Verified record
Typical Greater Boston range for this kind of work, from regional averages — not a quote from Houghton Plumbing & Heating. Use it to sanity-check bids, then get the real number in writing.
Estimated range
$290 – $710
Typical plumbing job around $500
Houghton Plumbing & Heating is a Stoneham, one-employee shop with a name that's been around town for a long time. A 2007 newspaper obituary described the business as family-run since 1886, four generations deep, though the BBB currently lists the company as started in 1985 — the two accounts don't agree on how far back to trace it. Today the BBB names Walter Houghton as president. The written record is short and genuinely split. On the positive side, a 2023 review described immediate emergency response that got a building's water back on quickly, with the follow-up fix landing exactly when promised, and a 2022 review credited a technician named Mark for a clean, professional plumbing-leak repair. A 2024 review praised the company's professionalism on a project it called self-sufficient and low-maintenance to work with. On the other side, billing is the recurring complaint. A 2023 review said the actual work was fine but called the billing practices "terrible and shady": a promised bill didn't arrive for five months, then landed as a final notice for roughly $1,000 for about two hours of minor work, with no itemized breakdown provided despite repeated requests. A 2024 one-star review simply said the company overcharges, and a 2022 review described a dispute after two technicians showed up instead of the one that had been arranged, with the job finished in under two hours. A 2021 review separately described a company vehicle tailgating and weaving through rush-hour traffic. Given how often billing comes up, get a clear estimate and a commitment to an itemized invoice in writing before the job starts — the technical work itself draws more consistent praise than the office side of the business.
“Houghton came and took care of some emergency issues at our facilty, their response w”
“Houghton came and took care of some emergency issues at our facilty, their response w”
“After his military service, Mr. Houghton returned to Stoneham to join his father in working at the family business Houghton Plumbing and Heating. This business has been in existence since 1886 and operated by the Houghton family for four generations.”
“Houghton Plumbing and Heating Inc. in Stoneham MA was contacted and responded promptly to assess the situation.”
They overcharge. Find an alternative whose prices are more reasonable.
We cannot express enough gratitude for the exceptional service provided by Houghton Plumbing & Heating. What sets them apart is their unparalleled professionalism and expertise. One of the most remarkable aspects of working with them is their self-sufficiency; they do not require constant supervision on projects. Houghton Plumbing & Heating operates with a level of autonomy and responsibility that is truly commendable. From the moment they take on a project, we can trust that they will handle every aspect with precision and care, without needing to be micromanaged. Their attention to detail is reflected in the fact that everything always passes code inspections with flying colors. It's a testament to their thoroughness and commitment to adhering to the highest industry standards. With Houghton Plumbing & Heating, we have peace of mind knowing that our projects are in capable hands. Their ability to consistently deliver outstanding results without needing to be 'babysat' sets them apart as a top-tier plumbing and heating service provider. We wholeheartedly recommend them to anyone seeking reliable and efficient solutions. Thank you, Houghton Plumbing & Heating, for your dedication and professionalism!
Immediate emergency response. They had building water back on in a very reasonable amount of time. They had the problem fixed later exactly when they said they would.
While the quality of the work was fine, the business and billing practices of Houghton are terrible and shady. After offering to pay when the services were provided, we were told we’d get a bill. It never came. We finally got a bill 5 months later indicating it was the final notice. For roughly two hours of minor work by one person we were charged roughly $1000!! We asked for an itemized bill, which we still had never received, because the charges seemed high. We were told we were also charged for drive time, but still never received the itemized bill, or even information on an hourly rate. (Being charged for travel time was suspect because the person who worked for the company also visited at least two other residences in or around our unit that day. I wonder if they were also charged for the same travel time. Seems like it might not be legal and fall astray of consumer protection laws.) Despite still never receiving the itemized bill we asked for several times, we ultimately paid the bill out of frustration after a few weeks of trying to get answers. A week after we paid the bill, we learned they turned our account over to collections! Now we have to sort that out because of their shady and incompetent business practices. I cannot say clearly enough: do not use this company. You will regret it. I’ll put myself through A/C repair school before I’ll ever hire them again.
Our toilet fill valve stopped working. We made an appointment with the company. The minimal is 4 hours work because the water has to be shut down for the whole building. We agreed. The company EMAILED us that they would send one technician. But at 9:20am, two technicians showed up! They told us that they have two in the same vehicle, therefore 2 technicians. I called the office right away and insisted that I only needed one technician to work on my fixing. They eventually agreed. The job was finished before 11am. Therefore the technician was here less than 1 hour and 40 minutes. But they billed us 4.5 hours, not the minimal 4 hours. We understand that they do charge travel time. But the travel time more than 2 hours?
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1 change recorded — last scanned Aug 1, 2026.
Prompt scheduling5.0
Long-term repeat clients4.1
State-verified plumbing license3.6