Reviews of local pros in Lyons, Illinois

Disclaimer: I changed the names of the plumbers. My problem is with the company, not the employees.

TLDR: CSE caused us to be without hot water for an entire week because their plumbers lacked experience with tankless heaters, leading to a frustrating seven-day installation process. They eventually sent experienced technicians to fix the problem, but the initial ordeal was a complete waste of our time and energy. We will never hire them again.

Our experience with Chicago Sewer Experts (CSE) for a tankless water heater installation deserves ZERO STARS. What started as a promising upgrade for an Energy Star tax credit devolved into a week-long ordeal of cold showers, frustration, and incompetence, costing us precious time and energy.

Having previously used CSE for a sink repair, we called them again when our water heater failed. On Day 1, plumbers "Alex" and "Ben" informed us our existing heater couldn't be repaired and suggested a tankless replacement, specifically highlighting the tax credit. We paid a $1,400 deposit with the promise of installation the next day.

However, the nightmare began on Day 2. Alex and Ben arrived, dropped off the unit, but didn't even start the installation. They claimed they were waiting for more parts, a fact they could have easily communicated via a phone call, saving us the trouble of waking early and confining our pets for nothing.

By Day 3, after a message confirming completion, they finally began the installation. Everything seemed routine until they discovered an issue with the exhaust pipe, requiring cement to reattach it. This delayed completion, though we appreciated they kept their word about no extra cost for the cement. Annoyingly, they left without turning our gas back on, forcing us to handle it ourselves just to cook dinner.

Day 4 brought a new problem. After completing the installation, the heater immediately displayed an "ERROR CODE 12." Alex and Ben, having tossed the manual, wrongly insisted it was a gas pressure issue requiring a call to the gas company. My plumber friend confirmed my suspicion that undersized pipes were more likely the cause, a crucial piece of information I relayed to Alex. This entire time, we were living without hot water, resorting to humiliating sponge baths and considering a hotel just for a shower. The lack of basic hygiene, coupled with sleep deprivation from constantly accommodating their schedule, was physically and emotionally draining.

On Day 5, Alex admitted I was right about the pipes and promised to fix it Monday.

However, Day 6 brought no-shows from Alex and Ben. A call to Nicor Gas confirmed our gas pressure was fine; the water heater was indeed the problem. Despite Alex calling in sick, the CSE office flatly refused to send another technician, deeming our lack of hot water a non-emergency. It was clear Alex and Ben lacked the necessary experience for tankless units, yet CSE insisted they complete the job.

Finally, on Day 7, Alex and Ben returned and replaced the incorrect flexible gas hose with a proper metal pipe. Yet, "ERROR CODE 12" persisted. Alex then reluctantly called another plumber, "Patrick," who supposedly specialized in Rheem heaters. Patrick was a no-show, leading to further frustration.

On Day 8, "Patrick" and "Mark" finally arrived. They were phenomenal! Within hours, they correctly identified the problem as poor ventilation, not low gas pressure. They installed a new, dedicated exhaust vent, and our hot water curse was lifted.

The ordeal didn't end there. We later discovered the installed tankless heater was a "Mid-efficient" model, meaning it does not qualify for the Energy Star tax credit that was the sole reason we chose a tankless unit in the first place.

CSE failed us on every level: dispatching inexperienced plumbers, abysmal communication, causing an entire week of humiliation and inconvenience, and ultimately providing a product that didn't meet the promised benefit. For your sanity, do not hire these people. Their "reasonable prices" are not worth the immense stress.

Chris K. was friendly and professional when he attended to our broken sewer pipe. He did a great job of explaining what needed to be fixed and showing me the video feed for the pipe. Chris rapidly got his team out to dig the old pipe up (in the winter, no less!) and replace it. Reasonably priced, efficient, professional and kind.

Terry and Nick were great. After my vanity install went wrong during a renovation a while ago I finally got a assessment done and they were sent out to me to fix the pipes. They explained everything, were polite and quick and cleaned up when they left. They honored all our building requests and made a stressful day MUCH less stressful. 10/10 would hire again.

2 weeks ago our bathroom sink was clogged and there were roots in it which meant we needed to get our main sewer line rodded. Plumber was able to come out next morning. Husband asked if he rodded all the way through and he kept saying 75 feet. Later that night, when the shower was running, the utility room drain downstairs flooded. It was like that the day after as well so we contacted the plumber again. He said it would be $200 just to come back and try to rod it again. He didn't rod through all the way because he said the line from the house was split from the pipe from the street and nothing was guaranteed. We were obviously upset because we paid almost $400 originally and the problem wasn't fixed. We didn't trust that anything would change so we decided to rent an auger from Home Depot and try it ourselves. My husband pulled up more roots than the plumber originally had. We tested the sinks, shower, and washing machine and nothing came back up after we finished with the auger. It was cheaper to rent the auger than it was to call the plumber back out and we ended up fixing our problem. We need rodding every year to two years because of all the trees surrounding our property. We will now most likely rod the sewer ourselves again because the plumbers can't warranty their own work.

Nathan from Chicago sewer expert came by to replace my broken garbage disposal . He did a great job and very friendly. Appreciate his help and all suggestions.

I called Antonio after having my sewer fixed. He asked what was the issue was and ignored me after I asked if there was any warranty since I was still experiencing the same issue. They are very pricey. Sewer worked but then had issues again. Had to go with someone else and finally had my issues resolved.

Robert was the technician that came to my home and installed a new toilet after assessing to make sure that there was nothing else that could be done first. He was transparent and truthful. He did what would save me the most money. What I especially liked is that he took his shoes off to keep from walking on my carpet. Robert explained everything and cleaned up after himself. He was the consummate technician. Thanks to Robert and Chicago Sewers.

Chris and Nick from Chicago Sewer Repairs did an outstanding job on the work at my house. They were professional, prompt, and took the time to explain everything clearly. The quality of their work was very good. I really appreciated their honesty and dedication to getting the job done right. I highly recommend them to anyone needing sump pump & sewer repairs!

Joseph and Keith showed with no wait! I'm a realtor and time is always vital! He was patient explaining what's needed , prices are reasonable. The experience was truly refreshing ! Professional and informative! The company ace! Thank you !

Outstanding experience with Chicago Sewer Experts. Jesus came out to fix the leaking and loose faucet in my bathroom and had it completely repaired in under an hour. He was punctual, professional, and clearly knew what he was doing. He explained the issue, took care of it quickly, and made sure everything was working perfectly before he left. Fast, clean, and reliable service. I'll definitely use Chicago Sewer Experts again!

Chris & Mike were professional, courteous & very efficient. I had a water heater installed, and because of these gentleman I now also know how to properly maintain the longevity of my appliance. Thank you for an excellent job done.

I've been a customer of Chicago Sewer Experts for almost 5 years and happy to report another magnificent job completed recently! They installed 2 new hybrid water heaters and reconfigured several sets of pipes in my basement.

Joseph and his crew are a professional and friendly bunch. They are great listeners, answer all questions, and want to make sure they meet their customers' expectations. From my experience, respect for their customers, authenticity in their approach, and quality of the work they do are their core values they live up to on every job.

Great family owned business. Very honest and experienced guys. They moved the clean out, fixed sewer line and hydro jet the sewer lines. Owner, Joseph, went above and beyond my expectations and honored his words. They came for one job but this company made me their customer for life. I will only call this company for any sewer needs. Give them a chance to provide you a quote and you will never regret. My 5 stars to the whole crew.

Joseph and Nick, is highly recommend, they came in home and gave us an estimate for repairs of our sink drain and faucet, after repairs we are completely satisfied with their work and price. Thanks Chicago Sewer Expert.

Nathan and Dante arrived well within the agreed upon 2 hour window, and they got the job done quickly and efficiently. As promised, they offered a free estimate, and that estimate is exactly what I got charged when they were done. Fantastic work!

Had a contract. They jerked me around for three weeks. Then they cancelled the contract. Don't believe Terry, he lies. At least they gave me my deposit back. You had me and your agent sign a contract. You demanded a deposit which I paid to your agent. Then you told me I needed to pay a lot more money. Here in Crook County, we call that bait and switch.

This is my second time working with Chicago Sewer Experts. A few days ago, we had some water back up in our finished basement. The house is relatively new to us, so we expect issues.

Within 60 minutes of reaching out to them, Wes arrived. Mickey called me from the office immediately to confirm who was coming and when.

Once Wes got here he assessed the problem pretty quickly but also made sure to take photos, call his colleagues and ensure the assessment was correct.

Unfortunately it turned out to be the pipes beneath our house were cracked or broken and therefore water was literally pooling beneath our home.

Wes helped to clear the standing water the same night, installed a new ejector pump and promised to return the next day to replace the broken pipes below the ground.

Wes returned at 9:00am with Mike and they began to break ground. They discovered broken pipes and continued to dig around to ensure that the problem didn’t go any further. These guys worked relentlessly. They are professionals. They know exactly what they’re doing, how to do it, and communicate to you why they’re doing what they’re doing.

There’s no sales pitch. There’s no BS. The situation was really going to be stressful until they arrived.

Oh, and as an added bonus, when I went out on a limb to ask Mickey at the office about possible cleanup, she connected me with Chicago Water & Fire Restoration someone arrived the same night (like 8:30pm) did some assessment. Tested moisture in the areas and sent a team to clear out the affected areas and begin mitigation immediately.

Everyone has been responsive. Responsible and made a really SH*TTY situation so much more manageable.

I’m forever grateful.

Chicago Sewer Experts did a great job with our sewer repair. Robert was professional, responsive, and clearly explained the work before getting started. They completed the job efficiently and left everything clean afterward. Would definitely recommend them for sewer work.

They handled the plumbing issues efficiently, but the brand-new dishwasher was not reinstalled properly afterward. One of the leveling screws was broken, and the electrical wires were left in a hazardous state. The dishwasher eventually stopped working, and I had to call an electrician to correctly reconnect and secure the wires inside the junction box. He also reinforced the damaged leveling screw. That ended up costing an additional $150.

Their prices are reasonable. Professional service all the way!

Very helpful