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Able To Plumbing vs Patterson Plumbing And Drain
Alameda Plumbing Contractors Comparison · Updated March 2026
Two veteran plumbers with nearly identical experience, but Able To Plumbing carries workers compensation insurance while Patterson does not.
| Able To Plumbing | Patterson Plumbing And Drain | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 5.0 | ★ 4.8 |
| Years Licensed | 22 years | 20 years |
| License # | 838521 | 869970 |
| Workers' Comp | ✓ Yes | — |
| Bond Amount | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Location | Livermore, CA | Fremont, CA |
| Website | www.abletoplumbing.com | pattersonplumbingpro.com |
Key Differences
What Customers Say
Able To Plumbing
Customers emphasize long-term relationships spanning 10-20 years, honest diagnostics that avoid unnecessary work, and thorough explanations that build trust over repeated service calls.
Patterson Plumbing And Drain
Customers highlight extremely rapid response times with arrival often within hours, competitive pricing compared to other quotes, and accessible owner communication even on weekends and holidays.
Key Takeaway: Able To has built loyalty through decades-long customer relationships and diagnostic honesty, while Patterson attracts customers through faster emergency response and lower pricing relative to competitors.
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...
Patterson Plumbing And Drain
We had a toilet clogging emergency that we couldn't fix with a plunger. I found Patterson Plumbing on Nextdoor as recommended by a few follks. Very prompt in responding to my request and resolved the ...
Ivan fixed a toilet flush issue and performed a full drain clean out on 2 separate service calls. He's responsive, knowledgeable, and experienced - which results in correctly diagnosing and remedying...
We replaced the garbage disposal unit. Ivan explained the issue well and his quote is reasonable. Quickly fixed. In addition, he is a really nice person to talk to. Would recommend.
Consider Able To Plumbing if...
- ✓ You want the liability protection of working with a fully insured contractor, eliminating concern about worker injury claims falling to your homeowner's policy.
- ✓ You value the decade-plus customer relationships that suggest consistent service quality and a business model built on repeat customers rather than one-time jobs.
- ✓ Your project is in Livermore, San Ramon, Walnut Creek, or the western Tri-Valley area where their response time will be fastest.
- ✓ You appreciate diagnostic honesty and want a plumber who will tell you when repairs can wait or when replacement isn't necessary yet.
Consider Patterson Plumbing And Drain if...
- ✓ You're willing to verify your own homeowner's insurance coverage for contractor injuries or confirm Patterson carries workers comp despite it not being on file.
- ✓ You've received quotes from other plumbers and want to compare Patterson's pricing, which customers consistently describe as reasonable or lower than alternatives.
- ✓ You're located in Fremont or the southern Alameda County area where their response time will be optimal.
- ✓ You need extremely rapid response and value a plumber known for arriving within hours of contact, even on weekends and holidays.
Questions to Ask Before Hiring
- → Ask Patterson directly whether they now carry workers compensation insurance, as coverage status can change after filing dates, and confirm what liability protections exist if they do not.
- → Contact your homeowner's insurance agent to verify whether your policy would cover injuries to uninsured contractors working on your property and what that might mean for your premiums.
- → Ask both companies for references from projects similar to yours in complexity and scope, particularly if your work involves older plumbing that may reveal hidden issues.
- → Request detailed written estimates from both to compare pricing directly, since Patterson customers specifically mention competitive rates while Able To customers emphasize value through honest assessments.
The Bottom Line
If workers compensation insurance matters to you—and it should, given the liability risks—Able To Plumbing is the clear choice with equivalent experience and similarly strong customer feedback. Both companies demonstrate veteran-level expertise, same-day responsiveness, and high owner involvement, but only Able To provides the full insurance protection that eliminates homeowner liability for worker injuries. Patterson may offer competitive pricing and slightly faster emergency response times, but those advantages don't outweigh the insurance gap unless you've specifically verified your homeowner's policy covers uninsured contractor injuries and you're comfortable with that risk. For most homeowners, Able To offers better protection with comparable service quality.
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Frequently Asked Questions
If a plumber is injured at your home and the company lacks workers compensation insurance, your homeowner's insurance may become liable for medical expenses, lost wages, and potentially legal costs. Some homeowner policies exclude this coverage or will raise premiums after a claim. You should verify your policy's coverage before hiring any contractor without workers comp, or ask Patterson if they've obtained coverage since their last filing.
Not really. Both are veteran contractors with 20+ years of experience, which means both have handled thousands of projects and navigated the full range of residential plumbing complications. The meaningful difference is insurance coverage, not the 22-versus-20-year experience gap.
Both offer same-day service for urgent issues with high owner responsiveness. Patterson customers specifically mention arrival within minutes to hours and weekend/holiday availability. Able To customers emphasize same-day scheduling with advance notification before arrival. Your location matters—choose the company closest to your home for fastest emergency response.
Patterson customers specifically mention reasonable or competitive pricing compared to other quotes they received. Able To customers focus more on value through honest diagnostics that avoid unnecessary work rather than mentioning lowest price. Request written estimates from both to compare directly for your specific project.
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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 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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