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Able To Plumbing vs Just Water Heaters And Plumbing
Alameda Plumbing Contractors Comparison · Updated March 2026
Able To Plumbing brings twice the licensed experience and carries workers compensation insurance, which Just Water Heaters lacks.
| Able To Plumbing | Just Water Heaters And Plumbing | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 5.0 | ★ 3.2 |
| Years Licensed | 22 years | 11 years |
| License # | 838521 | 997251 |
| Workers' Comp | ✓ Yes | — |
| Bond Amount | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Location | Livermore, CA | Fremont, CA |
| Website | www.abletoplumbing.com | www.justwaterheatersplumbing.com |
Key Differences
What Customers Say
Able To Plumbing
Customers emphasize decade-long loyalty with consistent praise for same-day responsiveness, honest diagnostics that avoid unnecessary work, and thorough explanations before proceeding.
Just Water Heaters And Plumbing
Feedback shows some satisfied repeat customers for water heater work, but communication responsiveness emerges as an inconsistent area with reports of callback difficulties.
Key Takeaway: Able To Plumbing demonstrates a clear pattern of reliable communication and customer retention spanning 10 to 20 years, while Just Water Heaters shows more variable communication experiences despite some repeat business.
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...
Just Water Heaters And Plumbing
Have had this young man in my home several times. He's installed our water heaters from Dale Hardware and today he repaired our toilet and checked and cleared and repaired the drains in both our bathr...
Consider Able To Plumbing if...
- ✓ You need comprehensive liability protection and want assurance that worker injuries won't become your financial problem through workers compensation coverage
- ✓ Your project may involve complications requiring seasoned diagnostic skills, such as older plumbing systems, mainline issues, or gas line work where 22 years of experience matters
- ✓ Reliable communication is a priority, given consistent customer reports of same-day service, advance notification, and thorough explanations before work begins
- ✓ You value a contractor with demonstrated staying power, evidenced by customers who have returned for 10 to 20 years
Consider Just Water Heaters And Plumbing if...
- ✓ Your project is specifically a straightforward water heater installation where the company's naming focus aligns with your need
- ✓ You're located closer to Fremont and want a contractor with shorter travel distance
- ✓ You're willing to verify liability coverage details directly and confirm your homeowner's policy adequately protects you given the absence of workers comp on file
- ✓ You can tolerate potential communication inconsistencies and are prepared to follow up persistently if callback issues arise
Questions to Ask Before Hiring
- → For Just Water Heaters: Ask directly about workers compensation coverage status and request written confirmation of what liability insurance they carry; verify with your homeowner's insurance whether you're covered if a contractor's uninsured worker is injured on your property
- → For Just Water Heaters: Given mixed communication feedback, ask about their typical response time for service calls and how they handle scheduling and project updates
- → For both companies: Request references from projects similar in scope to yours, particularly if your work involves complications beyond routine installations
The Bottom Line
Able To Plumbing is the stronger choice for most homeowners. The combination of workers compensation insurance, 22 years of licensed experience, and consistent customer feedback about responsiveness and honest diagnostics provides substantially better risk protection and service reliability. Just Water Heaters' lack of workers comp on file is a legitimate concern that puts potential liability on you as the homeowner. Unless you're specifically located in Fremont with a simple water heater replacement and you've verified adequate liability coverage through other means, Able To Plumbing offers meaningfully better homeowner protection and depth of experience worth the investment.
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Frequently Asked Questions
If a worker from Just Water Heaters is injured while working at your home, you could potentially be held liable for their medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages through your homeowner's insurance. Workers compensation insurance transfers that risk to the contractor's insurance company. Before hiring any contractor without workers comp, call your homeowner's insurance agent to understand your exposure and whether you need additional coverage.
For straightforward fixture replacements, the difference may be minimal. But for complex diagnostics, the gap matters significantly. A contractor with 22 years has encountered twice as many unusual scenarios, hidden problems behind walls, and code changes over time. When a simple repair reveals corroded pipes or outdated systems, that additional decade of problem-solving experience becomes valuable.
The company name suggests focus, but both contractors handle water heater installations regularly based on their project histories. Able To Plumbing's broader experience may actually help if your water heater replacement reveals related issues with gas lines, venting, or code compliance that require immediate attention. Ask both contractors how many water heater installations they complete monthly.
The bond provides equivalent protection only for contract fulfillment issues, such as abandoned work or failure to meet agreed terms. It does not protect you from worker injury liability, which is where workers compensation insurance becomes critical. The bond and workers comp serve entirely different protective functions for homeowners.
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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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