Garrelts & Sons, Inc./American Water Experts

Garrelts & Sons, Inc. has operated as a family-owned plumbing contractor in McHenry, Illinois since approximately 1960, delivering more than six decades of continuous service to residents throughout McHenry, Lake, and Kane counties. The company holds proper licensing for plumbing work in Illinois and maintains a 4.0-star average rating derived from eight verified customer reviews, with recent feedback highlighting both strengths in emergency responsiveness and concerns regarding pricing transparency for after-hours calls.

What distinguishes Garrelts & Sons from competing contractors in the greater McHenry area is their dual-company structure: alongside standard plumbing services, their sister company American Water Experts handles residential and commercial water treatment, including water softener installation, reverse osmosis systems, and whole-home filtration upgrades. The parent company advertises 24/7 emergency availability without additional overtime charges, free in-home estimates on new equipment installations, and financing options for qualifying customers, backed by their stated 100% satisfaction guarantee.

Customer reviews reference specific technicians who handled distinctive situations. Marcus earned repeat praise for resolving a complex kitchen flooding incident where he performed cleanup and returned the plumbing to proper function. Another reviewer noted Benny's thorough evaluation of a water system, while a third mentioned the owner's intervention when pricing disputes arose. Most positive reviewers cited same-day response times and honest pricing after service explanations, contrasting with two critical reviews that described instances where estimated costs were not presented upfront before work commenced.