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Able To Plumbing vs Durrani Plumbing
Alameda Plumbing Contractors Comparison · Updated March 2026
Able To Plumbing brings 22 years of licensed experience with full insurance coverage, while Durrani Plumbing is a newer contractor without workers compensation on file.
| Able To Plumbing | Durrani Plumbing | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 5.0 | ★ 5.0 |
| Years Licensed | 22 years | 2 years |
| License # | 838521 | 1110028 |
| Workers' Comp | ✓ Yes | — |
| Bond Amount | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Location | Livermore, CA | Fremont, CA |
| Website | www.abletoplumbing.com | www.durraniplumbing.com |
Key Differences
What Customers Say
Able To Plumbing
Customers emphasize decade-long relationships and repeat business, highlighting trust built through consistent honest diagnostics and thorough explanations across multiple properties and projects.
Durrani Plumbing
Customers focus on initial positive experiences with transparent pricing and responsive scheduling, appreciating clear communication and fair costs compared to other quotes received.
Key Takeaway: Able To Plumbing's feedback reflects sustained trust over 10-20 year relationships, while Durrani Plumbing's reviews document strong first impressions from customers in a newer business's early years.
Customer Reviews
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...
Durrani Plumbing
We hired Durrani Plumbing to install a Moen shutoff valve on 1.5 inch main water line to our house. They did an excellent job of installing this valve. The install was more complicated then usual due ...
I recently used the service and was really impressed. The plumber was quick, professional, and solved the issue efficiently. It's great to see such dedication in local service providers. As a web dev...
We had a sewer blockage that almost blocked us from using bathroom or drainage. I got a recommendation to contact Durrani Plumbing. Mr. Sarfraz was very thorough to identify the source of blockage. He...
Consider Able To Plumbing if...
- ✓ Your project involves an older home where hidden complications are likely, such as corroded pipes behind walls, outdated venting systems, or previous DIY work that may not meet code
- ✓ You want the protection of working with a fully insured contractor, eliminating the risk that your homeowner's policy becomes the primary coverage if someone is injured
- ✓ You value the diagnostic accuracy that comes from having seen thousands of similar situations over two decades, reducing the likelihood of misdiagnosed problems or scope creep
- ✓ Your situation requires complex work like mainline leak repairs, gas line safety evaluations, or seismic shutoff valve installations where experience with complications matters significantly
Consider Durrani Plumbing if...
- ✓ Your project is straightforward—a water heater replacement in an accessible location, fixture installation, or basic repair where complications are unlikely
- ✓ You're comfortable verifying your homeowner's insurance covers contractor injuries and accepting that liability exposure in exchange for working with a newer business
- ✓ Transparent pricing is your top priority and you appreciate detailed cost breakdowns before work begins
- ✓ You need weekend or after-hours emergency service and value the quick response times mentioned in customer feedback
Questions to Ask Before Hiring
- → For Durrani Plumbing: Ask directly about liability coverage and confirm with your homeowner's insurance whether you're protected if a contractor without workers comp is injured on your property
- → For Durrani Plumbing: Request references from projects similar in scope and complexity to yours, particularly if your job involves challenging access or potential complications
- → For both: Ask what their approach would be if they encounter unexpected issues during your specific project—this reveals problem-solving experience and how cost changes are handled
The Bottom Line
For most homeowners, Able To Plumbing represents the safer choice with 22 years of problem-solving experience, complete insurance protection, and a proven track record through thousands of projects. The workers compensation coverage alone eliminates a liability exposure that could affect your homeowner's insurance. If your project is straightforward—a basic water heater replacement, fixture swap, or simple repair—and you verify your insurance coverage for contractor injuries, Durrani Plumbing's transparent pricing and responsive service could work well. But for anything involving diagnostic work, older homes, complex installations, or situations where complications might emerge, the experience gap is substantial and Able To Plumbing's depth of knowledge provides meaningful protection against costly surprises.
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Frequently Asked Questions
For a straightforward water heater swap in an accessible location with no complications, the experience gap matters less—both companies handle these regularly. However, if your water heater is in a tight crawlspace, requires gas line modifications, involves older plumbing that might have code issues, or reveals corrosion when removed, those 22 years mean Able To Plumbing has likely solved your exact problem before. Durrani Plumbing may handle it fine, but there's less track record to draw from when complications arise.
If a worker is seriously injured on your property and the company lacks workers comp, they may file a claim against your homeowner's insurance, which could affect your rates or coverage limits. California law allows injured workers to pursue homeowners directly in some situations. Before hiring Durrani Plumbing, call your insurance agent to understand your specific exposure and whether you're comfortable with that risk, especially for jobs requiring ladder work, crawlspace access, or other injury-prone tasks.
Customer feedback suggests both genuinely offer rapid response for urgent situations, including weekends and after-hours for Durrani Plumbing. The practical difference may be capacity during busy periods: Able To Plumbing's established operation likely has more flexibility to handle multiple emergencies simultaneously, while a newer business might have more limited scheduling availability when demand spikes. For true emergencies, confirm current availability directly rather than assuming same-day service is guaranteed.
Two years licensed doesn't mean incompetent—many newer contractors deliver excellent work and the feedback shows satisfied customers. The question is project complexity and your risk tolerance. For routine repairs, fixture installations, or standard water heater replacements, being newer is less concerning. For diagnostic-heavy work, complex installations, or projects where mistakes could cause significant property damage, the limited track record means less proven problem-solving ability when unexpected issues arise.
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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 11, 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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