Answers the phone — reviewers single out immediate replies to calls and texts
What does plumbing work cost in Greater Boston?
Typical Greater Boston range for this kind of work, from regional averages — not a quote from MJ Digby Plumbing & Heating Inc.. Use it to sanity-check bids, then get the real number in writing.
Heating too — radiators, boilers and underfloor radiant systems diagnosed
Takes small jobs — work other plumbers reportedly turn down
Verified licence — Massachusetts plumbing licence active in the company's name
Repeat customers — several describe eight to twelve years of work
Three-person shop — one customer's job was done by subcontractors
Founding date differs — site says 2010, BBB records 2014
One customer wrote "ANSWERING THE PHONE" in capitals, adding that it is rare these days. That is the through-line at MJ Digby Plumbing & Heating: a small Reading shop where the owner picks up, and often turns up fast.
Its Massachusetts plumbing licence, 3543-PL-C, is verified active with the state registry under the company's own name. BBB grades the business A+ while stating plainly on the same page that it is not BBB accredited — two separate facts, not one. The company says on its own site that it was established in 2010 and that founder Matt Digby has more than 30 years in the trade, including over eight years performing home inspections.
Google carries 4.9 stars from 32 ratings, and the 25 written reviews run 2021 to 2026 without a complaint among them. What makes that readable rather than suspicious is the detail people give. A 2023 customer itemised a section of cast-iron waste stack, shutoff valves and two toilets replaced, and a faulty flush put right on one of the new ones. In January 2025 a landlord described a boiler coil and mixing valve traced at a rental where the hot water ran out after a few minutes. In April 2026 a sump pump motor was collected and fitted the same day. In March 2026 a forced-hot-water system that had stopped feeding some radiators and the underfloor radiant loops was diagnosed and sorted out.
He takes small jobs, which is rarer than it sounds — a May 2026 reviewer said he handles the work many other plumbers turn down — and he goes the other way too: in a July 2025 review a master bathroom remodel is described with Digby running it as general contractor, coordinating trades, permits and timelines as well as doing the plumbing. Several customers describe long relationships; one writing in 2023 counted eight years of work on their own home and twelve on a neighbour's.
The thing to establish before a bigger job is who turns up. BBB lists three employees, and a 2023 reviewer noted plainly that Matt himself did not come — two of his subcontractors did the work, which that customer was happy with. Ask who will be on site, and for a remodel rather than a repair, get the trade coordination and supervision spelled out.
Heard around town
News & the web
MJ Digby Plumbing & Heating - 21 Reviews - Contractors in Reading, MA - Birdeye
“Matt took on a very complicated forced hot water system that had ceased providing heat to some radiators and underfloor radiant heat. He worked quickly to diagnose and solve multiple issues. All with good whom humor. I would recommend him highly”
Called Matt after asking the AI to help diagnose my problem. He came and looked at the issue the next day and fixed it a few days later. It wasn’t urgent so this was totally fine.
In addition to the laundry pipe leaking, we had a slow faucet and he showed me how to fix it and exactly the part to buy, saving me a lot of money and time if I had fooled around with it trying to solve the problem.
Great experience will continue using Matt and MJ Digby plumbing for many years!
I had a great experience working with MJ Digby Plumbing. I initially called Matt to fix a clogged kitchen sink, and he went above and beyond throughout the entire process.
Matt is incredibly professional - he’s not only knowledgeable, but also a genuinely nice, honorable, and accountable person. He kept me informed every step of the way, followed up regularly, and was always available to answer questions or provide updates.
What really stood out was his commitment to doing the job right. Even when the work took longer than expected, he never cut corners and made sure everything was completed to our full satisfaction. On top of that, he was very fair with pricing and didn’t overcharge despite the extra time involved.
It’s rare to find someone this reliable and customer-focused. I’d highly recommend Matt to anyone looking for a trustworthy plumber.
Matt Digby is a highly skilled, knowledgeable, honest, and reliable professional who responds readily to contacts, assesses, and completes projects with efficiency and punctuality. For ten years my family and I have been calling upon Matt who has provided us with excellent and reasonably priced services from installing a new bathroom, to major and minor pipe replacement, to repairing and improving our heating system, to installing gas appliances that required code updating, to replacing sinks and toilets, to moving radiators, and more. The key to Matt's success is that he cares about his customers and takes pride in his work. He is the best!