Universal Plumbing, Inc.
Bio
Universal Plumbing, Inc. was founded in 1985 by Larry Jones, who built the company from a home-based operation into the largest plumbing contractor in the Augusta region. Jones, a former Medical College of Georgia plumbing department employee, grew the company to a team of approximately 25 licensed technicians serving residential, commercial, and industrial clients across the Central Savannah River Area. Universal Plumbing holds an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and was voted Best Plumber in the Augusta Chronicle's Cyber City's Best awards. The company was featured in Season 3 of YouTube's "American Plumber Stories" docuseries. Flat-rate pricing is standard on all jobs, and after-hours emergency service is available.
Top Services
- Gas Line Installation and Repair
- Sewer Line Cleaning and Replacement
- Water Heater Repair and Replacement
- Video Sewer Line Inspection
- Backflow Prevention and Testing
What Sets Them Apart
- Largest plumbing contractor in Augusta. Founded in 1985, Universal Plumbing has grown to approximately 25 licensed technicians, making it the region's biggest locally headquartered plumbing operation.
- A+ BBB rating. Universal Plumbing holds an A+ accreditation from the Better Business Bureau, reflecting a consistent record of resolved complaints and verified business practices.
- Featured on YouTube's "American Plumber Stories." Larry Jones was selected for Season 3, Episode 1 of the nationally distributed docuseries sponsored by Pfister Faucets and hosted by country artist Craig Morgan.
- Flat-rate pricing on all jobs. Customers receive a firm cost before any work begins, eliminating surprise charges on residential and commercial service calls.
- Annual apprenticeship program. The company has maintained a paid on-the-job trainee program for several consecutive years, producing licensed plumbers from within the Augusta community.
Brittingham Plumbing Co.
Bio
Brittingham Plumbing Co. has served Augusta since 1893, making it one of the oldest continuously operating plumbing firms in Georgia. Charles "Bit" Brittingham leads the company as its fourth-generation owner, and his son Clark has earned his master plumber license in both Georgia and South Carolina as the fifth generation. The company is licensed, bonded, and insured, serving residential and commercial clients throughout the CSRA. Brittingham is recognized as one of the most experienced Rinnai tankless water heater installers in the Augusta area by its suppliers. Emergency service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Aggregate ratings on Birdeye place the company at 4.5 stars across 128 reviews.
Top Services
- Tankless Water Heater Installation
- Repiping Services
- Gas Line Installation and Repair
- Sewer Line Cleaning and Replacement
- Bathroom Remodeling Plumbing
What Sets Them Apart
- Five-generation family ownership since 1893. The Brittingham family has worked as master plumbers in Augusta for over 130 years, with Clark Brittingham now holding a master license in both Georgia and South Carolina.
- Recognized Rinnai tankless water heater specialist. Brittingham's own suppliers identify the company as one of the most experienced Rinnai tankless installers in the Augusta market.
- Dual-state licensing in Georgia and South Carolina. Active licenses on both sides of the Savannah River allow the firm to legally serve the full CSRA without subcontracting.
- Specialization in historical building plumbing. The company's 130-plus years of Augusta work includes extensive experience retrofitting plumbing systems in older and landmark commercial structures.
- 24/7 emergency availability. Brittingham dispatches licensed technicians around the clock for emergency calls throughout the Augusta metro area.
The Drain Surgeon
Bio
The Drain Surgeon has operated as a family-owned plumbing company in the Augusta area since 1992, accumulating more than 35 years of residential and commercial field experience. Licensed and insured for work in both Georgia and South Carolina, the company serves clients across the CSRA from its Augusta headquarters. The Drain Surgeon holds a 4.7-star Google rating and a 4.6-star aggregate score across 400 reviews on Birdeye. Every technician undergoes drug testing and a background check before being hired. Emergency plumbing service is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The company provides both residential and commercial plumbing solutions including advanced trenchless pipe replacement.
Top Services
- Drain Cleaning and Hydro Jetting
- Trenchless Sewer Line Replacement
- Water Heater Repair and Installation
- Septic System Services
- Leak Detection
What Sets Them Apart
- 4.6 stars across 400 Birdeye reviews. The Drain Surgeon's review volume reflects more than three decades of sustained customer satisfaction across Augusta and the CSRA.
- Mandatory background checks and drug testing for all technicians. Every hire clears both screenings before joining the team, a policy the company advertises publicly on its website.
- Licensed in both Georgia and South Carolina. Dual-state certification allows The Drain Surgeon to serve residential and commercial customers on both sides of the Savannah River without relying on subcontractors.
- Trenchless sewer replacement capability. The company offers no-dig pipe rehabilitation, reducing yard disruption and project timelines compared to conventional open-trench methods.
- 24/7/365 emergency dispatch. The Drain Surgeon answers emergency calls every day of the year, including holidays, with no premium surcharges for after-hours response.
Direct Services Plumbing and Drain, Inc.
Bio
Direct Services Plumbing and Drain, Inc. is a family-owned and operated company founded in 1994 by Rick Carver, serving Augusta, the CSRA, and surrounding communities from its base in Wrens, Georgia. With over 30 years in the plumbing and drain field, the company holds a 4.9-star rating across 150 reviews on Birdeye and a perfect 5-star score on Yelp. The firm is fully licensed and insured and handles both residential and light commercial work. Service hours run Monday through Saturday, covering routine calls and urgent repairs. Direct Services has built a loyal client base across the Augusta metro through consistent pricing and professional technicians.
Top Services
- Drain Cleaning
- Water Heater Repair and Replacement
- Hidden Leak Detection
- Septic Tank Pumping and Installation
- Gas Line Repair
What Sets Them Apart
- 4.9 stars across 150 Birdeye reviews. Direct Services holds one of the highest aggregated ratings among plumbing companies actively serving Augusta, based on verified multi-platform review data.
- 5-star Yelp score. The company's Yelp profile reflects an unbroken record of top ratings from customers in the Augusta and Jefferson County service area.
- Over 30 years of family-owned operation. Founded in 1994 by Rick Carver, Direct Services has sustained a single ownership model and a consistent service approach across three decades.
- Full septic system capability alongside plumbing. The company handles septic tank pumping, installation, and well work in addition to conventional plumbing, covering rural and suburban properties outside the city sewer grid.
- Saturday service hours at standard rates. Direct Services accepts Saturday appointments without premium weekend pricing, extending access for customers who cannot schedule on weekdays.
RickyJay Plumbing
Bio
RickyJay Plumbing was founded in 2011 by Ricky Jay, a master plumber with over 45 years of industry experience, and his wife Mary Louise Jay, who co-managed the business. Augusta Magazine named RickyJay Plumbing Best Plumbing Company on multiple occasions. The company is headquartered in Augusta and serves residential and commercial clients throughout Augusta, Evans, and Grovetown. RickyJay Plumbing is licensed, bonded, and insured, with technicians rated 4.7 out of 5 on Angi. The company offers 24/7 emergency service and extends military discounts to active-duty and veteran customers. The team continues operations under the leadership and direction established by Ricky Jay during his decades in the trade.
Top Services
- Emergency Plumbing Repair
- Water Heater Installation and Repair
- Drain Cleaning
- Leak Detection
- Backflow Testing and Prevention
What Sets Them Apart
- Multiple-time Augusta Magazine Best Plumbing Company winner. RickyJay Plumbing earned the Best Plumbing Company designation from Augusta Magazine on more than one occasion, reflecting recognition from both editors and readers.
- Founded by a 45-year master plumber. Ricky Jay accumulated four and a half decades of hands-on trade experience before and during his ownership of the company, including expertise in historical building plumbing.
- Military discount program. RickyJay Plumbing provides discounted pricing for active-duty military and veterans, a publicly advertised benefit that differentiates the company in the Augusta market near Fort Eisenhower.
- 4.7 stars on Angi. The company maintains a 4.7 overall rating on Angi based on verified completed-job reviews submitted by past customers.
- 24/7 emergency availability, including weekends. RickyJay Plumbing accepts emergency dispatch calls around the clock every day of the week, including Saturday and Sunday coverage for urgent plumbing failures.
Maxwell's Plumbing and Drain
Bio
Maxwell's Plumbing and Drain was founded in 2020 by Jordan Maxwell, a master plumber licensed in both Georgia and South Carolina with over ten years of hands-on industry experience. The company is locally owned and operated, serving residential and commercial clients across the full Central Savannah River Area from its Evans, Georgia base. Jordan Maxwell also holds backflow certification in both states. Maxwell's Plumbing has earned consistent five-star customer feedback on Google since its founding and provides 24-hour emergency service throughout the CSRA. The company offers a trenchless pipe rehabilitation service line in addition to standard plumbing repair, drain cleaning, and water heater work.
Top Services
- Drain Cleaning
- Trenchless Pipe Rehabilitation
- Tankless Water Heater Installation and Repair
- Gas Line Installation
- 24-Hour Emergency Plumbing
What Sets Them Apart
- Owner Jordan Maxwell holds master plumber and backflow certifications in both Georgia and South Carolina. Dual-state master licensing means the company can legally perform complex and commercial work on either side of the Savannah River without subcontracting.
- Trenchless pipe rehabilitation capability. Maxwell's offers no-dig pipe lining as a distinct service line, restoring underground pipes without excavation and shortening project timelines for homeowners and businesses.
- Founded 2020 with consistent five-star Google reviews from launch. Despite being among the newer entrants in the Augusta market, the company has maintained top-tier customer satisfaction ratings since its first year of operation.
- 24-hour emergency dispatch across the full CSRA. Maxwell's accepts emergency calls at any hour for residential and commercial clients throughout Augusta, Evans, Grovetown, and surrounding communities.
- Dedicated trenchless subsidiary site at maxwellstrenchless.com. Jordan Maxwell operates a separate trenchless-focused web presence, reflecting specialized investment in no-dig pipe repair technology beyond what most local competitors offer.
Cassell Brothers Home Services (formerly Meetze Plumbing)
Bio
Cassell Brothers Home Services operates the former Meetze Plumbing Augusta location, which has served the market since Meetze established its Augusta branch in 1981. The company provides plumbing, HVAC, electrical, and generator services from its Franke Industrial Drive facility, covering Augusta, Evans, Martinez, North Augusta, Grovetown, and Hephzibah. Meetze Plumbing, which is now absorbed into Cassell Brothers, held an A+ BBB rating and was voted Best Plumber by readers of The State newspaper for four consecutive years. The combined entity carries a 4.9-star aggregate rating across 2,860 Birdeye reviews. Service hours run seven days a week from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM.
Top Services
- Water Heater Repair and Replacement
- Drain Cleaning and Sewer Repair
- Leak Detection and Pipe Repair
- Tankless Water Heater Installation
- Toilet, Faucet, and Fixture Installation
What Sets Them Apart
- 4.9 stars across 2,860 Birdeye reviews. The combined Meetze Plumbing and Cassell Brothers review base is the largest among any company on this list, reflecting decades of aggregated customer feedback across the Columbia and Augusta markets.
- Meetze Plumbing was voted Best Plumber by The State newspaper readers four consecutive years. That editorial recognition from South Carolina's largest daily newspaper established the brand's reputation before its Augusta expansion.
- Former Meetze Plumbing location held an A+ BBB rating. The Better Business Bureau's top accreditation was maintained throughout Meetze Plumbing's operation of the Augusta territory.
- Full home services capability under one brand. Cassell Brothers combines plumbing with HVAC, electrical, and generator services, allowing clients to schedule multiple home system repairs through a single dispatch center.
- Seven-day-a-week service from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM. The Augusta location is staffed across all seven days with no weekend surcharge applied to standard service appointments.
Mr. Flush Plumbing
Bio
Mr. Flush Plumbing was founded by Robert Giancroce, a plumbing professional with more than 20 years of field experience, and has served Augusta and Aiken for over two decades. The company is BBB accredited, with accreditation dating to March 2013, and offers a "We Make It Flush or It's Free" service guarantee. Mr. Flush provides 24-hour emergency plumbing service every day of the year, including nights, weekends, and holidays at no extra charge. The company serves residential, commercial, industrial, and institutional clients across the east-central Georgia and west-central South Carolina region. CIPP pipe lining is a proprietary specialty that distinguishes Mr. Flush from most local competitors.
Top Services
- CIPP Pipe Lining
- Drain and Sewer Cleaning
- Emergency Plumbing Repair
- Gas Line Installation and Repair
- Water Heater Replacement
What Sets Them Apart
- CIPP pipe lining specialty. Mr. Flush offers Cured-In-Place Pipe lining, a trenchless repair process that creates a new pipe surface inside existing damaged pipes and can be completed in under one day without digging up the yard.
- "We Make It Flush or It's Free" guarantee. This named service guarantee is prominently published on the company website and provides customers with a concrete commitment tied to a specific outcome.
- BBB accreditation since March 2013. Over twelve years of continuous Better Business Bureau accreditation reflects a sustained record of customer dispute resolution and ethical business practices.
- No extra charge for after-hours, weekend, or holiday calls. Mr. Flush publicly commits to standard pricing for night, weekend, and holiday appointments, an uncommon policy among 24/7 plumbing providers in the CSRA.
- Over 20 years serving the Augusta and Aiken dual market. Robert Giancroce's tenure spans both sides of the Georgia-South Carolina state line, giving the company established relationships with commercial and institutional clients in both metro areas.
Babbitt's Inc.
Bio
Babbitt's Inc. has provided plumbing and heating services to Augusta and the Central Savannah River Area since 1924, giving it more than 100 years of continuous local operation. Lawrence L. Babbitt serves as president, continuing a family ownership tradition that spans multiple generations. The company handles residential and commercial plumbing repair and installation alongside HVAC equipment sales, installation, and service. Plumbing-specific capabilities include water heater replacement, backflow testing, gas line installation, and sewer line replacement. Flood prevention system installation is also part of the service catalog. Babbitt's is fully licensed, insured, and bonded, with 24/7 emergency service available for plumbing and HVAC clients throughout the Augusta area.
Top Services
- Water Heater Repair and Replacement
- Backflow Testing
- Gas Line Installation
- Sewer Line Replacement
- Flood Prevention System Installation
What Sets Them Apart
- Over 100 years in continuous operation since 1924. Babbitt's is one of only two companies on this list that predate World War II, giving it a multi-generational record of service in Augusta that few local competitors can match.
- Multi-trade capability covering plumbing and HVAC under one roof. Babbitt's handles both plumbing and heating and cooling systems, allowing homeowners and commercial clients to consolidate contractors for whole-building service calls.
- Backflow testing as a dedicated service line. Babbitt's is licensed to perform certified backflow prevention testing, a regulatory requirement for many commercial properties in Augusta-Richmond County.
- Flood prevention system installation. The company installs dedicated flood prevention systems, a specialty service that extends beyond standard drain and sewer work and addresses a specific risk concern in low-lying parts of the CSRA.
- 24/7 emergency coverage for both plumbing and HVAC. Babbitt's dispatches technicians around the clock for urgent failures in either plumbing or heating and cooling systems, covering both trades with a single after-hours call.
Roto-Rooter Plumbing and Drain Service
Bio
Roto-Rooter Plumbing and Drain Service has operated in the Augusta market as part of the nationally franchised Roto-Rooter network, which was founded in 1935. The Augusta location holds an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and carries a 4.8-star rating from independent customer review aggregators. The company is licensed and insured, providing residential and commercial plumbing and water damage restoration services 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, including holidays. The Augusta team handles everything from faucet repairs and toilet replacements to underground sewer line excavation, video camera line inspection, and hydro jetting. Same-day service is available for most calls.
Top Services
- Drain and Sewer Cleaning
- Video Camera Line Inspection
- Water Heater Repair and Replacement
- Underground Sewer Line Repair and Replacement
- Water Damage Restoration
What Sets Them Apart
- A+ BBB rating with accreditation since June 2015. The Augusta Roto-Rooter location has maintained Better Business Bureau accreditation for over a decade with a top A+ grade.
- 4.8-star customer rating from independent review sources. The Augusta location's 4.8-star aggregate score reflects strong local performance, separate from the national brand's baseline reputation.
- Water damage restoration in addition to plumbing. Roto-Rooter is one of the few Augusta plumbing companies that also performs professional water damage cleanup and remediation, providing a single-call solution after pipe failures or flooding events.
- Video camera line inspection capability. The Augusta team uses in-pipe camera inspection technology to precisely locate blockages and damage before committing to excavation or repair, reducing guesswork and unnecessary costs.
- National network backing with 24/7/365 local dispatch. The Roto-Rooter brand's 90-year operational history and national supply chain support the Augusta location's parts availability and technician training program.
