Marin Plumbing Brian Cooke
Montego, Novato, CA

Marin Plumbing Brian Cooke Reviews

3 stars based on 2 reviews

Featured Comments:

• S

  Sam Min

  1.0

  Brian works very slow. His initial visit for an hour was $300 just for consulting on replacing gas tank water heater. He then took almost 2.5 hours reviewing and measuring for implementing tankless gas water heater and charged me $500 plus. Brian then told me that installing a tankless will cost 8k to 14k and that he needed at least half the amount ($5k) as a deposit before he can begin working on the project. He said that by law he can only ask for $1k for deposit but he did not want to proceed with my project without a $5k upfront fee. He then still demanded $500 for his assessment. Bottomline, I gave Brian $800+ for just a lot of talk and issues on my old house. My takeaway: Brian is slow and expensive. Give him at most 15min to provide an estimate. He will give you an orientation, show you his credentials, his licenses and insurance, etc but the time spent is money out the door. I made a critical mistake of giving him options to consider and he spent 4 hours deciding between tank or tankless. 4 hours x $200 = $800. In fact, Brian took 2.5 hours figuring out where to install tankless water heater...

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  Response from the owner

  Sam Min / Sang Won Min on 05/05/2021 I, Brian Cooke performed a diagnoses of Sam's residence 56 Lincoln Park, San Anselmo, CA. 94960. Currently, I am a 1 truck company I do all the work and have been plumbing for 34 years. On the phone, before I book an appointment, I always explain the charges. $ 198 per hour, 1 hour minimum. $ 69 Service Fee. Equals $267 starting costs. After the first hour I bill at every 15 minutes. I do NOT give free estimates. I am performing a diagnoses of your home and all the question you have. I go over the results and explain your choices and charges before any work is done. On the first visit I was there 11:30 to 1:00 pm going over all of Sam's questions : He's doing a kitchen remodel, wants a tankless water heater. His water pressure is very high 125PSI - unsafe - I can't work on your water pipes unless you or me install a working pressure regulating valve for 60 - 75 PSI. The flue on the old tank water heater was rotten and fell off - completely unsafe. The Furnace guy did not increase size of Flue when both appliance connected together. Which caused the failure. The gas lines were hanging on one nail. Gas lines to water heater and furnace completely unsafe. One coupling cross threaded and crooked. Sam ran out time and ended the first visit at 1:00pm. Between all the unsafe plumbing - Water pressure, Gas lines, Flue, copper pipe leak etc. Sam wanted a new Tank water heater because it was cheaper. Sam did not want to increase the Flue size. Sam went back and forth between tank and tankless. On 05/12/2021 Sam changed his mind and he really wanted a tankless water heater instead of tank. This was the morning day of scheduled tank installation. I was at Pace Supply getting ready to load the water heater tank as per our many phone conversations. My reply was that we never figured out were to hang the tankless water heater on the first visit. Sam's house does not have any location under it or on the exterior walls that would work per code and MFG requirements. Specifically clearance distance to an operable window. Sam wanted me to install tankless water heater exterior next to a window never opened and painted shut. The window is operable - it is capable of being opened. I was there from 1:30 to 4:00 pm figuring out where a tankless water heater could go. Making a detailed materials list. Explaining and answering all his questions. This job is a 4 day job, New tankless water heater, new gas line, earthquake shut off valve, strap entire gas system, new flue, new PRV, fix copper pipe leak toilet, City Permit, return for inspection. Cost Materials, Tankless, Valves, pipe, flue, Labor $ 10,963.50. I gave Sam a choice of $ 1,000 deposit to start the job. First day of install, I would bill him for Tankless and Materials and first day of labor. Progress payment, bill for labor second day of work. Progress payment third day of labor. Final Payment 4th day upon completion and pass inspection. Or It's a 4 day job - half down and half upon completion. Which ever you are most comfortable with. Sam did not want to pay a deposit or half down. Sam kept saying to me that he knew me from past plumbing work. I have never work for Sam or this house address. I checked my QuickBooks. No record of ever doing business together. Sam was placing an order with out paying some sort of deposit for Tankless water heater, and materials. Labor is itemized and billed daily. We ended the 2nd visit. On 05/12/2021 I went home and typed a detailed estimate for $10,963.50. I never got a deposit of any amount. Sam I am truly sorry if you had a bad experience. I believe you were overwhelmed with the multiple problems at this house, hard to understand plumbing when you are not a plumber, and you had sticker shock. I spent 4 hours with you diagnosing and explaining. That is what you paid for. You also have everything in writing incase you could not remember the details. You have a thorough diagnoses and a written estimate.