Conor is as professional as they come. Honest and hard working. He handles all the plumbing for all my rentals. You can be confident the job is done right the first time.
Why Shea Plumbing
The usual plumber problems, and what we do instead
What homeowners say goes wrong when they hire a plumber, what Shea Plumbing does about each one, and what 59 Google reviews say about whether we do it.
Eight things that go wrong, answered
In a 2018 Ipsos survey of 1,742 Canadian homeowners, more than half had a problem with a contractor, and fewer than half (46%) said they trust plumbers. Ipsos for RenoAssistance, 2018. We also read the low-star Google reviews of the plumbing companies that come up for Kingston searches (October 2026). The complaints fell into the same few groups, in roughly this order.
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A small job turns into a big bill
The most common complaint in the Kingston reviews we read: several hundred dollars for a job that took under an hour. Nationally, 19% of homeowners in the Ipsos survey were hit with unexpected extra costs. Ontario's rule: with a written estimate, the final price can't be more than 10% over it unless you agree to the change. Ontario.ca
What we do
You get the price before any work starts, for a dripping tap or a full repipe. If the job changes once a wall or a floor is open, the work stops and you hear the new price before it carries on.
- 16 of 59 Google reviews mention a fair, reasonable or clearly explained price
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You pay just for someone to show up
Trip fees of $65 to $390, service fees averaging $195 and minimum hours are all common in Canada, and the fee is often kept even if you say no to the work. HomeStars price guide, 2026
What we do
No call-out fee, day or night. You only pay for work you approve. Nights and weekends carry an after-hours rate. You hear it on the phone before we come.
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The fix doesn’t hold
Second in the Kingston reviews: paying for a visit that didn’t fix it, then paying again. In the Ipsos survey, 15% of homeowners had sloppy work that had to be redone.
What we do
Fixed right, or fixed free: if the same problem comes back within 12 months of our repair, we come back and fix it at no charge.
- 5 of 59 Google reviews say he fixed what other companies could not
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You can’t get anyone on the phone
11% reported communication problems. With a plumbing emergency, an unanswered phone is the whole problem.
What we do
The phone is answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: (613) 449-1758.
- 12 of 59 Google reviews mention a fast reply or easy communication
- 10 of 59 Google reviews mention a same-day, next-day, evening, weekend or holiday visit
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Nobody shows up, or they are hours late
24% of homeowners in the survey had late or delayed work, and 9% had a contractor not show up at all without warning.
What we do
We call ahead, so you know when we're on the way.
- 23 of 59 Google reviews mention showing up on time or promptly
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You’re sold a bigger job than you need
Fewer than half of Canadian homeowners say they trust plumbers. A lot of that comes from being told to replace what could have been repaired.
What we do
You hear what's wrong, what your options are and what each one costs, including the cheaper one.
- 14 of 59 Google reviews mention him explaining the problem, the options or giving advice
- 8 of 59 Google reviews use the words honest, trust or no surprises
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A different person turns up every time
At a larger company you get whoever is on shift that day, and you explain the history of your house all over again.
What we do
Conor Ryan, the owner, is on every job. He is a Master Plumber, a licensed Red Seal Plumber and a licensed G1 gas technician.
- 24 of 59 Google reviews name Conor
- 14 of 59 Google reviews are from repeat customers
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The person doing the work isn’t licensed for it
Plumbing is a compulsory trade in Ontario, and gas work needs a TSSA-certified technician. In 2023 a Kingston-area contractor was fined for sending an uncertified employee to install a gas water heater. Skilled Trades Ontario · TSSA
What we do
Conor Ryan is a Master Plumber and holds both licences himself: Red Seal Plumber and G1 gas technician. You can look a plumber up on the public register before you hire.
Review counts: all 59 Google reviews, read and counted on October 1, 2026. Survey figures are for home contractors generally, not plumbers alone.
Your rights when you hire a plumber in Ontario
- The 10% rule. With a written estimate in your contract, the final price can't be more than 10% over it unless you agreed to new work or a new price.
- It should be in writing. Ontario requires a written contract for home repair work worth more than $50. A texted or emailed quote you can keep is a good start.
- You can check the licence. Search the plumber's name on the Skilled Trades Ontario public register.
- Gas is its own licence. Ask who will do the gas work and what TSSA certificate they hold.
Source: Ontario.ca, your rights when starting home renovations or repairs. For a step-by-step check, see how to check any plumber before you hire.
Google reviews
Don’t take our word for it
Michael Eyre Lorri Mangialardo Top points to Conor at Shea plumbing, for very experienced expertise. Reliable and generous with advice and patience.
Angie Monette Over and above a plumber's work!!! He was extremely professional, cleaned up and made sure we were pleased with the work done! I am extremely pleased.
Andra Fawcett Have used Shea plumbing on several occasions. They are professional, polite, very responsive and great to deal with. Shea plumbing is my go to plumber.
Reviews from Google Maps. Rating as of October 2026. More on our reviews page.
Questions about hiring a plumber
Is a call-out fee normal for plumbers in Ontario?
It's common. Many plumbing companies charge a service or trip fee, a minimum number of hours, or both. HomeStars' Canadian price guide (updated August 2026) lists trip fees from $65 to $390 and service fees averaging $195. Shea Plumbing doesn't charge one: there's no call-out fee, day or night, and you only pay for work you approve. Nights and weekends carry an after-hours rate. You hear it on the phone before we come.
Can a plumber charge more than the estimate in Ontario?
Under Ontario's consumer rules for home repairs, when a written estimate is part of your contract the final price can't be more than 10% over it unless you agreed to new work or a new price. Shea Plumbing gives you the price before work starts and asks before anything changes.
How do I avoid a surprise plumbing bill?
Before anyone starts, ask for the price of the agreed job, ask what could change it, and ask whether there is a call-out fee or an hourly minimum. Get the answers in a text or email. A plumber who works on upfront pricing will have all three ready.
Who actually does the work at Shea Plumbing?
Conor Ryan, the owner, is on every job. He is a Master Plumber and a licensed Red Seal Plumber with 12+ years in the trade, and a licensed G1 gas technician.
Who is allowed to work on gas lines in Ontario?
Gas work has to be done by a technician certified by the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA). Conor Ryan holds a G1 licence, the highest gas technician certificate in Ontario.
Call Shea Plumbing. Day or night.
No call-out fee, the price before any work, and a 12-month guarantee. Or book online and we'll call you back to confirm a time.
