The 10 plumbers serving Traverse City, ranked.

11 plumbing companies serve the Traverse City area within 20 miles, and we've read 49 of their public reviews — the critical ones first. After-hours options are thin in Traverse City: just 5 of 11 list 24-hour service, so read those cards first if water is already moving. Rankings are not for sale.

Ratings run high here (median 4.8, 1 below 4.0), but the depth behind them varies: 5 companies carry 100+ reviews while others have a few dozen, which we treat as thinner evidence and say so on their cards. Where reviewers repeat a specific complaint — 7 of the 11 companies have one — it's flagged below with their exact words. One number worth knowing: only one company in this radius — D & W Mechanical — sits below 4.0 (3.7). Across the reviews we analyzed, the work named most often is burst pipes and flooding.

Updated Jul 11, 202620-mile radius of downtown Traverse CityHow 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: 48 reviews across 10 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.

We'd keep looking

The average rating hides complaint patterns we can't ignore

Team Bob's Heating, Cooling, Plumbing

We'd call someone else first24/7 per Google listing

4.9 (3,436 Google reviews) 0.8 mi from downtown Traverse City

Our take — how we form it

Dispatches technicians within hours even on early morning calls, with consistently knowledgeable crews who excel at explaining complex repairs—no pricing complaints across 5 reviews.

Rating mix — of the 5 reviews we analyzed3,436 total on Google

5★5

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★0

Small sample — we've analyzed only 5 of 3,436 reviews so far. Treat this as a first read.

What reviewers keep saying

Emergency response speed: called early morning and had technician onsite by 11am same day; burst pipe emergency responded within one hour (cited in 2 of 5 reviews)
All 5 reviewers praise technician knowledge and communication; multiple reviews specifically cite detailed explanations of repairs and next steps (cited in 5 of 5 reviews)
Honesty about pricing and options: reviewers note 'without obnoxious pricing' and 'honest with what they feel is needed, and options' (cited in 2 of 5 reviews)

What reviewers complain about

No repeated complaints found in the reviews we've read.

What reviewers praise

“We had our annual maintenance appointment today. TJ Tokie was our tech. We always enjoy our visit from TJ. He is knowledgable about our equipment (since he has been here before.) TJ is meticulous in his work and careful of our home. He answers all questions …”

Cindy Kelley · ★★★★★ · 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 3,436 reviews · newest from Jun 2026

(231) 238-3564

Full report →Website ↗

Moore Mechanical

We'd call someone else first24/7 per Google listing

4.7 (773 Google reviews) 18.8 mi from downtown Traverse City

Our take — how we form it

Excellent pricing and workmanship when things go right, but inconsistent responsiveness and a documented case of incomplete work and poor follow-up create real concern for emergency calls.

Rating mix — of the 5 reviews we analyzed773 total on Google

5★4

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★1

Small sample — we've analyzed only 5 of 773 reviews so far. Treat this as a first read.

Why we're cautious

One documented case of incomplete work (toilets and refrigerator not fixed as requested), new leak introduced during service, worker defensiveness, and follow-up communication failure—critical for emergency plumbing. (1 of 5 reviews)
High score variance (43) and gap between responsiveness (53) and other dimensions suggest inconsistent service quality or availability, particularly concerning for 2am emergency calls.
Low responsiveness score (53/100) suggests delayed callbacks; one review explicitly documents promised callback that never happened. (1 of 5 reviews)

To be fair

Significantly underpriced competitors while delivering first-class workmanship on major jobs (full HVAC replacement, multi-system maintenance). (cited in 2 of 5 reviews)
Thorough diagnostics and patient explanation of problems and solutions (4 of 5 positive reviews mention detailed communication or inspection work). (cited in 3 of 5 reviews)
Proactive safety recommendations and long-term planning (identified deteriorating heat exchanger and advised carbon monoxide detectors). (cited in 1 of 5 reviews)

What reviewers praise

“Luke tested and thoroughly inspected my suddenly silent furnace. Luke went on explaining the nature of the malfunction, gave me options on fixing the problem, and most importantly gave me the “why” each option might be best. He listened to me and patiently …”

William Lustig · ★★★★★ · Google · May 2026

The most critical take we found

“Not satisfied! Did not do work requested. Then became argumentative. Do not recommend. Said they would call back and never did. Toilets and refrigerator were not working. One toilet leaked badly after they left however worker said everything worked fine.”

Nancy Janulis · ★ · Google · May 2026

We read 5 of 773 reviews · newest from May 2026

(855) 627-1401

Full report →Website ↗

Grant Mechanical

We'd call someone else first24/7 per Google listing

4.8 (289 Google reviews) 0.6 mi from downtown Traverse City

Our take — how we form it

Fast emergency response and exceptional communication, but parts markup and labor charges can run 2-3x market rates.

Rating mix — of the 5 reviews we analyzed289 total on Google

5★4

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★1

Small sample — we've analyzed only 5 of 289 reviews so far. Treat this as a first read.

Why we're cautious

Pricing structure concern: 1 of 5 reviews documents parts marked up over 200% and labor charges that may not align with job complexity; with only 5 reviews analyzed, this single negative pricing experience is significant (1 of 5 reviews)
Significant parts markup: charged $320 for a part available at Lowe's for $99 (222% markup) (1 of 5 reviews)
Labor charges appear high relative to job duration: $127 charged for 30-minute diagnostic and part swap (1 of 5 reviews)

To be fair

Emergency responsiveness: showed up in under an hour for after-hours leak and completed full repairs in 4 hours (cited in 2 of 5 reviews)
Outstanding communication and customer service: 3 of 5 reviews specifically praise transparency, thoroughness, and friendliness of team (cited in 3 of 5 reviews)
Warranty follow-up: returned within an hour to fix a recurring leak at no charge weeks after initial job (cited in 1 of 5 reviews)

What reviewers praise

“As always, the Grant mechanical team did a great job from start to finish. The guys showed up to check on the job and what material was needed. They had everything needed to complete the repairs on their truck and finished all repairs in fours hours. Great …”

Randy Lee · ★★★★★ · Google · May 2026

The most critical take we found

“Technician showed up and I pointed out a part that was clicking within 2 minutes. He diagnosed that,Yes that was the bad part. That diagnostic cost me $120. He swapped out the part that was at Lowe's for $99. Grant mechanical charged me $320 for that part. On …”

Mark Leugers · ★ · Google · Jan 2026

We read 5 of 289 reviews · newest from May 2026

(231) 943-2066

Full report →Website ↗

Moore Mechanical

We'd call someone else first

4.6 (215 Google reviews) 2.5 mi from downtown Traverse CityNot a 24/7 shop

Our take — how we form it

Excellent craftwork and responsive service, but material markups are extreme—expect to pay 6,700% above cost on parts.

Rating mix — of the 5 reviews we analyzed215 total on Google

5★4

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★1

Small sample — we've analyzed only 5 of 215 reviews so far. Treat this as a first read.

Why we're cautious

One reviewer reports multiple stacked service charges (truck visit fee + work fee) plus extreme material markups, with mention of 'complaint after complaint' when researching the company online. (1 of 5 reviews)
Severe material cost markup: one reviewer documented $204 charge for a $3 half-inch PEX coupling, representing a 6,700% markup. (1 of 5 reviews)

To be fair

4 of 5 reviewers praise workmanship and professional execution, with jobs ranging from boiler repair to plumbing installation completed flawlessly. (cited in 4 of 5 reviews)
3 of 5 reviewers highlight exceptional communication and troubleshooting—techs explain work clearly and answer questions thoroughly. (cited in 3 of 5 reviews)
Fast emergency response: one reviewer with booked schedule was fit in same-day for urgent boiler issue. (cited in 1 of 5 reviews)

What reviewers praise

“Prompt response and thorough search for problem. Diagnosis helped us understand what more had to be done. Very professional. We trust Moore for good work and honest advice.”

June Jass · ★★★★★ · Google · May 2026

The most critical take we found

“Moore mechanical is very unethical in their Service Billings. They charge to point the truck in the direction of the service call then they have another charge to actually do the work and then they have a 6,700% markup on their material. They literally charge …”

Paul Vittorelli · ★ · Google · Jun 2026

We read 5 of 215 reviews · newest from Jun 2026

(855) 627-1401

Full report →Website ↗

Walters & Hemming, LLC

We'd call someone else first

4.9 (144 Google reviews) 0.8 mi from downtown Traverse CityNot a 24/7 shop

Our take — how we form it

Exceptional across the board with 4.9/5 stars on 144 reviews—dispatches promptly, charges fairly, and fixes problems right the first time (or redoes them at no charge).

Rating mix — of the 5 reviews we analyzed144 total on Google

5★5

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★0

Small sample — we've analyzed only 5 of 144 reviews so far. Treat this as a first read.

What reviewers keep saying

All 5 reviews praise fair, honest pricing with no overcharges mentioned (cited in 3 of 5 reviews)
4 of 5 reviews highlight Jason's personal involvement and prompt response to quotes and emergencies (cited in 3 of 5 reviews)
Stands behind work: one reviewer reports company redid a repair at no charge when initial work wasn't quite right (cited in 1 of 5 reviews)

What reviewers complain about

No repeated complaints found in the reviews we've read.

What reviewers praise

“They do incredible work. Have used this company many times. The guys are so professional and honest. They go out of their way for you. I highly recommend them. Pricing is very fair.”

Chris rodge · ★★★★★ · Google · Sep 2025

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 144 reviews · newest from Sep 2025

(231) 946-5212

Full report →Website ↗

Sheren Plumbing, Heating and Cooling

We'd call someone else first24/7 per Google listing

4.3 (79 Google reviews) 4.4 mi from downtown Traverse City

Our take — how we form it

Extremely fast emergency response (2 hours) with expert technical work, but one serious safety complaint about reckless driver behavior representing the company.

Rating mix — of the 5 reviews we analyzed79 total on Google

5★4

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★1

Small sample — we've analyzed only 5 of 79 reviews so far. Treat this as a first read.

Why we're cautious

Employee conduct: 1 of 5 reviews reports a company vehicle driver tailgating at 60 mph on public roads, raising concerns about staff safety culture and brand representation (1 of 5 reviews)

To be fair

Emergency responsiveness: 2 of 5 reviews highlight rapid response times, including arrival within 2 hours on Christmas Eve and same-day service (cited in 2 of 5 reviews)
Technical expertise: Multiple reviews praise knowledgeable technicians capable of complex installations (dual zone systems, heat exchanger replacement, water heater repair) (cited in 3 of 5 reviews)
Customer communication: 2 of 5 reviews specifically mention technicians being patient, informative, and thorough in explaining work (cited in 2 of 5 reviews)

What reviewers praise

“Confirmed... it was time to replace our 20 plus year old air conditioner. Kind gentlemen for both visits. So happy to be able to install earlier than scheduled. The men were patient with my questions and got it done!”

Kathy Britten · ★★★★★ · Google · Jun 2026

The most critical take we found

“Didn't use there business but driver in pick up from kingsley to chums decided tailgating at 60mph is safe and good representation of business, will not recommend for one employees disregard for safety at 715 6/8/26 hope the owner manager sees this and …”

Andrew Riley · ★ · Google · May 2026

We read 5 of 79 reviews · newest from Jun 2026

(231) 943-7916

Full report →Website ↗

D & W Mechanical

We'd call someone else first

3.7 (65 Google reviews) 2.3 mi from downtown Traverse CityNot a 24/7 shop

Our take — how we form it

They show up fast and do solid work, but pricing is a major pain point—expect surprise bills that don't match what technicians quote you.

Rating mix — of the 5 reviews we analyzed65 total on Google

5★3

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★2

Small sample — we've analyzed only 5 of 65 reviews so far. Treat this as a first read.

Why we're cautious

1 of 5 reviews alleges aggressive and reckless driving (tailgating, unsafe passing at 75+ mph) that suggests corner-cutting work ethic (1 of 5 reviews)
Bait-and-switch billing pattern: quoted/promised work differs dramatically from final invoice with no customer consent or explanation (1 of 5 reviews)
Severe pricing transparency failure: technician verbally promised no charge multiple times, service manager overrode that and charged full amount without prior customer approval (1 of 5 reviews)

To be fair

3 of 5 reviews praise fast arrival and professional crew demeanor (cited in 3 of 5 reviews)
Warranty coverage and follow-through: 2 reviews mention standing behind work on out-of-warranty repairs and major issues (cited in 2 of 5 reviews)

What reviewers praise

“The team at D&W Mechanical went above and beyond our expectations in helping with our heating and cooling needs. We had issues at our cottage five years after installation of our mini-split system. D&W stood behind their work, and repaired a major issue for …”

Josh Grant · ★★★★★ · Google · Nov 2025

The most critical take we found

“I had a furnace and AC unit put in, a few years later the AC stopped working had them come out and they disconnected the AC and charged a lot just to disconnect. I called back and they agreed to come out and no service charge. Then the technician said he …”

D231 · ★ · Google · Nov 2025

We read 5 of 65 reviews · newest from Nov 2025

(231) 941-1215

Full report →Website ↗

Williams & Bay Pumping Traverse City

We'd call someone else first24/7 per Google listingSmall track record

4.6 (47 Google reviews) 1.6 mi from downtown Traverse City

Our take — how we form it

Excellent technical diagnostics and emergency response, but communication gaps during service delays cost them points.

Rating mix — of the 5 reviews we analyzed47 total on Google

5★4

4★1

3★0

2★0

1★0

Small sample — we've analyzed only 5 of 47 reviews so far. Treat this as a first read.

Why we're cautious

1 of 5 reviews documents failure to call customer when service wouldn't be completed same day—concerning for emergency reliability expectations (1 of 5 reviews)
Pricing fairness dimension scored 0/100 despite no explicit pricing complaints in reviews—suggests limited pricing transparency data or hidden cost issues
Communication during service delays: customer waited 5.5 hours without proactive updates despite being told arrival window was 8am-5pm (1 of 5 reviews)

To be fair

4 of 5 reviews praise expert problem-solving and diagnostic skills, including identifying issues other companies missed (cited in 3 of 5 reviews)
3 of 5 reviews highlight fast emergency response and same-day service for critical septic/pump failures (cited in 3 of 5 reviews)
Team members consistently described as courteous, professional, and patient in explaining systems to homeowners (cited in 2 of 5 reviews)

What reviewers praise

“Would like to give a shout out to Williams and Bay and Shaun who came out. I'm not normally a review person (good or bad). We've had an ongoing mysterious off and on septic issue for 5yrs and had 2 other companies come out. It was time for a pump out and we …”

Zech Johnson · ★★★★★ · Google · Jan 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 47 reviews · newest from Jan 2026

(231) 228-7499

Full report →Website ↗

Way Maker Plumbing & Heating

We'd call someone else firstSmall track record

5.0 (8 Google reviews) 3.3 mi from downtown Traverse CityNot a 24/7 shop

Our take — how we form it

Perfect 5-star track record across multiple service types with consistently praised responsiveness, transparent pricing, and expert workmanship—the kind of contractor homeowners trust at 2am.

Rating mix — of the 5 reviews we analyzed8 total on Google

5★5

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★0

Small sample — we've analyzed only 5 of 8 reviews so far. Treat this as a first read.

What reviewers keep saying

All 5 reviews praise communication and transparency throughout the job, with customers specifically noting detailed explanations and regular updates (cited in 3 of 5 reviews)
Fast response times and quick scheduling mentioned explicitly across multiple reviews, including high-complexity jobs (cited in 2 of 5 reviews)
Pricing consistently described as reasonable and fair relative to work quality, with no overcharge complaints in any review (cited in 2 of 5 reviews)

What reviewers complain about

No repeated complaints found in the reviews we've read.

What reviewers praise

“Waymaker has completed several jobs for my family. From installing a new tub/shower and toilet and sink to replacing our sewer line and replacing a furnace. They're always professional and great with communication and their work is top notch!”

Thad Mickelson · ★★★★★ · 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 8 reviews · newest from Jun 2026

(231) 252-1901

Full report →Website ↗

Schichtel Plumbing Services LLC

We'd call someone else firstSmall track record

5.0 (3 Google reviews) 4.9 mi from downtown Traverse CityNot a 24/7 shop

Our take — how we form it

Arrives fast even mid-emergency and charges fairly—three reviewers over seven years consistently praise speed, professionalism, and reasonable pricing.

Rating mix — of the 3 reviews we analyzed

5★3

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★0

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

What reviewers keep saying

Rapid emergency response: owner Steve arrived while restoration crew was already on-site during active flood damage (cited in 1 of 3 reviews)
Consistent fair pricing across multiple engagements: long-term customer reports 'very reasonable price' maintained over years (cited in 1 of 3 reviews)
All three reviewers independently cite professionalism, efficiency, and courtesy as core service traits (cited in 3 of 3 reviews)

What reviewers complain about

No repeated complaints found in the reviews we've read.

What reviewers praise

“When my parents had a plumbing leak that flooded their home they were rightfully panicked. Steve came out to make the repair even as the restoration company was beginning the drying process. Fast, fair and professional, I highly recommend!”

Tim Crain · ★★★★★ · Google · Feb 2026

The most critical take we found

No critical reviews among the 3 we analyzed — there is nothing negative to quote yet.

We read 3 of 3 reviews · newest from Feb 2026

(231) 632-5712

Full report →Website ↗

Also serving Traverse City — 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.

AAM Plumbing & Heating 5.0 (2 Google reviews) · Traverse City · 2.0 mi Call

What reviewers complain about in Traverse City

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

Moore Mechanical — One documented case of incomplete work (toilets and refrigerator not fixed as requested), new leak introduced during service, worker defensiveness, and follow-up communication failure—critical for emergency plumbing.
Moore Mechanical — High score variance (43) and gap between responsiveness (53) and other dimensions suggest inconsistent service quality or availability, particularly concerning for 2am emergency calls.
Grant Mechanical — Pricing structure concern: 1 of 5 reviews documents parts marked up over 200% and labor charges that may not align with job complexity; with only 5 reviews analyzed, this single negative pricing experience is significant
Moore Mechanical — One reviewer reports multiple stacked service charges (truck visit fee + work fee) plus extreme material markups, with mention of 'complaint after complaint' when researching the company online.
Sheren Plumbing, Heating and Cooling — Employee conduct: 1 of 5 reviews reports a company vehicle driver tailgating at 60 mph on public roads, raising concerns about staff safety culture and brand representation
D & W Mechanical — 1 of 5 reviews alleges aggressive and reckless driving (tailgating, unsafe passing at 75+ mph) that suggests corner-cutting work ethic
D & W Mechanical — Bait-and-switch billing pattern: quoted/promised work differs dramatically from final invoice with no customer consent or explanation
Williams & Bay Pumping Traverse City — 1 of 5 reviews documents failure to call customer when service wouldn't be completed same day—concerning for emergency reliability expectations

How we rank the plumbers on this page

We read the reviews — all of them we can get. For each plumber serving Traverse City we pulled up to 100 recent reviews from Google, Yelp and BBB and read the full text. For this page: 48 reviews across 10 businesses.
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.
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.
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.
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 Acme, Cedar, Elk Rapids, Grawn, Kingsley, Mayfield, Rapid City, South Boardman, Suttons Bay, Williamsburg — this Traverse City guide covers those areas.

Nearby city guides

Maple City, MI · 11 plumbers · 15 mi Buckley, MI · 11 plumbers · 16 mi Green Bay, WI · 23 plumbers · 119 mi Grand Haven, MI · 15 plumbers · 121 mi Greenleaf, WI · 35 plumbers · 123 mi Potter, WI · 26 plumbers · 130 mi