I've called in tradesmen to work on my homes only 2 or 3 times in 40 years. I do my own maintenance -- partly because this stuff isn't rocket science, and partly because I value my hard-earned money.

This time, we had a break in the water service line under the sidewalk. The city has a close eye on that area (near the meter, and a public sidewalk), so a licensed plumber seemed to be the right approach. Besides, the only viable solution was to put in a short length of PEX (plastic) pipe; the tools alone would have cost a few hundred dollars.

I did all the excavation work, and re-filled the site after the repair. So this brought the plumber's cost down to a minimum. Simpson provided the lowest estimate for the job.

I talked to 3 local plumbers to weigh their approaches. Brad Simpson was out within 2 hours of my call (sorry for dragging you out of bed!). He assessed the problem immediately, suggested the most practical solution, and provided a firm estimate on the spot. Brad is prompt, knowledgeable, thorough, and courteous. Talking to him was very informative.

It was my decision to have the job done the next morning. Dale came out (15 minutes earlier than promised!) to do the repair. Dale is just like his son -- with even more years of experience. I was available the whole time in case he needed access to the house or help with a shovel, so I could see how he worked. Dale even offered extra touches, such as installing a new city meter, and measuring water pressure before and after the new reducer. It was a pleasure working with him. And all billed at the stated estimate.