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Able To Plumbing vs Excalibur Rooter And Plumbing
Alameda Plumbing Contractors Comparison · Updated March 2026
Able To Plumbing brings 22 years of licensed experience versus Excalibur's 5 years, a meaningful difference when diagnosing hidden issues and handling complications.
| Able To Plumbing | Excalibur Rooter And Plumbing | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 5.0 | ★ 5.0 |
| Years Licensed | 22 years | 5 years |
| License # | 838521 | 1072119 |
| Workers' Comp | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Bond Amount | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Location | Livermore, CA | Hayward, CA |
| Website | www.abletoplumbing.com | excaliburrooter.com |
Key Differences
What Customers Say
Able To Plumbing
Customers emphasize long-term loyalty spanning 10 to 20 years, valuing honest diagnostics that avoid unnecessary work and thorough explanations before proceeding.
Excalibur Rooter And Plumbing
Customers recognize quick response times and knowledgeable recommendations for modern solutions like trenchless repairs, with particular appreciation for minimizing disruption on larger projects.
Key Takeaway: Able To has built trust through decades of repeat relationships and diagnostic honesty, while Excalibur is building their reputation around technical expertise and contemporary installation methods for complex projects.
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...
Excalibur Rooter And Plumbing
We recently experienced a main water line leak and needed an urgent repair. We gathered a few quotes, and the first licensed plumber suggested digging up 25 feet of our property for a traditional repa...
As a realtor, reliable vendors are such an important part of my business - and the Excalibur team never disappoints. I have used them on personal projects for my home and have referred them to several...
Feliz and his team did an excellent job of repiping one of my apartments. They changed out the galvanized for copper, with minimal inconvenience to the other tenants. They set the apartment up with it...
Consider Able To Plumbing if...
- ✓ Your home is older than 20 years and may have hidden plumbing issues that require experienced diagnosis to avoid costly misdiagnosis or incomplete repairs.
- ✓ You value a long-term relationship with a plumber who will remember your home's quirks and history over multiple service calls spanning years or decades.
- ✓ You're located in Livermore, San Ramon, Walnut Creek, or the Tri-Valley area where Able To has concentrated their service expertise.
- ✓ You need gas line work, seismic shutoff valve installations, or other specialized services where 22 years of field experience matters for safety and code compliance.
Consider Excalibur Rooter And Plumbing if...
- ✓ You're planning a major project like whole-house repiping or sewer line replacement where modern techniques like trenchless technology could save excavation costs and disruption.
- ✓ You manage multi-unit properties and need a contractor experienced with commercial-scale water heater installations and tenant coordination.
- ✓ You're located in Hayward or the East Bay area where Excalibur has established their primary service focus.
- ✓ Your project is straightforward and you prioritize a contractor who stays current with newer installation methods and technology.
Questions to Ask Before Hiring
- → Ask Able To how their pricing compares for larger repiping projects versus routine repairs, since their reviews emphasize smaller jobs and repeat maintenance.
- → Ask Excalibur for references from projects completed in their first two years of licensing to understand how their crew stability and expertise have developed over time.
- → For either company, confirm the timeline for your specific project type and whether the owner or a crew member will be performing the actual work.
- → Ask both contractors if they've worked extensively in homes built in your decade, particularly if you have galvanized pipes, original fixtures, or other age-specific concerns.
The Bottom Line
For most homeowners in the Tri-Valley area, particularly those with older homes or seeking a long-term plumbing relationship, Able To Plumbing's 22 years of licensing provides measurably greater protection against diagnostic errors and project complications. Their track record of decade-long customer loyalty suggests you're unlikely to experience the pricing games or unnecessary upsells that plague this industry. Excalibur is a solid choice for East Bay residents or those planning major projects like whole-house repiping where their focus on modern techniques offers value. If your home was built before 2000 and you're in the Tri-Valley, Able To's experience depth is the safer bet.
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Frequently Asked Questions
For truly simple repairs like a faucet replacement or basic fixture work, both contractors have adequate experience. The licensing gap becomes significant when unexpected complications arise—a simple toilet replacement that reveals rotted subfloor, or a water heater swap that exposes outdated gas line connections. Able To's two decades mean they've seen these complications hundreds of times and can adjust quickly without billing surprises.
Excalibur specifically highlights whole-house repiping and modern trenchless methods in their project portfolio, suggesting this is a focus area for them. Able To certainly has the experience for repiping after 22 years, but their customer feedback emphasizes smaller jobs and repeat maintenance. Ask both for recent repipe references and compare their approach to minimizing wall damage and project duration.
Both companies will travel within Alameda County, but service focus matters for response time and familiarity with local building departments. Able To concentrates on the Tri-Valley where permit requirements and inspector preferences may differ from Hayward's East Bay context where Excalibur focuses. The closer company to your location likely has faster emergency response and better knowledge of your local code enforcement patterns.
Customers using the same plumber for 10 to 20 years signals consistent quality, fair pricing, and trustworthiness over time—these relationships don't survive if customers feel overcharged or misled. For homeowners planning to stay in their house long-term, this pattern suggests Able To prioritizes customer retention over maximizing per-job revenue. Excalibur's 5 years in business means they haven't had time to build decade-long relationships yet, though their feedback shows positive repeat business developing.
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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