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3rdGen Heating & Cooling vs Good Fit Plumbing
Alameda Plumbing Contractors Comparison · Updated March 2026
You're comparing an HVAC specialist to a plumbing specialist—these contractors serve completely different needs and cannot substitute for each other.
| 3rdGen Heating & Cooling | Good Fit Plumbing | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 5.0 | ★ 5.0 |
| Years Licensed | 4 years | 3 years |
| License # | 1086898 | 1103256 |
| Workers' Comp | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Bond Amount | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Location | Berkeley, CA | Oakland, CA |
| Website | 3rdgen.io | goodfitplumbing.com |
Key Differences
What Customers Say
3rdGen Heating & Cooling
Customers consistently highlight 3rdGen's same-day scheduling flexibility, meticulous installation work with mini-splits and heat pumps, and the owner's educational approach to explaining HVAC systems.
Good Fit Plumbing
Customers emphasize Good Fit's thorough diagnostic approach to identifying underlying plumbing issues, transparent pricing that doesn't change from quote to completion, and arriving prepared with necessary parts.
Key Takeaway: Both contractors receive nearly identical praise for punctuality, professionalism, and clean work, with the distinction being trade specialty rather than service quality—3rdGen excels at HVAC installations while Good Fit demonstrates diagnostic thoroughness in plumbing troubleshooting.
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...
Good Fit Plumbing
I really appreciate Lenny at Good Fit Plumbing for making my jobs easy. He's a great communicator and he thorough explains various options, both for a simple repair and a pipe replacement. I highly re...
Lenny did great work, and helped us take advantage of state heat-pump water heater rebates, which required a lot of persistence on his part, but ultimately saved us a ton of money. Thank you Lenny!
I would definitely recommend Lenny of Goodfit Plumbing. He installed a heat pump water heater to replace my gas one. He helped me find rebates, even finding an extra green model that was approved for ...
Consider 3rdGen Heating & Cooling if...
- ✓ You need heating or cooling system work: furnace repair, AC installation, heat pump systems for climate control, or mini-split installation
- ✓ Your project involves commercial HVAC equipment like rooftop units or complex ductwork modifications
- ✓ You want same-day emergency service for a broken heating or cooling system, where customers consistently report next-day availability
- ✓ You're specifically interested in Mitsubishi mini-split systems, where 3rdGen has developed particular expertise
Consider Good Fit Plumbing if...
- ✓ You need plumbing work: leak repairs, fixture installations, pipe replacements, water heater service, or drainage issues
- ✓ You're planning a major plumbing project like complete home re-piping where thorough diagnosis is essential
- ✓ You want to install a heat pump water heater and need help navigating rebate programs, which Good Fit specifically offers
- ✓ You value transparent pricing explanations and want a plumber who arrives prepared with necessary parts to avoid delays
Questions to Ask Before Hiring
- → If considering a heat pump water heater with Good Fit, confirm whether any HVAC modifications or electrical panel upgrades are needed and whether they coordinate those aspects
- → Ask each contractor about their warranty terms on installations, as this isn't specified in the available information
- → For either contractor, request references from projects completed in the past six months to verify current service quality
- → Clarify emergency service availability and after-hours rates if you need work outside standard business hours
The Bottom Line
This isn't a competitive comparison—you need to identify which trade your project requires. Call 3rdGen Heating & Cooling for anything involving your home's heating, cooling, or ventilation systems. Call Good Fit Plumbing for anything involving water supply, drainage, fixtures, or water heaters. Both contractors show similar quality indicators for their respective trades: owner involvement, responsive service, clean work, and transparent pricing. If you're unsure which trade you need, describe your specific problem to either contractor and they'll direct you appropriately. Don't waste time comparing these companies—determine whether your issue is climate control or water-related, then contact the specialist who's licensed for that work.
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Frequently Asked Questions
No, these are separate licensed trades. 3rdGen holds an HVAC license and cannot legally perform plumbing work, while Good Fit holds a plumbing license and cannot perform HVAC work. If your project genuinely requires both trades—like a bathroom remodel needing new fixtures and ventilation—you'll need to hire both contractors or find a general contractor who coordinates multiple trades.
Only 3rdGen can install heat pump systems for home heating and cooling, as this is HVAC work. Good Fit's heat pump expertise is specifically for heat pump water heaters, which are plumbing appliances. These are completely different products serving different purposes, despite sharing similar technology names.
Not meaningfully in this comparison. Both are in the three-to-four year range, which places them in the same growing contractor category. The trade specialty difference matters far more than the one-year licensing gap. Both demonstrate strong customer feedback in their respective trades.
If water is leaking from pipes, fixtures, or your water heater, call Good Fit Plumbing. If your home is too hot, too cold, or you smell gas near your furnace, call 3rdGen Heating & Cooling. For condensation around AC units, that's typically HVAC. If you're genuinely unsure, describe your specific symptom when calling and the contractor can tell you if it's their trade.
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 13, 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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