For plumbing and drainage problems, The Drain Detective is one of the go-to shops in Johannesburg. They’re also one of the most- and highly-rated plumbing and draining service providers in and around the province.

Aside from their well-built reputation, The Drain Detective is selected by their previous clients for the modern and efficient equipment they use on the job. For blocked drains, they use a high-quality electro rooter.

Another thing we love about the company is their prompt service for job orders. Previous clients told us that the team arrived on schedule and even finished the drain repairs in an hour or two.

We also like that their plumbers are always ready for cases where there are parts that need replacement. The Drain Detective’s team members are complimented for their quick solutions and willingness to answer all questions clients had. 

Although we appreciate how quick these plumbers work on the repairs, we have concerns regarding the quality of the solutions implemented. 

Past clients shared with us their disappointment after noticing how The Drain Detective’s fixes seemed to be temporary. We’re told their drainage problems returned and even worsened just weeks after their appointment with the company.

We’re also baffled to hear reports of overcharging. Some clients complained that the company charges way above the regular hourly rate for plumbers, which is around R 300, just for a quick and simple fix.

Watergate Leak Detection and Pipe Relining Services is one of Johannesburg’s veterans in leak detection and pipe relining and management. One of their strengths is their wealth of experience of over 30 years.

Not only are they popular for their reputation, but also because of their unique approach to pipe and drainage problems. Watergate Leak Detection and Pipe Relining Services guarantees a no-excavation needed fix to your pipes.

This means that, unlike other plumbers who’ll put holes in your wall and dig through your flooring that becomes the homeowners’ problem after servicing, Watergate Leak Detection and Pipe Relining Services can provide a cleaner and smarter solution.

To maintain a high standard of workmanship, we love how the company makes sure that all their plumbers are licenced and registered. This way, clients are assured that the team handling their case are experts.

Watergate Leak Detection and Pipe Relining Services also uses the latest commercial plumbing products and technologies to provide the best quality of service, and each team member is trained to handle the equipment properly.

One downside of dealing with this company is their team’s reportedly late responses to service requests. Past clients complained that they had to wait for weeks before a team was sent to the site.

On top of that, we’re told Watergate Leak Detection and Pipe Relining Services asks for an upfront fee before they even set an appointment for you, which isn’t everyone’s cup of tea.

Nesa’s Plumbing And Electrical is a small local business that deals with pipes and drain cleaning and repair. They provide professional plumbing services to both commercial and residential.

One thing we love about Nesa’s Plumbing And Electrical is they offer 20% off for first-time customers. We think this is a great strategy, as they’re still building their name and relationship with the market. 

We also admire the company’s dedication to availability. Their long operating hours allow them to accept more service requests and cater to more clients.

Moreover, Nesa’s Plumbing And Electrical also welcomes emergency job requests round-the-clock. If your drain’s repairs can’t wait til morning, the company’s hotline is open for appointment-setting.

On regular hours, Nesa’s Plumbing And Electrical’s team is often praised by past clients for their speedy response to service calls. We hear the plumbers arrive on site as scheduled.

Take note, though, that being a small company, Nesa’s Plumbing And Electrical also has a small crew of plumbers. 

Thus, they’re often swamped with job orders. Apparently, it can be difficult to book a slot unless you’re willing to avail of their after-hours emergency call-out, which, of course, costs a little more.

Next on our list is DMS Plumbing, a team of experts in plumbing with more than 20 years of experience in the business. They’re known for providing high-quality plumbing solutions at an affordable rate.

They’re a Level four (4) BEE Contributor, with a BEE Procurement Recognition level of 100%, which means the company supports and plays a big part in Black Economic Empowerment.

We also found it noteworthy that the company is registered with the Institute of Plumbing SA and the Plumbing Industry Regulation Board. Their wealth of experience and accreditations strengthen their credibility.

Our favourite feature of DMS Plumbing is they have a team of plumbers on call 24/7. Previous clients also commend the company’s immediate response to emergency service calls.

Nonetheless, there are several complaints from unsatisfied clients who shared with us their disappointment with DMS Plumbing’s subpar work. The client told us the plumbers failed to fix his blocked drain and still charged him R 974. 

There are also disgruntled reports regarding DMS Plumbing’s inactive customer support. We’re told they’re unresponsive towards clients’ questions and concerns sent through email and text messages.

Mondeor Plumbing Services is a small but high-performing plumbing business that’s popular for their reliability and team of experts. 

We like that they offer a broad range of services, from drain and sewer cleaning and repairs, leak detection, and commercial plumbing. We found it remarkable that Mondeor Plumbing Services also offers comprehensive plumbing remodels.

This is beneficial for those who have faulty plumbing designs and thus have frequent problems with their drains. Mondeor Plumbing Services offers their assistance for clients who are renovating and want to make sure their drains are fool-proof. 

We love that they’re open 24 hours, seven days a week and accept service requests anytime. Mondeor Plumbing Services is also dedicated to their same-day service guarantee, which clients appreciate.

On top of that, clients laud the company’s prompt response to service booking. We’re told their team appears on-site just within 45 minutes after booking, which is impressive. 

Because of their top-tier servicing and affordable rates, Mondeor Plumbing Services is highly in demand. Having a small team, it can be challenging for them to commit to many bookings in one day, especially for bigger and more complex job orders.

As a result of their popularity, slots during regular hours are often completely booked. While you can opt to avail their after-hours servicing, a consequence would be paying a higher rate.