Verified record
Typical Greater Boston range for this kind of work, from regional averages — not a quote from J & B's Plumbing Co. Use it to sanity-check bids, then get the real number in writing.
Estimated range
$290 – $710
Typical plumbing job around $500
J & B's Plumbing is a Watertown shop that says it's been doing plumbing work in Massachusetts since 1980, and its record over the past five years splits pretty cleanly into two kinds of stories: customers who got Jerry Barbato on the phone and had a leak or a stuck job fixed fast, and two customers in 2024 who came away feeling overcharged. On the strong side, a 2026 review described a complicated sink install that two other plumbers couldn't finish getting handled the same afternoon; a 2025 review described a leaking water heater flooding a basement getting a worker on-site within 30 minutes. A 2022 review from a water-damage restoration company said it relies on Jerry's team specifically for the judgment and quality its own clients' homes require. The other side: a September 2024 review said a dishwasher and garbage disposal swap that took two workers about 3.5 hours was billed for 9 hours, totaling $1,980; a February 2024 review said cutting and capping an empty pipe, work the customer expected to take about an hour, ran well past that and felt like being scammed. A 2026 review separately raised concerns about a visit to diagnose a humming noise in the pipes. For a water heater replacement, a stuck fixture, or gas fitting work in the Watertown area, this is a licensed, responsive plumber with a real record on emergencies — but given the two billing complaints, get a firm time or flat-rate estimate in writing before the crew starts, especially for anything beyond a quick emergency call.
These guys are fantastic. We had a very complicated sink install that our regular plumber and a handyman were unable to complete and we were referred to Jerry. He sent someone over that afternoon to look at it and then got back to me within hours with a price for the job. Jake and Jerry came the next business day and installed the sink perfectly. All of this was happening as our house was being listed for sale - so we were very stressed about it. These guys are so professional and knowledgeable. I knew that we were in great hands. If I wasn't planning on moving - they would be my new plumber. I can't thank them enough.
I did not have a good experience with J&B’s. I had a humming noise that intermittently came from my pipes when I used water. I called the team to come investigate. While the plumber was here last week, he took off the toilet tank covers to inspect the toilets. He set the rough side of the tank lid down directly on the marble countertop, causing scratches which damaged the counter, and now need to be repaired. During his 90 minute visit, the issue was not fixed or addressed. The plumber seemed very stressed and confused when the sound happened, and he had to call the boss for advice. The plumber was very friendly and professional behaving, but was unable to identify the cause of the humming sound. The boss (who was not onsite) did have a few ideas related to my master pressure valve and provided a quote for future work. For this assessment which did not fix the issue or identify the source of the humming sound, but did cause damage, I was charged $400. I was not pleased with this experience or confident in the path forward, so I called a second plumber to come assess. They localized the issue to one sink/faucet fixture. During their visit, the plumber caused no damage to my house, found and isolated the issue, and charged me $180 for the visit. Going forward, I’ll be using this other company, not J & B’s.
I have had great experiences with Jerry. We recently discovered that our water heater was leaking steadily and our basement was filling up quickly. Within 30 minutes he sent his worker over and diagnosed and took care of the problem. We ended up needing a replacement water heater and Jerry was able to look up to see if we still had a warranty. We did and saved us money purchasing a new one! He also recommended installing a leak detector which we’re glad we did. Jerry does excellent work, is honest, and makes sure that his customer is satisfied.
I can’t recommend J & B Plumbing enough. I had an overnight emergency and they called me within 10 minutes of me talking with their answering service. Jerry moved his morning around to accommodate us due to the urgency of the matter and followed through with amazing help and service. He even talked me through some updates we want to start thinking about but did not pressure us in any way to make any unnecessary/non-urgent changes right now. Great customer service, exceptional speed and service. I will use J & B again.
I hired J&B’s of Watertown to replace a dishwasher and garbage disposal and haul away old dishwasher on 8/22/24. Two guys came and were there for 3.5 hours. The invoice said 9 hrs total. They replace drain on sink and add-on Dahl shut off. The bill came to $1980. The owner said he did me a favor getting it install the same day. I was expecting a $600 bill. Shame on me for not getting a quote but they were recommended to me. They did the job but slow walked it. Only use if you can a quote.
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1 change recorded — last scanned Jul 1, 2026.
20-year-old heating and cooling systems replaced in seven workdays3.9
Gas leak repair within hours at a third of the quote3.6
Active license3.3
Active state license2.6
Active license2.5