FastPlumber near me

The 15 plumbers serving Evanston, ranked.

We read 4,107 reviews across Google, Yelp and BBB for the 60 plumbers serving Evanston — including the one-star reviews other directories bury — and ranked them the way we'd rank them for a friend. 47 of the 60 list 24/7 hours — but "open 24 hours" on a Google profile and "answered at 2 a.m." in a customer review are not the same claim, and we quote the reviews that tell you which is which. Rankings are not for sale.

Evanston's problem isn't finding a plumber; it's telling them apart — the median rating here is 4.8, and when everyone has five stars, the stars stop helping. 59 of these companies carry 100+ reviews — enough history for real patterns to show. The patterns differ more than the ratings do: 39 of the 60 have a repeated complaint pattern in their reviews — quotes that grew mid-job, unreturned callbacks — flagged and quoted on their cards below. One number worth knowing: ABC Plumbing, Sewer, Heating, Cooling & Electric alone carries 22,975 Google reviews — the deepest review base in this radius. Across the reviews we analyzed, the work named most often is water heaters and drain clearing.

Updated Jul 11, 202620-mile radius of downtown EvanstonHow we rank
How we rank — the 60-second version

What we read: for each plumber, up to 100 recent reviews from Google, Yelp and BBB — the full text, not just the stars. For this page: 880 reviews across 15 businesses.

What moves a plumber up: repeated, independent evidence of showing up when promised, fair and upfront pricing, and work that holds. One glowing review counts for little; twenty that agree count for a lot.

What moves a plumber down: repeated complaint patterns — surprise fees, missed appointments, pressure sales — especially when they show up on more than one platform.

What never moves the ranking: money. One clearly labeled sponsored slot may appear above this list; it never changes the order below it.

Our take on each plumber is our opinion, grounded in the reviews we quote on this page. Full methodology ↓

Water everywhere right now? Shut off your main valve first, then jump to the 24/7 picks ↓. Every plumber below is one tap to call.

Only need the after-hours list? See the 24/7 plumbers serving Evanston →

Our top picks

Consistent evidence of showing up, honest pricing, and work that lasts
1

Rescue Plumbing

Top pick24/7 per Google listing
4.9 (1,525 Google reviews) 9.4 mi from downtown Evanston
Our take — how we form it

4.9★ on 1,525 reviews; BBB A+ accredited; Dex's crew answered in 2 rings after-hours in snow and fixed a kitchen backup within 30 minutes — 6 burst pipes during an extreme cold event resolved in one night.

Rating mix — of the 5 reviews we analyzed1,525 total on Google
5★5
4★0
3★0
2★0
1★0

Small sample — we've analyzed only 5 of 1,525 reviews so far. Treat this as a first read.

What reviewers keep saying

  • True after-hours emergency response: answered phone in 2 rings, showed up in snow after-hours, fixed kitchen overflow within 30 minutes; 6 burst pipes resolved overnight during polar vortex (cited in 2 of 5 reviews)
  • Upfront cost transparency on every job: stated costs before starting and stuck to them across multiple complex visits (cited in 2 of 5 reviews)
  • Persistent follow-through on chronic issues: returned multiple times free of charge to tinker on difficult repeat plumbing problems in a condo (cited in 1 of 5 reviews)

What reviewers complain about

  • No repeated complaints found in the reviews we've read.
What reviewers praise
“Dex always comes through for us in an emergency! We have had several plumbing issues in our condo in the last 12 months, and Dex has been great. He's always responsive and persistent, even coming back a few times free of charge to tinker with his solutions to …”
Lauren Ortega Falconer · ★★★★★ · Google · Mar 2026
The most critical take we found

No critical reviews among the 5 we analyzed — there is nothing negative to quote yet.

We read 5 of 1,525 reviews · newest from Mar 2026 · BBB A+ accredited

(773) 219-6071
Full report →Website ↗
2

S and J Plumbing & Sewer

Top pick24/7 per Google listing
4.9 (4,190 Google reviews)4.0 on Yelp (3) 16.6 mi from downtown Evanston
Our take — how we form it

4.9★ across 4,190 reviews with 98% positive sentiment; fast_response cited 14 times and workmanship 33 times in 100 analyzed reviews, but 2 reviews flag surprise fees and high-pressure sales tactics before any work begins.

Rating mix — of the 15 reviews we analyzed4,190 total on Google
5★13
4★0
3★0
2★1
1★1

Why we're cautious

  • 1-star review (N8BupDRZkqmyPyehUCEz) describes technicians lecturing on pricing justifications for 10 minutes without examining the problem, then refusing to leave when asked — a pattern that aligns with the surprise_fees theme count of 2. (1 of 100 reviews)
  • Surprise fee pattern flagged in 2 of 100 reviewed samples (themeCounts.surprise_fees=2): one customer reports they were never told about a service call charge; another describes a pre-inspection lecture on pipe complexity before any diagnostic work. (1 of 100 reviews)

To be fair

  • Workmanship depth cited in 33 of 100 analyzed reviews; technicians handle multi-hour complex repairs, coordinate second crews for adjacent issues, and leave work areas clean. (cited in 3 of 100 reviews)
  • Same-day dispatch confirmed in 6 of 100 analyzed reviews (themeCounts.fast_response=14); problems diagnosed and fixed in a single visit across multiple service types. (cited in 3 of 100 reviews)
  • Transparent pricing before work starts cited explicitly in review l5Y8WcS6nuv9NltAHD5X: plumber provided a fair estimate before touching anything and kept the workspace clean throughout. (cited in 1 of 100 reviews)
What reviewers praise
“I recently hired this plumbing service for a leaking pipe under my kitchen sink, and I couldn’t be happier with the experience. From the first phone call, Justine was professional, friendly, and quick to schedule an appointment. She made the whole process …”
John Yousif · ★★★★★ · Google · Feb 2026
The most critical take we found
“Watch out. These guys are scam artists and very dishonest. They never mentioned to me that they would have to charge anything to come out (very local btw). They came out to my house and sat me down to tell me allll the reasons why pipes are complicated and …”
K B · ★ · Google · Jun 2026

We read 100 of 4,190 reviews · newest from Feb 2026

(847) 233-1748
Full report →Website ↗
3

J. Blanton Plumbing, Sewer & Drain

Top pick24/7 per Google listing
4.6 (3,066 Google reviews) 5.6 mi from downtown Evanston
Our take — how we form it

BBB A+-accredited, 4.6★ across 3,066 reviews; 5 of 5 analyzed reviews are 5-star; same-day Sunday sewage backup response confirmed with 3-tech crew; no-upsell approach on toilet maintenance explicitly cited.

Rating mix — of the 5 reviews we analyzed3,066 total on Google
5★5
4★0
3★0
2★0
1★0

Small sample — we've analyzed only 5 of 3,066 reviews so far. Treat this as a first read.

What reviewers keep saying

  • Sunday emergency sewage backup: called back same late afternoon, arrived same evening, 3-tech crew back Monday to finish — price confirmed 100% fair (cited in 1 of 5 reviews)
  • No-upsell repair policy: tech changed flapper and tightened toilet bolts at no extra charge instead of pushing unnecessary paid work (cited in 1 of 5 reviews)
  • Pricing transparency confirmed in 2 reviews — no cost escalation from agreed price, work always aligned to customer goals (cited in 2 of 5 reviews)

What reviewers complain about

  • No repeated complaints found in the reviews we've read.
What reviewers praise
“Super helpfull. They called back on a Sunday late afternoon and came out that evening. 3 plumbers came to the house on Monday to finish the job. Joe, George and Anthony. Highly recommend them. No one wants to have Sewage backing up, they treated it …”
Seth Maybury · ★★★★★ · Google · Mar 2026
The most critical take we found

No critical reviews among the 5 we analyzed — there is nothing negative to quote yet.

We read 5 of 3,066 reviews · newest from Mar 2026 · BBB A+ accredited

(773) 657-4820
Full report →Website ↗
4

Fly Plumbing & HVAC

Top pick24/7 per Google listing
4.9 (1,029 Google reviews) 12.3 mi from downtown Evanston
Our take — how we form it

4.9 stars across 1029 reviews; all 5 analyzed are 5-star with workmanship in 3 of 5 and professional in 4 of 5 — Sunday evening basement backup handled with same-day offer and next-day appointment; drain sealing and outdoor spigot replacement both praised for clean finish.

Rating mix — of the 5 reviews we analyzed1,029 total on Google
5★5
4★0
3★0
2★0
1★0

Small sample — we've analyzed only 5 of 1,029 reviews so far. Treat this as a first read.

What reviewers keep saying

  • Sunday evening emergency backup: offered same-day service, delivered next-day with requested technician accommodated — reviewer's specific tech request was honored without issue (cited in 1 of 5 reviews)
  • Workmanship theme in 3 of 5 reviews: basement drain overflows sealed and cleaned, outdoor anti-freeze spigot upgrade proactively recommended and completed with photographic follow-up (cited in 2 of 5 reviews)
  • Technicians educate customers on process and future maintenance: tips given after basement work; process explained throughout; photos of completed job sent (cited in 2 of 5 reviews)

What reviewers complain about

  • No repeated complaints found in the reviews we've read.
What reviewers praise
“Adrian was amazing! He was very thorough and a pleasure to work with. He explained everything clearly, and I would definitely use him again.”
yaakov sugarman · ★★★★★ · Google · Feb 2026
The most critical take we found

No critical reviews among the 5 we analyzed — there is nothing negative to quote yet.

We read 5 of 1,029 reviews · newest from Feb 2026

(847) 868-1444
Full report →Website ↗
5

The Fair Plumber LLC

Top pick24/7 per Google listing
4.9 (699 Google reviews)4.7 on Yelp (61) 15.5 mi from downtown Evanston
Our take — how we form it

The Fair Plumber: 4.9 stars across 699 Google reviews, BBB A+; fast_response in 24 of 100 analyzed, same-day dispatch in 13 reviews, only company to arrive same day during flooding when 3 competitors declined.

Rating mix — of the 15 reviews we analyzed699 total on Google
5★13
4★0
3★0
2★0
1★2

What reviewers keep saying

  • Same-day dispatch in 13 of 100 reviews — only company that sent someone out same day when 3 competitors declined during active flooding (cited in 3 of 100 reviews)
  • Fair pricing cited in 11 reviews, cheap-plumber signal in 14 — charged less than competitors during emergency sump pump replacement with no emergency fee markup (cited in 3 of 100 reviews)
  • Office follows up days after job to confirm satisfaction — cited in at least 1 of 100 analyzed reviews (cited in 1 of 100 reviews)

What reviewers complain about

  • 2 reviews note pricing runs higher than expected — "expensive" theme in 2 of 100 analyzed despite fair-pricing brand (1 of 100 reviews)
What reviewers praise
“Jose and Eric were INCREDIBLE! Honest, upfront and super helpful with every option they had. They truly saved the day! The laundry sink broke in the back and when I was unable to reach or see what the issue was i shut the main water valve off and began …”
Orlando Santiago Jr · ★★★★★ · Google · Feb 2026
The most critical take we found
“Service and attitude has gone downhill since I hired Walter the first time many years ago. He was very abrupt with my 80 year old mother and not very good at communicating. Too many plumbers to not be treated with kindness and respect.”
GAYLE Y. · ★ · Yelp · May 2022

We read 100 of 699 reviews · newest from Feb 2026 · BBB A+ accredited

(630) 833-0808
Full report →Website ↗
6

Rescue Plumbing

Top pick24/7 per Google listing
4.9 (120 Google reviews) 10.9 mi from downtown Evanston
Our take — how we form it

BBB A+-accredited second Rescue Plumbing location, 4.9 stars on 120 reviews; 90 of 93 sampled are 5-star, Pete on-site 10 minutes after emergency call, and honest advice cost one job rather than upsell.

Rating mix — of the 15 reviews we analyzed120 total on Google
5★13
4★0
3★0
2★0
1★2

What reviewers keep saying

  • Pete on-site within 10 minutes of emergency call for shower leaking into lower unit — fastest documented response in the sample (cited in 1 of 93 reviews)
  • Pete diagnosed a leak across 3 free visits with no commitment until root cause confirmed — no bill-while-you-hunt behavior (cited in 1 of 93 reviews)
  • Told customer gas-line conversion was not worth the cost and recommended a cheaper electrical fix — workmanship theme in 13 of 93 reviews (cited in 1 of 93 reviews)

What reviewers complain about

  • No repeated complaints found in the reviews we've read.
What reviewers praise
“Pete arrived quickly and assessed the situation -- my old toilet needed to be replaced. He and Noah were back early the next day with a replacement that was installed in no time. Not only were they fast, but they were thorough and friendly. After the …”
Lisa Spengler · ★★★★★ · Google · Dec 2021
The most critical take we found
“If I could give ZERO stars I would. I called to get help with our garage disposal and the quote was insanely high. Called someone else and they did the work for more than half the price. DO NOT USE RESCUE PLUMBING”
Sebastian Villa · ★ · Google · Sep 2024

We read 93 of 120 reviews · newest from Dec 2021 · BBB A+ accredited

(773) 219-6265
Full report →Website ↗
7

ARS / Rescue Rooter

Top pick24/7 per Google listing
4.7 (5,129 Google reviews) 18.2 mi from downtown Evanston
Our take — how we form it

Consistently fast response times and professional service across HVAC and plumbing work, with scheduling occasionally challenged by emergency call prioritization.

Rating mix — of the 5 reviews we analyzed5,129 total on Google
5★4
4★1
3★0
2★0
1★0

Small sample — we've analyzed only 5 of 5,129 reviews so far. Treat this as a first read.

What reviewers keep saying

  • Fast emergency response with same-day or next-day service: 3 of 5 reviewers explicitly mention rapid scheduling and arrival (late Monday to next day installation, same-day booking, next-day furnace installation). (cited in 3 of 5 reviews)
  • Thorough workmanship and attention to detail: 2 of 5 reviews highlight professional cleanup and comprehensive service quality (cleanup so thorough 'couldn't tell difference when they left', technician checked additional systems proactively). (cited in 2 of 5 reviews)
  • Honest communication without aggressive upselling: 2 of 5 reviewers specifically praise politeness, knowledgeability, and lack of high-pressure sales tactics. (cited in 2 of 5 reviews)

What reviewers complain about

  • Scheduling challenges during peak demand: 1 of 5 reviewers noted difficulty scheduling non-emergency calls, attributed to prioritization of 'no heat' emergency calls over routine service. (1 of 5 reviews)
What reviewers praise
“Fast and clean! They walked me through the new setup. Very Fast, I called late Monday early the next day they were out and installed my heat pump and furnace.”
Fidencio “BrazenMetal5” Herrera · ★★★★★ · Google · May 2026
The most critical take we found

No critical reviews among the 5 we analyzed — there is nothing negative to quote yet.

We read 5 of 5,129 reviews · newest from May 2026

(630) 475-1987
Full report →Website ↗
8

Ravinia Plumbing, Sewer, Heating & Electric

Top pick
4.9 (3,322 Google reviews) 15.8 mi from downtown EvanstonNot a 24/7 shop
Our take — how we form it

4.9★ on 3,322 reviews; 5 analyzed all 5-star (reviewConsistency=1.0); Saturday emergency dispatch confirmed; tech leaves work area cleaner than found; plumber-cost=1 in service mentions with accurate upfront estimate cited.

Rating mix — of the 5 reviews we analyzed3,322 total on Google
5★5
4★0
3★0
2★0
1★0

Small sample — we've analyzed only 5 of 3,322 reviews so far. Treat this as a first read.

What reviewers keep saying

  • Saturday emergency dispatch confirmed: Holly at switchboard and Adan on-site both went above and beyond. (cited in 1 of 5 reviews)
  • Simon C resolved a plumbing problem within 10 minutes with clean work and proactively flagged an unrelated issue at no extra charge. (cited in 1 of 5 reviews)
  • Chasen arrived on-time, provided accurate upfront estimate, completed work in a timely and clean manner — repeat customer pattern. (cited in 1 of 5 reviews)

What reviewers complain about

  • No repeated complaints found in the reviews we've read.
What reviewers praise
“Ravinia always makes problematic situations a little more manageable. Available in an emergency, always leave my house cleaner than they found it, and the techs work hard to fix each issue completely. Tonight, Holly at the switchboard and Adan on site went …”
Matthew Berry · ★★★★★ · Google · Feb 2026
The most critical take we found

No critical reviews among the 5 we analyzed — there is nothing negative to quote yet.

We read 5 of 3,322 reviews · newest from Feb 2026

(847) 499-1185
Full report →Website ↗
9

Goode Plumbing

Top pick24/7 per Google listing
4.8 (2,506 Google reviews) 6.6 mi from downtown Evanston
Our take — how we form it

Sends skilled technicians who diagnose problems accurately and explain work thoroughly, but expect to pay premium prices for that expertise.

Rating mix — of the 5 reviews we analyzed2,506 total on Google
5★5
4★0
3★0
2★0
1★0

Small sample — we've analyzed only 5 of 2,506 reviews so far. Treat this as a first read.

What reviewers keep saying

  • Diagnostic accuracy: Multiple reviews highlight plumbers identifying root causes rather than surface-level fixes (ejector pump failure caught before bigger damage, cartridge noise resolved permanently). (cited in 2 of 5 reviews)
  • All 5 reviewers praise communication and explanation of work: technicians walk customers through problems, options, and reasoning. (cited in 4 of 5 reviews)
  • Fast turnaround on jobs: One reviewer noted completion from first phone call through job finish; multiple mention same-day or quick scheduling. (cited in 2 of 5 reviews)

What reviewers complain about

  • Pricing runs above market: One reviewer explicitly notes 'a bit on the pricey side' but justifies it by expertise; another received a quote they compared favorably only because technician reduced it. (2 of 5 reviews)
What reviewers praise
“Louden and Caleb were excellent! Friendly, knowledgeable and prompt. Kudos to Goode making it possible to remove and install a new water heater. That’s from 1st phone call to completion. 5 stars Burt”
Burt Schell · ★★★★★ · Google · Jun 2026
The most critical take we found

No critical reviews among the 5 we analyzed — there is nothing negative to quote yet.

We read 5 of 2,506 reviews · newest from Jun 2026

(773) 280-8496
Full report →Website ↗

Worth a look — with caveats

Real strengths, but read the concerns first
10

ABC Plumbing, Sewer, Heating, Cooling & Electric

Caveats apply24/7 per Google listing
4.7 (22,975 Google reviews) 16.0 mi from downtown Evanston
Our take — how we form it

4.7★ from 22,975 reviews but only 5 analyzed; all 5 are 5-star with professional theme in 4 — large multi-trade company with membership model, thorough technicians, and free whole-home inspection offered; pricing flagged as high in 1 of 5 reviews.

Rating mix — of the 5 reviews we analyzed22,975 total on Google
5★5
4★0
3★0
2★0
1★0

Small sample — we've analyzed only 5 of 22,975 reviews so far. Treat this as a first read.

What reviewers keep saying

  • professional theme cited in 4 of 5 analyzed reviews; install techs Esteban and Tyler described as meticulous, layer-by-layer quality checks — customer called it 'building a castle' (cited in 2 of 5 reviews)
  • Membership model delivers perks: appointment rescheduled twice due to emergencies, still serviced; free whole-home plumbing and heating inspection offered at install (cited in 2 of 5 reviews)

What reviewers complain about

  • Pricing flagged as high in 1 of 5 reviews: customer gave 5 stars specifically for the tech Jose, but noted company overcharges (1 of 5 reviews)
What reviewers praise
“Edgar Rodriguez was a phenomenal representative of the company. He was professional, respectful, friendly, and knowledgeable. We also received a free total house inspection for all our plumbing and heating. Greg Skalski and Pedro Olascoaga installed my new …”
Misha Pendersen · ★★★★★ · Google · Mar 2026
The most critical take we found

No critical reviews among the 5 we analyzed — there is nothing negative to quote yet.

We read 5 of 22,975 reviews · newest from Mar 2026

(888) 991-3942
Full report →Website ↗
11

Rescue Plumbing

Caveats apply24/7 per Google listing
4.7 (93 Google reviews) 10.0 mi from downtown Evanston
Our take — how we form it

BBB A+-accredited, 4.7 stars on 93 reviews; fast_response in 21 of 76 analyzed but 2 reviewers cite pricing chaos — same faucet job quoted $375 then billed $700+ by a different crew.

Rating mix — of the 15 reviews we analyzed93 total on Google
5★10
4★0
3★1
2★1
1★3

Why we're cautious

  • Pricing varies dramatically between crews for identical work ($375 vs $700+) — budget unpredictability is a documented pattern (1 of 76 reviews)
  • Two crews quoted $375 then $700+ for the same kitchen faucet replacement — no standard pricing across technician teams (1 of 76 reviews)
  • One reviewer paid $300+ for a faucet repair that leaked worse within hours; no warranty offered for a return visit (1 of 76 reviews)

To be fair

  • Logan came in on his day off to fix a tenant's broken shower — above-and-beyond availability cited explicitly (cited in 1 of 76 reviews)
  • Fast arrival with no-upsell pricing: 'Pricing is very reasonable — and no upselling!' cited alongside prompt on-time service (cited in 1 of 76 reviews)
  • Vince explained two repair options including the cheaper temporary fix, walked through pipe angles and materials before quoting (cited in 1 of 76 reviews)
What reviewers praise
“Pete did a great job of quickly removing our old copper tubing from the old fridge and connecting our new fridge with a braided tubing. He was on time and very fast.”
Manuel Sanchez · ★★★★★ · Google · Dec 2022
The most critical take we found
“The value of 2 stars is they did a free estimate. Their lack of 3/4/5 stars is due to their lack of effort. My problem was that I had warm water coming from my cold side faucets on my 2nd/3rd floor. Their two colleagues that inspected my place spent less than …”
William Brigode · ★★ · Google · Jun 2022

We read 76 of 93 reviews · newest from Dec 2023 · BBB A+ accredited

(773) 219-6109
Full report →Website ↗
12

Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup

Caveats apply24/7 per Google listing
4.9 (2,379 Google reviews)2.6 on Yelp (8) 15.1 mi from downtown Evanston
Our take — how we form it

Excellent emergency response and workmanship, but aggressive upselling on major repairs and inconsistent reliability on scheduling create significant risk.

Rating mix — of the 15 reviews we analyzed2,379 total on Google
5★10
4★0
3★0
2★1
1★4

Our sample skews heavily toward critical reviews — it disagrees with the Google average shown above.

Why we're cautious

  • Bait-and-switch repair recommendations: Two of 28 reviews report technicians recommending expensive major work ($7,200-$12,000 quotes) that competitors completed for 40-50% less or deemed unnecessary—pattern of inflated diagnostics (2 of 89 reviews)
  • Scheduling reliability failures: Two reviews report no-show or cancellation after arrival window passed, with one customer told 'not today, maybe tomorrow' at 9pm (2 of 89 reviews)
  • Yelp ratings catastrophically low (2.6/5) vs Google (4.9/5): Major platform discrepancy suggests filtering of negative reviews or different customer base experiencing different service levels

To be fair

  • Fast emergency response: Multiple reviewers report same-day or rapid arrival for drain emergencies, with one technician arriving 4 hours from a distant job site (cited in 4 of 89 reviews)
  • Strong workmanship when job is performed: 16 five-star reviews praise professional, efficient work and thorough problem resolution (cited in 6 of 89 reviews)
  • Excellent communication on completed jobs: Reviewers consistently praise technicians explaining work upfront, keeping customers informed, and providing recommendations (cited in 5 of 89 reviews)
What reviewers praise
“Mitch and his technician in training did an absolutely wonderful job. They communicated the proposed work up front and kept us posted throughout the service call. There was a hiccup in the scheduling process as the first tech assigned to the job did not show …”
Susan Goedke · ★★★★★ · Google · Feb 2026
The most critical take we found
“It is hard to be pleased with a service, when they charged us over $900 and did not do anything. I can understand delays as we were told the technician would arrive between 4:00 and 5:00pm. After 5pm we began receiving text messages from Latoya saying that …”
Jeff Bialeschki · ★ · Google · Feb 2026

We read 89 of 2,379 reviews · newest from Feb 2026 · BBB A+ accredited

(847) 255-2308
Full report →Website ↗

We'd keep looking

The average rating hides complaint patterns we can't ignore
13

Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup

We'd call someone else first24/7 per Google listing
4.7 (8,462 Google reviews)1.5 on Yelp (100) 12.2 mi from downtown Evanston
Our take — how we form it

4.7★ on 8462 Google reviews but analyzed sample shows 69 of 100 reviews as 1-star with 73% negative sentiment; surprise_fees flagged 12 times and expensive flagged 14 times across the analyzed set.

Rating mix — of the 15 reviews we analyzed8,462 total on Google
5★3
4★1
3★0
2★2
1★9

Our sample skews heavily toward critical reviews — it disagrees with the Google average shown above.

Why we're cautious

  • Surprise fees are systemic: 12 of 100 reviews flag undisclosed charges; management confirmed $720+ flat rate as 'standard' after the fact per 1 review (3 of 100 reviews)
  • Work performed without authorization: did $3,300 job while homeowner was away, wife present, charged without owner approval per 1 review (1 of 100 reviews)
  • Failed workmanship requiring return visit: ejector pump replacement failed the next day causing twice the original damage per 1 review (1 of 100 reviews)

To be fair

  • 24/7 availability confirmed — picked up and dispatched on Sundays and during emergencies when no other plumber answered (cited in 2 of 100 reviews)
  • Fast dispatch: called in the morning and arrived within 2 hours per 1 review; within an hour per 1 review (cited in 2 of 100 reviews)
What reviewers praise
“The service was AMAZING!! They were fast prompt and professional. I wasn’t expecting such an excellent service, but I got more than I bargained for. They were so informative and even gave me tips on how to move forward with better care for my plumbing system. …”
deliciamo · ★★★★★ · Google · Jan 2026
The most critical take we found
“If there was a way to select 0 stars that's what I would rate this company. My mom called them to do some water restoration after a thunderstorm impacted her sump pump and she had some water in the basement. Someone from the Schaumburg office came out to her …”
Lily T. · ★ · Yelp · Dec 2025

We read 100 of 8,462 reviews · newest from Jan 2026 · BBB A+ accredited

(312) 379-2926
Full report →Website ↗
14

Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup

We'd call someone else first24/7 per Google listing
4.8 (3,094 Google reviews)2.2 on Yelp (100) 18.8 mi from downtown Evanston
Our take — how we form it

4.8★ Google from 3,094 reviews, but analyzed sample is 53% negative — pricing complaints dominate (49 of 100 reviews mention cost) with themeCounts.surprise_fees=6 and themeCounts.expensive=10.

Rating mix — of the 15 reviews we analyzed3,094 total on Google
5★3
4★1
3★1
2★1
1★9

Our sample skews heavily toward critical reviews — it disagrees with the Google average shown above.

Why we're cautious

  • Alleged upsell on non-existent pipe collapse: supervisor quoted $5,700 for a 'collapsed pipe' that a second company cleared with a snake the same day. (1 of 100 reviews)
  • Insurance-targeting behavior reported: project manager asked to see homeowner's insurance policy immediately on arrival and commented 'great policy' before quoting work. (1 of 100 reviews)
  • Phone staff conduct: reviewer reached a non-manager who was audibly surrounded by shouting and foul language during a complaint call. (1 of 100 reviews)

To be fair

  • Weekend and emergency availability confirmed: themeCounts.weekend_or_emergency=9 and 8 reviews mention emergency-plumbers service, including a holiday weekend sewer-line dig. (cited in 3 of 100 reviews)
  • Fast dispatch on arrival: themeCounts.fast_response=12; technician Mike cited twice for arriving quickly and resolving the job in a single visit. (cited in 2 of 100 reviews)
  • Water-damage mitigation team returns daily to monitor drying until 100% complete — insurance guidance included on first visit. (cited in 1 of 100 reviews)
What reviewers praise
“So grateful for Mike! He did an excellent job explaining what the possible reasons for my sink backup could be and an even greater job providing me with reasonable and affordable solutions. Extremely satisfied with the service provided. Got my water flowing …”
Ieasha Mccullough · ★★★★★ · Google · Feb 2026
The most critical take we found
“We had sewage coming up from our basement laundry drain and called Roto Rooter to help us. They did anything but. Eddie arrived on site and called in his supervisor, Max Corner. Max said that he was unable to open up the main basement clean out so they had to …”
Michael Touhy · ★ · Google · Feb 2026

We read 100 of 3,094 reviews · newest from Feb 2026 · BBB A+ accredited

(847) 448-1076
Full report →Website ↗
15

American Vintage Home Heating, Cooling & Plumbing

We'd call someone else first24/7 per Google listing
4.8 (2,335 Google reviews)2.8 on Yelp (100) 0.2 mi from downtown Evanston
Our take — how we form it

Excellent workmanship and communication from individual technicians, but a company-wide pattern of aggressive upselling, hidden fees, and reliability failures that make them risky for emergencies.

Rating mix — of the 15 reviews we analyzed2,335 total on Google
5★4
4★0
3★2
2★1
1★8

Our sample skews heavily toward critical reviews — it disagrees with the Google average shown above.

Why we're cautious

  • Deceptive billing practices and bait-and-switch tactics documented across multiple reviews. Company quotes low initial price, then discovers 'new problems' mid-work to dramatically increase cost (one sewer line job went from $8,000 to $18,000). Multiple reports of technicians using fake upsells and customers being charged despite explicit cancellation agreements. (3 of 187 reviews)
  • No-show appointments with no customer notification. 2 separate reviews (October 2025) report technician failed to arrive on scheduled dates, with no advance call, and company offered no compensation or accountability. (1 of 187 reviews)
  • Potential pattern of predatory installation practices, particularly with oversized equipment. One review suggests technician sold prior homeowners an oversized water heater that couldn't be vented safely, leading to years of carbon monoxide exposure; another customer with prematurely failed SpacePak coil suspects faulty install but company refuses warranty assistance. (2 of 187 reviews)

To be fair

  • Technicians are knowledgeable and thorough in diagnosis and explanation. 8 reviews praise courteous, professional staff who take time to explain problems and educate homeowners. (cited in 7 of 187 reviews)
  • Strong installation and repair workmanship for HVAC, boilers, and plumbing systems. 7 reviews specifically praise quality of work completed. (cited in 7 of 187 reviews)
What reviewers praise
“I had a consultation with Alejandro from American Vintage Home, and it was a great experience. He was very informative and took the time to thoroughly diagnose the heating issues in our condo with steam radiators. I really appreciated the care and attention …”
Tahiri Gutierrez · ★★★★★ · Google · Feb 2026
The most critical take we found
“just had them here for an annual checkup on our furnace. I've never had one of these where the technician didn't change the thermocouple as part of the routine service. the technician said he didn't do it and it was just about to go bad but it would cost an …”
Barbara B. · ★ · Yelp · Dec 2024

We read 187 of 2,335 reviews · newest from Feb 2026

(847) 440-5642
Full report →Website ↗

Also serving Evanston — not enough reviews to rank

We don't rank a plumber until we've read enough reviews to have an opinion. Ratings below are Google's, not ours.

Intelligent Service: Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Drain Cleaning 4.8 (1,388 Google reviews) · Mount Prospect · 12.5 mi Call
Capps Plumbing & Sewer Inc. 4.7 (1,371 Google reviews) · Mount Prospect · 12.6 mi Call
The Scottish Plumber 4.8 (1,345 Google reviews) · Schaumburg · 18.8 mi Call
Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup 4.9 (1,116 Google reviews) · Evanston · 0.4 mi Call
Baethke Plumbing 4.7 (864 Google reviews) · Evanston · 8.0 mi Call
Reliance Plumbing Sewer & Drainage, Inc. 4.8 (801 Google reviews) · Evanston · 7.9 mi Call
Bishop Plumbing, Heating and Cooling, Inc. 4.5 (772 Google reviews) · Mount Prospect · 11.8 mi Call
J. Blanton Plumbing, Sewer & Drain 4.8 (747 Google reviews) · Evanston · 0.9 mi Call
Drain & Plumbing Services 4.8 (731 Google reviews) · Schaumburg · 13.2 mi Call
Excel Plumbing 4.8 (702 Google reviews) · Buffalo Grove · 12.5 mi Call
Rocket Plumbing 4.8 (690 Google reviews) · Arlington Heights · 6.7 mi Call
Franzen Plumbing, Inc 4.9 (630 Google reviews) · Elk Grove Village · 15.0 mi Call
J. Blanton Plumbing, Sewer & Drain 4.8 (597 Google reviews) · Arlington Heights · 14.1 mi Call
Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Cook County 4.7 (552 Google reviews) · Arlington Heights · 14.4 mi Call
Climatech plumbing & drain service ,inc. 4.9 (441 Google reviews) · Park Ridge · 5.8 mi Call
Four Seasons Heating, Air Conditioning, Plumbing, Sewer & Electric 4.8 (419 Google reviews) · Addison · 17.1 mi Call
Stellar Plumbing, Drains and Water Heaters 4.9 (405 Google reviews) · Mount Prospect · 14.3 mi Call
BMW Plumbing & Sewer 4.9 (384 Google reviews) · Buffalo Grove · 10.2 mi Call
Glenbrook Plumbing Co 4.9 (349 Google reviews) · Glenview · 7.8 mi Call
Green Tech Plumbing Co. 4.8 (349 Google reviews) · Mount Prospect · 10.4 mi Call
Suburban Plumbing Sewer Line and Drain Cleaning Experts 4.9 (346 Google reviews) · Cicero · 18.9 mi Call
Legendary Service 5.0 (340 Google reviews) · Mount Prospect · 10.6 mi Call
Midland Plumbing and Sewer Inc 4.8 (327 Google reviews) · Addison · 17.7 mi Call
U.S. Water Heating Solutions 4.5 (291 Google reviews) · Arlington Heights · 14.0 mi Call
J. Blanton Plumbing, Sewer & Drain 4.8 (287 Google reviews) · Skokie · 3.6 mi Call
J & S Plumbing Inc. 4.4 (281 Google reviews) · Schaumburg · 14.5 mi Call
Drain & Plumbing Services 5.0 (280 Google reviews) · Glenview · 11.1 mi Call
Andersen Plumbing & Sewer 4.9 (273 Google reviews) · Mount Prospect · 14.0 mi Call
A&J Sewer Service 4.7 (269 Google reviews) · Buffalo Grove · 11.6 mi Call
Chicago Sewer Experts 4.7 (261 Google reviews) · Berwyn · 18.2 mi Call
Apex Plumbing & Sewer Inc. 4.6 (249 Google reviews) · East Chicago · 7.1 mi Call
A.E. Power Plumbing Sewer & Electric 4.7 (246 Google reviews) · Berwyn · 18.1 mi Call
The All Pipes INC. 5.0 (245 Google reviews) · Elk Grove Village · 15.3 mi Call
Bills Plumbing & Sewer Inc. 4.9 (243 Google reviews) · Glenview · 7.5 mi Call
Olympian Plumbing LLC 4.9 (242 Google reviews) · Skokie · 6.4 mi Call
VanDerBosch Plumbing Inc. 4.9 (237 Google reviews) · Evanston · 3.5 mi Call
Elevate Plumbing 5.0 (232 Google reviews) · Des Plaines · 8.5 mi Call
MIRACLE PLUMBING & SEWER SERVICES 4.9 (231 Google reviews) · Evanston · 2.1 mi Call
Kavana's Plumbing and Heating 5.0 (223 Google reviews) · Oak Park · 12.3 mi Call
Quality Plumbing Services, Inc. 4.8 (200 Google reviews) · Lake Zurich · 18.5 mi Call
Right Away Plumbing and HVAC 4.6 (197 Google reviews) · Mount Prospect · 9.2 mi Call
Parks' Plumbing & Sewer, Inc. 4.7 (172 Google reviews) · Skokie · 2.2 mi Call
JOSH-ROOTER Plumbing and Sewer 5.0 (167 Google reviews) · Glenview · 3.6 mi Call
SLS Plumbing Heating & Cooling 4.9 (167 Google reviews) · Addison · 19.5 mi Call
Reeg Plumbing 4.8 (161 Google reviews) · Oak Park · 13.1 mi Call

What reviewers complain about in Evanston

The repeated complaint patterns our read surfaced, business by business — each links to the card where the supporting quotes live. How we find these →

  • S and J Plumbing & Sewer — 1-star review (N8BupDRZkqmyPyehUCEz) describes technicians lecturing on pricing justifications for 10 minutes without examining the problem, then refusing to leave when asked — a pattern that aligns with the surprise_fees theme count of 2.
  • Rescue Plumbing — Pricing varies dramatically between crews for identical work ($375 vs $700+) — budget unpredictability is a documented pattern
  • Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup — Bait-and-switch repair recommendations: Two of 28 reviews report technicians recommending expensive major work ($7,200-$12,000 quotes) that competitors completed for 40-50% less or deemed unnecessary—pattern of inflated diagnostics
  • Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup — Scheduling reliability failures: Two reviews report no-show or cancellation after arrival window passed, with one customer told 'not today, maybe tomorrow' at 9pm
  • Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup — Yelp ratings catastrophically low (2.6/5) vs Google (4.9/5): Major platform discrepancy suggests filtering of negative reviews or different customer base experiencing different service levels
  • Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup — Surprise fees are systemic: 12 of 100 reviews flag undisclosed charges; management confirmed $720+ flat rate as 'standard' after the fact per 1 review
  • Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup — Work performed without authorization: did $3,300 job while homeowner was away, wife present, charged without owner approval per 1 review
  • Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup — Failed workmanship requiring return visit: ejector pump replacement failed the next day causing twice the original damage per 1 review

How we rank the plumbers on this page

  1. We read the reviews — all of them we can get. For each plumber serving Evanston we pulled up to 100 recent reviews from Google, Yelp and BBB and read the full text. For this page: 880 reviews across 15 businesses.
  2. Patterns beat anecdotes. A plumber moves up when independent reviewers keep describing the same behavior: showing up when promised, quoting before working, work that holds. One rave changes nothing.
  3. Complaints count double when they repeat.Surprise fees, missed appointments, pressure sales — when the same complaint appears across reviewers (or across platforms), it caps how high we'll rank a business regardless of its star average.
  4. Money never moves the ranking.A plumber can buy the clearly-labeled sponsored slot at the top of the page — visibility, not endorsement. A business we wouldn't recommend can't buy the slot at all, and no payment changes the ranked order.
  5. Our take is our opinion.It's grounded in the reviews we quote and count on this page — check our evidence and disagree with us if you like. That's the point of showing it.
Every quotation on this page is reproduced verbatimfrom a publicly posted review and attributed to its author, star rating, platform and date. Star averages and review counts are Google's (or Yelp's) as of our last data pull. “Rating mix” charts describe only the set of reviews we analyzed, which we state on every card. Read the full policy — including what we do not do — on our methodology page.

Areas served

The plumbers on this page also serve Bedford Park, Berwyn, Bridgeview, Burbank, Cicero, Elmwood Park, Hanover Park, Harwood Heights, Hickory Hills, Justice, Lincolnwood, Oak Park, River Forest, River Grove, Schiller Park, Skokie, Summit Argo, Willow Springs — this Evanston guide covers those areas.

Nearby city guides

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