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3rdGen Heating & Cooling vs Capelli Plumbing
Alameda Plumbing Contractors Comparison · Updated March 2026
You're comparing an HVAC specialist with four years of experience to a plumbing contractor with nine years in business—these companies serve completely different needs.
| 3rdGen Heating & Cooling | Capelli Plumbing | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 5.0 | ★ 4.9 |
| Years Licensed | 4 years | 9 years |
| License # | 1086898 | 1026755 |
| Workers' Comp | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Bond Amount | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Location | Berkeley, CA | San Leandro, CA |
| Website | 3rdgen.io | capelliplumbing.com |
Key Differences
What Customers Say
3rdGen Heating & Cooling
Customers emphasize 3rdGen's owner-involved approach, educational communication style, and particularly clean installation work on specialized HVAC equipment like mini-splits and heat pumps.
Capelli Plumbing
Customers highlight Capelli's established systems for prompt response, professional multi-technician teams, and long-term reliability across diverse plumbing projects over many years.
Key Takeaway: 3rdGen receives specific praise for meticulous installation quality on complex HVAC equipment, while Capelli is noted for operational consistency and repeat customer relationships built over nearly a decade in business.
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...
Capelli Plumbing
Discovered a plugged drain line servicing our kitchen sink, dishwasher and clothes washer. Water from kitchen back flowing from the drain on the washing machine. Contacted our favorite plumbing compan...
Capelli Plumbing has been my go to for years. Recently, I needed a new garbage disposal and was having electrical problems with the old unit. James promptly scheduled the job for the next day even th...
I am very pleased with the professionalism that Preston displayed when installing my water heater. He explained everything to me thoroughly every step of the way.
Consider 3rdGen Heating & Cooling if...
- ✓ You need HVAC work: furnace repair or replacement, air conditioning service, heat pump installation, mini-split system installation, or ductwork modifications
- ✓ You're specifically interested in modern, energy-efficient heating solutions like heat pumps or mini-splits where specialized expertise matters
- ✓ You value direct owner involvement throughout your project and prefer a smaller, more personalized team approach
- ✓ You have a commercial property needing rooftop HVAC unit service or crane-assisted equipment installation
Consider Capelli Plumbing if...
- ✓ You need plumbing work: water heater replacement, pipe repairs or repiping, drain cleaning, sewer line work, fixture installations, or gas line repairs
- ✓ You want a contractor with nearly a decade of established business history and systems for handling complications
- ✓ You have multiple plumbing projects across several properties and want a company with the capacity to handle volume work
- ✓ You need both immediate repair work and are planning future plumbing upgrades with a contractor who has long-term customer relationships
Questions to Ask Before Hiring
- → For water heater projects, clarify whether you need a standard tank model (either company can handle) or a complex tankless/heat pump water heater that may benefit from specialized expertise
- → Ask each company about their specific experience with your equipment brand and model, particularly for specialty installations
- → Request references from projects completed in the past year that match your scope and property type
- → Confirm who will be on-site for your project and their specific training credentials for the equipment involved
The Bottom Line
Choose based on what you actually need fixed or installed. If your project involves heating, cooling, ventilation, or air conditioning equipment, 3rdGen Heating & Cooling is the specialist despite being newer—their focused HVAC expertise and modern heat pump knowledge are directly relevant. If you need plumbing infrastructure, water systems, drains, or gas line work, Capelli Plumbing's nine years of established plumbing experience is the right match. Both companies are properly licensed and insured with comparable customer service reputations. The decision isn't about which is better overall; it's about matching the right trade specialist to your specific project.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Capelli Plumbing regularly installs tankless water heaters as part of their plumbing service portfolio. 3rdGen could potentially handle a heat pump water heater (which is HVAC equipment), but standard gas or electric tankless units fall squarely in plumbing territory. Clarify the specific type of tankless system you're considering before making your choice.
Yes, particularly within each company's specialty. Capelli's nine years means they've encountered more varieties of plumbing complications, older home configurations, and code changes over time. However, 3rdGen's four years focused exclusively on HVAC may provide deeper current expertise in heating and cooling technology than a plumbing company would have. Experience matters most when it's relevant to your specific project type.
Call 3rdGen Heating & Cooling. While both companies work with gas lines, furnaces are heating equipment that falls under HVAC specialty. 3rdGen handles furnace diagnostics, repairs, and replacements as a core part of their business, whereas Capelli focuses on the plumbing and gas pipe infrastructure rather than the heating appliances themselves.
Potentially yes, as they serve complementary roles. Capelli would handle your plumbing infrastructure, pipe relocations, fixture installations, and gas line work, while 3rdGen would manage your HVAC system, ductwork, and heating/cooling equipment. Both companies work with property managers and multiple projects, suggesting they can coordinate as part of a larger renovation timeline.
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 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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