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3rdGen Heating & Cooling vs Able To Plumbing
Alameda Plumbing Contractors Comparison · Updated March 2026
You're comparing a 4-year HVAC specialist to a 22-year plumbing veteran, so your choice depends entirely on whether you need heating and cooling or plumbing work.
| 3rdGen Heating & Cooling | Able To Plumbing | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 5.0 | ★ 5.0 |
| Years Licensed | 4 years | 22 years |
| License # | 1086898 | 838521 |
| Workers' Comp | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Bond Amount | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Location | Berkeley, CA | Livermore, CA |
| Website | 3rdgen.io | www.abletoplumbing.com |
Key Differences
What Customers Say
3rdGen Heating & Cooling
Customers emphasize 3rdGen's responsive scheduling with same-day availability, clean and meticulous installation work, and the owner's direct involvement in explaining systems and answering questions.
Able To Plumbing
Customers highlight decades-long loyalty to Able To Plumbing, praising their same-day responsiveness, honest diagnostics that avoid unnecessary work, and thorough explanations of plumbing issues.
Key Takeaway: Able To Plumbing's customer relationships span 10 to 20 years demonstrating sustained consistency, while 3rdGen has built strong reputation quickly in their four years with particular emphasis on modern HVAC technology expertise.
Customer Reviews
3rdGen Heating & Cooling
Love 3rd Gen, Devin and the team! They are knowledgeable, professional, kind, and generous. Highly recommend working with them!
I am so glad that I found 3rd Gen Heating & Cooling. The team is smaller so it felt so much more intentional and trustworthy. They pay such great attention to detail, in which they were able to meet m...
I got my HVAC system installed by 3rd gen in 2022, this week the heater stopped working . I gave them a call and Devin and Ceaser visited today to fix the issue. They were at the house right at the ap...
Able To Plumbing
Travis installed my Bradford White water heater several years ago and just replaced the anode rod. Im very pleased with the service and highly recommend.
Love Travis and Courtney!!! They are awesome!!! I've been using them for 20+ years! Kind and honest!!!
After the recent earthquake swarms in San Ramon, I contacted Able To Plumbing & Rooter in Livermore to evaluate and ensure the safety of our natural gas lines in the backyard. It was a pleasure workin...
Consider 3rdGen Heating & Cooling if...
- ✓ You need HVAC work specifically: furnace repair or replacement, air conditioning service, or modern heat pump and mini-split installations
- ✓ You're interested in newer HVAC technology like Mitsubishi mini-split systems or energy-efficient heat pumps where 3rdGen has developed specialized expertise
- ✓ You're located in Berkeley or the western Alameda County area where their response time will be fastest
- ✓ You value working with a smaller, growing team where the owner is directly involved in your specific project
Consider Able To Plumbing if...
- ✓ You need plumbing work: water heaters, fixtures, pipes, gas lines, drain repairs, or seismic shutoff valves
- ✓ You're facing a complex or unusual plumbing problem where 22 years of diagnostic experience matters significantly
- ✓ You're located in Livermore, San Ramon, Walnut Creek, or the Tri-Valley region where their service area is concentrated
- ✓ You value proven longevity and want a contractor with decades of consistent operation and customers who have used them for 10 to 20 years
Questions to Ask Before Hiring
- → For 3rdGen: Ask for references from projects similar to yours completed in the past two years, given their shorter licensing history.
- → For Able To Plumbing: Confirm their typical response time and availability for your specific location, as they're based in Livermore serving the Tri-Valley area.
- → For either: Ask about warranty coverage on both labor and equipment, and what their process is if issues arise after project completion.
The Bottom Line
Your decision here is straightforward: hire 3rdGen Heating & Cooling if you need HVAC work, and hire Able To Plumbing if you need plumbing work—they're different trades entirely. If your project is in the trade each handles, both companies are properly licensed and insured with strong customer feedback. Able To Plumbing's 22-year track record provides more confidence for complex or unusual plumbing situations, while 3rdGen offers specialized expertise in modern HVAC technology like heat pumps and mini-splits. Location matters for response time: choose the company based closer to your property for faster service.
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Frequently Asked Questions
It matters significantly if you're hiring Able To Plumbing for plumbing work, as 22 years means extensive experience diagnosing hidden issues and handling code complications. For HVAC work with 3rdGen, four years is enough to handle most residential projects competently, though complex commercial work or unusual complications favor more experience. The experience difference is most relevant when projects don't go as planned.
No—these are separate trades requiring different licenses. 3rdGen holds an HVAC contractor license and handles heating and cooling systems exclusively. Able To Plumbing holds a plumbing contractor license and handles water, gas, and drain systems. You'll need to hire both if you have projects in both categories.
Both offer same-day service when available, but response time depends heavily on your location. If you're in Berkeley or western Alameda County, 3rdGen is closer. If you're in Livermore, San Ramon, or the Tri-Valley, Able To Plumbing is better positioned. Call both and ask about their current availability for your specific address.
The review pattern suggests consistent quality, honest diagnostics that avoid unnecessary work, and reliable service over time. Decades of repeat business indicates they maintain standards as the company matures rather than declining. This kind of sustained loyalty is meaningful evidence of dependable service, though 3rdGen's strong early reputation is also promising.
Looking for the Best?
See our ranked list of top plumbing contractors in Alameda.
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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 09, 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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