Kangaroo Plumbing is a fully registered, licensed and insured small company serving Pittsburgh's East End since 1998 and is owned and operated by an Australian plumber, John Warburton. John is a Master Plumber who began his plumbing apprenticeship in 1972 and has been working as a plumber all his life. John is the person who answers the phone when you call. More importantly, he is the plumber who comes to your home and performs all of the work. John is able to handle anything from a minor repair to a whole house re-pipe. He is often able to repair plumbing that other plumbers will only replace and has a lot of experience diagnosing mystery leaks and problems. He specializes in residential service and repair work including water heater and main stack replacements. John understands old houses and provides personal service.
Business highlights
26 years of trusted experience
Emergency Services Offered
Services we offer
Plumbing Service & Repairs. Frozen Pipes Thawed. Freeze Prevention. Gas Piping Installations & Additions. Water & Gas Leak Detection & Repair. Water Meter Shut-Off Valve Replacement. Main Stack Replacement & Repair. Hose Bib & Faucet Replacement & Repair. New Fixtures & Faucets. New Tub & Shower Faucets Replaced in Existing Tile Walls. Water Heaters. New Ball Valve Installations. Hot Water Heat Piping and Radiator Repair & Replacement. Can Replace and/or Repair All Types and Sizes of any Piping.
John's work is excellent and meticulous. He has done many projects here over the years. This is the first time that I ever had to have him come back. There was a very slow drip on the faucet where he had previously replaced the stems, more than 6 months ago. It was not clear whether it was on the hot side or the cold side. He replaced them both just to be sure and he did not charge me anything at all. I would recommend him without reservation.
Description of Work: Replaced ceramic stems on faucet.
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
David L.
01/2021
5.0
plumbing, gas leak repair
+ 0 more
I've used Kangaroo plumbing a few times before and he always does a good job. Awhile back he replaced the entire gas line in our basement. A few weeks ago another contractor, working on our HVAC unit, complemented the work that he did. This compliment was unprompted and he said that he was really impressed with the new gas line. I thought that was a great sign of quality - having another contractor compliment the work.
Description of Work: Replaced a gas line in the basement
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
Yes, I recommend this pro
CHRISTOPHER V.
12/2020
5.0
plumbing, water heater repair
+ 0 more
- Replaced the leaky old main valve at the meter with a far superior 1/4 turn ball valve, which is much easier to use. - Replaced two outside faucets to make them freeze-proof, and installed proper shut-off valves. - Removed and capped one outside faucet that violated code by being too close to the electric breaker box. - Replaced our failing water heater with the best water heater we have ever had. This required reconfiguring the gas piping, the flue, and the cold water supply piping. His professional knowledge is thorough. He explains things understandably, so that we can sensibly choose among the options. After an initial inspection, he presents a detailed written proposal describing the work and the cost of each item. And when the job is done, he charges exactly what he said he would. We could not be more pleased with the work that John has done. We recommend him without reservation.
Description of Work: A number of repairs and replacements to our outdated plumbing system, and replace water heater.
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
Linda O.
07/2020
5.0
plumbing
+ -1 more
John came out promptly and replaced the spigot. He presented three spigot options, explained the pros and cons of each, but there was no pressure to go with the most expensive. We made our choice and he finished the replacement within an hour. We called John as he had fixed some bathroom plumbing issues when we first moved in 15 years ago, and we've never had a problem since, which is a real testament to the quality of his work. He may not be the cheapest plumber out there, but you get what you pay for!
Description of Work: replace leaking garden hose spigot
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
Yes, I recommend this pro
$320
Jerold G.
03/2020
5.0
plumbing
+ -1 more
He was able to fix the problem for us, He is very very good, he does an excellent work, but he is on the high end cost, a top dollar service, He's always been reliable, on time and prompt and does the work right the first time.
Description of Work: Ceiling water leakage repair
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
Yes, I recommend this pro
Fred K.
12/2019
5.0
plumbing
+ -1 more
Kangaroo was prompt, completed the work in short order and the price was reasonable. He also took time to answer questions about some other plumbing problems.
Description of Work: Two shutoff valves replaced on copper pipe.
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
4.0
value
4.0
professionalism
4.0
responsiveness
4.0
punctuality
4.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$265
Thomas L.
12/2019
5.0
plumbing
+ -1 more
John is a true professional of the old school—thorough, experienced, and also a real gent. He's come through for me on several occasions and I hope to be working with him for years to come. John doesn't just give you a quick fix—he finds solutions that will last, and he's very good at explaining the options. I trust him with my pipes.
Description of Work: Plumbing Repair
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
ASATOSHI M.
12/2019
5.0
plumbing
+ -1 more
John's work is excellent, and he explains his plans thoroughly. The system he installed is secure and easy to manipulate. I would definitely recommend his work.
Description of Work: Replaced interior pipes and valves serving garden faucet; updated filter system; replaced faulty toilet fill valve
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
Yes, I recommend this pro
donna K.
12/2019
5.0
plumbing
+ -1 more
We have been hiring John for all our plumbing needs for the past five years. He is always friendly and good at keeping us updated as far as what his ETA is and what is going on with the work that we need done. We have always been happy with Johns work and are loyal customers.
Description of Work: faucet leak fixed and old sink removed
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$300
Marty K.
10/2019
3.0
plumbing
+ -1 more
John is very knowledgeable and professional. He was very easy to work with during the job. He replaced the waste overflow and and the tub drain plug and chain. He then needed to adjust the length of the chain so the stopper could open and close the tub drain properly. He repeatedly adjusted the drain added more water during each test and the stopper would not hold. He finally checked behind the tub and he found a leak in the drain pipe. Unfortunately, all that water fell right on my living room ceiling plaster roof eventually creating a 2 foot in diameter stain and the damage was done. He fixed replaced the leaking drain and after another glitch successfully got it all working. John was here a little less than 4 hours. The bill (no helper) was for $990 of which $75 was a “call out fee”, $800 “service charge” and the remainder was for parts! I thought that was overly excessive especially considering the large amount of water that stained my ceiling. To top it off, when I asked to pay by credit card he said he was not getting internet access in his van at the moment (perhaps he didn’t want to pay the cc company the service fee?). I told him I was surprised but I volunteered to pay by check, which I did.
Description of Work: Replace Tub Overflow and Tub Stopper.
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
4.0
value
1.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$990
David L.
07/2019
5.0
plumbing
+ -1 more
John has come out two separate times to help us with various leaks and other plumbing issues. He is very thorough and does a good job of explaining the work he is doing and how it will be done. Would recommend and hire again for another job.
Description of Work: Kitchen sink and external faucet repairs
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
4.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$700
Gabriella L.
02/2019
5.0
plumbing
+ -1 more
John did a terrific job of assessing each situation and giving us a comprehensive understanding of the repair needs/issues and the proposed solutions. Where repairs were possible and sufficient, he effected repairs (two toilets, the exterior faucet; the washer supply line). New parts were required for the toilet shut-off valve, and John installed those. He determined that the toilet seal was not broken, and therefore, no repairs were needed to the toilet. Instead, he caulked some gaps in the floor that likely allowed spilled water to leak and effect the downstairs ceiling. Everything is now working great. For many years, John has always provided us with excellent technical solutions. And he's one of the nicest people you can hope to meet and have in your home!
Description of Work: A variety of repairs: flushing mechanisms in two toilets needed attention; a toilet supply line shut-off valve needed to be replaced; an exterior frost-free faucet needed a new vacuum valve; washer supply line leaks needed repair; repairs to a suspected broken toilet seal causing leaks in a ceiling below.
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$500
Caleb W.
12/2018
5.0
plumbing
+ -1 more
John was very timely, professional, and friendly. He worked diligently to complete the somewhat complex replacement of a battery backup sump in a non-standard installation. I am typically a DIY person but the job was about 3 hours even for a professional and required quite a bit of PVC pipe fitting that I just didn't have time for. Having had other less diligent tradesmen I was really pleased with the obvious integrity and knowledge that John brought to the job. He was not the cheapest plumber but his charge was fair - perhaps more importantly, the quality of his work was to a true professional standard, making it worth paying more than a "bargain" price for possibly substandard work. The non-standard installation forced John to race to the supply store as the day was ending, which he was glad to do even though it certainly extended his work past the scheduled end of the day. Once the project was done, John helped clean things up and made sure to test the functionality of all the work he completed. He even offered some thoughtful advice on how in the future I might improve the non-standard cover for our sump pit and make some adjustments to the backup sump wiring that, at the time of installation, were limited because of the materials provided by the manufacturer. I would absolutely use John again in the future.
Description of Work: R&R Sump Pump w/Battery Backup
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
4.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
Linda K.
10/2018
5.0
plumbing, water heater repair
+ 0 more
Wonderfully! He came the day after I phoned him. As always fixed the problem quickly and efficiently, I would recommend John over and over again.
Description of Work: repair water heater
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$200
Donna D.
09/2018
5.0
plumbing
+ -1 more
John determined that the problem was the hot water stem in the shower. He replaced the stem and knob in a very quick and professional manner.
Description of Work: Water was dripping from the 2nd floor bathroom into the kitchen.
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$250
Jean M.
09/2018
5.0
plumbing
+ -1 more
Great! John is great at figuring out the problem, especially in older homes. Used Kangaroo plumbing for many jobs. John does excellent work, and you can be sure that, once it's fixed, it's fixed for good.
Description of Work: Change bath drum and stopper
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
Gabriella L.
04/2018
5.0
plumbing
+ -1 more
John is our go-to plumber, but due to some extenuating circumstances lately, we've had two plumbing problems which other tradesmen have tried unsuccessfully to fix for us, and we've called John "mop up", so to speak, behind them. This was one of those two cases. Our original, 1950 double-tub utility sink (which gets used a lot in our house) sprang leaks in both drain pipes. A handyman was in the house doing other repairs for us, and offered to fix the sink. His efforts only created a mess that still leaked where he tried to attach the new pipes to the supply line. John to the rescue!! He fit us into his schedule the same day I called. John pointed out that the pipes were also original, and given the extensive corrosion and calcification, normal removal and replacement wasn't possible. John was able to remove the old pipes and attach new ones without a problem, creating perfectly functioning drains without any leaks. He also replaced the incorrectly-sized strainers the handyman had installed with ones of the proper size. John's saves the day every time. We can count on him to assess the needs of the situation accurately and honestly, and to apply the most effective remedy. He also applies Angie's List discounts to the bill!
Description of Work: Replace drain pipes for double-tub utility sink.
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$460
Gabriella L.
04/2018
5.0
plumbing
+ -1 more
Our 1950 wall-hung toilet sprang a slow leak where it should have been sealed at the wall, I originally called John, who is our regular plumber, but as it was an exceptionally busy time for him with a bit of a wait before he could fit us in, I chose to have another plumber attempt the fix. MISTAKE. The other plumber was recommended by friends, appeared competent, and the job appeared to go smoothly. But the leak returned. As it was a slow leak, I decided John was worth waiting for, as I knew he would correct the issue with his first trip out. Which he did!! He pointed out a number of weird little oddities in how the toilet had originally been hung when the house was built which, over time, eventually produced the leak and which had to be addressed by the repair. John designed a creative and effective remedy to fix the situation. He pointed out where and how the other plumber had failed to take these oddities into account, thereby guaranteeing failure. The leak was cured by John's efforts. John has attended to the plumbing issues in the different old houses in which we've lived for at least a decade, probably longer, He has repeatedly demonstrated that no problem is too complicated or weird for him to assess and solve successfully. His decades of experience and expertise are priceless!
Description of Work: Fix a toilet leak that a different plumber failed to fix.
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$500
JON J.
03/2018
3.0
plumbing
+ -1 more
We arranged a time for Mr. Warburton to come to my house that was convenient for both of us. My house is <2 miles from his address. He had to delay his arrival a bit, which was not a significant inconvenience. He quickly found a pinhole leak from a copper pipe in the ceiling and replaced ~2” of pipe without soldering; material costs were minimal. Time here was about 1 hour. I found total charge of $290 (after the $10 Angie’s list discount) extremely overpriced.
Description of Work: Repair of a slow leak from the ceiling in a basement bathroom.
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
4.0
value
2.0
professionalism
4.0
responsiveness
4.0
punctuality
4.0
$290
jessica R.
02/2018
5.0
heating & air conditioning/hvac, plumbing, water heater repair, gas leak repair
+ 2 more
Every time John has done work at my house it has been outstanding. I am a Nervous Nelly and freak out when it comes to having someone work inside my home (it's just me and my cats), especially with something like gas lines and plumbing. He is professional, nice to my pets, answers all of my questions in a way I can understand, very patient if I have to ask more questions, doesn't leave a mess behind -- and most importantly -- he does a phenomenal job!! I trust him with the recommendations he makes and I trust that the work he does is correct and complete. He is a little more expensive, but worth every penny, because I know that the work won't need to be redone or cause problems down the road. Now if I could only find an electrician that is just as awesome.
Description of Work: Kangaroo Plumbing has worked on my house a number of times. Everything from radiator repair, leak in a gas line, leaky faucet, servicing the boiler, hot water heater and more.
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
Ethan L.
10/2017
5.0
plumbing, water heater repair, gas leak repair
+ 1 more
Fantastically. I thought John was extremely professional, listened to some of the ideas I had about repairs that needed to be made, provided his own assessment, and gave very detailed estimations of the work. I couldn't have been more impressed with
Description of Work: Several small water heater-related repairs, installation of a shut-off valve to outside spigot, and installation of a 1/4-turn knob on my water supply.
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
Gabriella L.
09/2017
5.0
plumbing
+ -1 more
As always, John Warburton did a superlative job. He took his time to assess each situation before proceeding. The hot water tank demonstrated signs that could be related to improperly venting flue gasses, so he investigated the venting system and took corrective steps before installing the new tank. The tank he purchased for us offers excellent quality and value. He made sure I fully understood operation of the filtration system, applied ingenuity to solve the drain problem (an old wrought iron drain cover was completely frozen in place), and installed the new anti-hammering devices. John has solved our plumbing needs for decades at this point, and we'll continue to rely on Kangaroo Plumbing for dependably exceptional quality, skill, professionalism and service.
Description of Work: Replace hot water tank; install drinking water filtration system; replace anti-hammering devices; repair floor drain grate.
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$1,500
Mark D.
09/2017
5.0
plumbing
+ -1 more
Flawlessly, made his assessments, made recommendations, provided outlined estimate of three jobs one bathroom. Completed work, I inspected and paid for work. No additional appointment need. Problems are resolved completely.
Description of Work: Leaking faucet, shower stall and toilet. John fixed previous work that was poorly/improperly completed. No More Leaks! Thank you so much!
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$760
Marry C.
08/2017
1.0
plumbing
+ -1 more
Our lesson learned: DO ask the price, on every piece of job that this company is going to work on, in advance!!! Extremely pricy!!! UPDATE 11-1-17 1) He called me, asking me to remove my review on his service. I NEVER said I would remove my post. I said I Would Think it Over and see if I could modify it. 2) I just need you to answer one question. DID you say exactly how much each piece of work you would charge in advance, or DID you charge us the price after your service?
Description of Work: Valve repairs.
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
professionalism
1.0
Response from KANGAROO PLUMBING INC
I do take customer's reviews seriously and I was so surprised to see what this customer had written. Firstly, I should make it clear that this customer called me at noon and told me his toilet valve had broken and implied it was urgent. I told him that I could be there within 30 minutes and explained I had a call out fee and would quote pricing of the necessary work before proceeding. Upon arriving I found it was a substantial 100 year old home in the process of a complete remodel with nobody living there. So I was misled about the urgency. No problem. The owner showed me where he had broken an old screwed brass nipple serving a toilet and I told him it would cost $150 including new brass nipple escutcheon and chrome ball valve. He agreed without question so I went ahead. Upon completion he was so happy with the outcome that he asked me to replace the two nipples and valves serving the sink in the same old bathroom. I told him as I had my equipment in place, that would cost $100 for each including new brass nipples, escutcheons and chrome ball valves. He agreed so I proceeded. Unfortunately as I screwed out one of the 100 year old nipples it snapped off inside the wall so I explained as it was a tile wall I would have to cut open the wall in the adjoining bedroom and do what I had to do to rectify the problem. He told me to go ahead. I opened the wall and exposed the old fitting. I brought my acetylene torch from the truck and sweated off the offending fitting and soldered a new fitting in place then went ahead and installed the nipple valve etc as quoted. For this task I charged him $200 plus $10 for materials. The customer was so happy with my work he asked me to replace another valve serving a toilet on the third floor. For this task, again before I began, I quoted him a discounted price of $90 including new brass nipple escutcheon, chrome ball valve and supply connector. He again agreed without hesitation so I performed the task. I also adjusted the fill valve at no charge. He was impressed by the fact that my truck was so well stocked and I was able to perform all the work without running for parts. I then wrote the bill exactly as quoted and gave him my usual $10 Angie's List discount. At this point he told me he wanted a $100 discount but I refused to bargain with him. He conceded and we processed the credit card payment. Then this Angie's List review appeared so I called him but he passed me on to his wife. She was very accusatory and told me that I had taken advantage of her husband. I should mention he was a man of about 50 years old who seemed quite normal. She implied that he was somehow incompetent to deal with tradesmen and I had intentionally taken advantage of him. I spoke to her for approximately 30 minutes, explained how thing had occurred, assured her that my actions were honest and fair and her husband seemed to understand what I was doing and that all work, except for were I had to open the wall to repair the unexpected break, was quoted and accepted by him before performance of the work. She then told me that she would adjust this bad review accordingly but weeks have now gone by and it never happened. In the words of Abraham Lincoln (quoting Lydgate,) "You can't please all the people all the time."
Zachary K.
08/2017
3.0
plumbing
+ -1 more
Vague and inconclusive results. Did use an infrared camera to look for water issues behind the shower wall. Later found that the floor outside shower was the offender! Extremely pricey. Needed a hot water heater installed 3 days later and used someone from Plum. With parts and labor he charged $235!!!! So glad I didn't call Kangaroo again.
Description of Work: Finding the source of a leak.
All statements concerning insurance, licenses, and bonds are informational only, and are self-reported. Since insurance, licenses and bonds can expire and can be cancelled, homeowners should always check such information for themselves. To find more licensing information for your state, visit our State Contractor License Requirements page.
*Contact business to see additional licenses.
Service Categories
Plumbing,
Water Heaters,
Drain Cleaning,
Natural Gas Lines,
Heating and Air Conditioning
FAQ
KANGAROO PLUMBING INC is currently rated 4.9 overall out of 5.
Sunday: Open All Day
Monday: Open All Day
Tuesday: Open All Day
Wednesday: Open All Day
Thursday: Open All Day
Friday: Open All Day
Saturday: Open All Day
KANGAROO PLUMBING INC accepts the following forms of payment: American Express,Check,Discover,MasterCard,Visa
No, KANGAROO PLUMBING INC does not offer free project estimates.
KANGAROO PLUMBING INC offers the following services: Plumbing Service & Repairs. Frozen Pipes Thawed. Freeze Prevention. Gas Piping Installations & Additions. Water & Gas Leak Detection & Repair. Water Meter Shut-Off Valve Replacement. Main Stack Replacement & Repair. Hose Bib & Faucet Replacement & Repair. New Fixtures & Faucets. New Tub & Shower Faucets Replaced in Existing Tile Walls. Water Heaters. New Ball Valve Installations. Hot Water Heat Piping and Radiator Repair & Replacement. Can Replace and/or Repair All Types and Sizes of any Piping.