelmann when my furnace stopped working. The technician told me it could be repaired, but strongly pushed replacing the entire unit instead. They used aggressive same-day sales tactics, saying the quoted price was only valid that day. I agreed to the replacement and have regretted it ever since. From the moment the new furnace was installed, it was problem after problem.”
1 more cited review
“If this company ever tells you that you need to replace your AC or Furnace, I highly recommend getting a second opinion. I was told by Schneller that my AC (only 5yrs old) had a severe leak that required complete replacement. No option provided to repair. I had Corcoran & Harnist come out, conducted testing finding no leak at all, put in $250 worth of coolant and completely resolved the issue. Getting a second opinion saved me ~$4300.”
Cited in 3 of the 100 reviews we analyzed — 1 cited review not excerpted here.
Same-day high-pressure sales tactics documented: 1-star reviewer describes furnace replacement quote valid only that day, leading to a purchase regretted due to ongoing performance failures
“I called Schneller Knochelmann when my furnace stopped working. The technician told me it could be repaired, but strongly pushed replacing the entire unit instead. They used aggressive same-day sales tactics, saying the quoted price was only valid that day. I agreed to the replacement and have regretted it ever since. From the moment the new furnace was installed, it was problem after problem.”
Keep it in proportion: these concerns are cited in 4 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 had scheduled these guys to come out and unclog a toilet and tub. I found an Angie's list coupon for $80 and once I told them about it they shut me down and said they can't do any work for me. This company lies to their customers and I would highly suggest you think twice before making the call to have them help you with any needs you might have.”
“I hired this company to perform a tune up of my rental property's furnace. The tech told me that while performing the tune up, he noted that the heat exchanger was cracked. This, according to him, would lead to CO2 gas escaping into the house and was a safety hazard. I pointed out that there was a CO2 detector less than 20 feet from the furnace and it had not gone off. The tech shrugged and said, "Maybe it's not …”
“I never take the time to write negative posts, although in my experience, that'd be over half the reviews I would give. We bid out our new HVAC job to 4 companies and chose Schneller Knochelmann (SK) because of their tremendous testimonials and some family history with using the brand. Boy was that a mistake. April 2018, we purchased a home and had SK come out to estimate the project which included measuring and …”
Positive
“I had a frozen and busted water line in my wall. The service was prompt, very professional and Charles had a wonderful attitude, very friendly and knowledgeable. He wore booties through the house so he didn't track in snow and mud. The pricing was super fair and affordable. I could not be happier and I highly recommend this company.”
“We use Schneller for our HVAC and plumbing because unlike many other similar businesses, Schneller has been around for many, many decades and they continue to grow in our community. We know they'll be around to service and warranty the equipment and service they sell. We've found them to be professional, considerate and good communicators. We were very happy with the prompt service we received from Schneller when …”
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
Yelp reviews (3yyob5YKmgpHMWgNkXAV, 0Ox3tkVTYVXxaOXapbwZ, uobYYUEbpp7Erjg9gNK7, 97B0WeBLwJEMZKRGi7Ef) include both strong positives and multi-year complaint patterns about upsell tactics that aren't visible in Google's aggregate 4.9 star rating.
Should you hire Schneller Knochelmann Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning?
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 Schneller Knochelmann Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning?
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.
More plumbers in Cincinnati, OH
Jolly Plumbing | Drains | Heating | AirHIRERanked #3 of 15 in Cincinnati · 4.8 stars across 3,657 reviews with 89 of 91 analyzed rated 5-star; themeCounts.profession…Eco Plumbers, Electricians, and HVAC TechniciansCONDITIONALRanked #5 of 15 in Cincinnati · Eco Plumbers Cincinnati (4.9★, 3,513 reviews, BBB A+) — 85 of 100 sampled reviews are 5-st…See all 15 plumbers we've reviewed in Cincinnati, OH →
Nearby: Cincinnati · Goshen · Kenton