Akian Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electric

Akian Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electric is a plumbing and HVAC contractor that says it has served Watertown, Newton, Waltham and the greater Boston area since 2017, and a recent Google customer said it replaced all of their 20-year-old heating and cooling systems over seven consecutive workdays. That job, the customer wrote, took two high-efficiency heat pumps with air handlers, a 2-ton cooling system and a 1-ton mini-split for a basement space, and Chris threaded 8-core thermostat wires through the walls of a 1930s-era house. The company says it was founded by Stephen S. Akian, who began his career as an apprentice plumber. When a customer's 3-year-old heat pumps stopped cooling, Zach reviewed the troubleshooting they had already done, came out, found the refrigerant low and returned to fix it. A central air customer said Antonio led a job of over nine hours to replace the attic air handler and outside compressor, then made a video with instructions on the system. That same customer said the first installation date was delayed four days due to technician illness, and that they were still waiting on a response about a separate matter. A customer with a basement exhaust ventilation issue said James explained it was outside their scope and did not charge for the visit. In a 2026 review, a customer said Akian came out the morning after a tenant's unit dropped to 44 degrees and Matt diagnosed the problem. Its Massachusetts plumber license, 4093-PL-C, is active on the state registry in the name of Akian Plumbing, Heating, Cooling, & Electric. It holds an A+ grade from the Better Business Bureau and a 4.8-star Google rating from 1,833 ratings. A recent 1-star Google customer said a technician diagnosing a water heater still under warranty ordered a free part from the OEM without their consent, quoted over $1,500 to replace a pump and board, and charged the diagnosis fee; that customer said they could never get in touch with the tech or get the part afterward. A 2026 customer with a sewage backup said Akian subcontracted the job to a third party without saying so and charged $800 on the spot for a camera inspection. That 2026 customer said the third party's lead foreman suggested a massive insurance claim, and that another plumber later found a root ball in the drain. A 2026 customer said a two-person team quoted $770 to swap two gas connections for a new washer/dryer, said they were not allowed to move appliances downstairs, and called the quote overpriced. In a 2025 review, a customer said a heater Akian had installed three years before had problems every year, including a vent pipe not attached properly and an exhaust piping repair they were charged for. A 2024 customer said Akian charged $623 for a 20-minute gas stove disconnect and cap, while having no problem with the quality of the work. A 2024 customer said technicians quoted over $4k to fix low refrigerant on an iced-up system and that a piece of air duct pipe was broken after they left. A 2024 Reddit commenter said Akian failed to find a coolant leak and tried to sell upgrades. A 2025 Reddit commenter who recommended Akian said they reschedule or cancel appointments way too often, and a Waltham Nextdoor poster said Akian waited until 5 minutes of the scheduled time to say they were not coming. In a 2019 Angi review, a customer said water was leaking after the job was complete, no one was sent to fix the leak, and they were charged for an unfinished job.