Decorah Heating & Plumbing

For years we had a sewer smell in our basement, especially on cold days. We had had other plumbers out, but they just told us to pour water down the floor drain. That didn't help. So this winter, I thought I would try just one more time. I called on a very cold day, and the plumber came (I think his name was Roy) within 20 minutes, discovered a cause that had not been mentioned before (frozen air vent on the roof), but there was nothing to be done except wait for warmer weather. I accepted that. But then he looked around the basement some more. "Do you have any open pipes, I wonder?" he asked. I was about to say no, we had looked everywhere, but decided not to say anything until he had checked again. Imagine my surprise when he said "You have an open pipe!" It wasn't in the floor, which was where we had been looking, it was higher up. I don't know why it was open, but he capped it in a few seconds, and the job was done. The smell is gone. Thank goodness he took the time to look around some more! Thank you, Roy, for a thorough job. Service: Plumbing leak detection
Feb 9th, 2022

One day I am at ma's house. She says guess what..now the water heater went out and doesn't work. I go downstairs and relight the pilot light. Next morning the water is cold so I look at water heater to see the pilot light is out again. I relight it and stay there and watch it to diagnose what the problem might be. I see when the burner went out the pilot goes out also. So I call my friend who got out of the plumbing and heating business and got a regular daytime job. He just does his HVAC work as a side line. When he comes over I tell him that I need a new gas valve so he takes a look at it. He would have to order the gas valve through the plumbing supply but he thought it might just be a thermal coupler. Next morning I am downstairs relighting the pilot light again. I call my friend and tell him to go ahead and order the gas valve. But before the gas valve comes in, mother calls her grandson. Since he doesn't have a HVAC license, he calls up a contractor. When I get to mother's house the contractor is leaving. I asked him if he got the valve replaced. He responds that he doesn't think it's the gas valve but just a thermal coupler and I explained we just put that thermocoupler in. He says that is what I think the problem is though. Next morning guess what I am doing I call up a third contractor. He comes over and takes the burner assembly out take things apart blows through the valve to make sure there aren't plugs and says I'm going to put on a new thermal coupler. I said I've already had two put it in. Well they may have put in bad ones and I'm going to put in a new one just in case because they are cheap. I now have gone $250 in thermal couplers and service bills. Next morning I am down on the floor lighting the water heater. I called my friend and ask him if the valve ever came in. Yes it is in but since I have a regular job during the day can you go pick it up. I said no problem how much is it. He said it's $149. On the way I stopped at Decorah plumbing and heating. I wanted to check to see if I could get a valve from them cheaper and have it replaced. He man in the corner office (whom I am going to guess is the owner) replies, you do not even want to replace a gas valve on a water heater. When I asked him why, he said because that valve will cost you half the price of a brand new water heater. I told him I can order one off rheems Supply house.com for $93 I have one sitting at the Plumber Supply Warehouse right now for $149,. And he said then why didn't you buy it? I just said okay I will and walked out. 15 minutes later I walked in with the invoice and I said there one gas valve for $149 plus tax. I would definitely advise shopping around, going elsewhere but whatever you do watch out for these guys. That is my opinion.
Oct 21st, 2020

Jun 8th, 2020

Apr 6th, 2020

My air conditioner was running but not cooling.They worked on it cooled for a month then called them back air worked for a month stopped cooling. Air conditioner is still un fixed got charged a huge bill that they wpuld not work out with us on.
Oct 10th, 2019