Bob Oates Sewer & Rooter — Local services in Seattle

This is the exact feedback I shared with Bob Oates over a month ago: We'd a request to help reseal our two sinks in the bathroom and reconnect the bathroom faucets and help install a new faucet in the kitchen and reconnect the garbage disposal.

On 24th Feb the plumber came by and reconnected faucets for one bathroom and applied caulk to the two bathroom sinks. On taking a look at the kitchen faucets I was informed that the piping bracket is of a special kind and the faucet won't reconnect without the need for replacement of the piping under the sink and he would need to research the right way to deal with this. I was billed for an hour, with payment due the next time the kitchen was completed. Before the plumber left I explicitly asked, if he has everything (in parts) that he needs to complete the project on the next visit.

He came again today on Feb 27th and notified me of an alternate way of installing the faucets with existing pipes / brackets by using a specific kind of MIP connector. He gave me the size specification for that particular part and gave me two choices:

1. I can go get the part and he can do the faucet installation the easy way.
2. Charge 350$ for the installation that requires replacing the pipes/brackets with ones that match the faucet better.

I called a few hardware stores nearby and had the plumber speak with them to identify the exact part. The plumber informed me that he's 'almost finished' and waiting upon me to get the part. We were also missing "insinkerator quick lock sink mount" for installation of the garbage disposal. The first shop I drove to buy the MIP, helped me locate a second shop from which I was able to get the 'quick lock'.

After about 30 mins of driving around, I handed over the parts to the plumber and then was told we needed two of the MIP connectors for both, hot and cold water lines! I then dashed out again to the same store to buy the same part.

After everything was said and done, the job itself was done satisfactorily. I was billed for 3 hours. This seems excessive to me as I was out driving for almost an hour myself while the plumber waited. We clearly spoke on the first visit about any parts that might be needed. I honestly believe the work should not be billed for more than an hour and a half and customer shouldn't be running around fetching parts on a second visit, especially after the plumber is promising to return back with a 'researched' solution.

I'm taking this time to write a detailed feedback in the hopes that other customers are not burdened by unreasonable charges and unnecessary work done by customers.

Sincerely, FULL NAME redacted Bob Oates reply: Hello, This is John the General Manager. I will look into this first thing in the morning. This is not the way we do business. I have guys that I pay to bring parts to my technicians. We will rectify this with you. Thank you Bob Oates call on 3rd March: Summary: 'Will only charge 1 hour of labor and email me on Saturday'. Result: I did not hear back.

My follow-up: Hi John,

Hope you are doing fine. We spoke regarding this on 3rd March and I was about to fly out of country for a week. I just wanted to remind you that I've not heard back again since we last spoke. Please let me know if there's anything you need from my side. Hoping we can close on this issue soon.

Regards, Nik Bob Oates reply: Yes. I will check on it today and call you later this afternoon My follow-up around end of March: Hey John,

I hope you've had enough time to research this issue on your end and have a resolution for us. If I don't hear back by this Friday March 31st, I'll take my complain to other forums as I see fit.

Regards, Nik Another message and call about a refund check from them, but nothing in mail.

Please be aware of...

Far and away the worst experience I've had with a plumbing company in 10+ years of property management.

Tenant called them the day after Thanksgiving - she was told $550+ tax to fix a sewer backing up. This included their $100 "emergency" fee (later they tell me it's actually a "Holiday" fee since they don't work on the day after thanksgiving?!) Ok, fine. She paid - they didn't fix the problem. But she did pay them.

Instead they said we had a break in the pipe 7' underground and they want another $7k to fix it since there's "so much digging." So I called Action Jackson for a second opinion. They charged $125 for the service call and under $3k to fix it. Why so much cheaper? Bob Oates Plumbing lied about the depth of the break so they could charge more!

I called Andrew after I'd learned my tenant had paid them. He admitted that they had "over charged her $100". I told him he needed to give her check back and he said he would. I told him then they could bill me.

On Monday John P from Bob Oates emailed my tenant telling her he wouldn't be giving her check back as promised. I called. Talked to him and to Reya and BOTH of them promised to send the check back and said they'd email to confirm.

John P also said they had over-charged by $100 and that his "equipment" must have been off to account for the difference in depth of the break. This is total BS. They were 100% trying to gouge me since I was not on-site the day of, and honestly, I'm sure a large part of it is because I'm a woman. So is my tenant. John spent a long time "man-splaining" to me how no plumbing companies in Seattle come out for a $125 service call fee (but WAIT! Action Jackson did! So why is this dude telling me my experience is wrong?) and then he tried to convince me that Action Jackson was trying to gouge me. I told him that we weren't dealing with how other companies do business, we were dealing with how he does business and that I'm the one he needs to deal with right now. He apparently doesn't like mouthy women since he hung up.

Then he sent an email later in the day to say "I will hold the check that your tenant gave to us and not deposit it until we receive your check in the mail." NOT THE EMAIL HE PROMISED. So now he's 1) over-charged us, 2) exaggerated the depth of the problem to inflate a bid for repairs 3) repeatedly stated he would return the check and then gone back on his promise -- in other words, lied. There's absolutely NO WAY I'm sending him another check for $500 to give him TWO checks that total over $1100 combined that he can just decide he's going to cash? It' completely absurd.

Bottom line: This place will over-charge you, lie to you, verbally abuse you, and then you'll stay up late writing reviews for them. Definitely not worth the hassle.

Who should you call instead? I really liked Action Jackson. They were very nice, respectful, prompt and did good work at a reasonable price. I'll write them glowing...

(March 2025) I can't believe I'm back again so soon, writing a kudos for Bob Oates Plumbing & Sewer – and specifically its top-notch plumber, Wyatt Gavino. (I rarely write online reviews, BTW.) Living in an older house, home emergencies often crop up in endless streaks, like drenching Seattle rainfalls. This time: the 1950s DIY sump pump stopped working and the crawl space had water. I called Bob Oates Plumbing and asked for Wyatt to check it out. No kind words: The failed homemade sump pump contraption was not up to code and would never pass an inspection when it's time to sell. Wyatt and his assistant Sergio completely replaced it with a deeper, professional, up-to-code sump pump system that is keeping the crawl space dry, and keeps me from worrying when the next rainstorm comes along. I can’t thank Bob Oates Plumbing — a local family-owned company — and its star plumber, Wyatt Gavin, enough for keeping “this old house” safe and secure — with their unfailing kindness, professionalism, and top-notch service.

(February 2025) I rarely do online reviews, but I'm back again to highlight the outstanding work of Bob Oates Plumbing and specifically Wyatt Gavino, along with Sergio. Wyatt replaced a leaking 11-year-old hot water tank with a new one, all on an uneven basement surface and in a very tight space. Just as they were getting ready to leave, Wyatt noticed water drips coming through a pipe cutout in the ceiling's dry wall. He opened it up and discovered an ancient leaking water elbow/pipe (not installed by Bob Oates) that had likely been dripping a long time, soaking into the insulation and drywall. Wyatt replaced that faulty elbow/pipe connection expertly and so cheerfully. He could have simply left and not said a word to get to the next appointment, but Wyatt’s ethics and dedication to addressing unanticipated plumbing issues and doing a top-notch job shone through. I'm so grateful to Wyatt and the Bob Oates Plumbing team for their continued outstanding service, ethics, and kindness.

(December 2024) I choose to work with a family-owned local business: Bob Oates Plumbing. In these past 10 years they’ve been flawless, including re-piping most of this old 1941 house; fixing the inferior work of a contractor’s mistakes; installing a new sewer; and today – repairing a constantly dripping shower head and running toilet. Wyatt Gavino was a gem: expert at his craft, detailed, kind, and easy to understand his explanations and suggestions. You won’t find Bob Oates Plumbing ads plastered all over TV; I’m guessing they instead plow that money into educating/training their own employees and investing in great equipment....