ARS / Rescue Rooter Austin

This company is a not following its words with customer. Last Saturday I called this company for an emergency service since my water softener started making some loud noise. The agent at the other end told me he could send me a technician who could analyze issue for a charge of $89. I agreed after couple of hours a technician showed up who had no idea of water softener walked around and just put the water softener in by-pass mode and told me this company not an expert in Water softener, they only install those. This was not told to me when I clearly stated the issue to the agent who ever booked my service that morning. Any way I list $89, that is it. PLEASE DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY FOR ANY SERVICE

HORRIBLE!!! They charge $3,300 for the installation of water and don’t even provide a break down of the cost unless you request it. They claim they use “corporate pricing” but they really price gauge and fool you with a bait & switch. If you’re in a surrounding city outside Austin use a local plumber, avoid them at all costs!!!

DO NOT USE ARS/Rescue Rooter for ANYTHING you cannot see - like plumbing drains in your yard!!! The City of Austin (30 years ago) had come into the neighborhood and planted trees. At the time, my wife was a divorced mom and said "sure, thanks, plant a tree in the front yard". And they did . . three feet behind the water meter . . and, as it turns out, three feet from the waste line!! Three years ago (2020) we had ARS come look at our waste drain to the street and run their Rooter through the accumulated roots which had broken through the joints. $900 later, we were told we would have no more problems. Until September 2023!! We have them out again. They run their Rooter again and then tell us they will have to dig it up again . . @ $2500?!!! While trying to decide what to do - I first called the Austin City Waste Water Department. Within a day they were here with their (much better) pipe viewing camera and we STILL HAD ROOTS?!! The City fellas brought out their 20,000 psi pump and hose and proceeded to cut all the roots out of the pipe. Their advice - NEVER call a plumber - the City will clear the roots FREE!!! Their cameras did show joints with roots showing and said we had 4 - 6 months before they would be back inside blocking the drain. So we called a group in Georgetown that our daughter uses in her commercial property leasing job and they were right out at our home the next day. I had started digging the hole to make it easier, quicker and cheaper than paying the plumbers to dig! In the hole back fill from the ARS "fix", I found remnants of a lunch including a broken soda bottle?! Since this was on top of the pipe, I knew who had left it. As to the "repaired pipe", it was a mess of small sections of 4" PVC and "fernco" (rubber) connectors. Our new guys found that one end of the rubber connector was not even covering the PVC - ROOT ENTRY! Also neither of the two PVC "repaired" connections to the existing pipe were primed nor glued?!! Roots getting through - you betcha!! We now have a well fixed drain line, a knowledgeable plumbing company to call upon and the City of Austin Waste Water Department phone number just in case we ever have another root issue - which I doubt we will!! Dennis in North Austin.

We have had the AC/heat pump for four years and have had a series of issues. We have been without AC for two days and they cancelled our appointment today. Wish we could transfer our warranty to another company. Won’t recommend them ever again.

Unreliable on their scheduling. They didn't show up or even called me that they won't show up for two days. And, then on the third try they wanted to come pretty late unannounced when I was not at home. They scheduled someone to come to my house the next day between 9 am and 1 pm and no one showed up neither I received any call. This company is just playing games. Don't waste your time. Now, I doubt their quality of work.

It was very good . The technician is good.

They are outstanding. They put 2 new toilets and no problem after that. Highly recommend to others.

I've dealt with them several time and they've been really good.

Tim always does a great job and is very conscientious. I would highly recommend them and I would definitely hire them again.

...we called, they scheduled next day between 8-12, they called after 1:30 said they were busy, but would call again in 4 days...

The drain clog was actually in a difficult place to reach with the auger. I called at noon to request a service visit. ARS sent out a 1st team at 4:30 (same day) to try to clear it but was unsuccessful. About 2 hours later a second team showed up with better tools. They successfully cleared the line. Both teams were very professional and friendly. I mentioned the Angie’s List special and they honored it without much trouble. They did not try to charge me extra even though it took extra time to clear it. Good overall experience.

Terrible - I couldn't get them to come out! I called them with an urgent sink back up. I had a party getting started and needed my kitchen sink desperately. They said they'd be out the same day between 3 and 7 pm. That's a really wide window, but was super pleased to get same day service. They called me around 3:15 pm, which I missed because I didn't hear my phone at the party. I called them back in about 10 mins, at which point the dispatcher told me the tech had already moved on, but she would send him right back when he finished his current job. By about 6 pm I hadn't received a call so I called them back. The dispatcher told me I was the very next job on his list and I should hear back within the hour. At 7 pm, the dispatcher had gone home, but the main desk said they'd page the tech and I'd be getting a call shortly. At 8 pm, same story. At 9 pm, the REALLY PROMISED me that the tech would get back to me shortly after the page. I went to bed at 10 pm. I called again in the morning to inquire as to whether they actually wanted my business. I was told that they would call me back shortly with a window for the service. I told them not to bother since clearly their phones don't work.

The interaction with the company was not great. I had gone through Home Depot before I reached these people (who ended up being one of the service providers for Home Depot). I was given an appointment between noon and 4:00 and was incorrectly told that my water heater would be replaced that day. Unfortunately, I think the main problem is the confusion between Home Depot and the service provider, but I didn't even see a service man until almost 6:30 p.m. When he did arrive (Nicholas Fawcett) he was extremely courteous and politely explained that the work could not be done that day - that all he could do was provide an estimate - which he did. He apologized for all the confusion and said he would order a water heater and be back the next morning to install it. He called at 7:30 the following morning to confirm that and then called again when he was on the way. He did a very professional job and continued to apologize for all the confusion. Were it not for him I would have clicked "NO" on would I use them again.

I had active leak in water heater above garage. ARS responded immediately when others didn't. Pricing was in line with estimates received over the phone from other service providers, but ARS was able to respond and complete the replacement with the same business day.

I had a water heater leaking in attic over my garage over the weekend. Called numbers for prior plumbers and got no response for availability or for appointments from one day to one week out, but the water is leaking now. Called Home Depot web site number about 8:00 am and call was directed to ARS. ARS arrived about 9:00 am. I accepted estimate. Just before 10:00 am ARS drove from Austin to Home Depot in Round Rock to pick up selected replacement water heater and parts to bring installation up to current City of Austin code. ARS came back just before 1 pm. Job was completed just after 4 pm. I am very satisfied with the rapid response and quick turn around, delivery, and completion.

Late, unprofessional and dishonest. I normally don't like posting financial details but am doing so below to save you the headache of dealing with this company. There are plenty of great tradesmen in Austin. Please look else-ware. DETAIL BELOW: I booked a water heater install bid through Home Depot 2 weeks in advance for a 10am to 2pm arrival time slot. Despite the wide window, service provider didn't arrive until 6pm. Shortly after arriving, gentlemen complained about responding to the late call and that he'd rather be at home with his family. My response, "yeah, me too". Labor bid on a tankless install was ~$3,200 plus ~$2,200 for an 11 GPM higher end model (so mid $5k all-in). This was a simple garage install job on an exterior wall. No attic work. No rerunning lines across a home. A master plumber or experienced journeymen should be able to handle the job in 8 to 10 hours, which gives me a ~$300 hourly labor rate quote. ARS should get an overhead charge, profit margin, plus $100 to $120 hourly. Bidding ~$300/hr on the job was just ARS trying to opportunistically fleece the large number of people who must click the home depot 'install' button. When i asked the master plumber about the job, he figured 10 hours. When i asked him about the $300 hourly, he first defended it saying "we don't think labor in terms of job hours" (wrong). He then said this is how they're bidding these days because this is what they can get away with. Well, at-least that's honest.

They got it done in a timely manner. They got it done that day. They did a good job.

They come out twice a year winter and summer and they check on everything.They'll be back out in November. They do wear thing to protect their feet and I laugh at them because I have a dog. It's like man you don't need them, look at all this dog hair on my floor, go ahead you can just sweep the dog hair up with those booties! Overall, they do good.

Office told me to avoid over $100 service fee, to have plumber come in the morning. I was given 10-2p service window. Plumber called at 1pm saying he was running late. I called 4pm asking where the plumber was. Dispatcher said he was finishing up a job and would be calling when done. Got call at 5:30pm from plumber saying since it was after hours he would have to charge >$100 service fee and wouldn't be able to get any parts until Monday anyway. Went over the history from original call. Said he didn't handle that part of the business, I called main ARS number, and they had no record of my appointment scheduled for today!!!! WTH??? Poor service and internal communication. Such a shame. I had used ARS in the past with usually good results.

Mediocre installation of a truly awful and unreliable HVAC system. ARS sells and installs Amana/Goodman equipment. Trane and Lennox and Carrier are picky about whom they let sell and install. Amana/Goodman not so much. We had an uneasy feeling about the crew doing our installation. 8 years later we know why. ARS bought out a local company we liked. Just another example of all that's wrong with 21st Century ways of doing business.

AC was not cooling. Technician came, diagnosed the issue was due to bad evaporator coil and provided estimate for repair. Repair seemed high so I decided to check with other companies listed on Angie's list. After getting other estimates, I hired a different company to do the same job for over 1k less!

I've had good and bad experiences with them. Overall, it's been good. They used to have a different name and then they were purchased by ARS. When they became corporate I had a little problem with them, but then they got better. Growing pains, I guess you would call it. A tree root had lifted up and broken a water main valve between my water meter and my house, and it was kind of a configuration where the irrigation system and everything come together, and it kind of broke apart right there. On price, for me everything's too expensive, but I'll be fair and give them a B. They did good work.

They come out in the spring and the winter to check the heat verses the air. I have one person in that company that I request. The reason for that is because when they sent out younger people to check things. They try very hard to sell you things you don't need, and I don't like it. Its a big company and that's their fortune fallen. Over 15 years of using them, they replace 2 A/C units very well. When Ray tells me I need something I know he is telling the truth. But will I trust everyone they send out here, no. They are a big company and they come when you call them. When I make an appointment they show up. Ray I would give an A. The rest of the people who told me stuff I would give a C. When they have replaced A/C units they have done an excellent job. When they have persuaded me to do other things regarding plumbing it was not excellent. So, you know I have had very positive and average experiences. If I had a really bad experience I wouldn't still be calling them. It doesn't take long. It's an hour, they know what they are doing and they get it done. Maybe an hour and a half if they are checking on something.

Lets just say we had to call them twice. Using them again for plumbing is debatable.

They are good and do a good job. They are kind of pricey, that's the only thing. They are very expensive. Right about now they call me to remind me it is time to do pre-summer inspection and check up. They do a good job and are on time. When you call them they are very responsive.