Austin Sump Pump Repair

After an initial scheduling mix-up (an appointment scheduled by telephone 2 days in advance was inadvertently dropped from the books), a supervisor showed up within 30 minutes to complete the evaluation and repair. He was thorough, and very generous about educating me in the use and care of the pump, and about how to manage future repairs in a practical and cost-effective manner.

When the alarm for my sump pump went off recently I called Roto-rooter and asked if they did sump pump work. When they said yes, I made an appointment. The technician came out at the time he said he would and he was very friendly and courteous. However, in the end, he did nothing, and I paid $57 for it. He did not even open up the sump pump to look at it. Instead he guessed at what the problem was (even using the word "possible" on the invoice...he had no clue whatsoever). How can you make a diagnosis if you don't even look at the equipment? I asked him if he could take an actual look and he said that the company wasn't certified to do that kind of work but he mentioned a couple other companies that did (one which I called and ended up using). If you're not certified to do sump pump work, then why, on inquiry, did you say you did that kind of work? The only reason I didn't refuse to pay altogether was: A) my momentary confusion over what was happening and, B) I was dealing with an upset toddler. In short, a complete waste of money. I ended up feeling scammed.

This was a fantastic experience! I left a message for Cold is on the Right at 6:45am knowing they didn't open until 9. I got a call back from Carrie at 8:30 am and we discussed how my sump pump warning light was on and that there was standing water in the yard. She had a cancellation so she was able to fit me in for the afternoon between 2 and 4. Carrie called me at 12:30 and said they were ahead of schedule so they could take me even sooner. Billy came out to take a look at what was going on. We both figured the issue was likely the 19 year old pump. He literally dug into the situation and confirmed that it was the pump. What we didn't know was whether it was blocked or dead. He gave me an estimate for both scenarios and did some more testing. Once he drained the stopped-up water and got to the pump, he surmised that it was dead and would require replacement. He left to get the needed part and came back and finished the installation. It was a little complicated as he had to cut out the old one and do some patch work on the pipe. He had it all fixed up and tested everything to make sure it was functioning. With everything working he closed it up and buried the power cables as best he could. The power cord for the pump was a bit short so he said he would drop by the next day and extend the cord a bit so that it was easier to mow around and be less of a safety hazard (even though it is very close to the house and not in any sort of walkway). Overall the project took around 2 hours. From beginning to end, I experienced excellent communication, friendly people and professionalism . Billy did a great job outside dealing with the heat, the bugs and the horrific smell that only sewers can deliver. I can't recommend Cold is on the Right enough.

THE JACKHAMMER USED CONTAINED THE DUST SO WELL THAT IT DID NOT GET ALL OVER THE HOUSE. THE WORKERS SHOWED UP ON TIME, COMPLETED THE JOB AS BID AND THE PROJECT WAS REASONABLY PRICED.

Purchased a Big Deal, which was supposed to include all of the following: - Draining and flushing of up to two water heater tanks - Checking water heater thermostat for proper operation - Confirming that water heater flue is venting properly - Inspecting water heater emergency gas shut-off valve to ensure safe operation - A 200-point check of your home's plumbing system - Checking water pressure - Checking that all faucets are operating properly - Check and adjust toilet flush - Inspecting all emergency shut-off valves - Inspecting all exterior water pipes and hose bibs - Inspecting all visible gas lines for potential damage and electronically testing for leaks - Check Garbage disposal, dishwasher, washer & dryer, ice maker, and sump pump As far as I know, most of this wasn't done. The service person only visited the locations of the 2 water heaters (and, as I said, only flushed 1 of them), so he couldn't have done many of the items. He left no paperwork/checklist/report behind. I expected that he would come up with some other items that would need to be addressed, but I wasn't home at the time to press him on any of the items.

Purchased Big Deal to flush two water heaters and perform plumbing inspection. Was able to schedule easily at a time that was very convenient for me. The gentleman who came to the house arrived on time and quickly drained the water heaters. He gave me a quote on replacement water heaters and answered some questions about the possibility of moving them from the attic and how the water lines go to and from the water heaters. We discussed an outside faucet with a slow drip, but said I would have to set up another appointment for him to do anything with it; I ended up replacing it myself. As far as the inspection, the Big Deal said "This Deal Includes: Draining and flushing of up to two water heater tanks Checking water heater thermostat for proper operation Confirming that water heater flue is venting properly Inspecting water heater emergency gas shut-off valve to ensure safe operation A 200-point check of your home's plumbing system Checking water pressure Checking that all faucets are operating properly Check and adjust toilet flush Inspecting all emergency shut-off valves Inspecting all exterior water pipes and hose bibs Inspecting all visible gas lines for potential damage and electronically testing for leaks Check Garbage disposal, dishwasher, washer & dryer, ice maker, and sump pump I know that he flushed all the toilets, turned on the sink faucets, and looked under the sinks, presumably for leaks, but I do not think that all the things on the inspection list were done. I would have thought they would have a list that they checked off, or some way of communicating what they found. I know that the faucet in the master bath leaks water around the lever every time it is turned on, but that was not mentioned. The faucets in the tubs and showers were not turned on at all, and I am aware of some potential issues there as well. In short, I didn't feel like the inspection was particularly thorough. Perhaps he felt like I had used my $39 worth of their time with the questions on the water heaters, but they missed a huge opportunity to quote on and earn some other business that needs to be done in my 20 year old house. About a week after the service call I discovered that a bathroom faucet in the back of the house had been left dripping at a pretty good clip, hence the B rating. I thought it was pretty ironic that a plumber didn't check to make sure a faucet he tested was completely turned off before he left. I might use Excaliber again, but I think I might try another plumbing company first.