The Best Water Heater Repair
We graded 10 companies on seven things customers actually report: satisfaction, reliability, workmanship, value, momentum, track record and how owners handle complaints.
From 1,449 Google reviews of 10 top-rated water heater repair nationwide. Updated October 28, 2026.
Find the right company for your job
Pick the job — we re-rank companies by how customers rated that exact job.
Best water heater repair for heating system installation
Clear ✕Not enough reviews tagged “Heating system installation” to rank companies yet.
Job match = this company’s ★ on reviews Google tagged “Heating system installation” (shrunk toward the category average when there are few), how many such jobs it has done, and its overall Experts Score.
What customers said about heating system installation
Reliable Plumbing & HeatingI want to take a second and thank everyone at reliable, they did fantastic job, very respectfully upfront on everything no hidden fees and on top of that they beat everybody's price. I would differently call here if you called someone else call here I promise you, you won't regret it. They will be cheaper. And you…
Reliable Plumbing & HeatingMy furnace was literally on last leg, we had 4 estimates, Reliable came in w/best price. Scott put us at ease immediately, knowledge of product and straight forward. We scheduled installation, and a week before installation, my furnace was quit, called & asked my best route, 16hrs later the entire team was at my…
Overall ratings
Experts Score 0–100Experts Score (0–100)Absolute quality first: recency-weighted star average (≈54%), share of 1–2★ reviews (≈24%), customers’ price verdicts (≈14%), owner replies to critical reviews (≈7%); minus up to 10 points each for complaints flagged in Google review highlights and for a real slide in recent ratings. Hover a company’s score on its page for the full breakdown. and a letter grade per factor (A = top 20% of water heater repair).
| # | Company | ScoreExperts Score (0–100)Absolute quality first: recency-weighted star average (≈54%), share of 1–2★ reviews (≈24%), customers’ price verdicts (≈14%), owner replies to critical reviews (≈7%); minus up to 10 points each for complaints flagged in Google review highlights and for a real slide in recent ratings. Hover a company’s score on its page for the full breakdown. | FactorsFactor grades, in orderSatisfaction (54%): Recency-weighted star average (2-year half-life), shrunk toward the category mean by review volume; the company’s own lifetime average as the prior; absolute: 4.0★ = 0, 5★ = 100.Reliability (24%): How rarely jobs go badly: share of 1–2★ reviews — 60% the last 24 months (or the 20 newest if fewer), 40% all-time; 0% = 100, 15%+ = 0; the category percentile can only raise it.Craft & service (0%): Google review highlights: Quality, Professionalism, Responsiveness, Punctuality — how rarely reviewers flag them as a negative, per review since highlights began; 0% = 100, 5%+ = 0. Subtracted from the score (up to −10), never averaged in — clean highlights are the norm, not a bonus.Value (14%): Customers’ own price verdicts (Great / Reasonable vs Overpriced) and Value highlights; 65% absolute (all “reasonable” ≈ 80, “great” = 100), the category percentile can only raise it.Momentum (0%): Penalises only a real slide: last-12-month average below lifetime (−0.5★ = 0). Still 4.8★+ over the last year, or steady/improving = 100. Subtracted from the score (up to −10), never averaged in.Replies to reviews (7%): How often the owner publicly replies to reviews under 5★ (1–4★). Needs 3+ such reviews, otherwise not counted; 65% absolute (80%+ replied = 100), the category percentile can only raise it.One letter per factor score: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39, F = below 20. | ★Google star rating as shown on Google Maps. | Typical billMedian bill customers of this company reported in their reviews (needs 3+ priced reviews). |
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| 1 |  Your Favorite Plumber - SaginawBay City, MI | A 95How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 59%96+56.3Reliability 26%92+24Value 15%94+14.3Experts Score= 95Not enough data for replies to reviews; its weight is shared by the others.Grade A: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews. | AA–AA– | 5.00 | $397 |
| 2 |  Bedford Plumbing & Heating LLCBay City, MI | A 84How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 55%85+46.4Reliability 24%81+19.6Value 14%100+14.1Replies to reviews 7%84+5.9Craft & service penalty79−2.1Experts Score= 84Grade A: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews. | AABAAA | 4.76 | — |
| 3 |  Maximum Flush Sewer and DrainBay City, MI | A 83How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 55%86+46.9Reliability 24%72+17.5Value 14%100+14.1Replies to reviews 7%99+7Craft & service penalty78−2.2Experts Score= 83Grade A: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews. | ABBAAA | 4.86 | $248 |
| 4 |  Pro’s Plumbing and Sewer Inc.Bay City, MI | A 81How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 55%85+46.4Reliability 24%84+20.4Value 14%100+14.1Replies to reviews 7%37+2.6Craft & service penalty71−2.9Experts Score= 81Grade A: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews. | AABAAD | 4.79 | $283 |
| 5 |  Mr. Rooter Plumbing of the Tri-CitiesBay City, MI | A 80How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 55%81+44.2Reliability 24%70+17Value 14%91+12.9Replies to reviews 7%87+6.2Experts Score= 80Grade A: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews. | AB–AAA | 4.78 | $383 |
| 6 |  The Honest Plumber - Bay CityBay City, MI | B 78How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 59%78+45.8Reliability 26%66+17.2Value 15%100+15.2Experts Score= 78Not enough data for replies to reviews; its weight is shared by the others.Grade B: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews. | BB–AA– | 4.79 | $248 |
| 7 |  Tri-City Plumber Inc.Bay City, MI | B 76How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 69%79+54.7Reliability 31%69+21.2Experts Score= 76Not enough data for value, replies to reviews; its weight is shared by the others.Grade B: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews. | BB––A– | 4.83 | — |
| 8 | Reliable Plumbing & HeatingBay City, MI | B 65How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 55%67+36.5Reliability 24%59+14.3Value 14%100+14.1Replies to reviews 7%8+0.6Craft & service penalty97−0.3Experts Score= 65Grade B: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews. | BCAAAF | 4.61 | — |
| 9 |  Sam's Sewer & Drain Service LLCBay City, MI | C 54How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 55%71+38.7Reliability 24%29+7Value 14%100+14.1Replies to reviews 7%100+7.1Craft & service penalty68−3.2Momentum penalty0−10Experts Score= 54Grade C: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews. | BDBAFA | 4.81 | — |
| 10 |  Root Eaters Plumbing and Drain Cleaning Services llcBay City, MI | D 39How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 55%44+24Reliability 24%15+3.6Value 14%90+12.7Replies to reviews 7%30+2.1Craft & service penalty65−3.5Experts Score= 39Grade D: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews. | CFBAAD | 4.46 | $695 |
What jobs cost
What customers paid, from the price Google asks reviewers to report.
| Job | Low25th percentile: 1 in 4 customers paid less than this. | TypicalMedian of the bill customers reported in their Google review (Google asks reviewers for a price range; we use the middle of each range). | High75th percentile: 1 in 4 customers paid more than this. | FairOf customers who rated the price, the share who chose “Great price” or “Reasonable” rather than “Overpriced”. |
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Water Heater Repair at a glance
How the 10 water heater repair we rated compare, and what customers praise most.
Experts Score grades
A = score 80+, F = below 20.
- Grade A550%
- Grade B330%
- Grade C110%
- Grade D110%
- Grade F00%
Google ratings
Average stars per company.
- 4.90★ and up110%
- 4.80–4.89★330%
- 4.60–4.79★550%
- Below 4.60★110%
What customers praise
Share of Google review highlights.
- Quality24620%
- Professionalism25421%
- Responsiveness26421%
- Punctuality24420%
- Value22318%
Was the price fair?
All price verdicts left with reviews.
- Great price6648%
- Reasonable6245%
- Overpriced64%
- Not sure43%
Price verdicts by year
Share calling it great / reasonable / overpriced.
How we grade
Satisfaction (54%) — Recency-weighted star average (2-year half-life), shrunk toward the category mean by review volume; the company’s own lifetime average as the prior; absolute: 4.0★ = 0, 5★ = 100.
Reliability (24%) — How rarely jobs go badly: share of 1–2★ reviews — 60% the last 24 months (or the 20 newest if fewer), 40% all-time; 0% = 100, 15%+ = 0; the category percentile can only raise it.
Craft & service (penalty, up to −10) — Google review highlights: Quality, Professionalism, Responsiveness, Punctuality — how rarely reviewers flag them as a negative, per review since highlights began; 0% = 100, 5%+ = 0. Subtracted from the score (up to −10), never averaged in — clean highlights are the norm, not a bonus.
Value (14%) — Customers’ own price verdicts (Great / Reasonable vs Overpriced) and Value highlights; 65% absolute (all “reasonable” ≈ 80, “great” = 100), the category percentile can only raise it.
Momentum (penalty, up to −10) — Penalises only a real slide: last-12-month average below lifetime (−0.5★ = 0). Still 4.8★+ over the last year, or steady/improving = 100. Subtracted from the score (up to −10), never averaged in.
Replies to reviews (7%) — How often the owner publicly replies to reviews under 5★ (1–4★). Needs 3+ such reviews, otherwise not counted; 65% absolute (80%+ replied = 100), the category percentile can only raise it.