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Able To Plumbing vs Positive Plumbing And Drain
Alameda Plumbing Contractors Comparison · Updated March 2026
Both are veteran plumbers with identical credentials, but Able To Plumbing has extensive customer feedback while Positive Plumbing And Drain lacks review data.
| Able To Plumbing | Positive Plumbing And Drain | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 5.0 | ★ 4.0 |
| Years Licensed | 22 years | 28 years |
| License # | 838521 | 744023 |
| Workers' Comp | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Bond Amount | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Location | Livermore, CA | Livermore, CA |
| Website | www.abletoplumbing.com | positive.plumbing |
Key Differences
What Customers Say
Able To Plumbing
Customers emphasize same-day responsiveness, honest diagnostics that avoid unnecessary work, and thorough explanations before proceeding, with many maintaining 10 to 20 year relationships with the family-owned business.
Key Takeaway: Able To Plumbing has extensive documented customer feedback showing consistent service patterns, while Positive Plumbing And Drain has no available reviews despite 28 years in business, creating uncertainty about their actual service approach.
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...
Positive Plumbing And Drain
Excellent work by Seth. I called Wednesday, he was at the house first thing the next day to fix 2 stubborn leaks in a kitchen and bathroom sink caused by a previous un named plumber. All parts properl...
Positive Plumbing was a life saver- I had to shut down the water to my house at 4:45 on a Monday night and had to work the next morning, and was in a panic with no water- I called and Seth was able to...
Visit Positive.Plumbing
Consider Able To Plumbing if...
- ✓ You want documented evidence of service quality before making a decision, particularly patterns of same-day response and clear communication about pricing
- ✓ Your project involves complex work like gas line safety evaluations or mainline repairs where you want verification that the company handles these regularly
- ✓ You value a family-owned operation with proven customer retention, especially if you anticipate needing a long-term plumbing relationship
- ✓ You need a plumber who explains problems thoroughly and provides honest diagnostics rather than pushing unnecessary work
Consider Positive Plumbing And Drain if...
- ✓ You have a direct referral from someone whose judgment you trust completely and who can speak to their actual experience with this company
- ✓ The six additional years of licensing history matters specifically to your situation, such as working on a very old property with obsolete plumbing systems
- ✓ You're willing to be an early reviewer and accept uncertainty about service patterns in exchange for potentially working with a less busy contractor
- ✓ You plan to conduct your own thorough vetting through detailed conversations and reference checks before hiring
Questions to Ask Before Hiring
- → For Positive Plumbing And Drain: Request at least three recent customer references you can contact directly to ask about their communication, scheduling, and pricing practices
- → For Positive Plumbing And Drain: Ask why customer reviews are not available despite 28 years in business and how they typically generate new customers
- → For both companies: Request a detailed written estimate that breaks down labor and materials before any work begins
- → For both companies: Ask how quickly they can typically respond to urgent situations and what their policy is for after-hours emergencies
The Bottom Line
For most homeowners making a decision this week, Able To Plumbing is the more defensible choice. Their 22 years of licensing provides veteran-level expertise, and extensive customer feedback documents exactly what you can expect: same-day service for urgent issues, honest diagnostics, thorough explanations, and clean work. The pattern of customers returning for 10 to 20 years indicates sustained reliability. Choose Positive Plumbing And Drain only if you receive a strong personal referral with verifiable details, as their lack of reviews means you're hiring based solely on credentials without insight into their actual service approach. If you're considering them, insist on speaking with recent customers before signing a contract.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Both companies are in the veteran tier with over two decades of experience, so the six-year difference is less significant than the gap in verifiable customer feedback. A 22-year history is more than sufficient for handling complex residential plumbing, including older homes and challenging repairs. Without reviews to confirm Positive Plumbing And Drain's service quality, the licensing advantage doesn't translate to a confident hiring decision.
There are several possibilities: they may rely entirely on repeat customers and word-of-mouth without encouraging online reviews, they may have recently changed their business name, or they may simply not have an online presence where customers leave feedback. Before hiring, ask them directly about their customer base and request references. A 28-year-old company should be able to provide verifiable customer contacts.
The data suggests it's substantive: customers specifically mention the family-owned nature when describing their multi-decade loyalty and the personal attention they receive. The pattern of 10 to 20 year customer relationships indicates the business prioritizes retention over transactional work. This structure often means more consistent crew composition and accountability, which matters for complex projects and long-term service relationships.
Only if it's a genuine emergency requiring immediate service. For planned projects, scheduling convenience shouldn't outweigh the ability to verify service quality and approach. Able To Plumbing has documented same-day response for urgent situations, so availability may not differ significantly. If Positive Plumbing And Drain can start immediately, ask why they have such open availability and whether they can provide verifiable references before you commit.
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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 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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