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Typical Greater Boston range for this kind of work, from regional averages — not a quote from Bowden Plumbing & Heating. Use it to sanity-check bids, then get the real number in writing.
Estimated range
$290 – $710
Typical plumbing job around $500
Bowden Plumbing & Heating is a two-man Danvers shop run by Richard "Rick" Bowden, and its Thumbtack page tells the story in numbers: 5.0 across 126 ratings, a Top Pro 2025 badge, and 213 recorded hires. Its Massachusetts journeyman plumber licence — 35289-PL-J, held by Bowden himself — is active in the state registry. The profile says the business has been at it for ten years and specializes in Navien and Buderus high-efficiency boilers. The written reviews keep circling two things: speed and teaching. One customer had a failed water heater replaced within 90 minutes of their first call this July; a March reviewer got a 10:30pm reply to an emergency and photo updates while away on a flight. Just as often, people describe Bowden explaining the system as he works — a February customer wrote that an annual tankless-heater maintenance visit surfaced several real issues, "none of which felt like scare tactics or upselling." The word of mouth extends beyond the review sites. A June Reddit thread in r/northshore recommends him for talking a homeowner out of a full mixing-valve replacement — identifying the type so they could buy a cheaper compatible fixture — then finishing work a heat-pump crew had left undone, with the inspection passed on the first check. Two things are worth knowing before you call. The record's one sour note is from May 2026: a garden-spigot replacement that leaked twice, with the reviewer reporting the valve was pressure-tested only on the upstream side and an arrival more than an hour past the scheduled window. And while several customers call the pricing fair — one compared it favorably to larger companies — an April first-timer was surprised by the bill, so pin down the flat-rate quote Thumbtack advertises before the truck rolls. For water heaters tank or tankless, boiler service, and the leak-and-fixture calls that fill most of these reviews, this is a small shop with a deep, recent, and consistent record. Book early: a two-person operation hired this often fills its calendar fast.
“Bowden Plumbing! They're local. I thought I was going to need to fully replace the mixing valve on my shower to update the fixture and he told me the type it was so I could buy a compatible fixture for much cheaper then replacing the whole thing. Plus while he was doing work for me he also fixed a few things that the heat pump people didn't finish on my water heater. The prices were fair and the quality was great. The inspector passed everything on the first check.”
Rick was fantastic to work with. He was professional, knowledgeable, and took time to thoroughly diagnose the source of my leak. He explained everything clearly, arrived on time, and completed the work with great attention to detail. His pricing was fair and much more reasonable than some of the larger companies I contacted. I really appreciated his honesty and quality workmanship. I highly recommend Bowden plumbing to anyone looking for a reliable and trustworthy plumber.
Rich throughly identified the source of the leak, and provided a relatively inexpensive solution. Very professional and highly recommend.
Rich arrived within 90 minutes after our first phone call to replace a failed water heater. During the repair, I alerted him to another small issue with the heating system of which he was able to diagnose and repair as well, even after having to run to the store for parts. All completed within several hours after I first reached out. He was/is as professional and courteous as they come. Five stars, would recommend
Rich was incredibly thorough and professional while completing my project. He explained the options, gave his professional opinion and left the room in great condition after fixing my shower. I highly recommend for projects big and small
Will not work with them again. Replacement for garden spigot/hose bibb. He was more than an hour late for an 8-10am window. When he installed the first replacement, he only pressure tested the upstream side of the valve, without testing if the spigot actually functioned. Within a minute of using it the first time, it leaked. It took me a full day to convince him it was leaking and schedule another appointment to replace it again. Evidently, the first replacement was cracked, so he replaced it again. Again, he only pressure tested the upstream side, and the new valve leaked as well. When I contacted him, his response was "I'm not sure what you'd like me to do." I feel like installing a valve that doesn't leak isn't too much to ask, considering I hired them to replace a leaking valve. It took several days for him to finally acknowledge that the valve was leaking. Once we figured out it was leaking from the vacuum breaker relief, he wanted to do expensive testing/equipment install--or install a different type of valve that may or may not have met the building code. He refused to check the vacuum breaker itself. I ended up spending my own time and money to check the vacuum breaker, track down the correct part, and replace it. Now it works just fine, after fixing it myself. It would've taken him 5 minutes and a part he probably already had in the truck to fix the problem.
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1 change recorded — last scanned Aug 5, 2026.
Turns down unneeded work4.7
Same-day emergency repairs4.5
Same-visit fixes from named technicians4.4
Repeat customer praise3.7
Repeat customer praise3.5