Apex Plumbing & Sewer Inc.

Apex plumbing replaced our water heaters and did a fantastic job. The crew was on time, cleaned up all debris and were very pleasant to work with. I would highly recommend them for your plumbing needs.

WARNING!! TO ALL POTENTIAL CUSTOMERS DO NOT USE APEX Plumbing and Sewer Services!!!! They improperly installed a sump pump in my finished basement in May 2022. They DO NOT back there services! I have tried to reach the owners on 3 occasions to explain that the pump failed after 10 months and got no call back. A more reputable company came in and explained to me that their was work was sloppy and not properly installed. Specifically. they did not replace a broken check valve and did not properly fasten and seal the sump pump cover. Plus the fact that their Made in China pump failed and refused to contact me and explain themselves after I sought a partial refund. I paid $2500 for this work which took less than a hour for them to complete. Also a ridiculous amount given a pump casts approx. $500. THEY ARE RIP-OFFS! I am reporting them to BBB and I warn anybody to use a more reputable company. Notice how they only respond to positive reviews. A clear sign that they sre not a reputable company.. Picture of the poorly installed pump.

I called Apex this morning and liked the response from the older gentleman. Two plumbers (Brandon and Adan) showed up promptly. Here is my experience this morning. The leakage was caused by our unit where the pipe was not being aligned to the hole under the water heater. They did diagnose the problem correctly (I hope, finger cross!) I would say Brandon as the lead was discourteous - didn’t introduce himself, knocking the door very loud or close the door loudly. When he talked about the solutions on how to prevent the pipe from being displaced, ($400 for replacing the PVC pipe; $200 for attaching PVC pipe and no cost for putting a brick on the pipe), he failed to mention one solution that a plumber usually does- glue the PVC pipe. Another contractor told me a plumber should have offered that solution. I paid the $199 for diagnostics. The overall experience is unpleasant. I will not use their service again.

I had a leaky faucet in my kitchen sink. As someone who is not particularly handy, I contacted Apex to get an estimate to fix or replace the faucet. The dispatcher was very friendly and helpful, and their technicians Aidan and Jarrid were at my front door within an hour. They quoted out the job, and we agreed that I would purchase a new faucet and then get back in touch with them to schedule the install. It turns out that I was able to take care of the faucet installation myself after all, so I didn't need to use Apex. But based on their professionalism, friendliness, and promptness, I will happily contact them again when I need plumbing services!

Aidan and Kevin from Apex Plumbing came and helped us out with our water heater issue. They arrived earlier than expected, were very thorough, and explained everything clearly. Best of all the issue was fixed and we had hot water again. Definitely recommend for any plumbing issues you may have!

After calling Apex about my hot water heater breakdown, Chas arrived within 30 minutes and quickly diagnosed the problem and walked me through multiple options (including time & pricing) for repairs and replacement, all to be completed the same-day. After answering all my questions and agreeing on the best solution (installing a new water heater), Chas completed the project as quickly as possible and stayed at my home long enough to fully test the new hot water heater’s operation and all aspects of the installation, explaining every part of the process along the way and obtaining my approval first before making a minor and low cost change to the initial plan. Chas made sure to leave my home as clean (really cleaner) as when he arrived, and the final cost was almost exactly the same as the original estimate. I’m a very satisfied customer and will definitely use Apex for future plumbing projects.

Emergency - basement flooding

After some heavy rains my basement started flooding. I had no idea what to do so I googled a plumber and came across Apex Plumbing. I saw all of the good reviews and pleased customers so I gave them a call. I could not have been happier with my decision. Everyone I spoke with was professional and nice. They got to my home fairly quick, diagnosed the issue, and got to work. It wasn’t too long after and my basement was water free. The pricing was pretty reasonable for the great care I received. If you have similar issues, or any plumbing related issues period, give Apex a call. You won’t be disappointed.

Our sewer started backing up while we had house guests. Horrible time to deal with a situation like this. Apex has great emergency service. They were very responsive and arrived at our house quickly. I’m very happy with their service and pricing. Thank you Apex for taking care of us.

I'm a fan! They are now my go-to plumber. I've had them to my home 2x to fix minor leaks with great results; they've also assisted my condo association on 2 occasions with equally satisfactory results; they've been there when some friends had plumbing emergencies and did great work on both occasions. They are pleasant, professional and reliable. Their pricing is fair and consistent.I highly recommend them. Have worked with Jon, Chuck and Jay and am delighted with their service. Thanks, Apex!

I had a very positive experience with Apex plumbing. I called them because my hot water pipe had frozen in the -40 windchill weather. They came out within an hour of when I called which made a huge difference in the end because they were able to warm the pipe before it exploded. Chas and Brandon were super nice and explained everything as they went along. They even located our main water shut-off which another plumber and an inspector were unable to do.

So grateful to have found these guys that came out in the blistering cold and prevented a major disaster for a reasonable price. Will definitely be using them again if there's ever a need.

We have been using APEX for nearly 5 years and they are really great. They are very professional, always on time for the scheduled appointment, and provide a detailed explanation of what needs to be done and the associated costs. Thank you Geoff for the work you completed! Highly recommend them.

My under sink hot water dispenser quit working. After receiving an outrageously high quote from another plumbing company (Bishop Plumbing rates are beyond ridiculous - about 4X) , I was lucky enough to find Apex. The owner answered the phone and dispatched someone for the next day. The next day was a huge snow storm, but they followed up first thing in the morning and actually showed up while most of the city was shut down. John, the technician did a great job, was very personable and the fee was very reasonable. This is the way it should work!

Jon was fantastic. My water pipe to a sink was leaking inside a wall that caused leakage though the ceiling down to the basement. We had to shut off the water to the whole house and needed an emergency fix. Jon arrived almost immediately after I called. He was very clear on price and what it would take to fix the leak before moving forward. He fixed the leak in a timely manner and was very professional. I would definitely recommend Jon and Apex to someone with plumbing needs.

My mom has a building in the Lakeview area that we rent out to college students. We had issues with the toilet and contacted Apex plumbing who was highly recommended by a neighbor. They were able to come out right away and check out the problem. The tenants had clogged the toilet with tampons! Note to self: do not flush down feminine products. Apex was able to unclog the toilet and clear the pipes!! Highly recommend! The plumber was knowledgeable and professsional. The job was also affordable.

I worked with Jay to replace an old leaking water main, and from start to finish him and his team were quick and professional. He gave a competitive estimate for the service and had a great plan for the job. Within 2 days they had excavated and replaced the old pipe and filled the hole, and during that time I was only without water for the home for a short time. I would recommend Apex plumbing and would hire them again for my future plumbing needs.

I thought working with Apex was the best option after reading all the positive reviews, but that was a costly mistake. I called them for two things, to fix a leaky gas shut off valve to our furnace and to install a flue pipe from our water heater out to our chimney

The technician said he couldn't fix the shut off valve and had to use a new one, which was fine. It was a small part and the cost was more than I had expected but I went along with it. The flue pipe is the project that infuriates me more. He said he could do the project and gave me a quote of almost $800. (I'm just going to round up) I thought that would include a liner that would go up our chimney in order to properly ventilate out. He went out to buy more material, came back, and got to work. I gave him his space to work and didn't supervise.

Once he left and I inspected the work, I had instant regret. I had paid for something that looked like a handyman job and did not look professional at all but at least we were safe from inhaling any exhaust.

Today, I had another professional company come out to install a new water heater. They informed me that there is no properly installed liner and that all the exhaust is traveling up and has nowhere to go but to come back down. We have to properly have the chimney lined and then they can install the new tank. So now, I will have to undo the work that the APEX technician did and have it done right. I'm especially infuriated because this is a safety issue. We've been inhaling exhaust for the past three months without even knowing it! I would seriously consider using another company when it comes to issues with furnace and water heaters.

In response to Apex support’s comment:
“Apex took you out of your dangerous situation and can not be responsible for the condition of your water heater or chimney.”

Connecting a flue pipe to an unlined chimney is not fixing a problem and does not take us out of a dangerous situation. Also, I did not blame Apex for the condition of my water heater or our chimney, my comment is about the work itself and service.

Had the technician recommended for me to have our chimney lined first, I would have done that considering it was October and the weather was more suitable for that type of work. Instead your technician had no qualms about moving forward, charged us an inexcusable amount of close to $800 to add a flue pipe to an unlined chimney, which does nothing to fix our problem. (photo attached)

He also said our water heater was a 20 gallon heater and gave me the impression that it was in worse condition than it is. He also said he could install a new water heater (apparently he thought it was OK to install a new heater without a liner) but I had my misgivings about having any additional work done.

Our water heater is actually a 40 gallon, and the new technician Im working with assured me that while our heater is old, it’s a good brand and will fortunately last until we do the proper repairs to our chimney. His words were more or less, if you’re going to do the job, let’s make sure we’re doing it right.

In addition, I would have much rather preferred a phone call or direct message to discuss the matter instead of posting this response publicly, but your customer support decided to follow up on this post instead. Considering that I sent a message directly to your website with my contact info, I find the handling of this unprofessional and will not be recommending your company.

Ben was great! He arrived early and waited for me to arrive at my new home - listened to what I needed repaired and presented me with options that he took care of on the spot. He made several trips to a nearby hardware store to get parts and even made a special trip back to install a facet for me after he located a special nut to complete the project. Great Customer Service and Craftsman that went above and beyond. Thanks Apex Plumbing.

Being an out of town property owner can have its disadvantages. Finding an honest repair company can be like finding a needle in a haystack. My tenants water heater burst in our Wrigleyville rental while she was away on business leaving us to deal with Apex Plumbing over the phone. They understood the urgency of the situation and eased our anxiety about not being there in person. Giving total strangers access to your property while away is not easy to do.

Chas assessed the situation, took his time in explaining the scope of work, quoted me a price and quickly got to work. I was very concerned with the damage and mess that may have occurred because my tenant wasn't going to be back for a few weeks. Much to my surprise upon her return she reported that the work area was left clean and EVERYTHING she had left in her house was in its place. Chas and the Apex Plumbing crew sure came through for us. Affordable and trustworthy. Will use again..

UPDATE: 10/26/18
Apex Plumbing to the rescue once again. My rental property on Belden was having sewer back up issues and I knew just who to call. Having proven themselves trustworthy and reliable over the years, I have given Apex a set of keys to the property so they can help me in urgent situations where access is needed fast. Shortly after calling them I received a phone call from the tech on site who explained that we needed to have the sewer rodded. I asked a few questions as to how to avoid this in the future and they were kind enough to offer some helpful preventive maintenance suggestions. I loved the fact that they weren't pushy in trying to sell me things and let me decide for myself based on the knowledge I have received. Thank you guys!!!

Communication was great between setting up an appointment and the plumber keeping us up to date on their arrival. Geoff came out and gave us an assessment and was able to service our issue on the spot. Definitely would recommend!

PROFESSIONAL POLITE PROMPT.... I can't tell you how pleased I am with Apex... I called after reading the reviews Chuck the owner answered the call. He sent his men out ...I was amazed how quickly the crew came to my home... They fixed the job and left the place looking better then when they came. I am very pleased with everything they did..I wish I could give more stars .. Highly recommend. Prices are fair...maybe not the cheapest but well worth every penny. Felt safe being home alone with them...

Called about a leaking toilet. Chas was on site in an hour, problem was diagnosed right away, work was done quickly, all for a fair price. Everyone I've talked to at Apex, on the phone and in person, has been nothing but friendly and professional. I've used Apex twice now and they will continue to be my go-to plumber. Highly recommend!

Needed a antique sink repair done ASAP before a new stove was installed, APEX worked with me to make that happen. Turned out it needed quite a bit of work and in just over 3 hours a young man by the name of Chas completed the job. Price reasonable. Chas was very knowledgeable and friendly. I made the right choice. Highly recommend.

Apex plumbing saved our lives last week. Not only do they do amazing work, but they also bumped us up to number one on their waitlist to come out and fix many frozen pipes that had bursted in our condo building.

We had at least five frozen pipes in the utility room that burst, started leaking all over our common condo area and majorly affected the unit that shares a wall with our common utility room.

Apex returned my call quickly, came out on a frigid day and stayed at our building from 10-7 PM to make sure all the work was done and our condo building with six units could turn the water back on. Chas and Frank came out, both very professional and nothing but absolutely compassionate and hardworking guys! The initial quote they gave us was higher and when all the work was finished, they readjusted it since it took less than expected.

We would 100% use them again, both for our common condo needs and individual unit needs! They can be trusted, very professional and get the job done! THANK YOU APEX!

Chas came out to quote the cleaning of my catch basin. I had just experienced a clogged sewer that had to be rodded and I used a different company. The other company tried to back me into a corner and get me to commit to some costly repairs when I was in a desperate situation. I told Chas the story and he advised me on all my options. I could say a lot of bad things about the other company, but I will just say that I will call Apex for any future needs. Give them a call!

Called Apex to come take a look at an ejector pump i have been struggling with for a Month. Quickly diagnosed the problem of having a bad float along with the float being a poor design for the way my pit is set up. Gave a fair recommendation, quote and even the model number for something i could replace myself as its a quick but expensive fix. That right there earned my business and recommendation to family and friends for all of my future plumbing needs.

We had two plumbing companies come out to give us an estimate on a job. Benjamin from Apex was extremely professional and courteous and provided an estimate extremely quickly. The second company came out and we asked them a few questions about what Benjamin had told us and they were completely unable to answer they also didn’t provide a timely estimate. Apex and Benjamin are excellent plumbers and business people as they get the job done with the upmost professionalism. Additionally, I was home with a newborn baby who was a little fussy and Benjamin had a tip on how to hold her to calm her down. Thanks, Apex and Benjamin!

They were great, from Jenny's cheerful voice on the phone to Geoff's professional and efficient service. We had dropped a wedding ring down the sink. Geoff quickly retrieved it and fixed things so that next time anything falls down the drain it would be easier to get back. And, he had time to install the new faucet that we've been contemplating for months.
Good job! Thanks Jenny & Geoff.

We had an excellent experience with Chas at Apex. He was helpful and stuck with the diagnostic process, and we ultimately able to resolve our problem. The price was definitely reasonable for the number of times he had to visit to try to figure out the issue and make the repairs. I would highly recommend this company.

Apex was referred to me by a friend and after calling them about my sink and garbage disposal back-up. They sent Branden and Adan out to fix the problem. They were both friendly, professional and knew what they were doing. They fixed the problem and cleaned up after. Prices are fair. Highly recommend them and would use them again.

Highly recommend!
Cannot thank these guys enough- they came out for a sink back up (water coming up in our kitchen sink due to building clogged pipe) around 10:30pm and stayed until 1am. Came back the next morning to finish up. Took time to answer questions. Wore masks the whole time while working. Very professional and also nice!

Apex team was timely, professional, knowledgeable and very friendly! They were quick to solve our problem and were here for only an hour. Pricing was very reasonable and fair, we will definitely be using Apex again!

Thanks to Chas and Apex Plumbing for installing a new water heater and re-configuring the pipes. Same day service and showed up promptly at the beginning of the appointment window. Explained everything in detail to help me better understand the installation process and how to operate the new appliance.

Dennis came out to our house on 2 hours notice to snake some grease from our main sewer line. I found him to be extremely efficient, friendly, and professional. He also shared a lot of his knowledge related to practice measures to take in the future to avoid a repeat emergency. I was extremely please with the service overall and would gladly call him again, although hopefully not under emergent conditions next time!

Had a valve in shower at a property replaced by them after it got ruined by a hasty water shut-off. They sweat the copper supply pipes onto the old galvanized and put in a nice new valve, all within a few hours or so. Then another plumber came and gave a FREE look into a toilet blockage, quickly determining it was user error and not a clogged drain. The person answering phones is very helpful as well, and they get right back to you, even if you call after hours and leave a message with their service. The only thing they did wrong was forget to knock on the door to the bathroom and accidentally barged in on a tenant. Sorry 'bout dat!

A couple months ago my husband was out of town for work and during a rain storm I noticed my gutter drain was clogged up really bad causing water to buildup in our gangway next to our home. Called my husband, he told me to call Apex. Chaz the owner's son came out and got the clog cleared right away. He was really easy to deal with and really good with our crazy dog Wilma. I would definitely use this company again in the future if I needed anything plumbing related.

Responsive and friendly when I needed a kitchen line cleared. Communicated about a slight delay in arrival which was appreciated.

Chas was friendly, transparent about time and cost, and got it fixed. Highly recommend Apex, especially when you need someone the same day.

Bad service. I called on February 1st around 6:30AM because a pipe froze and cracked. I shut off the water line and called Apex. The lady said someone would be over. Around 8:30AM I called again to make sure someone would still show up and the lady said I would receive a call from the plumber 30 minutes prior arriving. It's been already over a week and NEVER got a response. I got it fix the same day but now I know I can't rely on this company.

Ben did a great job and was very friendly. Showed up exactly on time and replaced our moldy water heater in a few short hours. Everything done in one visit. They cleaned up after themselves and were very informative.

Cost very high and bad service as well. Do not use them if possible, a lot of plumbing service near by if you search at google. Simple un-clog cost $695 and did not do the job. Clogs back up in 10 days and still blames the user for it. 4 inch or bigger pipe can clog back up that fast??? They do not do after service and want wants $300 more to do the same bad job again. You could get the full service and more if you contact plumbers near them. Just search google. Don't use them.

Prior speaking with a represenative. I was told that i will be receiving a call from a technician to come out and give me an estimate. That was over a week ago still no call.

The pilot light on my water heater went out and when trying to relight it, it would not stay lit. The technician was friendly and arrived about an hour after I called. He took a quick look at my water heater and said that the issue was with the gas line for the unit and that the whole unit would need to be replaced. He said that they don't do repairs just unit replacement. That really confused me as, according to their website:

We Provide the Following Water Heater Repairs: Thermocouple, Gas controls, Relights, Relief valves, Pilot assemblies, We Do It All!

The unit was 9 years old so it was hitting the replacement time anyways. We also discussed the federal efficiency requirements changes for 2015 and how the newer units are considerably larger. This would have presented a problem for my condo's small utility closet, but thankfully I would be able to still get a new unit manufactured before the new efficiency laws.

The quote for the replacement was $1350. Later in the day I got a second quote from Chicago Heating Repair that came in $400 cheaper at $950. Moral of the story: always get at least two quotes.

We had a totally collapsed catch basin by our patio, so Chuck at APEX came out and looked at it. They had rebuilt it in two days, even though it was raining hard the first day. I highly recommend APEX, and they they left the worksite spotless.

John and Chas did not disappoint. I live in an older high rise, and they met every challenge (even the chief maintenance engineer) with professionalism and aplomb. Best of all, I have an awesome new bathroom pedestal sink, and kitchen faucet. They even taught me how to hook up the portable dish washer. Thanks, guys! Cairn Hutter

DO NOT USE THEM! They overcharge and do work you don't need. Even worse, they don't stand behind their work even though they claim to have a year warranty on their labor. If there is a problem, they come back in and then give you multiple reasons why the work they originally did was needed and done correctly and the problem is something. Of course, they then want to charge you again. In addition, the work they do is poorly executed. The receptionist is totally unhelpful and can be rude. If the cost of the work was higher (the amount of money I lost greater) then I would be seeking a legal resolution.

We have referred out some work to this company to replace / install gas lines for clothes drying machines. Along with replacing water hoses for stackable Washer / Dryer Units. When I follow up with my customers about the work they have always have had a pleasant experience. I will continue to reccomend them to my customers moving forward. Keep up the good work Chuck!

I was late by 15 min dropping the kids off at school, but Ben waited for me. Fortunately the water heater lighted up again without a problem (I might of been doing it wrong), Ben showed me how to start it. Since there was nothing actually wrong he said he’s not going to charge a service fee.... thanks Apex & Ben!!!

When the my below neighbors alerted me of a leak from my toilet I called Apex immediately. They were prompt on time, quick to repair, friendly, and informative. I will definitely call them in the future.

I give them 3 stars for being prompt and coming right away after I had an issue and finding it, but quoted me $295 to unclog/rod kitchen sink????? I do realize plumbers are expensive and used major plumbing companies before, but sorry this is a rip off amount. I have never paid over $179 for this type of service, to rod sink drain or bathroom drain.

They are always reliable, we have them out to change our toilet wax rings every 5 years or so. They have also done faucets and other work - they are prompt and don't disappear for hours looking for parts to complete the job.

EDIT - I have added photos of the associated receipts (JOBS 43521 & 43503) to confirm that the claimed amount (over $1000) is accurate, given that APEX has taken the time to state that my review was not accurate.

ORIGINAL REVIEW:
I was charged $1,040 to ultimately disconnect/reconnect a sink and faucet installation.

I originally requested to have a garbage disposal installed with the sink re-connection. However, the plumber was unable to successfully connect the garbage disposal wiring from the prior disposal to the new disposal, after multiple attempts. The plumber's competency was a bit questionable for this task.

Additionally, the wall pipe was too high to connect the disposal drain and effectively drain the sink water. However, instead of performing a simple measurement to help determine whether the wall pipe was too high - the plumber attempted for over an hour to try to find a drain configuration that worked.

I understand why the requested garbage disposal installation was not feasible b/c of the wall drain location. However, the fact that APEX needed hours to diagnosis that a garbage disposal installation was not feasible makes me question plumber's honesty or competency.

I understand that there are labor/material costs for a plumbing service.
I am happy to pay for a plumber's labor. However, I am NOT happy to pay (over $1000) for hours and hours of labor for a plumber to 'figure it out' whether the requested job is feasible.

Called for an emergency weekend appointment at 9pm Saturday. Said someone would come out. 2 hours after I called I had not heard anything. I called the office abd Person assured us someone would be out and would call us soon. At midnight I assumed no one was coming and went to bed. No call, no show all weekend when I have sewage flooding my house. Totally unacceptable as a business.

Called them at 9:54am. The receptionist told me a technician will be out between 10am-12pm. The tech arrived at 10:30am, gave an estimate for a wax ring, replaced and wrapped up 11:30 and out by 12pm. Excellent service

Five Star overall experience !!Chuck came out in the morning for a free estimate and brought a whole crew to perform the work needed on the same day!! Great work and awesome price!!Highly recommend!!

Ben did his great service on my build today.I got both gas meters on now ! Thank you a lot! I highly recommend his company to do the work.

Needed help with our sub pump called and got scheduled right away. Ben came over and was very polite and helpful! We appreciate it! Thanks Apex Plumbing!

We called them out and they continued to make up issues as they worked that of course would cost more to fix. They were able to turn a $300 job into a $1000 fix. Dishonest people who have no interest in repeat business.

Have a 3 flat in portage park, apex has been servicing my tenants for the past 20 years. always reliable and quick to have a plumber out at your building.

Great guys and easy on the pockets. I use them for home and work. Responsive, fair price and they followed up with us after the job(s) were done.

Came out to provide an estimate. Fantastic service, very knowledgeable, very professional. Will certainly be going to APEX first for all my plumbing needs.

This guy is literally walking around downtown Chicago asking people including me to forge a signature that he didnt get on a plumbing contract. And was rude to us when we said no! He said it's not even your name. My friend told him it's still forgery! And he went on to thre next person.

I have been a repeat customer over the years and have used Apex for problems and maintenance issues. I have always had a pleasant experience. Thank you for your honest help.

Thank you for the prompt service on our flooded basement, your drain cleaning services and dedication are extremely commendable. I will definitely call you guys out again for any of my plumbing needs! Thanks Chuck!

Had them out to reseal my toilet. Chaz was friendly, and was out at my house in under an hour. Did not mind me hovering over him asking questions either.

professional, efficient, and reliable! Ben was ahead of schedule and got the job done in no time! Toilet is as good as new. Thanks Ben!

Good service. They are experienced, reliable and fast. They fixed my issue in no time and were informative and kind. Would re-hire them at anytime if needed. Thanks

They were professional, friendly, on time, and best of all they gave me an honest estimate that actually saved me money. Definitely recommend them!

Had a very bad experience where my ejector pump failed, so I called Apex and Ben came and helped take care of everything. Thanks Ben!

Had them come out to quote a job. Contacted them twice after the walk-through to get the quote and they never contacted me back.

Jon was prompt, informative, and professional! Great work helping to examine potential gas leak! Thank you for the great service!

Had a sewer back up. Apex answered the phone right away and had someone at my house within thirty minutes. A+ service that I won't soon forget.

Easy to make appointment, came on time, explained issue, and fixed in timely fashion. Would recommend!

Pushy , stay away wanted$3000.00 plus.
cost $9.00 for some pipe cleaner

Very reliable, honest and knowledgeable in their craft. Highly recommended

Aiden and Kevin where awesome! Would highly highly recommend. Thanks again.

Helped me out big time with a backed up sewer / flooded basement. Thanks!

Great service and quality work!

Very good service

I can't get help

Had water coming from bathtub spout going down the wall. The spout had a crack and was replaced. Later that day I go in to fine water dripping from new spout. Job half done and wanted me to pay extra to complete what should have been fixed for first time