Pipe Systems Plumbing

I made a call to the service and indicated the exact problem we were having, which was that there was an overflow from the drain of the connected to the washing machine. We knew it was a drain backup and explained it as is, and they said that they will be able to handle the issue and that they will charge a fee for just coming out ($90 or so) in their van. Once he arrived the next day, as promised, on time, he looked at the problem and said that the drain had to be cleared, but that he was not sure if his equipment would be sufficient to do so. I was very disappointed as I've explained the exact problem before he came out. As I would have had to pay for him to come out anyway, I told him to try and he "snaked" the line, but it did not resolve the problem. The actual work he had done, which did not even work, only took about 10min and he charged me $105, for a problem NOT fixed and told me to contact Rescue Rooter or someone like that since that's more along the lines of their work. I contacted Roto-Rooter right afterwards and he fixed the problem in the same amount of time that Pipe Systems took to NOT fix it. 1. As the problem was clearly a drain backup and I explained it as so, Pipe Systems should have recused themselves from the work from the start. 2. As he was clearly not able to fix the problem, I should not have been charged (as the house was also in Beaverton, same as the business of Pipe Systems) $105 for them wasting my time. 3. They came up on google search as Beaverton Plumbers, but told me to write the check to Pipe Systems, which was very shady, as you might not be able to find the correct review on the business.

Jared called the morning prior to my appointment and had me send a picture of my current pressure reducer valve so that he could come prepared with a new one to fit. He was very professional and did his work with little interruption to me as I was working from home that day. He had to work in a tight space due to shelving that couldn't be moved, but left the space spotless. He tried to email an invoice but I did not receive it. Might have been a problem on my end. Asked him to resend but still had the same problem. So my only issue would be that I didn't get an invoice, though that is minor. Overall I am pleased with the service, problem is fixed, and I would call again should I need other plumbing repairs.

The plumber (Joe) showed up on time, surveyed the job quickly, and discussed what he thought was the best approach to fixing the leak. It wasn't straightforward since there was a pin hole in a copper pipe that was in the space above a stud wall between two bathrooms on the second floor. Worse still it was just above the wall framing (top plate) and immediately adjacent to a rafter. This being the case there was no room to sweat any joints with out igniting the framing (or at least make the home owner very nervous). Joe reccommended "Shark Bite" compression fittings and a short section of Pex pipe. It all fit together nicely and doesn't leak. I asked Joe if he minded me leaning over his sholder a bit and asking a few questions. He was open to that and still managed to finish the job in about 3/4 of an hour.

01/09 - Called Pipe Systems at 7:30 AM to notify them of my problem. Although I called during business hours the call went to an answering machine so I left a message. Received a call back from the technician at approximately 8:00 AM. He stated that his son had a wrestling tournament, and he would probably not be able to be at my house until around 4:00 or 5:00 PM in the afternoon. Rather than try to find somebody else, I decided to wait. He finally arrived at about 6:30 PM. Hind sight is 20/20 and I most certainly question my logic now!!! Upon arrival he checked the water heater, and agreed that it would have to be replaced. He started draining the old heater, but succeeded in really making it leak. He did not have a water heater with him so the actual change would occur the next day, and he left agreeing to be back at 11:00 AM on Sunday the 10th. 01/10 - Technician arrived at 1:30 PM! Apparently his wife had chores for him. Spent time mopping up all the leaking water, and then moved the old heater out and the new one in. He needed additional supplies so he made a trip to Home Depot. He arrived back and began the installation. Once the wiring was completed he filled the tank with water, and when that was done he turned the power on. While he was cleaning up I wrote out the check to Niall (not Pipe Systems). Just before he was ready to leave he had me check the hot water...it was warmer but it had only been about 30 minutes. His comment was "Good, it is wired correctly!" At that point he left with check in hand. I continued to check the temperature throughout the night, but it was only getting cooler. Around 11:00 PM I checked the circuit breaker, and it was tripped. I did not reset the breaker because there obviously was a problem somewhere. 01/11 - Called Pipe Systems 7:30 AM. Again it went to the answering machine so I left a message stating the problem. At approximately 9:15 AM I called again and got the answering machine. I left a message stating my concern that I was being ignored. I did tell them that I had placed a "Stop Payment" on the check, and I would reissue another one when the water heater was working properly. I NEVER received a call back!!!! At this point I have been without hot water for three days!!!!! Leaving me no choice I went looking for another plumber only to discover that they will not get in the middle of my problem which I can understand, but they will install another new water heater. As it stands now at 2:30 PM, I still have NOT received a response from Pipe Systems, and I am waiting for the new plumber to arrive. Pipe Systems did not pull a permit for the new water heater!!! It also appears that Customer Service is not a high priority with this company, and one I would not recommend to anybody. As of January 31, 2010 I am continuing this review because of ongoing threats from the initial plumber, Niall; and the owner, Jared Welsh, who is full of promises but lacks the ability to return phone calls and feels that seismic strapping is different for electric water heaters. As of this date ? the water heater is working but there is still a leak from one of the new connectors installed by Niall, and my back door located next to the water heater is so water logged that it can only be opened and closed with two hands. This was pointed out to Niall before he left for the last time on Sunday, January 10th but his solution was to place a portable heater by it to dry it out. Unfortunately this has not helped. If the old water heater had been removed on Saturday, instead of left to drip all that night after he partially drained it, this would not have become an issue. Also, according to the Building Codes for Portland a permit is required for ALL water heaters whether they are new, moved, or replaced and I still DO NOT have one for this installation. In addition, two seismic straps are required for ALL water heaters in the Portland area whether they are gas or electric, and I only have one. A ?Stop Payment? on a check was something that Niall did not understand! I left him a message on January 11th (when he was not returning my calls) that I had placed a ?stop payment? on the check I gave him on January 10th which was done for two reasons ? I did not have a functioning water heater, and he would not return my phone calls on the 11th until 7:30 PM. By that time I had another plumber and an electrician scheduled to arrive on the 12th to determine if it was a wiring issue. He attempted to cash the check on January 14th, but he did not succeed. Niall called me yelling and screaming loudly and I hung up each time. He called back three more times yelling and screaming before he realized that I would not tolerate that type of conversation. So, again, he called - speaking calmly. He wanted his money (you see he was working behind Jared?s back while he was on vacation and did not use the company credit card for the water heater, but paid for it himself). Basically I paid full price for the water heater and accessories because Niall did not use the procedures that Jared had set in place for that type of job. I agreed to pay Niall for the water heater and supplies, but nothing else. The comedy of errors continues!! On January 14th I requested a check be sent to Niall through Wells Fargo Bill Pay. Wouldn?t you know it ? as of today (31st) Niall has not received the check, but not before again telling me with another yelling and screaming match threatening to sue me for none payment. He apparently does not listen or easily forgets but I did tell him when I agreed to pay him that I was going to use Bill Pay which I do not believe he fully understands. At any rate I called the bank on the 25th and they are in the process of tracking the check. I also called Niall back and basically told him never to call me again or the police would be notified. Unknown to me, Jared received an email from Angie?s List after I entered the first review. He was on vacation but called me to find out what had happened. I related the story to him and received apologies, promises, and assurances to make everything right. When he returned home he called and wanted to come to the house to check everything out. At the time I was involved with another project and I did not want to take the time to have men traipsing through the house so asked that he wait. My mistake again! When he called the first time he stated that he had hired Niall to take care of the business while he was gone, but he was very critical of him even going so far as to say he was stealing from him by having the customers pay him directly. Although when he returned home he essentially did nothing. After receiving the threatening call from Niall promising a law suit, I called Jared and asked him to call me back immediately to explain a comment made by Niall stating ?that both he and Jared were waiting for me to do the right thing? whatever that might have meant. That call was made on January 25th and I have not yet received a call back by Jared. Something is beginning to smell fishy about this entire job! The water heater that I had installed qualified for a rebate from the electric company, but without a permit and inspection I cannot do a thing. It would have been nice to have a work order, but that too is not existent. As I have previously stated, I absolutely cannot recommend this business to anybody!