WM A Zachow & Sons Inc

Bought a home and the sump was working but made an awful lot of noise. Called Zachow to come look at it. They were out within the day and it wasn't even an emergency. After talking about options, I decided to go with the new system. They did not hard sell the new system, I decided to go with the battery backup system more because of a past experience at a previous home than an sales tactics. Talked with them on Thursday, May 2nd and they said they would have to order it. I figured that meant weeks, but they had the system the following Monday and were out on Tuesday and installed it. They were very punctual and professional and got the work down quickly. I will definitely use them again, if needed!!

During the first appointment, the plumber assessed the situation and gave me an estimate of the time and cost to repair the leak. A repair appointment was made for 2 days later. The plumber showed up on time, fixed the problem and redid the plumbing to bring it up to code. The job was done under the estimated time and cost. Unfortunately, one of the repaired pipes immediately began leaking right after the plumber left. I called, and the plumber returned that afternoon and replaced the pipe. We have had no problems since

I called on a Thursday to see how long it might take for them to come out and replace my faulty water heater. I was at work and didn't have the serial # of our existing unit. I was given someone's personal cell phone # to call when i got home so they could order a new unit that afternoon. I sent the info and was called back shortly after with an install time for 6:30am the next morning and an estimate for the total cost. The only bump in the road came when the installer called at 6:17AM to say he was going to be a bit late as his GPS took him to a neighborhood in Delafield, even though I live in Waukesha. He wasn't too late for me, but gave a hearty wakeup call to the wrong household. I needed to leave for work as soon as the work was completed. He was kind and courteous, careful as he had to go up and down several times to our basement. He protected all of our floor coverings and was done in a few hours. I would use this company again and strongly recommend them to others.

It went perfectly. Issue was I had a clogged drain in my basement stationary sink. The plumbing in my house is still original pipes installed about 50 years ago. Called and receptionist was professional and courteous. Set appointment for next day. Worker was on time and did a great job unclogging the drain. He also went beyond and cut out part of the pipe and built an access hole so I could easily unclog any future stop ups myself. He performed the work in about one and a half hours, and the total price was under $200. Worker was very professional and courteous. Overall experience was excellent and I would highly recommend WM A Zachow & Sons Inc. and will use them for all of my future plumbing needs.

It went very good. He cleaned up real good, presented to different options to us as well.

We called to schedule a plumber to go out to my parents house to confirm that our basement was flooding due to a broken pipe. We were driving to my parents house at that time so when we were told that we would get a call back on whether or not they would be able to get someone out there we expected to be able to schedule a time for when we would arrive at the house. We didn't receive a call. The plumber, Robbie, had just showed up at the house. My parents, who don't speak English well, called me confused on who this person was that showed up. I asked to speak to Robbie on the phone. I asked him if he had talked to anyone about what the problem was and he said yes. However when I asked him if he knew that we had the city turn off our water from the curb-stop because we diagnosed that this was the problem with a different company, he wasn't aware of this and tried explaining that the there was a secondary issue with the drain and the palmer valve. Being familiar with the drain and palmer valve system since my own 1940s house has one too and this was explained to me when I had drain tiles installed in my own home 2 years ago, I didn't need an explanation on how this worked. I told Robbie that I would arrive at my parents house in 10 minutes to review the problems with him. When we arrived, Robbie showed us the palmer valve and explained that he had banged on the floor to re-open it. I told him that the reason we wanted a plumber out there was to confirm that the water pipe was broken and to give an estimate on how much that would cost so first he took a look at the water pipe and answered our questions but when we asked about quote he explained that his boss does the quotes and he just does the work. Then he went on to say that its time to go home and that if we didn't want to pay for his "service" he could tell us how to hook up a bypass with the neighbor (so that we could have running water) instead of doing it himself. I was already familiar with the bypass idea since I had spoken to different plumber company but was open to hearing Robbie's explanation since he offered it for free. Robbie was at the house for less than a hour, 2 days later I get a bill for a service call charge and labor charge. The labor was for "fixing" the palmer valve and explaining the broken pipe and bypass. When we called to dispute the labor charge, Randy (one of the owners) was very rude and unyielding about removing this charge and even tried to imply that he even had to do "work" for us because it took him time to provide us with a quote for the broken pipe. I will not be hiring them for any future jobs and don't recommend them to anyone else. You can get free estimates from other plumbers on Angie's list. I like to support small private businesses but this company seems to want money just for talking to you.

Easy to work with. Arrived in time. Thorough Knowledgeable and would recommend to others I have used this service more than once

The man was very courteous and prompt.

I called Zachow plumbing on Wednesday afternoon, and apparently their normal scheduler wasn't in the office. Someone took my message and tentatively scheduled me for a Friday afternoon repair of a clogged kitchen drain and broken vent pipe. They called about 20 minutes before showing (which is what I expected) and completed the job in about an hour. The only weird thing was I didn't get a quote ahead of time, and apparently the repairmen don't quote prices onsite. I received the bill in the mail a few days later, and it was only slightly more than I would have expected.

"Don" arrived on Monday, early in the morning and removed the malfunctioning water heater and installed a new RUUD water heater. Upon completion of the warranty he presented me with Zachow's "JOB INVOICE" (completed by "Don" listing under the description of "Replace 40gal Warrt. W.H." He listed 2-1/2 hours labor, asked that I sign this form indicating that he had satisfactorily installed this unit, which I did. Before signing it, I looked it over and noticed that there were no dollar amounts filled in and asked "Don" if this was because it was a warranty job. He assured me that is why. So I didn't think another thought about it and signed it. I received recently a Zachow "Invoice Number 40020" dated 12/28/12, billing me for $372.14 for the "service call, labor, gas surcharge, and materials" to install the RUUD water heater which was under warranty. This invoice arrived 4 (four) months after the date of the so-called "warranty" installation of the replacement water heater, in August 2012!!! I called them and left messages to call me to explain why I was invoiced for this warranty work, including why it was sent 4 months after the work was done. They never called back. I was naive to believe that this was a "billing mistake" but I think it was intentional and a great example of their poor business practices which border on consumer fraud, if not definitely a "con" or a "swindle." I believe they purposely did not inform me completely, truthfully about the water heater's "real" warranty (either the new one or the replacement one). And why did it take them 4 months to invoice me? I never received any indication after "Don" installed the water heater that there would be any out-of-pocket expense. Also, I never received an initial written estimate or further printed/written elaboration on the real water heater warranty/guarantee! I feel I have been cheated and duped by them and suspect they might have done this to others. They brag on their website that the Zachow company has been operated by many generations of their family, as if this is some guarantee that we should not suspect anything amiss. (Note that for 45 years, my father owned and operated a fuel oil company, and heating and air-conditioning company in the Fox Valley, Wisconsin, so I know a lot about the business. My dad never needed to operate as this company does, to make a buck.) UPDATE February 11, 2013: Following the receipt of the invoice noted above, charging me for $372.14 for installation of the new RUUD water heater, to replace the water heater under warranty, I filed a complaint with the State of Wisconsin, (Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection), Bureau of Consumer Protection. It was my attempt to have the bureau "mediate" my issues and come up with a resolution. I received the results of their mediation attempt via letter stating, "I have received a response from WM A Zachow & Sons Inc concerning your complaint, which does not offer resolution...There appears to be some disputed facts regarding this complaint." (Steven J. Samuel, Consumer Specialist, Bureau of Consumer Protection.) Randy L. Zachow, representing the company stated, in his response to my complaint with the State of Wisconsin, that the RUUD website states that no "labor costs or expenses for service, nor for removing or installing parts," was covered by warranty, the main reason for my complaint. Interesting that I never received complete warranty information earlier when asking for it (no copy of warranty in advance of original installation). Randy, the person I talked to originally over the phone, stated the water heater had a 6-year warranty and no other specifics he now conveniently quotes. We never would do business with any company who does not guaranty/warranty their labor, which obviously they don't. In addition, he stated that it took four months to "invoice" me for installation costs for the replacement water heater, because his company was "awaiting confirmation for Ruud Water Heater Manufacturers that our company would receive credit back" for the replacement water heater. QUESTION: Does this mean I had liability to pay for the replacement water heater if Ruud didn't credit him. I probably will ultimately have to pay this amount in question, $372.14 to this company even though clearly I have been victimized by this company through their questionable business practices. If the replacement water heater ever needs service under warranty before expiration, I will contact RUUD for help in locating a different company than Zachow. This company will never be permitted to enter my residence or rental property ever again.

My husband thought he could remove our old garbage disposal and install the new one we purchased. He was not able to get the old one off so I called Zachow & Sons on Monday morning and he had Don at my house within one hour. Don did an excellent job taking off the old and installing the new disposal. He was friendly and cleaned up the job site when he finished. He was at my house for about45 minutes from start to finish.

Went great Neat clean professional job done in a timely manner

We have used Zachow many times over the years, first with Herb and now Don. We usually need an old part for the old plumbing in our old house. Colleen is fantastic to deal with regarding service appointments and requests. As usual Donny came on time and thoroughly inspected everything. The tub is on the second floor with the access panel to the tub and plumbing directly above the stairs. Standing on the stairs Donny performed contortionist like moves to not only check the pipes but the outside of the tub itself. After running water for a lengthy amount of time he was able to determine it was the wall in the shower area that needed to be replaced. We had caulked and grouted the area many times over the past years with some of the tiles looking a bit ?pushed in? so although the news was not what we wanted to hear it was not unexpected. I was once again pleased with the time spent looking at every possible cause of the problem. Donny then took off the old handles on the kitchen faucet. The faucet is the old attached to the wall type and the handles were turned so far back that it was difficult to reach around to turn them on. The handles were aligned and now operated as smoothly as if they were new.I can?t say enough about the plumbers we have used with Zachow. In the past they rebuilt an original full flush 1930?s toilet for us. Prior to Zachow we had plumbing companies that never had parts on their trucks, charged while they were out getting them and then the low quality parts they installed needed replacement within a short period of time.

They were great. Arrived within 1.5 hours (2 hrs promised). The guys worked for over 3 hours and finally determined the blockage was on the city's line. They even helped me contact the city. I would uses them again in a heartbeat.

Showed on time. Shower work was first and went well. Drywall guy that works with them came and did an outstanding job. Part from Lowes came in late so they didn't come back for the kitchen until later. Over all very professional and friendly staff and first rate job.

When we discovered the leak in our water heater - easy to spot, water was running out of the bottom - we checked several reviews on Angie's list and then called Zachow Plumbing. They made an appointment for the next morning, arrived right on time, disconnected and removed the old water heater, and put in a new one. Although the price was higher than we expected, (it had been some time since we had bought a water heater) we would definitely call Zachow's again. From phone call to completion of the job, they were helpful, knowledgable, prompt and professional.

I called for an appointment after receiving a referral to them from one of my co-workers who has used this plumber for many years. They arrived on time as scheduled and began working on the problem. This was an all day project between the original plumber and then ABC sewers. I was very happy with the work performed. All drains work great now. They even provided me with some helpful pointers for the future. Quality work at a reasonable price considering how blocked all the drains were. I would recommend this plumber and will use him again if required.

We've used them in the past and have always been happy with the service and price. Unfortunately this time we were quoted $550 due to the job likely taking 5 hours. The job took 1 hour and they still charged us $550. When I called to speak with Randy he would not speak with me personally and only had the receptionist relay messages to me. Then Randy sent a bill stating $550 without any explanation for the discrepancy with the quote. We will NEVER use them again and will not refer any family or friends.

lThe Plumber arrived the day after I call them in. He was finished in about an hour. Very professional and friendly. Our plumbers name is Jake and he found an area that could cause water damages and repaired it.

They're timely and solved my problem. They're friendly when they're here.

The repairman was prompt and professional and done well. My only quibble is that the labor charges were noticeably higher than other plumbers that I've used in the past. UPDATE (10/26/2012): I want to withdraw my quibble about labor charges. My parents went with a different company, who will go unnamed, as my parents are not Angie's list members (although now they probably will be) - for similar work and had higher charges and multiple problems. As the saying goes, you get what you pay for.

Randy Zachow came out for the quote, and was easily the lowest bid. He understood the nature of our remodel (DIY, keeping costs down) and made suggestions accordingly. He was happy to work within our budget and could come out quickly. The three plumbers we met were extremely friendly and knowledgeable and did a fantastic job!! I needed to lay flooring after the toilet came up but before he put the new one down, and he was more than happy to work around me while I finished installing the floor. Both plumbers that came to the house were pleasant, worked quickly, and cleaned up after themselves. I would HIGHLY recommend them to anyone!

I don't like the way the operate. He came in on Sept. 10th and looked at the kitchen faucet, which was leaking. He said that it couldn't be repaired and that it had to be replaced. We took his word for it. He said he would come back the next day and bring a new faucet and hook it up. We wanted to know about what it would cost. He said he didn't know. We didn't get any quote or any bill until a week later. We were shocked. The service call was $60 which we expected. The labor was $210, and he wasn't here for more than 15 min (he claims he was here for 1 hour 45 min). There was a $5 gas charge. The new faucet cost was $98.51. He made us sign a document that said that the work was done satisfactory but it didn't have any dollar figures or any prices. It feels like we signed a blank check, which I don't think is fair.

I had a sewage problem and I called to obtain a free estimate. On the phone Zachow Inc. informed me that they needed to camera my sewage line. So the day of the estimate came and some other random company appeared 40 min. late. They did camera than called Zachow Inc. Not one person from Zachow Inc. came by to talk to me face to face. So with this lack of customer service and high bid I chose another company to fix my sewage line. One month later and two weeks after the job was done I received a bill for $300 from a company I asked for a free estimate, oh and by the way never stopped by the house or even did the job. When I called to inquire about this bill Zachow Inc. stated that they needed to camera the sewage pipe to get me the estimate. I asked if maybe they should inform somebody that there is a fee required to obtain the "free estimate", they stated that " Oh we'll that's implied". No sir it was not.

See above - 1 tech out to house - found nothing. Confirmed install was done properly. Follow up to office and talked to owner - very open and willing to offer solutions that less experienced plumbers may not have run into. Offered to come out and complete the work or let me try the fix.