FastPlumber near me

The 15 plumbers serving Harvard, ranked.

We read 935 reviews across Google, Yelp and BBB for the 28 plumbers serving Harvard — including the one-star reviews other directories bury — and ranked them the way we'd rank them for a friend. The number that matters most here: only 11 of the 28 list 24-hour service — if it's the middle of the night, start with those. Rankings are not for sale.

Harvard'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. 9 of these companies carry 100+ reviews — enough history for real patterns to show. The patterns differ more than the ratings do: 19 of the 28 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: Black Diamond Plumbing & Mechanical Inc. alone carries 6,632 Google reviews — the deepest review base in this radius. Across the reviews we analyzed, the work named most often is water heaters and sewer work.

Updated Jul 11, 202620-mile radius of downtown HarvardHow 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: 736 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.

Our top picks

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

Black Diamond Plumbing & Mechanical Inc.

Top pick24/7 per Google listing
4.9 (6,632 Google reviews) 17.7 mi from downtown Harvard
Our take — how we form it

4.9-star BBB A+ accredited multi-trade (6,632 reviews); workmanship theme in 22 of 81 analyzed reviews and midnight emergency dispatch confirmed, but 2 reviewers cite higher-than-expected pricing.

Rating mix — of the 15 reviews we analyzed6,632 total on Google
5★12
4★0
3★0
2★0
1★3

What reviewers keep saying

  • Midnight emergency call answered and technician on-site first thing in the morning at a cost reviewers describe as very reasonable. (cited in 1 of 81 reviews)
  • Loyal customers cite consistent technicians and no staff turnover over multiple years — same techs returning for repeat service across furnace, A/C, disposal, and water heater work. (cited in 1 of 81 reviews)
  • Methodical technician approach praised: Mario resolved kitchen drain issue to best of abilities; Zach identified well-water contamination root cause and fixed it proactively. (cited in 2 of 81 reviews)

What reviewers complain about

  • Pricing runs high for some jobs: water heater replacement described as 'a little more expensive than we wanted' (T67wSj1SQsT5kdte4Huz) — expensive theme flagged in 2 of 81 analyzed reviews. (1 of 81 reviews)
What reviewers praise
“I called Black diamond,about having my kitchen drain cleaned. Mario,was the plumbing technician who arrived on time. He looked over the situation,and got to work. He took great care in making sure my issue was resolved to the best of his abilities. I would …”
James Mashinter · ★★★★★ · Google · Mar 2026
The most critical take we found
“Two years in a row, Black Diamond tells me I have a leak in my AC. In 2025, they told me the leak was fixed and system recharged. Come to find out during my 2026 annual tuneup that there’s a leak that needs to be fixed and the system will need to be …”
Mike · ★ · Google · May 2026

We read 81 of 6,632 reviews · newest from Mar 2026 · BBB A+ accredited

(815) 322-9227
Full report →Website ↗
2

Helton Plumbing Hero

Top pick
5.0 (246 Google reviews) 19.7 mi from downtown HarvardNot a 24/7 shop
Our take — how we form it

5.0★ across 246 reviews (92 of 93 analyzed are 5★); fair_pricing cited 7 times and fast_response 15 — near-perfect consistency with affordable water heater replacements and same-day arrivals.

Rating mix — of the 15 reviews we analyzed246 total on Google
5★14
4★0
3★0
2★0
1★1

Why we're cautious

  • 1-star review describes receptionist being rude on first call; reviewer left without scheduling — single data point but notable given small base (1 of 93 reviews)
  • 1 receptionist rudeness complaint in 93 reviews — isolated incident flagged because thin review base magnifies outliers (1 of 93 reviews)

To be fair

  • fast_response theme in 15 of 93 reviews; crew arrived within an hour on at least one ejector pump failure (cited in 2 of 93 reviews)
  • fair_pricing cited 7 times; one reviewer praised job completion at price they could afford after multiple plumbing issues (cited in 2 of 93 reviews)
  • Workmanship theme in 16 reviews; phone-answering staff described as plumbing-knowledgeable, not just dispatchers (cited in 2 of 93 reviews)
What reviewers praise
“Service was excellent to replace hot water heater.”
Jerry White · ★★★★★ · Google · Dec 2025
The most critical take we found
“Honestly one of the worst experiences I’ve had with a company. I didn’t even make it past the receptionist before deciding to take my business elsewhere. She was rude, short with me, and acted like I was inconveniencing her just by calling.”
Arabella Adams · ★ · Google · Mar 2026

We read 93 of 246 reviews · newest from Dec 2025

(847) 414-6479
Full report →Website ↗
3

Accurate Plumbing Pros, Inc

Top pick
5.0 (140 Google reviews) 17.3 mi from downtown HarvardNot a 24/7 shop
Our take — how we form it

Perfect 5-star sweep across 87 analyzed reviews — themeCounts.fast_response=16 and workmanship=14 dominate, with water heater installs (12 mentions) and fair pricing (plumber-cost=14) as the core service pillars.

Rating mix — of the 15 reviews we analyzed140 total on Google
5★15
4★0
3★0
2★0
1★0

What reviewers keep saying

  • Same-day and next-day scheduling confirmed in multiple reviews: water heater replaced in under 24 hours in 1 case and owner on-site for estimate within 20 minutes in another. (cited in 2 of 87 reviews)
  • Water heater installation is a clear specialty: 12 service mentions across 87 reviews, consistently praised for install quality and responsiveness (themeCounts.workmanship=14). (cited in 3 of 87 reviews)
  • Long-term repeat-customer loyalty: multiple reviewers cite 15+ year relationships and use across multiple properties, signaling consistent service delivery over time. (cited in 2 of 87 reviews)

What reviewers complain about

  • No repeated complaints found in the reviews we've read.
What reviewers praise
“Grateful for the installation of our water heater. Our installer, Dave, worked quickly, but was not in a rush. He did a great job greeting our dogs and winning them over. Job was competently completed in two hours. Our family is happy to have hot water again.”
Michael Warren · ★★★★★ · Google · Dec 2024
The most critical take we found

No critical reviews among the 15 we analyzed — there is nothing negative to quote yet.

We read 87 of 140 reviews · newest from Dec 2024 · BBB A+ accredited

(815) 355-5780
Full report →Website ↗
4

JVS Plumbing Co

Top pick
4.9 (92 Google reviews) 15.6 mi from downtown HarvardNot a 24/7 shop
Our take — how we form it

4.9★ across 92 reviews (81 of 84 analyzed are 5★); water-heater mentioned 16 times with consistent praise; BBB A+ accredited with best-of-7-plumbers pricing cited on water heater installs.

Rating mix — of the 15 reviews we analyzed92 total on Google
5★13
4★0
3★0
2★0
1★2

What reviewers keep saying

  • Water heater installs dominate with 16 mentions; one reviewer got best price of 7 bids and tech arrived within an hour of contact (cited in 2 of 84 reviews)
  • Sub-hour response on emergency water heater leak; called in afternoon, tech dispatched in under 60 minutes (cited in 2 of 84 reviews)
  • No commission-based upselling per 1 reviewer; owner Shane and techs described as upfront on pricing without rip-off tactics (cited in 2 of 84 reviews)

What reviewers complain about

  • poor_workmanship flagged in 2 of 84 reviews — thin signal but present; no specifics available from analyzed quotes (1 of 84 reviews)
What reviewers praise
“Always very happy with my experience with these guys, it's been a few visits and multiple issues. I've spoken to Shane the owner and been visited by Christian and Ethan - all very knowledgeable and very helpful. After a bad experience with a company whose …”
David Cameron · ★★★★★ · Google · Dec 2025
The most critical take we found
“They do not disclose up front that there is a $135 trip fee just for an assessment that is in addition too any final fees and charges. This is approximately double other plumbers in the area, who also include their trip fee in the final cost if you choose to …”
Christopher West · ★ · Google · Sep 2025

We read 84 of 92 reviews · newest from Dec 2025 · BBB A+ accredited

(847) 702-2111
Full report →Website ↗
5

D & D Plumbing Company

Top pickSmall track record
4.4 (14 Google reviews) 17.4 mi from downtown HarvardNot a 24/7 shop
Our take — how we form it

12 of 15 reviews are 5-star, with 4 explicitly praising upfront transparent pricing (one beat a $3000 quote at $200); two stragglers flag a late first appointment.

Rating mix — of the 14 reviews we analyzed
5★12
4★0
3★0
2★0
1★2

Why we're cautious

  • 1 of 14 reviews reports a no-completion: arrived 50 min late as 'first appointment,' then blamed snow in driveway and didn't finish (1 of 15 reviews)
  • One reviewer was promised the first appointment slot but the plumber arrived 50 minutes late and left the job undone (1 of 15 reviews)

To be fair

  • Transparent upfront pricing cited in multiple reviews, including beating a $3000 quote at $200 (cited in 3 of 15 reviews)
  • Same-day turnaround on a burst water heater after initially being booked for next morning (cited in 2 of 15 reviews)
  • Reviewers describe thorough, honest work without overcharging (cited in 2 of 15 reviews)
What reviewers praise
“They are the best. My hot water heater had exploded overnight that the next morning called them. They said they could not get to me today but they would be able to get to me 1st thing tomorrow morning. Couple hours later they called me and says Hey are …”
Shirley “Alovea - Shirley Miller” Miller · ★★★★★ · Google · Dec 2022
The most critical take we found
“I let them know I was on a tight schedule so the my told me I was first appointment of the day. Plumber did not arrive until 50 minutes after the appointment time and said job could not be completed because snow in the driveway made it hard to get equipment …”
Jonathon Kaminsky · ★ · Google · Dec 2015

We read 15 of 14 reviews · newest from Dec 2015

(815) 900-1032
Full report →
6

On Point Plumbing

Top pickSmall track record
5.0 (11 Google reviews) 11.1 mi from downtown HarvardNot a 24/7 shop
Our take — how we form it

5★ / 11 reviews; all 11 are 5-star; Matt Alcala named personally across multiple reviews — arrived within 1 hour at 5am for sewage pump failure, responded in under 20 min, and came in under the estimated price on piping repairs.

Rating mix — of the 11 reviews we analyzed
5★11
4★0
3★0
2★0
1★0

What reviewers keep saying

  • Emergency response at 5am documented: sewage pump failure called at 5am, plumber on-site within 1 hour (themeCounts.weekend_or_emergency=1, fast_response=1). (cited in 1 of 11 reviews)
  • Came in under quoted price in at least 1 review; holiday-weekend visit with no extra charge; work on 100+ year-old pipes across multiple visits at 'very reasonable cost' (themeCounts.fair_pricing=3). (cited in 3 of 11 reviews)
  • Workmanship praised in 6 of 11 reviews (themeCounts.workmanship=6); multi-visit reliability on century-old pipes with accurate diagnosis each time. (cited in 3 of 11 reviews)

What reviewers complain about

  • No repeated complaints found in the reviews we've read.
What reviewers praise
“It's important to find a plumber and electrician in your area, one that you are confident that you can trust. I am happy that I found that plumber today. Matt Alcala from On Point Pluming came to my home and fixed a drain that had been giving me problems. …”
Ryan Peterson · ★★★★★ · Google · Dec 2019
The most critical take we found

No critical reviews among the 11 we analyzed — there is nothing negative to quote yet.

We read 11 of 11 reviews · newest from Dec 2019

(877) 677-2349
Full report →Website ↗

Worth a look — with caveats

Real strengths, but read the concerns first
7

ASAP Plumbing

Caveats apply24/7 per Google listing
4.9 (437 Google reviews) 8.1 mi from downtown Harvard
Our take — how we form it

437 Google reviews at 4.9 stars and BBB-accredited A+. 25 of 90 analyzed reviews call out fast response; water heater (11) and emergency calls (4) are common jobs. But 16 reviews mention pricing and at least one customer was charged $877 for a misdiagnosed leak.

Rating mix — of the 15 reviews we analyzed437 total on Google
5★9
4★0
3★1
2★1
1★4

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

Why we're cautious

  • One customer was charged $877 for a drain fix that turned out to be a shower-pan issue — second tech corrected the diagnosis less than two weeks later (1 of 90 reviews)
  • Pricing complaints are surfacing — 16 reviews mention cost, with one longtime customer saying prices are up 600% as the company has grown (1 of 90 reviews)
  • Scheduling and job-completion timing have slipped — same reviewer notes getting a job done on time is challenging (1 of 90 reviews)

To be fair

  • 25 of 90 analyzed reviews cite fast response — one customer had a tech on-site within 30 minutes of calling (cited in 3 of 90 reviews)
  • Burst-pipe emergency call handled same-day — manager personally arranged a tech after-hours (cited in 1 of 90 reviews)
  • Water heater replacements (11 mentions) and gas-line work are repeat strengths — techs called out by name (Bajro Menzil, Luise) (cited in 2 of 90 reviews)
What reviewers praise
“Working with ASAP is one of the Most Professional and caring Team I have ever worked with. Moving forward I will never need to call anyone else. Thank you so much for everything!”
Tim Peters · ★★★★★ · Google · May 2026
The most critical take we found
“Buyer beware, my mistake of accepting promised work without getting it in writing. Then when I agreed to concede and have them fix a shower that wasn’t working, it was misdiagnosed by them as a diverter issue. I was charged over $600 for mineral clog on the …”
jonna bieber · ★ · Google · May 2026

We read 90 of 437 reviews · newest from May 2026 · BBB A+ accredited

(815) 201-2940
Full report →Website ↗
8

Air Man Heating, Cooling & Plumbing (Air Management Services Inc)

Caveats apply24/7 per Google listing
4.9 (306 Google reviews)4.3 on Yelp (16) 11.9 mi from downtown Harvard
Our take — how we form it

4.9★ across 306 reviews with 95/99 analyzed rated 5★; fast_response cited 15 times and workmanship 15 times, but 2 Yelp reviewers document repeated no-show scheduling failures spanning multiple days.

Rating mix — of the 15 reviews we analyzed306 total on Google
5★12
4★0
3★0
2★0
1★3

Why we're cautious

  • Two documented multi-day scheduling failures (2018 and 2024): customers told tech would arrive, no call and no show each day, with staff providing conflicting explanations. (2 of 99 reviews)
  • Unprofessional conduct tagged in 2 reviews alongside a 2024 1-star report of dispatcher providing phone number that didn't match customer's; management disorganization cited. (1 of 99 reviews)
  • Scheduling reliability flagged in 2 Yelp reviews: technicians no-showed without calls, then provided false explanations; no-call no-show pattern repeated over 3+ days. (2 of 99 reviews)

To be fair

  • Workmanship praised in 15 of 99 analyzed reviews; technicians described as thorough, knowledgeable, and detail-oriented across HVAC and plumbing work. (cited in 3 of 99 reviews)
  • Fast response signaled in 15 of 99 reviews; same-day-plumber mentioned 7 times; office proactively calls customers before tech arrival. (cited in 3 of 99 reviews)
  • Pricing rated fair in 5 reviews; plumber-cost mentioned 14 times and cheap-plumber 9 times, indicating consistent affordability perception. (cited in 1 of 99 reviews)
What reviewers praise
“Just wanted a fall check-up and cleaning. Making the appointment was handled courteously. When the service man was delayed arriving the office called to let us know he would be late and would I like to reschedule or wait an hour for him to arrive. …”
P W. · ★★★★★ · Yelp · Nov 2014
The most critical take we found
“I had used AM at my other home with no problems so when I moved to a newly constructed 2 bedroom 1 bath fully carpeted basement apartment in my son's home I called them about the possibility of a dehumidifier on the brand new furnace. They assigned Rep 1 and …”
Lindy T. · ★ · Yelp · Nov 2018

We read 99 of 306 reviews · newest from Nov 2014

(815) 568-1440
Full report →Website ↗
9

Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup

Caveats apply24/7 per Google listing
4.9 (1,156 Google reviews) 19.8 mi from downtown Harvard
Our take — how we form it

5 of 5 analyzed reviews are 5-star; sewer/drain work in 2 reviews with teams spending 5+ hours on root intrusion — solid for main-line jobs, but thin evidence base (5 of 1,156 total reviews analyzed).

Rating mix — of the 5 reviews we analyzed1,156 total on Google
5★5
4★0
3★0
2★0
1★0

Small sample — we've analyzed only 5 of 1,156 reviews so far. Treat this as a first read.

What reviewers keep saying

  • Sewer line root intrusion handled thoroughly in 2 reviews — teams ran pipes multiple times to guarantee full clearance, not just symptom relief. (cited in 2 of 5 reviews)
  • Professional theme in 4 of 5 reviews; technicians consistently cited for explaining causes and preventive steps, not just fixing the immediate issue. (cited in 4 of 5 reviews)

What reviewers complain about

  • Pricing flagged as 'a bit steep' (around $700+) in one review for root-clearing work that required multiple passes — cost could surprise budget-conscious customers. (1 of 5 reviews)
What reviewers praise
“Bruno & Steve were very helpful not only at talking me through what caused our main line slowness/backup, but also daily preventative measures. We were also able to talk through bigger picture needs down the line. Our home is an investment, and they were easy …”
Mary Hawkins · ★★★★★ · 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 1,156 reviews · newest from Feb 2026

(815) 272-2879
Full report →Website ↗
10

Suburban Sewer & Septic Inc.

Caveats apply24/7 per Google listingSmall track record
4.8 (48 Google reviews)4.3 on Yelp (10) 13.6 mi from downtown Harvard
Our take — how we form it

4.8 stars, 48 reviews, BBB A+ accredited — sewer-line specialty with 19 service mentions; midnight callout confirmed; 1-star review cites incomplete water-jetting leaving debris that caused a second overflow.

Rating mix — of the 15 reviews we analyzed48 total on Google
5★11
4★0
3★0
2★2
1★2

Why we're cautious

  • Incomplete water-jetting on cast-iron sewer pipe led to repeat overflow — reviewer states crew 'did not bring proper equipment' on first visit and did not jet full length on second visit (MJ0Q4PT7eX4zvqIO0bRo; reviewConsistency=0.75, sentiment.negative=0.093). (1 of 54 reviews)
  • One reviewer (1-star) reports first call came without proper equipment; second call cleared pipe but skipped full-length water-jetting, leaving debris that caused sewer overflow again (1 of 12 analyzed reviews). (1 of 54 reviews)

To be fair

  • Sewer-line clog resolved in one hour; similar job at a competitor took 3 days at 4x the cost (zOliMx9mdLqlCiL5axdF — 1 of 12 analyzed reviews). (cited in 1 of 54 reviews)
  • Kyle came out at midnight to confirm a broken waste line; crew returned next day to fix — weekend_or_emergency=5 of 54 analyzed reviews. (cited in 1 of 54 reviews)
  • Called Sunday afternoon, crew arrived Monday morning — same-day-plumber=7 of 54 analyzed reviews; fast_response=9 of 54. (cited in 2 of 54 reviews)
What reviewers praise
“Excellent and fast service during the holiday season! Very informative and helpful! Would highly recommend!”
Mitch Cater · ★★★★★ · Google · Dec 2015
The most critical take we found
“Totally not dependable. 1st call -did not bring proper equipment. second call - routed out old cast iron pipe but did not water jet the entire length which made for overflowed sewer again because of debris left in the pipe. Would not recommend. Not …”
Gary Esterling · ★ · Google · Oct 2025

We read 54 of 48 reviews · newest from Dec 2015 · BBB A+ accredited

(847) 697-0181
Full report →Website ↗
11

JB Plumbing

Caveats apply24/7 per Google listingSmall track record
4.8 (16 Google reviews) 12.8 mi from downtown Harvard
Our take — how we form it

4.8 stars across 16 reviews — owner Jim diagnoses fast, passes savings to customer when job is easier than quoted, and covers water heaters, drains, toilets, and sump pumps.

Rating mix — of the 13 reviews we analyzed16 total on Google
5★12
4★0
3★0
2★1
1★0

Why we're cautious

  • Rodding incomplete — drain reclogged within 4 months per 1-star review (ESCGAm8gWyyf4zdMEKv7); with only 13 reviews analyzed, single quality failure warrants flagging. (1 of 13 reviews)
  • 1 of 13 reviews (rating=2) reports line reclogged in under 4 months after rodding and excessive fee for ~30 min work. (1 of 13 reviews)

To be fair

  • Owner voluntarily reduces price when job is simpler than quoted — 1 of 13 analyzed reviews documents this directly (themeCounts.fast_response=3). (cited in 1 of 13 reviews)
  • 45-minute emergency arrival cited in 1 of 13 reviews; themeCounts.professional=7 reflects consistent quality across the analyzed set. (cited in 2 of 13 reviews)
What reviewers praise
“When my drain pipe from the kitchen sink decided to rust out, I scrambled and called a plumber who never showed. A second plumber was hired, only to place a coupling on the pipe, charge me an insane amount of money and called it a day. Two days later, water …”
Tanya B · ★★★★★ · Google · Dec 2021
The most critical take we found
“Would not recommend for rodding a slow line. Excessive fee for about 1/2 hour of work and line was clogged again in less that 4 months (previous rodding by other would last at least a year).”
Cheryl Lutz · ★★ · Google · Mar 2023

We read 13 of 16 reviews · newest from Dec 2021

(847) 871-3295
Full report →Website ↗
12

Toppel Plumbing Inc

Caveats applySmall track record
4.2 (15 Google reviews) 18.5 mi from downtown HarvardNot a 24/7 shop
Our take — how we form it

4.2★ across 15 reviews with 10 analyzed; 8 five-star, 2 one-star — split between repeat customers praising quick water heater service and two reviewers citing never-returned calls and unprofessional behavior.

Rating mix — of the 10 reviews we analyzed15 total on Google
5★8
4★0
3★0
2★0
1★2

Why we're cautious

  • With only 10 reviews analyzed, 2 one-star reviews citing no-call-back and outright unprofessional conduct represent a 20% negative rate — significant at this review volume. (2 of 10 reviews)
  • Two 1-star reviews in 10 analyzed (reviewConsistency=0.36): one cites a call never returned; another describes unprofessional behavior including unsafe driving by company vehicles. (2 of 10 reviews)

To be fair

  • Emergency water heater replacement squeezed in on short notice confirmed in 1 review; tech Derrick diagnosed a failed water heater in ~5 minutes and had it running within 25 minutes. (cited in 2 of 10 reviews)
  • Pricing described as 'very reasonable' and 'fair' in 3 of 10 reviews (themeCounts.fair_pricing=1); burst pipe guidance provided over the phone before in-person visit. (cited in 2 of 10 reviews)
What reviewers praise
“They put in a new water heater. How refreshing! Couldn't say enough great things about Toppel Plumbing. Effecient and knowledgeable. The topper, such friendly people. So nice to have people working on your home that you can tell truly enjoy their work. Thank …”
Cyndi Norman · ★★★★★ · Google · Jun 2025
The most critical take we found
“Never returned call”
Redtruck66 Daisy111 · ★ · Google · Aug 2020

We read 10 of 15 reviews · newest from Sep 2023

(847) 888-0405
Full report →Website ↗
13

Cork's Plumbing, Heating, & Cooling

Caveats apply24/7 per Google listing
4.7 (67 Google reviews)1.8 on Yelp (5) 19.0 mi from downtown Harvard
Our take — how we form it

4.7★ across 67 reviews; owner Frank responded within 2 hours on a Saturday; no emergency service fee confirmed; 9 of 63 reviews are 1-star, including no-show and unreturned call complaints.

Rating mix — of the 15 reviews we analyzed67 total on Google
5★10
4★0
3★0
2★0
1★5

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

Why we're cautious

  • 1-star review describes 2 months of no-shows and broken promises despite repeated contact with owner; pattern of ignoring customers once A/C was determined to not need full replacement. (2 of 63 reviews)
  • Yelp 1-star review describes owner as 'a liar and a thief' who kept a $2,000 rebate and took months to complete a $14,000 HVAC install while requesting advance payment for payroll. (1 of 63 reviews)
  • slow_response in 2 of 63 reviews; 1 reviewer tried to schedule service for 2 months with multiple no-shows and no callbacks despite speaking with owner. (1 of 63 reviews)

To be fair

  • Owner responded within minutes on a Saturday and on-site within 2 hours; Sunday morning leaky toilet fixed with no emergency service fee charged. (cited in 2 of 63 reviews)
  • fair_pricing theme in 3 of 63 reviews; kitchen countertop disconnect/reconnect priced well below competing quote from the countertop installer. (cited in 2 of 63 reviews)
What reviewers praise
“The owner, Frank, responded within minutes to my call on a Saturday morning and was on site within 2 hours. Great work and fairly priced. Thanks Frank!”
Kay Eilers · ★★★★★ · Google · Dec 2021
The most critical take we found
“Absolutely do not do business with this man not matter what name he hangs his shingle as. He is a liar and a thief! His father was a good honest man and Shane ran is business into the ground and now goes by Schwartz and Co. heating and cooling. He told us …”
Kay W. · ★ · Yelp · Dec 2024

We read 63 of 67 reviews · newest from Dec 2024 · BBB A+ accredited

(224) 569-3000
Full report →Website ↗
14

Zenks Plumbing LLC

Caveats applySmall track record
4.7 (15 Google reviews)3.0 on Yelp (2) 12.8 mi from downtown HarvardNot a 24/7 shop
Our take — how we form it

4.7★ on 15 reviews — 11 fives vs 2 ones in 13 analyzed; owner Matt walks customers through water heater fixes over the phone; no-charge call confirmed once; but 2 recent 1-star quotes described as excessive.

Rating mix — of the 13 reviews we analyzed15 total on Google
5★11
4★0
3★0
2★0
1★2

Why we're cautious

  • 2 simultaneous 1-star reviews from the same reviewer on Google and Yelp (August 2025) citing excessive quote for simple job — with only 13 reviews analyzed, this is a notable pattern (2 of 13 reviews)
  • Pricing concerns in 2 recent 1-star reviews (both August 2025): quote described as excessive for simple dishwasher drain/supply connection job (2 of 13 reviews)

To be fair

  • Owner Matt diagnosed and resolved hot water issue over the phone at no charge rather than dispatching a tech unnecessarily (cited in 1 of 13 reviews)
  • Didn't leave a job until water was restored even when initial fix failed; recommended next steps at no charge per reviewer (cited in 1 of 13 reviews)
What reviewers praise
“Woke up to no hot water this morning. Called Matt and he walked me through restarting the pilot light. He’s got my business for life. Thank you so much, Matt!”
Michelle Meyers · ★★★★★ · Google · Dec 2024
The most critical take we found
“contacted Matt to do a simple job at a friends house who is destitude and 70 years old. The poor woman is 70 and hasn't had a dishwasher in nearly 30 years. And at her age tends to two adult children in their mid 30's that have mental health issues. So I …”
Greg P. · ★ · Yelp · Aug 2025

We read 13 of 15 reviews · newest from Dec 2024

(815) 568-9600
Full report →Website ↗

We'd keep looking

The average rating hides complaint patterns we can't ignore
15

M J Plumbing

We'd call someone else firstSmall track record
4.8 (19 Google reviews)3.0 on Yelp (4) 8.2 mi from downtown HarvardNot a 24/7 shop
Our take — how we form it

4.8★ across 19 reviews but 3 of 18 analyzed are 1★ (reviewConsistency 0.444); standout water-line advocacy against city billing, but 2 nearly identical 1-star reviews allege owner refused to cover electrical damage he caused.

Rating mix — of the 15 reviews we analyzed19 total on Google
5★12
4★0
3★0
2★0
1★3

Why we're cautious

  • 2 reviewers (Yelp + Google, same complaint) allege owner admittedly cut through electrical wires on hose bib job and refused to compensate — identical text suggests same person, but complaint is documented and unresolved (2 of 18 reviews)
  • 1-star Yelp review from water softener job: improper sweated connection leaked, owner stopped returning calls after partial fix (1 of 18 reviews)
  • reviewConsistency of 0.444 — lowest in Woodstock batch; 3 of 18 reviews are 1-star suggesting significant quality variance for a small operation (2 of 18 reviews)

To be fair

  • Went to bat with city of Woodstock to get water service line repair covered by municipality — advocacy beyond scope of work (cited in 1 of 18 reviews)
  • Sewer line diagnosis and replacement done quickly with clear homeowner education; 3 other plumbers had previously failed to diagnose same problem (cited in 2 of 18 reviews)
What reviewers praise
“These are the guys you want to call for your plumbing needs! They replaced my water service line in my front yard after another plumber's worked failed. Matt went to bat for me with the city of Woodstock and got them to pick up the bill. They took extra …”
Jon Phelps · ★★★★★ · Google · Nov 2024
The most critical take we found
“I hired Matthew Haulotte owner of MJ Plumbing to replace a leaking hose bib. While doing so he admittedly cut through electrical wires. I now have multiple outlets that are not working and he is refusing to repair the damages he caused. As a reasonable …”
Doug K. · ★ · Yelp · Dec 2024

We read 18 of 19 reviews · newest from Dec 2024

(815) 482-9654
Full report →

Also serving Harvard — 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.

Community Plumbing Company 3.9 (25 Google reviews) · Woodstock · 11.1 mi Call
Hartwig Mechanical 3.6 (40 Google reviews) · Harvard · 0.6 mi Call
Master Services Inc. 4.7 (1,046 Google reviews) · Kenosha · 14.9 mi Call
Advanced Water Heating Solutions 5.0 (90 Google reviews) · Fox Lake · 18.2 mi Call
J. Blanton Plumbing, Sewer & Drain 4.7 (500 Google reviews) · McHenry · 18.2 mi Call
K.B.I Sewer & Drainage 4.8 (113 Google reviews) · McHenry · 18.9 mi Call
McHenry Plumbing, Inc. 4.8 (31 Google reviews) · McHenry · 18.3 mi Call
Reiche Plumbing 5.0 (24 Google reviews) · McHenry · 19.6 mi Call
Schmid Plumbing Services 4.6 (7 Google reviews) · Algonquin · 18.5 mi Call
Ellison Plumbing & Heating, Inc. 4.2 (5 Google reviews) · Harvard · 0.6 mi Call
Hartwig Plumbing & Heating 5.0 (1 Google review) · Harvard · 0.6 mi Call
Cool Plumbing - Woodstock 3.5 (4 Google reviews) · Woodstock · 11.1 mi Call
Breakthrough Plumbing, LLC · Marengo · 11.7 mi Call

What reviewers complain about in Harvard

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

  • Helton Plumbing Hero — 1-star review describes receptionist being rude on first call; reviewer left without scheduling — single data point but notable given small base
  • D & D Plumbing Company — 1 of 14 reviews reports a no-completion: arrived 50 min late as 'first appointment,' then blamed snow in driveway and didn't finish
  • ASAP Plumbing — One customer was charged $877 for a drain fix that turned out to be a shower-pan issue — second tech corrected the diagnosis less than two weeks later
  • Air Man Heating, Cooling & Plumbing (Air Management Services Inc) — Two documented multi-day scheduling failures (2018 and 2024): customers told tech would arrive, no call and no show each day, with staff providing conflicting explanations.
  • Air Man Heating, Cooling & Plumbing (Air Management Services Inc) — Unprofessional conduct tagged in 2 reviews alongside a 2024 1-star report of dispatcher providing phone number that didn't match customer's; management disorganization cited.
  • Suburban Sewer & Septic Inc. — Incomplete water-jetting on cast-iron sewer pipe led to repeat overflow — reviewer states crew 'did not bring proper equipment' on first visit and did not jet full length on second visit (MJ0Q4PT7eX4zvqIO0bRo; reviewConsistency=0.75, sentiment.negative=0.093).
  • JB Plumbing — Rodding incomplete — drain reclogged within 4 months per 1-star review (ESCGAm8gWyyf4zdMEKv7); with only 13 reviews analyzed, single quality failure warrants flagging.
  • Toppel Plumbing Inc — With only 10 reviews analyzed, 2 one-star reviews citing no-call-back and outright unprofessional conduct represent a 20% negative rate — significant at this review volume.

How we rank the plumbers on this page

  1. We read the reviews — all of them we can get. For each plumber serving Harvard we pulled up to 100 recent reviews from Google, Yelp and BBB and read the full text. For this page: 736 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 Alden, Bassett, Capron, Genoa City, Hebron, Pell Lake, Powers Lake, Richmond, Sharon, Twin Lakes, Walworth, Zenda — this Harvard guide covers those areas.

Nearby city guides

Marengo, IL · 56 plumbers · 12 miLake Geneva, WI · 18 plumbers · 14 miGarden Prairie, IL · 22 plumbers · 14 miNew Munster, WI · 37 plumbers · 22 miAlgonquin, IL · 152 plumbers · 23 miBurlington, IL · 77 plumbers · 26 mi