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Able To Plumbing vs One Step Plumbing
Alameda Plumbing Contractors Comparison · Updated March 2026
Both companies share 22 years of licensing, but Able To Plumbing carries workers compensation insurance while One Step Plumbing does not.
| Able To Plumbing | One Step Plumbing | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 5.0 | ★ 5.0 |
| Years Licensed | 22 years | 22 years |
| License # | 838521 | 835677 |
| Workers' Comp | ✓ Yes | — |
| Bond Amount | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Location | Livermore, CA | Berkeley, CA |
| Website | www.abletoplumbing.com | onestepplumbing.net |
Key Differences
What Customers Say
Able To Plumbing
Customers emphasize long-term loyalty spanning 10-20 years, same-day responsiveness for emergencies, and thorough explanations with honest diagnostics that avoid unnecessary work.
Key Takeaway: Able To Plumbing has substantial documented customer feedback demonstrating repeat business and diverse project types, while One Step Plumbing has minimal verifiable review history available for evaluation.
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...
One Step Plumbing
One Step was able to come the same day. Garvey quickly figured out the source of the leak and had the parts on hand to fix our tub. Friendly and reasonably priced - my new go to for any future plumbin...
Consider Able To Plumbing if...
- ✓ You need workers compensation protection and want to avoid potential liability if someone is injured during your plumbing work
- ✓ Your project involves complexity beyond basic repairs, such as water heater replacement, gas line evaluation, mainline leaks, or seismic shutoff valve installation
- ✓ You value verifiable customer feedback and want a contractor with demonstrated repeat business and detailed project references
- ✓ Same-day service availability matters for your urgent plumbing situation
Consider One Step Plumbing if...
- ✓ You're located in Berkeley and prioritize a contractor based directly in your city rather than the Tri-Valley area
- ✓ You're willing to verify workers comp status directly or confirm your homeowner's policy covers contractor injuries
- ✓ You have a straightforward repair project and are comfortable with limited online review history
- ✓ You prefer to evaluate the contractor based on your own direct consultation rather than relying heavily on past customer feedback
Questions to Ask Before Hiring
- → For One Step Plumbing: Ask directly about liability insurance coverage and confirm whether your homeowner's policy will be primary if a worker is injured, then contact your insurance agent to verify your exposure
- → For One Step Plumbing: Request references from recent projects similar to yours, including contact information you can verify independently
- → For both: Ask how long their current crew has worked together and who specifically will be performing your work
- → For both: Request a detailed written estimate that breaks down labor, materials, and timeline before authorizing any work
The Bottom Line
For most homeowners, Able To Plumbing presents the lower-risk choice. The workers compensation coverage alone removes a significant liability concern that could affect your homeowner's insurance. Combined with extensive verifiable customer feedback, demonstrated project range beyond basic repairs, and evidence of long-term customer relationships, Able To provides more transparency about what you're hiring. One Step Plumbing's 22 years of licensing shows they've sustained a business, but without workers comp and with minimal documented customer history, you're taking on more verification work and potential liability. If you choose One Step, make confirming insurance coverage and checking references your first priority before signing anything.
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Frequently Asked Questions
While both have been licensed for the same duration, licensing longevity doesn't tell the whole story. Able To Plumbing demonstrates breadth across complex residential projects with extensive verifiable customer feedback, while One Step Plumbing has limited documented project history available. Equal years licensed is a good baseline, but transparency about actual work completed matters when choosing between contractors.
It's a legitimate concern that requires your attention. If a contractor without workers comp is injured at your property, your homeowner's insurance may become the primary coverage, potentially leading to claims against your policy. Before hiring One Step Plumbing, contact your insurance agent to understand your exposure and confirm what contractor injury coverage you actually have. This isn't a minor paperwork detail—it's about financial liability.
The extensive review history for Able To suggests either more active customer engagement, stronger business development practices, or simply more customers willing to share their experiences publicly. Limited reviews don't necessarily mean poor service, but they do mean less information for you to evaluate. If considering One Step Plumbing, compensate by requesting multiple verifiable references directly from the company.
Location matters primarily for service responsiveness and travel charges. Able To Plumbing explicitly serves the Tri-Valley area including parts of Alameda County, so confirm they service your specific address without extra fees. One Step Plumbing is based in Berkeley, which may offer proximity advantages if you're in that immediate area. Ask both companies about their typical response time to your neighborhood and whether location affects pricing.
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 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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