Alkota Plumbing and Heating Inc

Called to have a bathroom faucet replaced.  Plumber spent less than an hour making the switch.   We provided the faucet.  Not sure why it cost $350 for an hours worth of work.  DO NOT USE THESE GUYS THEY GLADLY RIPOFF PEOPLE.  Just check their google reviews.
Dec 12th, 2019

Had hot water heater thermocouple go bad and needed it replaced.  Alkota got me taken care of right away.  Had to order parts as whirlpool did not have then.  Got a conversion kit overnight and I had hot water quick.  Thanks for the continued professional services.
Nov 22nd, 2016

If I could rate negatively I would. I wouldn't recommend this service to anyone. After weeks of going back and forth with them and being assured 5 different times that what we are paying for and what is being fixed is the correct fix I still do not have heat or hot water. In an Alaska winter that's beyond frustrating, especially with children living in the house. They have poor communication skills, and can't seem to keep track of their employees. It's extremely frustrating that a business that has been open for so long can't seem to get heating and hot water fixed. That is their main objection right? I am highly disappointed and will never use them again.
Feb 26th, 2016

I just got charged the equivalent of $700 an hour !!!!!  (there were no parts, special costs, etc.)Yes, that is true.  I'll now avoid Alkota Plumbing & Heating (they lost a returning customer).  On April 15, 2015, I requested a service call to help install a simple bathroom faucet.  I already purchased the faucet, and I had the old faucet half-way uninstalled.  Part way in doing the work, I thought it was best to have the installation finished by a skilled worker.  It was a simple task with no additional parts needed.  The entire call lasted a half-hour.  For that I was billed $350 !!!  That is exorbitant even considering a basic service call fee on top of an labor charge.In the past I had used Alkota for a kitchen faucet call, bathroom toilet call, and a furnace call.  I was satisfied in the past, so I called the company for this service.  Well, apparently their policies changed.  For my kitchen faucet installation three years earlier, Alkota charged me $186.24 ($160.00 of which was for labor and the service call, so excluding parts it turned out to be the equivalent of $128 an hour).  That call involved a few special parts (I supplied the faucet) and turned out to be a little complicated due to my kitchen setup, so for the 1 hour 15 minute call I thought the rate was quite fair.  And that plumber (someone different) at the time was very professional.  But how did the rate go up 273% in just three years?Another thing irks me.  On the day of service when paying by credit card a yellow invoice is given.  Of course, none of the bill is listed for parts.  But weeks later I received an invoice by the mail with a credit card receipt.  But that second receipt shows materials for $16.  The total amount is the same, but where did the idea come from that there were extra parts involved?  I supplied the entire faucet that came with all the parts.
Jul 11th, 2015

Work completed 9/2/14. I was told on the phone when I scheduled my furnace checkup and cleaning that she couldn't tell me a price over the phone. The only person who can tell me a price is the guy looking at the furnace because he has to see it first. So I scheduled a meeting for a week later and met the plumber in front of my house. Before even entering the house and looking at the boiler, he had a price for me....without looking. Why couldn't the lady in the office do that? I was in the process of selling the house, so I didn't have time to reschedule with another company, so I bit the bullet and paid the high rate. The plumber was good, but he should have given me a lower rate when he didn't actually have to clean the burners. I stood by during the service and he never pulled the burners out. This was consistent with what he wrote on my receipt at the time; however, when receipt was mailed to me, the write up said the burners where removed and deemed clean, so no cleaning needed. He didn't even test the gas burn rate at the meter to see if it was within spec. He did clean the ignitor and test some electrical. And he opened the garage unit heater inspection panel and replaced a cheap and easy part (approximately 5 minutes to replace).Charge for the work done was $600/hr. If you subtract out the callout fee which was $80 or $90 I believe, then their hourly charge was $475/hr. I would consider other companies first before I trust these guys.
Sep 16th, 2014