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Able To Plumbing vs We Love Small Jobs
Alameda Plumbing Contractors Comparison · Updated March 2026
Both are veteran contractors with decades of experience, but Able To Plumbing carries workers comp insurance while We Love Small Jobs does not.
| Able To Plumbing | We Love Small Jobs | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 5.0 | ★ 5.0 |
| Years Licensed | 22 years | 31 years |
| License # | 838521 | 703749 |
| Workers' Comp | ✓ Yes | — |
| Bond Amount | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Location | Livermore, CA | Oakland, CA |
| Website | www.abletoplumbing.com | welovesmalljobs.com |
Key Differences
What Customers Say
Able To Plumbing
Customers emphasize exceptional loyalty with 10-20 year relationships, praising same-day emergency response, honest diagnostics that avoid unnecessary work, and thorough explanations of plumbing problems.
We Love Small Jobs
Customers value the company's willingness to accept unusual projects others decline, with some relationships spanning over 20 years and consistent delivery on time and budget across both small repairs and larger remodeling work.
Key Takeaway: Able To Plumbing's feedback centers entirely on plumbing expertise and emergency responsiveness, while We Love Small Jobs is recognized for versatility across diverse project types including structural work that falls outside plumbing specialization.
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...
We Love Small Jobs
My attic ladder fell down and needed replacement parts for repair and avoid replacing the entire ladder. We Love Small Jobs searched at length before finding the right fitting parts, scheduled the re...
We Love Small Jobs is a wonderful organization, run by super helpful and professional staff. The job they did for us was done superbly well by a competent, very helpful crew, both on time and on budge...
I am giving We Love Small Jobs 5 out of 5 stars. Over the last 20+ years WLSJ has done both small and large jobs on my house. Here is a list of the work done over the years for me: tore out, refram...
Consider Able To Plumbing if...
- ✓ You need plumbing-specific work such as water heater replacement, gas line evaluation, mainline leak repair, or seismic shutoff valve installation where specialized expertise matters
- ✓ You want the protection of workers compensation coverage to avoid potential liability if someone is injured during your project
- ✓ You value same-day emergency response for urgent plumbing failures like leaks or backups
- ✓ You prefer working with a contractor who has built their reputation entirely on plumbing rather than general contracting
Consider We Love Small Jobs if...
- ✓ You need general contracting work such as framing, structural modifications, or remodeling projects rather than specialized plumbing services
- ✓ Your project is unusual or specialized and you've had difficulty finding contractors willing to take it on
- ✓ You have confirmed your homeowner's insurance provides adequate coverage for contractor injuries in the absence of workers comp
- ✓ You value the perspective that comes from 31 years of licensed operation across diverse project types
Questions to Ask Before Hiring
- → Ask We Love Small Jobs directly about their workers comp status and request written confirmation of liability coverage, then verify with your homeowner's insurance what you're exposed to if a worker is injured
- → Ask Able To Plumbing for references on projects similar to yours, particularly if your plumbing issue involves older systems or potential hidden damage
- → Ask We Love Small Jobs whether they would hire a licensed plumber as a subcontractor if your project involves plumbing work, since they're a general contractor rather than plumbing specialists
- → Ask both companies how long their current crew has been working together and whether the same team will be on your project from start to finish
The Bottom Line
If you need plumbing work, Able To Plumbing is the clearer choice. Their 22 years of dedicated plumbing expertise, workers compensation coverage, same-day emergency response, and track record with complex plumbing projects make them better suited for water heaters, gas lines, leak repairs, and fixture work. The workers comp coverage alone eliminates a significant liability risk. Consider We Love Small Jobs only if you need general contracting or structural work rather than plumbing, and only after confirming your homeowner's insurance adequately covers contractor injuries. For plumbing projects specifically, the combination of specialized expertise and complete insurance protection makes Able To Plumbing the more straightforward decision.
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Frequently Asked Questions
If a worker is injured on your property and the contractor lacks workers comp, that worker may file a claim against your homeowner's insurance, potentially increasing your premiums or exposing you to liability. Before hiring We Love Small Jobs, call your insurance agent to understand your coverage limits and whether you need additional protection. This is a real financial risk that contractors with workers comp insurance eliminate.
It depends entirely on your project type and risk tolerance. For general contracting or structural work, their 31 years offers valuable perspective, but you must address the insurance gap through your own coverage or require they obtain it for your project. For plumbing work specifically, Able To Plumbing's 22 years of specialized plumbing experience is more relevant than general contracting tenure, and they carry full insurance.
As a licensed general contractor, they can legally perform plumbing work or hire subcontractors. However, Able To Plumbing's entire 22-year operation has focused exclusively on plumbing systems, giving them deeper diagnostic expertise for complex issues like gas line safety, seismic shutoff valves, and mainline leaks. Ask We Love Small Jobs directly whether they would subcontract plumbing work or handle it in-house.
Able To Plumbing is structured specifically for plumbing emergencies, with customer feedback consistently mentioning same-day service for urgent issues. We Love Small Jobs serves a broader project scope across general contracting and may not maintain the same emergency response capacity for plumbing-specific crises. If you're dealing with an active leak or plumbing failure, Able To Plumbing's specialized focus is the more appropriate choice.
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 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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