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Red Top Electric vs Clogbusters Plumbing And General Building
Alameda General Contractors Comparison · Updated March 2026
You're comparing an electrical contractor with full insurance protection to a plumbing contractor without workers compensation coverage.
| Red Top Electric | Clogbusters Plumbing And General Building | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 5.0 | ★ 3.4 |
| Years Licensed | 66 years | 25 years |
| License # | 187698 | 792293 |
| Workers' Comp | ✓ Yes | — |
| Bond Amount | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Location | Livermore, CA | Berkeley, CA |
| Website | www.teamredtop.com | — |
Key Differences
What Customers Say
Clogbusters Plumbing And General Building
Customers highlight Clogbusters' ability to respond quickly to plumbing emergencies, often providing same-day service, though experiences with appointment scheduling and quote communication vary significantly.
Key Takeaway: Red Top Electric lacks sufficient review data to identify service patterns, while Clogbusters has documented feedback showing strength in emergency response speed but inconsistency in administrative communication.
Customer Reviews
Red Top Electric
No reviews available
Clogbusters Plumbing And General Building
Great Experience. Highly Recommend!
Amazing service. Professional and he got it done. This man is our savior. Thank you from Breathe Health Center and Services!
Had a plumbing emergency tonight, called 4 other plumbers who couldn't send someone out until later in the week before I found Clogbusters. They sent someone out right away, did an excellent job with ...
Consider Red Top Electric if...
- ✓ You need electrical work—panel upgrades, rewiring, lighting installations, or any electrical diagnosis and repair
- ✓ Insurance protection is a priority and you want the peace of mind that comes with a fully insured contractor working on your property
- ✓ Your project is complex or involves older electrical systems where 66 years of accumulated experience with evolving codes and standards provides meaningful value
- ✓ You're willing to conduct your own due diligence on customer service since limited review history is available
Consider Clogbusters Plumbing And General Building if...
- ✓ You have a plumbing emergency and need same-day response, which customer feedback indicates Clogbusters can often provide
- ✓ Your plumbing project is straightforward and you're comfortable verifying that your homeowner's insurance covers contractor injuries if workers comp isn't carried
- ✓ You can be proactive about confirming appointments and following up on quotes, given the mixed feedback about communication responsiveness
- ✓ The work quality matters more to you than the scheduling experience, as technical execution receives positive mentions while administrative interaction varies
Questions to Ask Before Hiring
- → For Clogbusters: Ask directly about liability coverage and confirm with your homeowner's insurance whether you're protected if a worker is injured—this could expose you to significant financial risk
- → For Clogbusters: Based on mixed communication feedback, ask how they prefer to handle appointment confirmations and quote follow-ups to establish clear expectations upfront
- → For Red Top Electric: Request references from recent projects similar to yours to compensate for limited online review history
- → For both: Ask how long their current crew has worked together, as team stability often correlates with consistent workmanship and communication
The Bottom Line
Your choice here is determined first by trade—electrical versus plumbing—and second by risk tolerance. If you need electrical work, Red Top Electric is your option and brings 66 years of experience with full insurance protection, though you should request references given limited review history. If you need plumbing work and face an emergency, Clogbusters demonstrates quick response capability, but the missing workers compensation insurance creates real liability exposure you must address. Before hiring Clogbusters, confirm with your homeowner's insurance that you're protected if a worker is injured, or require proof of coverage. For non-emergency plumbing work where you have time to evaluate options, the insurance gap warrants considering other contractors who carry full protection.
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Frequently Asked Questions
If a Clogbusters employee is injured while working at your home, you could potentially be liable for their medical bills, lost wages, and legal costs. Workers compensation insurance protects homeowners from this liability by covering worker injuries. Before hiring Clogbusters, contact your homeowner's insurance to confirm whether you have coverage for contractor injuries—many policies don't cover this situation.
Both are highly experienced veteran contractors, but the gap matters more for complex projects. Red Top's additional 41 years means they've worked through more generations of building codes, technology changes, and unusual problem scenarios in electrical systems. For straightforward plumbing repairs, Clogbusters' 25 years is substantial. For complex electrical diagnosis or older home rewiring, Red Top's depth of experience provides added value.
It depends on your priorities and communication style. If you need urgent plumbing work and multiple customers report Clogbusters responds quickly in emergencies, that's valuable. However, be prepared to follow up proactively on appointment confirmations and quotes. If seamless communication matters as much as technical skill, the inconsistent feedback is a legitimate concern worth addressing directly with them before hiring.
Some established contractors, particularly those with multi-generational client bases, receive most business through referrals and don't actively solicit online reviews. Red Top's 66-year history suggests sustained operations, but you'll need to request references directly. Ask for contacts from recent projects similar to yours to verify current service quality and communication practices.
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How We Compare Contractors
License Verification
All license data is sourced from official California CSLB records and verified regularly.
Review Analysis
Customer reviews are aggregated from Google and analyzed to identify patterns in service quality.
Detailed Comparison
We analyze credentials, insurance, experience, and feedback to highlight meaningful differences.
Not all licensed contractors are created equal. While a valid license is the baseline requirement in California, contractors can vary significantly in experience, insurance coverage, and customer satisfaction.
- Experience matters: A contractor with 15+ years of experience has likely encountered and solved problems that newer contractors haven't faced yet.
- Workers' compensation protects you: If a contractor without workers' comp insurance has an employee injured on your property, you could be held liable.
- Reviews reveal patterns: Individual reviews can be misleading, but patterns across many reviews often reveal a contractor's true strengths and weaknesses.
- Bond amounts vary: A contractor's bond provides financial protection if they fail to complete work as agreed. Higher bonds offer more protection.
Taking time to compare contractors on these factors can save you from costly mistakes and help ensure your project is completed by a qualified professional.
Data Sources: License information from California CSLB. Ratings and reviews from Google. Last verified March 12, 2026.
This comparison is based on publicly available information. We recommend getting multiple quotes and verifying all credentials directly before hiring.
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