Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of North Austin

I called the office at 7:30am with no hot water. They answered and Mickey came to assess my heater by 10am. It was 27 years old Hot water heater from 1998 It was time. He was very professional and helpful. He gave me the quote, I paid 50% and then Scott and Dave came later and installed it in the afternoon. They worked hard since it was an attic unit. The new unit got a dent but should not effect it’s functions. I was glad Benjamin Franklin plumbing were prompt and professional.

This company seems much more focused on making money than meeting customer needs. I contacted them to have a licensed plumber check the gas connections for my water heater and HVAC, just to confirm there were no leaks. I didn’t suspect a leak, but wanted professional verification. When scheduling the appointment, I clearly explained my request. However, they refused to provide a quote for the gas leak check. Instead, they said there would be a minimum $99 fee, and that the actual cost couldn’t be determined until the technician assessed the situation onsite. OK, fine. When the plumber arrived, I again explained that I was looking for a simple gas leak check and verification. After a quick 10-minute look at the appliances, he told me the only test he can offer is a pressure test — priced at $1,000. I was shocked. There are many standard, less expensive methods for detecting gas leaks (e.g., visual inspection, soapy water test, electronic gas detectors, gas sniffers), yet they only offered the most expensive option. I asked how long the pressure test would take and was told less than an hour. So essentially, I paid $99 just to get a quote for a $1,000 test that involves no repairs — just using their tools and a plumber's time for an hour. That’s effectively $1,000/hour. Later, I contacted another plumbing company. Their pricing was less than half of Benjamin Franklin’s, and their service included more comprehensive checks and other items. Given this horrible experience, I will not be using Benjamin Franklin Plumbing again. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [Comment after reading "Response from the owner"] The owner’s response only reinforces my original impression — that this company prioritizes making money over addressing customer needs. They seem to exaggerate every situation to justify selling more expensive services. In my case, I simply wanted a basic gas leak check and verification, with no known issues or suspected leaks. Yet, they offered only one option — a $1,000 pressure test — while dismissing other standard and legitimate methods used across the industry. Their reasoning was, "$1000 would be a small price to pay if it prevented a fire or worse yet the loss of someone’s life." If that logic applies to everything, then perhaps they should set a $1,000 minimum for all services. For example, if a customer only needs to install a gas shutoff valve, they could insist on a $1,000 pressure test, because, "$1000 would be a small price to pay if it prevented a fire or worse yet the loss of someone’s life." Or if someone wants to install a water shutoff valve, they might recommend a $1,000 water pressure test — since, by their reasoning, "it could prevent water damage that costs tens of thousands to repair." This kind of approach doesn’t demonstrate care for customer safety — it shows a business model focused on upselling and inflating costs under the guise of safety.

David, the technician arrived on time. Quickly diagnosed the problem and showed me. He gave me several options to fix it and the prices. Once I approved the work he was fast, friendly and efficient. I would definitely recommend Ben Franklin and David.

I was very impressed with my first use of Ben Franklin plumbing service. Timothy reviewed two problems to see if I needed repairs and then replaced three outdoor faucets. Quality work and communication. Arrived on schedule. I will be using Ben Franklin Plumbing if I need other plumbing repairs.

Way overpriced and clueless. Called for an emergency leak in my backyard. Quoted me an insane amount to just temporarily fix it. (Another plumber fixed it for less than half, for good). They then could not even find the main for the sprinkler to shut it down. Money down the drain. Avoid at all cost.

This is for the South Branch but Andy was amazing. Very friendly and thorough. He was very meticulous about digging cleanly and putting back the soil. The price was reasonable and we switched it when we found the real reason for the leak. This was frankly the only plumber I could find within two days without having to charge for emergency calls or whatever. Granted, the call (to have them visit) cost itself is a little expensive but I really lucked out with getting andy. Very friendly, honest, and professional. Highly recommend.

I had the Benjamin Franklin Austin team out to replace a garbage disposal. Appt setup was a breeze, tech was on time and knocked it out right away. New disposal is a million times better? Thanks to Fred and the Ben Franklin team!