FAQ

We provide excellent service and good value to our clients.

Polybutylene

Over time polybutylene pipes deteriorate from the inside due to chemical reactions with compounds used to sanitize our drinking water. The poly becomes brittle and eventually develops tiny fissures. These fissures connect together and eventually form a small crack that water will slowly escape through.
Exactly how long it takes a home with gray poly to fail is a difficult question to answer. The polybutylene systems that failed the quickest were due to defective fittings. The current wave of polybutylene failures are occurring due to chemical breakdown of the actual pipes itself and not the fittings. If you have a home with gray poly you should be prepared for leaks to develop at any time.
Be on the lookout for signs of slow water seepage from pipes. Since these pipes can be hidden from view behind walls, above ceiling, or in a concrete slab, signs of a leak could include seeing a wet spot on a wall or floor or have a gradually increasing water bill. It is also possible there may be a noticeable a mildew smell in the home.
Turning the water supply off when you are going to be away from the home especially for extended periods. Check the pressure regular valve for proper function using a pressure gauge. Static pressure should never be higher than 80 PSI and should probably be even low in a house with PB. Treat polybutylene pipes with care. If you have exposed pipes you should avoid moving or jostling them.
Homeowner’s insurance typically pays for restoration of the home in the event of flood damage caused by a leaking water pipe in the walls, ceiling, crawl space. Insurance providers do not typically pay for the plumbing work itself. Sometimes we are able to speak with the adjuster who will make allowances to offset some of the cost of wall repair and painting associated with the repipe. In the case of a leak in the slab, insurance providers are usually able to substantially offset the cost of a repipe to avoid the damage cause by jackhammering a slab to make a repair.
A number of factors determine the cost of a pipe replacement in your home. These factors include the size of the home, the number of plumbing fixtures, ceiling and wall finishes, the type of foundation (slab, crawlspace, basement), and the materials used. Prices offered by a repipe specialist (such as Plumbing Express) are often much lower than people expect after having had an estimate from a retail service plumbing company.
Some of the best realtors advise their client to make major repairs in advance and list their home only when it is free of major defects and in a “clean” condition. These realtors know from experience that many qualified prospective buyers will avoid properties with major issues such as polybutylene plumbing unless major concessions are made. Replacing the polybutylene prior to listing takes away a major bargaining chip that buyers can leverage to reduce the sale price. Fixing major defects allows sellers to close more quickly and at a higher profit.
As is true with many aspects of the plumbing system, there is misinformation passed around. Probably the most common misnomer about gray poly is that polybutylene systems with copper fittings will not leak. It is true that gray poly systems with copper fittings have lasted longer because the fittings are less likely to fail. However, the gray poly pipe itself in a system with copper fittings is just as likely to leak as in a system with other fittings. The chemical deterioration of polybutylene is not slowed down by the type of fittings in the system.
Polybutylene is the chemical name of the plastic used to make infamous gray poly pipes. Gray poly pipes were widely used for a couple of decades in residential new construction in the US. Gray poly water pipes are no longer allowed to be used for residential plumbing applications due to their tendency to degrade over time through exposure to compounds present in municipal drinking water that are used for water treatment.
We offer several payment option including including credit cards, payment at closing, and financing with approved credit.
Plumbing Express is a well established company with a brick-and-mortar office location. We use a team of W2 employees instead of independent sub-contractors. We use the high quality pipe, valve, and fittings instead of imported knockoffs. Our drywall repair and painting are not performed by the plumbers. We never run pipes in the attic unless it is absolutely necessary. We believe it is imperative to visit the jobsite to give an accurate price quote and to ensure the job goes smoothly.
Our team has repiped thousands of homes over the years and we have had good luck with Flowguard Gold CPVC pipe and with Nibco hard copper pipe. We believe both of these materials have stood the test of time. Since we provide one of the best (if not the absolute best) warranties on the market, we use top notch materials. At this time we do not recommend “pex” type tubing for interior water pipes but we do typically use pex products for water service lines. The main thing consumers have to watch out for is companies who employ independent subcontractors who provide their own materials for jobs. Many times these subcontractors will use the cheapest most generic pipe, fittings, and valves available. These are made overseas. We have come across lots of jobs where cheap piping from China has had multiple failures to the point that another repipe is warranted.
Having lower than normal pressure in a polybutylene system can delay the formation of leaks. Higher static pressure in degraded polybutylene will cause leaks sooner than low pressure in a degraded polybutylene system. Lower pressure can also decrease the performance of your plumbing system..
If you are asking this question, you should not attempt to repair the polybutylene pipe yourself. Repairs on polybutylene are typically made using push-type fittings. All repairs on polybutylene are unreliable and should be monitored for failure. Do yourself and your household a favor by calling a professional plumber. Our number is: 770-400-9219.
A manifold is a central distribution point for a plumbing system. A manifold is a large injection molded chamber typically having one inlet for the water supply and multiple outlets. The advantage of a manifold system is that it provides individual shutoffs for each fixture in your home. The disadvantage of a manifold is that it requires much more piping material and labor to install. Manifold systems were popular with polybutylene piped homes and are currently employed with pex piping systems. Manifolds are typically installed as new construction and not as retro-fit.

Pipe Replacement Process

Choosing Plumbing Express means partnering with a team that values precision, transparency, and customer care above all. Our commitment to you includes:

  • Accuracy and Transparency: By evaluating your home’s plumbing system in person, we ensure that our quote reflects the true scope of work required. This attention to detail helps prevent unexpected costs, aligning your expectations with the project realities from the start.
  • Customized Solutions: Each home is unique, and so are its plumbing needs. Our on-site assessment allows us to be prepared specifically for your home, ensuring that the repipe process is as smooth and non-intrusive as possible.
  • Trust and Confidence: Our direct engagement with you, the homeowner, is designed to build trust and confidence in our capabilities. This face-to-face interaction allows you to ask questions, voice concerns, and receive immediate, knowledgeable feedback based on our repiping expertise.
  • Educational Opportunity: We view each on-site quote as a chance to educate our customers about their plumbing systems and our process. This knowledge ensures you are well-informed about the repiping process and comfortable that you know how to prepare for it.
  • Thorough Planning and Communication: Utilizing advanced tools like Service Titan, we meticulously document every detail of your project, ensuring seamless communication and coordination among our team. This thorough planning translates into efficient, quality service tailored to your specific needs. 

A “slab” is the concrete foundation that many houses are built on. It is very common to have plumbing pipes encased in the concrete slab. For various reasons these pipes encased in the concrete slab can develop leaks – these leaks are referred to as “slab leaks.” Slab leaks in pipes typically develop due to a chemical reaction. Gray Poly pipes reacts with chlorine in the water over a long period of time. Copper pipes, when not properly sleeved at the time of installation can react with the soil and concrete to develope leaks. Slab leaks can also occur for other unknown reasons.

We typically recommend a partial or complete repipe to bypass pipes in the slab as opposed to repairing the pipe in the slab. Repairing slab pipes is very invasive and costly and we do not recommend it. Slab repairs involve jackhammering the slab, removing flooring, basboard, etc. Also, it is very common for mulitple slab leaks to exist at the same time or for a slab leak to develope in a different place soon after one repair has been made. The means for locating slab leak can be inaccurate. Pipe replacement is often the most economical route because it actually ads value to the home instead of being a “band aid.” Insurance companies will often apply a portion of what would be a slab repair claim to a complete home pipe replacement. 

A typical home has between 15 and 35 sheet rock cuts. A number of factors including the number of plumbing fixtures and design of the house determine the number of holes that are cut. Since part of the Plumbing Express repipe includes sheet rock repair, we do try to minimize the number of cuts.
Unless the customer specifies otherwise, we alway include sheetrock repair, paint match and ceiling texture match in our complete pipe replacement. It’s truly turn-key.
Because we need to be aware of and take into account the unique challenges present in a house, it is better have Plumbing Express give a free on-site inspection and quote. We understand that sometimes potential clients are under a time constraint for various reason so we can give a close idea of the price over the phone.
If we can, we will. We try to prioritize dire plumbing situations. Give us a call and we can discuss our availability with you.
The vast majority of our clients do stay in the home while it is being re-piped. We are sure to restore water at the end of each day and clean up plastic that has been deployed to control debris. While a pipe replacement is a major project, we minimize our foot print. Any person with an extreme sensitivity to dust or serious medical conditions should NOT stay in the home during the repipe.
Most of our repipes are substantially complete within 2 to 3 working days. Larger or more complicated homes with more wall and ceiling cuts can take four or five days to complete. The job is broken down into two parts 1) Plumbing 2) Sheet rock Repairs.
We are exceptionally skilled at matching and blending ceiling textures including popcorn ceilings (course, medium, and fine textures) and stipple ceilings. Our work is exceptional and your attention will not be drawn to our access areas.
After our pipe replacement, the water distribution pipes in your slab will no longer be in use. Our process bypasses slab pipes so that your home will no longer be susceptible to a slab leak. If your water service line is also polybutylene penetrating the slab, that pipe can also be bypassed as a separate item in the scope of work.
Because our plumbers have seen so many different home configurations, they are able to quickly assess an ideal approach to the repipe of your home. We have a proven method that is efficient and reliable. We use a large amount of plastic sheeting and drop clothes to help protect your home and it’s contents from construction debris and dust. We use premium piping materials and valves. We include drywall repairs and because we do, the plumbers minimize cutting drywall. Our drywall and paint techs are special people who do great work (everyone at Plumbing Express is a W2 employee and not a subcontractor). Plumbers who occasionally repipe houses are definitely slower, do more damage to the home finishes, do not include sheetrock repair, and often often do a substandard job simply due to lack of experience. Our experience and skill are the reason realtors trust us with their clients – we provide a good value and don’t stall or otherwise affect the home sale.
An interior pipe replacement is a replacement of the home’s potable water distribution system. The potable water distribution system is defined as: Pipes within a structure that convey water from the water service pipe to the points of utilization. Our standard interior repipe includes replacement of all pipes from the interior (main) shutoff valve to all the fixtures. Our repipe service differs from other plumbing companies because we repair the home finishes such as drywall, paint, ceiling texture by default as specified in our Interior Repipe Agreement.
Yes we do offer free polybutylene inspections. These inspections and quotes are especially useful to clients who are buying or selling a home because the presence of polybutylene affects the value of your home.

Sewer & Drain

Your garbage disposer is intended to be used to dispose of small amounts of kitchen waste so don’t look at your garbage disposer as an alternative to your trash can either. If you have more than a cup of stuff to dispose of, just throw it in the trash. Large amounts of ground kitchen waste can cause a serious blockage further down the drain line and can require a serious effort to dislodge.

When talking about the drain system, the “main line” refers to the home/building sewer. According to the 2012 International Plumbing Code, a building sewer (aka the “main line”) is defined as:

“That part of the drainage system that extends from the end of the building drain and conveys the discharge to a public sewer, private sewer, individual sewage disposal system or other point of disposal.

Basically this mean the drain pipe in your yard. When the main line is blocked you may notice backups in your tub/shower, gurgling in toilet, or water flowing out of a sewer cleanout port in your yard. Main line blockages can cause property damage and unsafe conditions. You should cease running any water and contact a plumber immediately if you have a main line blockage.

Popular drain opening chemicals can be strong organic solvents and should be carefully handled. We generally do not recommend drain opening chemicals although they can be effective opening local drains such as a sink or shower. Drain opening is best accomplished by using a mechanical means such as an auger or plunger. Chemicals never work on major drain clogs such as a main line blockage. The only way to open these type of drain clogs is by using a powerful sewer auger or a hydro jet.

Enzymes (such as those sold by Bioclean and Zep) are good for keeping drains open on a preventative basis. These products send sludge eating microbes into your drain system to keep the sidewalls of the pipe clean. This reduces friction and waste flows though the pipe and decreases the probability of a blockage.

Water Heaters

You should service your hot water heater at least once a year. Regular maintenance helps prevent breakdowns, improves efficiency, and extends the lifespan of your unit. During a service, a professional plumber will typically inspect the system, flush the tank to remove sediment buildup, check the pressure relief valve, and assess other components to ensure everything is working properly. If you have hard water or use your heater more frequently, you may want to consider servicing it every 6 months to keep it running optimally.
Currently Natural Gas is clearly a better fuel than electric for heating hot water in Georgia. Gas water heaters have a better recovery rate (they produce more hot water) and cost about half as much to heat a gallon of water compared to electric. If you think electric is more environmentally friend – you’re wrong at least for now. Most of the electricity produced in Georgia is generated from burning fossil fuels. When you take into account the transmission loss of electricity it has a larger carbon footprint than gas for heating water. People in rural areas with no gas service should use electric unless they have money to burn on propane because propane is much more costly than electric for heating water.

A typical water heater lasts around 8 to 12 years. The exact lifespan depends on factors like the type of water heater, the quality of the unit, how well it’s maintained, and the water quality in your area.

  • Traditional tank water heaters (gas or electric) generally last 8-12 years with proper care.
  • Tankless water heaters, which heat water on demand, can last 20 years or more due to their more efficient design and the absence of a storage tank.

Regular maintenance, such as flushing the tank to remove sediment and inspecting components annually, can help extend your water heater’s lifespan. 

We believe Rinnai® Tankless is simply the best option on the market. A Rinnai Tankless Water Heater solves the tank heater water inconsistency problem because hot water becomes delivered at a precise temperature to every fixture. Imagine providing unlimited hot water to your home. As an exclusive dealer and servicer of Rinnai Tankless Water Heaters, Plumbing Express receives the highest level of Rinnai training at Rinnai Headquarters.

Rinnai® is the registered trademark of Rinnai Corporation used under license by Rinnai America Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

The Rheem® Professional Classic Plus Series Atmospheric is the most popular gas water tank heater that we install.

Product Features:

  • Highly reliable
  • Professional Grade – heavy duty
  • Made in North America the USA
  • Tanks welded in Mexico and assembled in Mobile, Alabama.
  • 40-50 gal and up
  • Natural gas powered – the most efficient and environmentally friendly (based on total carbon footprint versus electric).
  • Eco-Friendly burner
  • Premium Anode Rode to maximize the life of your heater.
  • Easy to light with no matches required
  • Brass drain valve

Rheem® is the registered trademark of Rheem Manufacturing Company. All Rights Reserved.

If you are in the Great State of Georgia, a water heater drain pan usually isn’t necessary. A water heater drain pan is required when the water heater is located above a ceiling or in an attic. Let’s turn our codebooks to section 504.7 in the 2014 Amendments to the 2012 International. It says:

“504.7 Required pan. Pans shall be installed under storage-type water heaters or water heater storage tanks installed in attics or above ceilings. The pan shall be galvanized steel having a minimum thickness of 24 gauge, or other pans approved for such use. Pans are not required under tankless water heaters. (Effective January 1, 2014)”

Water heater drain pans can provide a false sense of security. If your water heater develops a hole that is significant in size, it can easily overwhelm the drain on the pan and overflow.

If the leak is coming from the bottom of the tank or the very top, it is not repairable because the tank has corroded through. If the leak is coming from the temperature and pressure relief valve on the side you may need to check the pressure regulator valve in your house and/or change the temperature and pressure relief valve.

The services we provide

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Whole-House Repipe

We eliminate failing pipes and include sheetrock repair

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General Plumbing

Residential and Commercial Plumbing Services for Metro Atlanta and North Georgia.

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Water Heating Services

Repair or upgrade your water heating system.

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Drain Repair

We know that critical drain services protect property & health. Get flowing again.

What Our Customers Are Saying

With over 35 years of experience, Plumbing Express has earned the trust of homeowners across Atlanta, GA. Backed by 1,500+ reviews and a 4.9-star rating, we take pride in delivering top-quality plumbing and repiping services. See what our satisfied customers have to say about their experience with us!

4.9
Based on 1,920 Reviews
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Daniel was amazing! He represented the company to the very best standards! I will dwfinitely use him again! Very Professional! Courtesy! A very positive experience! Will use in the future! Absolutely

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This was my second time using Plumbing Express. Once again, I had an excellent experience with Dylan

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Very professional Got the job done quickly

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Anthony came to my house for an ongoing problem of extremely high water bills. He quickly diagnosed and fixed the issue. Anthony has a pleasant attitude and provided great service with professionalism and care for my home and property.

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Everything about my experience was A++ service. From the friendly receptionist who took our call and let us know available times to Dylan who was friendly, knowledgeable and extremely professional. He helped fix everything and left it better than ever. Great Atlanta plumber team. You will not be disappointed!

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My issue was a water heater being a great distance from my kitchen sink causing water waste as I waited for hot water to reach the kitchen. Daniel was very familiar with the issue. In a very brief time, he installed a recirculating pump on my water heater and a sensor valve at my sink. I now have instant hot water where I need it. Express plumbing was very responsive to my call, arrived promptly, and Daniel did an exceptional installation job. Express Plumbing can be proud to have an employee like Daniel representing them.

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Very nice experience working with Plumbing Express, particularly with Tim Robinson who complete the job as expected. He listened and understood my concerns and try to address them as close as possible. Very nice work. Thanks guys.

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Rod was courteous and focused. He had the situation sized up and solved by the time I got out to the meter-box to greet him. I was impressed with his talent for deduction and followed his train of thought in trouble shooting the problem. There was no leak after the watermeter and the watermeter worked fine. The evidence was subtle but it was there. Water wasn't leaking out of the box it was leaking in by the direction of the mud residue build-up. Thanks again Rod!

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Rod was fantastic!

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Tim did a great job installing our bathroom sink!

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Great, quick, and thorough service!

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We had water pressure and water temperature issues, which turned out to be caused by a failing pressure regulator valve and a failed valve in a crossover recirculator. Anthony diagnosed and replaced both, repaired a pinhole leak in a copper pipe near the PRV, and did the annual service on our tankless heater, all in less than 3 1/2 hours including a 45 minute trip to pick up the correct PRV for our system. He is always fast, efficient and knowledgeable, and willing to answer all our questions.

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Daniel did a great job with the tankless installation, educating us on the new unit, and was very professional. Happy to have hot water once again. Thank you.

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Rod was awesome.

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Rob came in and was friendly and completed the toilet repair quickly and professionally.

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Fantastic, trustworthy and reliable Plumber. Highly recommend. Daniel was awesome. Hard to recommend any other plumbing business in Atlanta! These guys are honest and don’t nickel and dime you for everything.

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We had a pool of water forming in our front yard, so we scheduled an appointment with Plumbing Express and they quickly sent Daniel to come diagnose the issue. When he arrived, he let me know what the potential issues were and gave me a very detailed breakdown of the costs and work involved, from best to worst case scenario. He was able to break things down in a way that I could easily understand, and I could tell that he was being honest with me which gave me the confidence to hire him to work on the issue. He quickly found the leak, showed me, and I immediately agreed to have him fix the pipe. Within an hour or so he had the leak fixed and filled the area he had to dig up, all while it was so cold it actually began to snow a little bit. I could not ask for better service and will happily go with Plumbing Express in the future for any plumbing needs.

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Rod was very professional, courteous, and quick. I've also used Plumbing Express in the past and was happy with the service.

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Tim was great. Took the time to explain what he was doing and break down everything that needed to be done.

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I requested Dylan because he had previously came to our house to diagnose what was wrong with our Renni tankless water heater. He always explains what is wrong and what needs to be done to fix what's wrong. Dylan this a highly talented plumber.

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They say, “you won’t know what someone is made of until you see them navigate problems and mistakes.” The install team were incredibly professional and courteous. They did unfortunately have a couple of big missteps, but they and their boss Ty handled it the way great companies do. They listened apologetically and made it right!! Ty acted honorably to make things right and Lucio, Joe, Ben and Rad did a tremendous job replumbing the house in just one day to bypass the leak under the slab. Grateful for their hard work and will certainly recommend to my friends and family!

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Rod Anderson did an amazing job of problem-solving our plumbing issue.

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Daniel did a great job of telling me exactly what the issues were as well as the solutions. He finished the work in a timely fashion and was able to recommend another company for possible water damage.

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Exceptional service. Daniel was knowledgeable and kind.

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Very knowledgeable!

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Polite, customer friendly. Both were very nice. Work completed on time and did what they said. Thanks, Harry Fraley

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Great works done by Rod Anderson, on time and to our complete satisfaction. Thank you 👍

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Anthony hooked up a firepit to a new gas line. He did a good job and worked quickly. He was friendly and explained things well.

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Service is prompt and expert. Highly recommend. Mr Robinson minimized any disruption possible from installation. His professionalism and attention to detail is outstanding.

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Third time using them, very positive experience, friendly, efficient and do clean work. Will call them again.

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Very calm, respectful, and explained things well to someone who doesn’t know much about plumbing.

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Knowledgeable and efficient!

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Anthony was amazing to work with. Very knowledgeable, friendly, and very quick to respond to our situation! We would recommend him to anyone.

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I am very pleased with their work. Were the most affordable and they a terrific job. I highly recommend it

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Anthony was very competent, professional and friendly. He answered all my questions throughly. Highly recommend!

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Thanks to Rod Anderson. I had a great experience with the Mr. Anderson who came to my home. He was very professional, respectful, and honest. You could tell he really knew his work and took the time to explain everything clearly. I truly appreciated his knowledge and transparency. I would highly recommend his services and will definitely call him again if I ever need plumbing help!

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After suffering a second leak under our slab and getting quotes from various plumbers, we decided to have our house repiped through the attic. Ed came by from Plumbing Express and I was convinced that they were the right company. Not only was their bid competitive with the other plumbers, but they also provided better insulation for the pipes and turnkey drywall repair and paint. The plumbing crew were polite and professional and kept the work areas clean. They kept the damage and the dust down to a minimum which was a pleasant surprise. After they completed the job, Flaniel repaired and painted the walls like new with no signs of patching. He was super clean and even mopped the floors before he left. I also want to give a shout out to Ivan in the office who orchestrated everything. Finally, I can say without a doubt, that if you have plumbing issues, Plumbing Express is the one to call.

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Anthony is very professional and polite. He installed plumbing during reno for the master bath, basement bath and new kitchenette. Highly recommend.

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Rod was awesome! Very prompt, and honest guy assessing my sewer lines

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Team did excellent work! Thank you!

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Rod did a great job.He was very professional and informative. Great customer service overall.

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ROD AND THE LATIN AMERICAN FROM PLUMBING EXPRESS WERE AWESOME!!!

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Very happy with the pipe replacement. The whole team was super professional, knowledgeable, efficient and communicative

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Installed new water heaters and a whole home water filter system. Great communication. Did everything they said they would do in the timeframe stated. Left everything clean and answered all my questions.

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Explained and fixed both issues

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I had an outstanding experience with Rod. He was professional, punctual, and extremely knowledgeable. He quickly diagnosed the problem, explained everything clearly, and completed the work efficiently. The quality of his work was excellent, and he left everything clean and neat when he finished.

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Smooth process from receiving the initial estimate to completion of our complete home repiping.

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Rod Anderson was my technician. He was courteous, prompt, and knowledgeable. He was able to fi n d the problem and recommended next steps. Thanks for your services.

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Had a leaking pipe around the hot water heater and another one showing alot of corrosion from calcium buildup. I needed these pipes repaired before they become a bigger problem. I have used Plumbing Express in the past and had great results so I called them again and got great results from their service on repairing these pipes and quick and efficient service. Dylan was great and very efficient and knowledgeable about what repairs needed to be done. I will definitely use Plumbing Express and ask for Dylan when I have any plumbing problems in the future!

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Rod Anderson does a great job. I recommend him for your plumbing needs

Atlanta, GA Plumbers & Repipe Specialists.

Call (678) 439-9540 now!