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Able To Plumbing vs Pipe Cam
Alameda Plumbing Contractors Comparison · Updated March 2026
Able To Plumbing handles full-service plumbing with workers comp coverage, while Pipe Cam specializes exclusively in sewer inspections and lateral work without workers comp on file.
| Able To Plumbing | Pipe Cam | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 5.0 | ★ 5.0 |
| Years Licensed | 22 years | 22 years |
| License # | 838521 | 838101 |
| Workers' Comp | ✓ Yes | — |
| Bond Amount | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Location | Livermore, CA | Livermore, CA |
| Website | www.abletoplumbing.com | www.pipecaminc.com |
Key Differences
What Customers Say
Able To Plumbing
Customers emphasize exceptional loyalty spanning 10-20 years, same-day responsiveness for emergencies, and honest diagnostics that avoid unnecessary work.
Pipe Cam
Customers highlight the thoroughness of inspections with detailed explanations that exceed other providers, along with professional communication through the ownership transition.
Key Takeaway: Able To Plumbing's pattern shows long-term relationship building across diverse projects, while Pipe Cam's feedback centers on inspection detail and technical communication within their specialized niche.
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...
Pipe Cam
Pipe Cam is the best. Excellent inspections, fair pricing, incredibly thorough and always on time. Can't thank or recommend pipe cam enough!
I've used them in the past and had great experiences. Since the new ownership, I have nothing but great interactions during inspections and on the phone. I am always met with a willingness to help me....
Best sewer inspection company bar none!
Consider Able To Plumbing if...
- ✓ You need general plumbing services like water heater replacement, toilet repair, faucet installation, garbage disposal work, or gas line evaluations that fall outside sewer lateral work
- ✓ You want workers compensation coverage in place to protect yourself from liability if a contractor is injured on your property
- ✓ You value long-term customer relationships and want a contractor with demonstrated 10-20 year client retention
- ✓ You need same-day service for urgent plumbing emergencies, which Able To Plumbing explicitly offers
Consider Pipe Cam if...
- ✓ You specifically need a sewer lateral inspection for a property sale, purchase, or compliance requirement
- ✓ Your project involves sewer lateral replacement or repair work where specialized subsurface expertise matters
- ✓ You're willing to verify your homeowner's insurance covers contractor injuries and accept the liability risk that comes with no workers comp coverage
- ✓ You want a contractor who focuses exclusively on sewer systems rather than dividing attention across multiple plumbing disciplines
Questions to Ask Before Hiring
- → For Pipe Cam: Ask directly about liability insurance coverage and confirm with your homeowner's insurance whether contractor injuries would be covered on your policy, given the absence of workers comp
- → For Pipe Cam: Ask whether they carry general liability insurance and what the coverage limits are for property damage during excavation work
- → For either company: Request references from projects completed in the past year to verify current service quality, especially given Pipe Cam's ownership transition
The Bottom Line
Choose based on your actual project need. For standard plumbing work including water heaters, fixtures, gas lines, or general repairs, Able To Plumbing is the clear choice with full workers comp coverage and 22 years of loyal customer relationships. For sewer lateral inspections or replacement work, Pipe Cam offers specialized expertise but requires you to address the workers comp gap by verifying your homeowner's insurance covers contractor injuries. If you need both a sewer lateral inspection and other plumbing repairs, hiring Able To Plumbing for the general work is straightforward; the sewer decision depends on whether Pipe Cam's specialization outweighs the insurance liability concern for your situation.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Pipe Cam specializes exclusively in sewer lateral inspections and replacements. For standard plumbing work like fixtures, water heaters, drain repairs, or gas line services, Able To Plumbing is the appropriate choice. If you have both a sewer lateral issue and other plumbing needs, you would need to hire both contractors or choose a full-service plumber who also handles sewer work.
It's a real liability concern that requires action on your part. Without workers comp, if a Pipe Cam employee is injured during excavation or repair work on your property, they could file a claim against your homeowner's insurance. Before hiring Pipe Cam, contact your insurance agent to confirm your policy covers contractor injuries and understand any coverage limits. Some homeowners decide this risk isn't worth taking regardless of the contractor's quality.
Equal years licensed doesn't mean equal expertise in every area. Pipe Cam has spent 22 years focused exclusively on sewer lateral inspections and replacements, developing specialized knowledge in subsurface systems, excavation, and compliance requirements. Able To Plumbing handles sewer work as part of a broader plumbing portfolio. For a complex sewer lateral replacement, Pipe Cam's specialization is an advantage; for routine drain work or a simple cleanout, Able To Plumbing's full-service capability is perfectly adequate.
The data doesn't show sewer inspections as a primary service for Able To Plumbing, whose project list emphasizes fixtures, water heaters, and gas lines. If you need a comprehensive sewer lateral inspection with detailed camera work and reporting, Pipe Cam's specialization is likely to provide more thorough documentation. Ask Able To Plumbing directly whether they perform camera inspections and how their scope compares to a specialized sewer inspector.
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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 10, 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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