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Able To Plumbing vs Plumbing Plus
Alameda Plumbing Contractors Comparison · Updated March 2026
Able To Plumbing offers comprehensive customer feedback and full insurance protection, while Plumbing Plus has longer tenure but lacks workers compensation coverage.
| Able To Plumbing | Plumbing Plus | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 5.0 | ★ 5.0 |
| Years Licensed | 22 years | 33 years |
| License # | 838521 | 655535 |
| Workers' Comp | ✓ Yes | — |
| Bond Amount | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Location | Livermore, CA | Alameda, CA |
| Website | www.abletoplumbing.com | — |
Key Differences
What Customers Say
Able To Plumbing
Customers consistently emphasize Able To Plumbing's responsive same-day service, honest diagnostics that avoid unnecessary work, and thorough explanations, with many reporting 10-20 years of repeat business.
Plumbing Plus
Limited review data describes quality plumbing work and professional recommendations from other trades, suggesting competence but without clear patterns of service approach or customer experience.
Key Takeaway: Able To Plumbing provides extensive documented evidence of their service patterns and customer approach, while Plumbing Plus requires homeowners to gather this information directly through references and conversations.
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...
Plumbing Plus
Scott is an excellent plumber and provided truly top-notch service. He came highly recommended by **Styles Bath & Kitchen**, and it was clear right away why they trust his work. From the first call to...
Consider Able To Plumbing if...
- ✓ You need emergency plumbing service with same-day response capability, as Able To Plumbing has documented customer reports of urgent scheduling and advance arrival notifications.
- ✓ You want protection from liability if a worker is injured on your property, as the company maintains workers compensation insurance.
- ✓ You value transparent communication and detailed explanations before work begins, as customers consistently report thorough problem discussions and honest assessments that avoid unnecessary repairs.
- ✓ You're planning complex work like gas line evaluations, mainline leak repairs, or seismic shutoff valve installations, where their documented project history provides confidence in handling these specific jobs.
Consider Plumbing Plus if...
- ✓ You have an existing relationship with Plumbing Plus or received a strong personal referral, as their 33 years of continuous operation suggests stability and the limited reviews indicate satisfied customers.
- ✓ You're willing to verify your homeowner's insurance policy covers contractor injuries during work, or you're comfortable accepting the liability risk associated with hiring a company without workers comp.
- ✓ You prefer working with a company based in Alameda rather than Livermore, though both serve the broader Alameda County area.
- ✓ You can obtain multiple recent references directly from the company to compensate for the limited public review history and establish confidence in their current service quality.
Questions to Ask Before Hiring
- → For Plumbing Plus: Ask directly about liability coverage and confirm with your homeowner's insurance whether you're protected if a worker is injured on your property. Request a certificate of insurance if they carry general liability.
- → For Plumbing Plus: Ask for at least three recent customer references with projects similar to yours, and inquire about typical response times for service calls and emergency situations.
- → For both companies: Request a detailed written estimate that specifies the scope of work, materials to be used, timeline, and payment schedule before any work begins.
The Bottom Line
For most homeowners, Able To Plumbing is the clearer choice. While Plumbing Plus has 11 more years of licensure, Able To Plumbing provides workers compensation protection that eliminates a significant liability risk, extensive customer feedback demonstrating consistent same-day service and honest communication, and documented experience across the full range of residential plumbing projects. The combination of full insurance coverage and transparent service patterns makes Able To Plumbing the lower-risk option. Consider Plumbing Plus only if you receive a strong personal referral, can verify adequate liability protection through your homeowner's insurance, and obtain multiple recent references that give you confidence in their current service quality and responsiveness.
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Frequently Asked Questions
If a plumber is injured while working on your property and the company lacks workers comp, you could potentially be held liable for their medical bills and lost wages. Your homeowner's insurance may cover this, but it could also result in a claim against your policy. Before hiring Plumbing Plus, contact your insurance agent to confirm your coverage for contractor injuries and understand your deductible and potential premium impact.
More experience is valuable for technical expertise, but it doesn't eliminate the liability risk of missing workers comp. Both companies qualify as veterans with decades of experience. The practical difference between 22 and 33 years is less significant than the financial protection gap, especially since Able To Plumbing has extensive documented evidence of quality work and customer satisfaction.
This could reflect different approaches to requesting reviews, different customer bases, or varying levels of online presence. What matters for your decision is that Able To Plumbing's extensive feedback provides clear insight into their service patterns, response times, and approach to customer communication. With Plumbing Plus, you'll need to gather this information directly through references and detailed conversations before hiring.
Able To Plumbing has documented evidence of same-day emergency response and urgent scheduling capability based on multiple customer reports. Plumbing Plus's emergency availability is unclear from available data. If you need emergency service, ask Plumbing Plus directly about their typical response time for urgent calls and whether they offer after-hours service before making your decision.
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 07, 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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