Customers frequently praise the company for punctual arrivals, clear communication, and professional service handling plumbing and heating repairs. However, several reviews criticize the high flat-rate pricing and service call fees, with some noting that costs were significantly higher than competitor estimates. A minor number of complaints also mention scheduling delays or appointment cancellations.
Google rating: 4.9 out of 5 from 246 reviews (96% five-star).
Reviews on this page: 246 Google reviews (223 with written comments, 21 with photos).
Owner responses: the business replied to 99% of reviews.
Most recent review: October 25, 2026.
Service: Leak Detection Service serving Hibbing, Minnesota.
Data from Google, last updated October 26, 2026.
Photos
Customer reviews
4.9
★★★★★
246 reviews on Google
5★237
4★3
3★2
2★1
1★3
Reviews from Google, shown as published (original wording, unedited).
What customers talk about
We read 223 written reviews and marked every phrase about these topics. The same colors are highlighted in the reviews.
“Jennifer , the office manager and coordinator, made coordinating everything easy: All in all, very professional, polite, and a pleasure to work with.”
“When you need something done right the first time in a timely manner go with excel they actually answer their phone unlike many other plumbing companies.”
“Jarrett was very fast and did good work and is a very nice guy”
“Highly recommend EXCEL Plumbing—thank you, Spencer and Jessica!”
“I wish that was explained to me before the appointment.”
“They were honest and realistic about the costs while still being very reasonable.”
“Horribly overpriced!”
“Peter was very upfront with our service options, from minimum repairs to a full service recommendation.”
People customers mention
Peter20 reviews
Ely5 reviews
Spencer5 reviews
Jarrett3 reviews
praise complaint · found by our text analysis, Google review wording unchanged.
Jobs customers hired them for— from Google's service tags and the review text
Team members customers mention
Filter by topic— each topic is highlighted in the reviews in the same color
Steve Grosberg2 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews Steve has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
Did a good job. Couldn't afford to replace the heater at the price. I wish that was explained to me before the appointment.
Price assessment: Not sure
Price: $1,800–2,000
Response from the owner · 4 days ago
Thank you so much for your kind words about our work! We truly appreciate you giving us the opportunity to serve you. We understand that replacing a water heater can be a significant investment, and we're sorry the cost was more than you had anticipated. Because every home and installation is different, we provide pricing after our technician has had the opportunity to assess the specific needs of the job. We understand how important it is to know what to expect, and we appreciate you sharing your perspective with us. Your feedback means a lot, and we're always looking for ways to improve our customers' experience. Thank you again for trusting Excel Plumbing and Heating!
Melissa Moro-Koss3 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews Melissa has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
I've used Excel Plumbing and Heating twice for the boiler at my Ely property, and I would not use them again.
In February I paid $3,146 for a PRV replacement, two ball valves, glycol, and a tune-up. The work was done, but the flat-rate pricing was steep. For example, it was $431 each to replace two 1/2" ball valves during the same visit.
More recently, they diagnosed my Weil-McLain propane boiler as needing a new gas valve and quoted $2,700 for the part alone, with labor additional. The OEM replacement valve for this boiler sells for roughly $200–$320. I had another technician come out, and he found nothing wrong with the gas valve. It was really the flame sensor.
My advice: get a second opinion and compare part prices before approving any significant repair from Excel.
UPDATE: The owner has since told me the $2,700 verbal estimate was for the full repair. That is not what I was told. The technician clearly said $2,700 was for the part only and that labor would be additional.
Either way, the price is hard to justify. Typical estimates I found for replacing this gas valve, parts and labor included, are around $800. More importantly, the second technician who came out found nothing wrong with the valve and noted that it was fairly new.
They do respond quickly, but in my experience, quick service didn't mean fair pricing or an accurate diagnosis. Please get a second opinion before approving any major repair!!!
Final Update: It is also interesting that Excel never reached out to my email that was sent directly to the business and only responded to the Google review.
Price assessment: Overpriced
Response from the owner · a week ago
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with us and for giving us the opportunity to serve you. We're sorry to hear that we fell short of your expectations.
We understand that heating repairs can be a significant investment, and we work hard to provide fair pricing that reflects the quality of our workmanship, the experience of our technicians, and the service we proudly stand behind.
We also wanted to clear up a misunderstanding regarding the $2,700 estimate. The price provided was for the complete repair, including parts, labor, and warranty, rather than the part alone.
Regarding the diagnosis, we understand your concerns, especially after another technician reached a different conclusion. While we always strive to provide accurate assessments, we recognize that our initial findings may not always be correct. We take that seriously and view these situations as opportunities to learn and improve.
We genuinely appreciate your feedback and will use it to strengthen our ongoing commitment to providing honest, friendly, and reliable service.
Dominic Nevalainen1 reviewiTotal number of Google reviews Dominic has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
Cleared a rather large mainline drain clog for me. Great customer service
Price assessment: Not sure
Price: $800–1,000
Response from the owner · a week ago
Wonderful to hear Dominic! I am glad we were able to get everything up and running for you. We take great care to provide great customer service for you and happy we could deliver. Thank you for your support!
Alec Holloway2 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews Alec has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
I had a great experience with EXCEL Plumbing! Spencer, the plumber, took on the challenge of fixing something outside his usual scope of work and did a fantastic job! I really appreciated his willingness to help tackle the problem. Jennifer , the office manager and coordinator, made coordinating everything easy: All in all, very professional, polite, and a pleasure to work with.. Highly recommend EXCEL Plumbing—thank you, Spencer and Jessica!
Price assessment: Reasonable price
Price: $2,000+
Response from the owner · 2 weeks ago
Wow Horus! That is awesome! From start to finish we were able to deliver with EXCELence. Happy that we were able to help get things taken care of for you and that Spencer and Jennifer were a pleasure to work with. Thanks for the 5-star review and support of our company!
Paul and Terri LaSalle1 reviewiTotal number of Google reviews Paul has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
Jarrett was very nice and pleasant. I was so surprised at the price for the amount of work needed to be done.
Price assessment: Overpriced
Price: $1,400–1,600
Response from the owner · 2 weeks ago
Thank you so much for sharing your feedback, Paul and Terri! I'm glad to hear Jarrett took good care of you, and I'll be sure to pass along your kind words!
I completely understand that the price may have been more than you expected. We work hard to keep our pricing fair while making sure we're providing quality workmanship, experienced technicians, and service we can confidently stand behind. I know we're not always going to be the least expensive option, but our goal is always to provide dependable service and quality work that our customers can feel confident in. Thanks again for your feedback and also for giving us the opportunity to serve you!
Becky Latola1 reviewiTotal number of Google reviews Becky has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
Horribly overpriced!
I do NOT recommend. Service call was $276. Repair option to replace heating element was quoted at over $1200.
Competitor came out and fixed the water heater element for $217 total!
Expensive lesson… but I was ripped off!!!
Price assessment: Overpriced
Price: $1,200–1,400
Response from the owner · a month ago
Thank you for sharing your concerns. We understand why the difference between our estimate and the repair completed by the utility company was frustrating.
Pricing can vary significantly between providers, even for the same repair, based on labor and material costs, warranties, operating expenses, and overall pricing structure. Our dispatch investment is our standard practice for service visits and covers the technician’s travel, time on site, assessment, and professional recommendations.
We reached out directly to discuss your concerns and explain our pricing and service process. While we understand you were not satisfied with the outcome, we appreciate your feedback and the opportunity to address your concerns.
Linda Goerdt1 reviewiTotal number of Google reviews Linda has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
Drain was blocked. They came out and took care of it same day! In the thunder storm. He went through wind and the rain. Got extension. Extra trip with no extra! ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY!!! THANKS PETER!!!
Price assessment: Reasonable price
Price: $1,200–1,400
Response from the owner · a month ago
Through the wind and the rain...That is awesome! I am so glad we were able to go above and beyond for you LJ J! We appreciate the support and the amazing review!
