Thornton & Grooms Heating, Cooling, & Plumbing

They definitely were very good. They were good with responsiveness and follow-up. We would probably pick them over the other company that we use.

Called and was able to reach the company on New Year's Day. Made arrangements for immediate dispatching. Came out within 3 hours and restored flow. Provided general guidance about where there might be a problem Price included a scoping of pipe to find root cause issues (no pun intended...). Scoped pipe and identified issues with the pipe and roots. Proposed appropriate additional work to resolve issue.

They replaced the sewer lines to the street that was deteriorating. They have also installed an air conditioner for my mother in the past. They were very responsive. They were thorough. They were really great about explaining everything. Their work looked very good to me; it was very carefully done. One thing I appreciate is that they have someone in the office all the times, except in the night. So when I call I get a person, even on Saturday. They also work on Saturdays, which is very handy too. In terms of price, they were a little high. I did get lower quotes from other companies when I had the air conditioner installed. However, they seemed more thorough in determining how the system should be dealt with in terms of size and so forth. I don’t have a huge range for comparison on their pricing. I’m not sure what someone might charge to dig up the yard and put in the drain lines. It was very expensive but it was a huge project. They had to dig a 30 feet long and 10 feet deep trench. They had to pull a bunch of permits from the city. They had to plan for the city meetings with the city inspector to get approvals. So it was a big production plus there were a lot of new pipes that had to be laid. Also, it included working with a television, a camera, and a snake to determine what was wrong with the lines because it wasn’t draining. All that cost over $10,000. I would definitely use them again. I had a flood in my mother’s basement and the electrician I had in the house had recommended them and that is how I got in touch with them.

I was impressed by our plumber's professionalism. Nate arrived exactly on time for out appointment, listened carefully to what I needed, reviewed the utility room in our home where the equipment needed to be installed and then carefully examined the parts I had purchased from a big box hardware store. Although his company is used to providing all parts and labor, they were happy to quote on just the installation of these two units. Nate prepared a detailed quotation, advised me on how I could save money by adding a preventative maintenance contract on my homes heating system, then gave me a time estimate on how long it would take to complete the job. After answering my questions on the quote, we agreed to proceed with the work, even though it would run into the evening. Nate completed all of the installation, moved all of the old parts out of my basement, then walked me through the operation of both the water softener and filtration units and completed the payment. I must say that from start to finish the project was handled professionally, with "no surprises." I had decided to use Thornton & Grooms based on their reputation (very good) but was somewhat skeptical due to some bad experiences I had had in the past with other companies that were reputed to have a good reputation. Although they are probably not the "cheap" plumbing company, their work is first-rate. I would recommend Thornton & Grooms for anyone who wants trouble-free plumbing work.

I have a contract with them, and they have been my heating contractors for years. I would recommend them to anybody; in fact, I have recommended them to a couple of my friends. I would rate them highly.

Work was done to the schedule, by a professional staff. I was aware of project scope and progress at all points of the project. Clean up was complete. The prices are never cheap, but we keep coming back.

While professional, I found their prices very high - $600 to add some refrigerant to one unit and to replace a contactor in a second set. They will get the job done, but I think you could go elsewhere for less.

When we first called, we were having problems with our furnace not coming on. They came out to diagnose the problem. I asked them about a service plan at the time as well since we had discontinued with another provider last year. The service plan was approx. $155.00 and covered heat, air conditioning and plumbing. It was SO worth it for us since they ended up coming out three separate times for three separate issues. The circuit board was replaced in a timely manner, and we thought all was well. While the service man was out working on the furnace, I had the washer going. He noted that something sounded strange around the hot water tank and suggested we have it serviced. When the plumber came out, we discovered it was a faulty valve which was also replaced in a timely manner. A couple of weeks later, we found that our baseboard heat upstairs was not working properly. The service man came out (by now I knew him by name!) diagnosed the problem as a faulty thermostat. This was also replaced quickly and efficiently. All of the service calls were covered by our plan and because two of these issues were part of an insurance claim, we only paid for the plumbing valve and labor associated with it. By the way, while the plumber was here, he noted that a bathroom faucet was leaking around the base, and fixed it for free. All in all, a good experience considering the fallout from the strike (we had quite a bit of previous damage after July but before November).

Had T&G come to replace an A/C condensate pump (part costs $50-60 on Amazon.com). They would not quote the repair costs over the phone (frustrating as I knew the exact problem to be rectified). When they arrived at my home triggering the $90 service fee, they quoted their "book price" of $400 to replace the pump--UNBELIEVEABLE when the part is only $50!!!!! He said he could do nothing on price but did suggest to me that I might be able to fix it myself (as it was an easy repair). He even showed me how to connect the shut-off circuit (this was a kind act and well appreciated)!). Having spent $90 on the service call, I thought I would just upgrade and pay $155 for an annual tune-up contract for A/C and furnace work. After I bought it and he performed the A/C service (adding 7 oz of refrigerant), he said it would be $150 for the refrigerant (ANOTHER RIPOFF!!!). Only after I told him that my previous HVAC company (Parent Heating and Cooling) did not charge for filters or refrigerant did he waive the fee. When will there be an HVAC company that quotes over the phone the cost of a repair and stand by their quote? All of them seem to operate on the $90 service call fee and which point you are pretty much locked in to their quote.

Plumber showed up a little late but within reason. Had his little book with the pictures. Was embarrassed to quote price. I was going out of town and needed it repaired and the part was on his truck so I let him proceed. I understand about carrying inventory but really..... There are plumbers that are just as good for way less.

I contacted several plumbing companies in the area and found Thornton & Grooms to have the best price on sewer line inspection. I later found out that this was because of a special that they were running at the time. They sent Jim to our house who was very professional and polite and quickly determined that the size of our clean out required a different camera be used for the job so we rescheduled. When he returned he did a very thorough job and explained some of the things that we should be looking for to indicate the condition of our line. He left a DVD copy of the inspection so that we could reference it to compare to future inspections. Working with Jim was a great experience and I was left with a very good impression of their company. I will use them again in the future as a result.

They have always been professional and done a good job but they are totally out of line as far as price goes. We saved $3,000 by using a different company for furnace, AC, and water heater installation. We had known for some time that their price was high but we recently decided to change companies.

Original call was to clear slow floor drains. Thornton & Grooms' plumber was on-time, courteous, and very careful of furnishings and flooring. He was successful in clearing the drain and restoring full functionality, and recommended replacing badly rusted, damaged pipes and traps under the floor ASAP. He was also concerned when he was unable to get a standard-size auger through and recommended video inspection. They were able to come the same day. The video plumber requested me to view the entire video process, explaining in detail what we were seeing as he went and answering any questions thoroughly. The outcome was relining the entire old drain from home to street in addition to replacing rusted plumbing under the floor. This was estimated at 2 working days, but took 3. The stages of the job were scheduled to minimize disruptions and ensure the home had functional plumbing every night. The plumbers and technicians that worked on this job (up to 6 at once) were prompt, polite and professional; the project head was courteous, organized, readily available and very informative at all stages. This job involved a 5' diameter hole jackhammered through cement basement floor and a deep hole dug underneath as well as an exterior hole dug by the foundation. During the process the concrete rubble was removed and all dirt kept contained. The hole was carefully tarped and bagged every night to keep pets out. All repairs & replacement cement work were completed to high standards and both the inside and outside areas were restored and tidied before they left.

Overall the service was excellent. I arranged for the service the night before on Dec 23rd and Michelle from T&G was courteous & knowledgeable. She asked if it was an immediate problem that couldn't wait, it wasn't, so we agreed on the following morning for the work. Imagine my relief to be able to get a plumber out on Christmas Eve. Jim from T&G arrived around 9 am as promised to begin the work. He called ahead as promised, and I was there to greet him. He explained what he was going to do, confirmed the estimate quoted by Michelle and completed the job. He was clean; shoe protectors, floor covering, etc.. to keep from damaging floors or other. He was skilled & efficient in his work. He explained the situation and correctly diagnosed the problem. This is the 3rd time I've had this drain snaked and he clearly and hoestly laid out options for more in-depth repairs. I believe his approach to be much more truthful than other plumber / plumbing providers I've used in the past. If I decide to pursue more permanent corrections to the drain issue, I will most definitely have T&G at the very top of my list. I would heartily recommend this company for their approach to customer service and their honesty in assessing the right fix for a plumbing problem. I didn't cross shop much, but based on prior service, I probably could've saved a few bucks on the work. However, based on prior service, it was well worth the few extra dollars to have a true professional in my home. Also, the amount paid equalled the estimate to the dollar, and I truly appreciate not having to listen to scare tactics that others seem to find necessary.

They do great work, but they really are expensive. I am not sure that I will continue using them, only because of the cost. I have been very pleased with their service and the quality of their work.

I have used them regularly in the past 12 years. However, when they came for the toilet repair, I was extremely disappointed with their service. They quoted $454 for basic repair and $650 for full repair. I thought the price quoted by them was exorbitant. So, my wife paid only for the service call and told them to go back. I’ll never use them again. They are terrible.

They are excellent and have always done a good job. They always show up on time. They are professional and clean up once the job is done. The quality of their work is good and I have been satisfied with their service.

Project went well. We had to postpone once due to the extreme cold and snow/ice on the roof.

They show you what has to be done before they begin. They came when they had scheduled. They cleaned up the debris after the job was done. The workers were professional and courteous in their work. They also hauled away the old pipe. They replaced the hoses on my washing machine with the steel wrap hoses.

Just found poor wiring; wiring burned in box could have burned down my house; very poor workmanship; all electrical wiring has to be replaced.

I was not informed of pricing until the plumber came on site. I felt the fixed price was extremely out of line with the straightforward work necessary to swap out one fixture for another. I told the office when booking the appointment that the new fixture was metric, but the plumber did not bring appropriate fittings to tie into the existing US plumbing, and had to make a return call to his office for parts before completing the job. Job well-done, neat, arrived timely.

Thornton & Grooms was excellent. They were completely professional and kept me informed during the working stages of the job. I appreciated their honesty, integrity, and cleanliness.

I have used them for years. They have very capable service people. They always do great work. When I call they ask if it needs to be done right away if so they are out right away, if not the schedule an appointment. Once even coming out at 10 at night. They offer great suggestions over the phone if the problem is small enough for me to fix myself. I have always been satisfied with this company.

The plumber was about a half hour later than the three hour window we were given, but the home office called to let us know that we were next on his list and he was still coming. They scheduled the visit the same day we called although the leak was not threatening to flood the basement and could have waited. The plumber was extremely nice and very efficient but we thought the cost a bit pricey for the work done. Although we must admit to not having had to call a plumber in a few years so the cost may be comparable to others. The coupon was a nice perk and did help influence our decision to call this particular company, along with the proximity to our location.

The workmen are clean, pleasant and professional. The owners and office staff are responsive and pricing is reasonable. This is our fourth time using T&G in the past year for a major ($3000+) repair. They are now our #1 choice. Although I have lived in the Birmingham/ Bloomfield area most of my life, I had never had contact with them until last year. This is for three 3 reasons; my dad is a handy and always took care of our house, as an adult I had the perception they were pricey and I was determined to use smaller companies. We returned from a trip in Aug 2005, to a broken A/C, during a heatwave. The guy we were using couldn't get us a new unit, had to go through his brother, who wouldn't return his calls. T&G, who we had never used had a new unit installed two days later. Still, when we decided to replace our water heater, I again chose an independent. T&G had to bail us out when it turned out my chosen independent contractor was in way over his head.