From Thumbtack Customer
Pompa Plumbing Group LLC
I had a positive initial experience with Pompa.. The gentlemen was professional, knowledgeable, and thorough in our conversations, which I really appreciated.
Unfortunately, I decided not to move forward because of their quoting process. Our water heater had already been diagnosed by another plumber and qualified for replacement under the manufacturer’s warranty. We were simply looking for labor estimates since the manufacturer covers the replacement unit but not installation.
I was informed that Pompa would need to conduct its own inspection before proceeding with the warranty replacement, which I completely understand. However, that required a $129 diagnostic fee, without being able to provide even a ballpark estimate for installation beforehand. I was later offered an option to apply $89 toward the service fee, but without knowing approximately what the total labor cost would be, I wasn’t comfortable paying for an inspection while still comparing companies. So I did not move forward with anything.
I also wish this requirement had been communicated earlier, as we had already spent some time discussing the situation.
For anyone in a similar situation, especially with a water heater replacement under manufacturer warranty, I’d recommend asking about diagnostic fees before spending time discussing estimates. I found another plumber through Thumbtack, Drain 2 Drain, who is familiar with Bradford White and does not charge a diagnostic fee to come out and assess the situation. So there are other options if you’re trying to compare costs without committing to an upfront fee.
Overall, they made a good impression, and I appreciated his professionalism and thoroughness. I understand every company has its own process, but the lack of pricing visibility combined with the upfront diagnostic fee just wasn’t the right fit for me.
