Thomas & Galbraith Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electrical
Plumber · Cincinnati, OH · Open 24 hours per Google listing
Our verdict
4.7★ across 7,070 reviews but 55 of 100 sampled are 1-star; surprise fees cited in 4 reviews, slow response in 13, and pricing complaints dominate with 52 plumber-cost mentions.
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 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 ↗
Advertises 24-hour service on its Google profile — no reviews we analyzed mention after-hours response either way.
What reviewers praise
Diagnosis quality praised in 3-star and 5-star reviews: $100 service/diagnosis fee rated as fair value, with accurate pinpointing of complex HVAC/plumbing issues.
Cited in 2 of the 100 reviews we analyzed.
Burst pipe repair under a 135-year-old house completed in a day and a half with camera diagnosis and full cleanup; maintenance contract holders report consistent satisfaction.
1 cited review
“Shawn arrived quickly and pinpointed the problem area with a flexible camera system. John and the crew completed the repair in a day and a half and thoroughly cleaned up the work area. We were very happy with the whole process.”
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
Surprise fees pattern: 4 of 100 reviews cite unexpected charges (themeCounts.surprise_fees=4); one case documents $94 trip charge for tech who arrived without the part, then $882 flat-rate quote.
“It was freezing weather and our furnace was failing. The technician arrived on time but did not have the part. He then told me that another technician would arrive the next day, with the part, and that I now owe $94 for his trip. He also said that this was a "flat rate repair", that the cost would be $882”
Red flag
Escalating estimates documented: $4,000 initial estimate for a drain issue, crew dug a hole, declared wrong diagnosis, then revised to $17,900+ to continue — customer lost $600 of $2,000 deposit.
“This company is dishonest. I called because I had a back up in my main drain in the basement. $4000.00 estimate josh says it's the trap it's rusted out. I give them $2000 the guys come out dig a 3'x2'x2' hole in my basement floor, take out the cast iron trap and go "oops" ah that's not the problem.”
Red flag
Agreement reversal: tech verbally offered $287 + augering deal, then company called next day refusing to honor it and quoted $1,065 power-wash with no guarantee.
Cited in 1 of the 100 reviews we analyzed.
Slow response cited in 13 of 100 analyzed reviews (themeCounts.slow_response=13); one customer scheduled 10–12 had tech arrive at 9:35, was rescheduled to 7 AM–10 PM window next day.
“I had an appointment scheduled for 10-12. They showed up at my house at 9:35. I called when I got off work, they said they would send the technician back out. He never showed back up. So I called and they now rescheduled me for tomorrow between 7 am and 10 pm.”
Cited in 2 of the 100 reviews we analyzed.
Weekend parts availability poor: Saturday furnace call resulted in $145 service fee with no repair — part unavailable until Monday, competitor solved same problem within 2 hours.
Cited in 1 of the 100 reviews we analyzed.
Keep it in proportion: these concerns are cited in 6 of the 100 reviews we analyzed. Most reviewers report positive experiences — see the full rating picture below.
The evidence — in reviewers' own words
Critical
“They came out to do a repair on my furnace at one of my rental properties. I only had them come out because my usual guy was unavailable. His price to repair was over $8,000.00. Insane! I ended up waiting for my guy to go out. He replaced my furnace for $2500.00.”
“I am often asked if I would recommend Thomas and Galbraith. No, is my answer.. The new heating and cooling systems were guaranteed to hit all parts of the home and did not. They addressed the problem blaming my home for the system failure. Those concerns were never added as the put on the systems and had first hand view of the home and should have used their hours of training to identify and then discuss with me …”
“T&G replaced our hot water heater at the end of September. The price was the lowest of three estimates (and included parts, labor, and permitting) and so we chose them. The two gentlemen who installed the hot water heater were kind and professional. However, the very next day we went to run our washer and immediately heard something that can only be described as 'house shaking slamming' coming from our basement. We …”
Positive
“Review long overdue as I have been a T&G customer and monthly member for over 2+yrs now. Simply our every technician has been phenomenal. I've used plumbing and heating. And soon I'll use the electrical service. Every technician has been informative, answered every question I've had. Never felt pressured to get something I did not need. Very clean and very professional. Always Recently I had a service repair for …”
“I had a plumbing problem today, and needed help fast. My main drain was backing up into my basement. So knowing that most plumbing companies are way too expensive and usually have long waiting times, I wasn't sure who to call. Then I remembered that Thomas & Galbraith had a Commercial that talked about be knowledgeable, fast and affordable. So I gave them a call, and I'm so glad that I did because they fixed my …”
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: Mar 2026.
Across platforms
Google 4.7★ from 7,070 reviews vs 55% 1-star in 100 sampled reviews — indicates strong rating inflation from high volume; Yelp reviews show recurring pricing and workmanship complaints not reflected in overall star.
Should you hire Thomas & Galbraith Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electrical?
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 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 Thomas & Galbraith Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electrical?
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