Master Rooter Plumbing

My water heater leaked on 10.18.15. My home warranty co, AHS assigned me to Master rooter. The plumber came out on fri 10.23 and said it needed to be replaced. He gave us his phone number and said he’d return the following week to replace it. (really! Meanwhile, we’re without hot water). We tried calling his phone but he wouldn’t answer and the voicemail was full. Finally I reached him on 10.29 and asked for an explanation on the $ 358 non covered items. He offered no explanation and was very rude with a terrible attitude. Furthermore, as punishment for questioning the extra charges, he refused to replace the water heater until 11.5 Thursday. He obviously didn’t care that we didn’t have hot water to use! In the meantime, AHS sent another plumber, Tavor plumbing, to the house on 10.30. Rick at Tavor cked and flushed the line and determined that nothing was wrong with the existing water heater. He also gave us his number in case something happens and said to call anytime ²⁴⁄₇ if need be. stay away from Master Rooter. I also would give him a «0» if I could.

I’m not sure what all the negativity is about – in my experience this guy is totally fine. I have used him twice, once about 7 years ago and again just recently. Both times he was reliable, knew his trade, showed up within the time frame he gave us, was honest and responsive. It seems normal that a tradesman would give you a 3 hour window and if he can’t come immediately that’s a good thing – it means he’s busy with other customers. If he was assigned to you by your home warranty plan and you’re concerned about the nasty comments here – don’t worry about it.

Rude, unreliable, unprofessional. This is the provider assigned by my home coverage, American Home Shield.
We had an urgent situation. Kitchen and laundry sink unusable with sewage back-​up. We kept trying to call and got vm. John claimed he called us several times and there was no record of his calls on our phone.
After 3 days he was out to the house and snaked through the kitchen sink. This did not solve the problem. John said there was nothing he could do, that someone would need to come and access the plumbing through the roof and that this was not covered by AHS.
We finally called Magic Plumbing (turned out to be a wonderful experience). They came, snaked the clog through the laundry room sink (there was no need to go on the roof). and solved the problem.
Stay away from John and Master Rooter.

The most horrific, unreliable, rude, unprofessional business.
Called to make an appointment — got a next day appointment with a 3 hour window. Ok, whatever… but before I hung up, I asked if he wants to write down my number — he refused because «I have nowhere to write it down». Ok, whatever.
The next day, after burning my whole day waiting for him and then trying to call him many times (because it was getting close to the end of my window) — he was a total no-​show. When I finally got a hold of him, he lied and said he tried to call me to confirm the appointment in the morning — total lie — I had no missed calls or voice messages. He then told me that he is done for the day and he would not come over to fix my issue (mind you, it was 3:30pm). And then, when I tried to tell him that I don’t believe he tried to call me because he didn’t have my number (because he refused to take it down the day before), he just hung up the phone on me. And now his phone is turned off.
***DO NOT USE THIS SERVICE***

This guy is a complete psycho. He did ok work but was a nightmare to deal with. We used AHS to dispatch the call. Will not use again.

American Home Shield assigned this company and totally unprofessional. The guy came way before his assigned time and left a card that he missed me. Reported to AHS that he spoke to a husband and looked at the appliance and stated it was working fine which was a lie as he never stepped in and is caught because AHS charges $ 75 service fee regardless and he didn’t collect as he never came inside.

Master Rooter is very rude. I also have an AHS home warranty, and this man hung up on me before I had finished explaining the reason for my call. He installed a part on my new sump pump but didn’t secure it properly, and it jammed, causing it to malfunction. AHS is dis– involving themselves as it is past their 2 — month time limit for callbacks, and since the work was done in August when there was no rain nor pump use, and it failed during our first rain of the year, I expected Master Rooter to come back at no charge and secure the pump properly. Instead, he claims no responsibility. .how can I ever trust this plumber again? plus, when I called him with the water damage happening in my basement, a potential emergency, he told me he doesn’t work on weekends. I was left to cope with it myself, (I am 77). a neighbor came to my aid temporarily, but it still has to be properly installed to avoid another jamming.
P.G. Burlingame

AHS Home Warranty sent out Master Rooter as we had lots of sediment coming out of our pipes (most apparent in the tubs) which seemed like a problem with the water heater. This guy showed up and visually looked at the water heater and said «I make report to warranty company — We see if covered» to which I replied, «don’t you want to SEE the sediment that’s coming out, it’s really bad!» So grudgingly, he followed me upstairs and saw the dirty water that was coming out of the bath faucet… he was rude and gruff and left in huff (like I inconvenienced him by requesting him to come visually see WHY I had called in the 1^st place) an hour later I found the water heater leaking out the mechanical room and into the garage — I called this guy and he said, «oh you’re water heater needs to be replaced» YA! So he did replace the water heater days later and many phone calls (by me), but then didn’t run ANY water or do any follow; he just up and left… and since we had 2 water heaters and he refused to flush out the other I called and asked if he could come back and flush it out since we were still having sediment and brown water. he refused and said this was a new ticket (wanted another $ 75) I went back and forth with him and AHS and finally my ticket was closed and we had someone else flush out the water heater and now things seem clean and happy! I refuse to let this man back into my house, oddly (or maybe not) he’s the only plumber available at a moments notice.
I fault AHS as well, they shouldn’t encourage this kind of Lack of Customer Service and Rude — Scary behavior in the homes of their clients!

First review on Unilocal.I felt compelled to write it as our home warranty company assigned us to John at Master Rooter and I was worried when I checked his Unilocal reviews.
I can say that John was very helpful, obviously knew what he was doing. He very quickly repaired a leaky faucet that I thought needed to be replaced and thoroughly explained everything he was doing. He cleaned everything up when he was done.
He also gave me a good quote for repairing rusty pipes elsewhere in the house and seemed very knowledgeable in discussing the plumbing issues in our basement.
He was prompt in making the appointment, called me when he was on the way, and showed up on time. I would definitely have no problem using him again.

DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY! He told our home warranty company that he called up and let the phone ring 20 times. Complete lie. We have nothing but cell phones in this house and they would of gone to voice mail. Then he got snippet y with me and the home warranty company. What a joke, do not call him do not use him! If I could give him a Zero, but there is no Zero to choose.
He wasted my renters time and mine!

I too would give this plumber zero, or negative stars if it was an option. American Home Shield sent him out to give a second opinion on my plumbing issue caused by a washer or O ring deteriorating somewhere within the faucet fixtures. Although he plainly saw the black tarry substance left in my tub when I ran the water, he told AHS that when he held a cloth up to the tap that he couldn’t see anything (even tho I could see that the cloth had turned brown). Because of his report, AHS called me to tell me that I don’t have a problem, there is no malfunction, and that they are closing my case. Like other reviewers have stated, this man is an incompetent idiot, and if you have a choice you should look elsewhere. When I called him to ask him why he told AHS he couldn’t see anything, and to admit that he saw the black tarry residue in my tub, he was rude and hung up on me.

DO NOT CALL THIS PLACE!!! This guy ‘fixed’ my water heater and then left me with a gas leak and I had to call PG&E. He endangered 4 people and 2 dogs. Call someone with good reviews — for your own safety!

American Home Shield referred us to John and Master Rooter after a bad experience with another plumber. John was fantastic! We are very pleased and will use him again. He was courteous, friendly, knowledgeable, and he did high quality work. Our water heater sprung a leak, and it turned out that it had been installed in a manner that was inconsistent with code. John arrived on time for the appointment, diagnosed the issues, worked seamlessly with AHS to get the repairs authorized, and then called to fill me in. He came back a few days later at a time that I chose, and installed the water heater and fixed the code issues within 2 hours. He cleaned up, and everything was nice and tight. Very nice work — very professional — and great to work with. I’m not sure why the negative reviews here, my experience was very positive.

If I could give zero stars I would. He came out under a home warranty call and refused to fix the problem, a simple clean out. He knew nothing about our neighborhood and offered no support. It is Unilocal reviews and reviews and the AHS website that give people business. You would think he would like to offer some type of customer service.

I would give this company no stars were that an option. John who is the service person and perhaps the owner is rude, dismissive, and obnoxious. He came to look at a hot water heater that had a cracked shell and was spewing noxious odors when heating. He said the smell was not his problem. If the hot water heater was heating that was all he cared about. When I tried to explain the problem he said «I am a plumbing contractor and you are acting like you know more about plumbing than me. Who do you think you are?» Master rooter? More like master jerk.

Came to fix a blockage and a leak. When he left a different leak appeared 1 hour later. When I asked him to return and fix it he was rude and defensive and even hung up on me on the phone. I was very disappointed by the lack of professionalism and initiative to solve the problem