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Above All Plumbing vs Fault Line Plumbing
Alameda Plumbing Contractors Comparison · Updated March 2026
Two veteran plumbing contractors with nearly identical credentials but Above All demonstrates more consistent customer accessibility and broader service documentation.
| Above All Plumbing | Fault Line Plumbing | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 4.4 | ★ 3.3 |
| Years Licensed | 28 years | 29 years |
| License # | 739199 | 737079 |
| Workers' Comp | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Bond Amount | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Location | Newark, CA | Livermore, CA |
| Website | www.aboveallplumbing.com | www.faultlineplumbing.com |
Key Differences
What Customers Say
Above All Plumbing
Customers consistently highlight responsive communication, same-day emergency availability, and efficient troubleshooting across diverse residential plumbing projects from initial contact through completion.
Fault Line Plumbing
Customers praise technical work quality and professionalism once service is established but multiple reviews document difficulty reaching the company for initial consultations and unreturned calls during the inquiry phase.
Key Takeaway: Above All demonstrates consistent accessibility throughout the customer journey while Fault Line shows a documented pattern of initial contact challenges despite strong technical execution once engaged.
Customer Reviews
Above All Plumbing
The team is professional and responsive! We asked to replace the pipes and installed a new RO filter under kitchen sink, the new pipes are beautiful!
Junior worked tirelessly on the leak at our place and was super kind and communicative.
From start to finish Above All Plumbing has been superb. We were recommended by a family friend. Rick, the owner answered the call right away and by the end of the day, Dawn had called to fit us in. C...
Fault Line Plumbing
Based on my experience I can 100% recommend Adam from FaultLine Plumbing. After a previous plumber with a different company left the job unfinished, Adam went above and beyond to ensure that I had wor...
I have worked with several technicians at Faultline Plumbing over the past 12 months and they have always done outstanding work. We have two tankless water heating units that have been giving us issue...
Beautiful group of people.
Consider Above All Plumbing if...
- ✓ You need emergency plumbing service or same-day response for urgent issues like main line backups or significant leaks where quick dispatch matters
- ✓ Your project involves standard residential plumbing work like water heater replacement, leak repair, or drain clearing where Above All has documented experience
- ✓ You value consistent communication throughout the process, from the initial call through appointment scheduling and job completion
- ✓ You're located in Newark or eastern Alameda County where Above All is based and can minimize travel time for service calls
Consider Fault Line Plumbing if...
- ✓ You have a tankless water heater requiring specialized maintenance or repair, where Fault Line demonstrates specific documented expertise
- ✓ You have an established relationship with the company or were referred by someone with direct experience navigating their initial contact process
- ✓ You're located in Livermore or the Tri-Valley area where Fault Line is based and can respond more quickly to your location
- ✓ You're willing to be persistent with initial contact attempts to access their technical capabilities once service is established
Questions to Ask Before Hiring
- → For Fault Line: Ask what their typical response time is for initial consultation requests and confirm the best method to reach them for scheduling
- → For both companies: Request references from projects completed in the past six months that match your specific plumbing needs
- → Ask each company about their availability for your timeline this week and whether they can provide a firm appointment window
The Bottom Line
Above All Plumbing is the more straightforward choice for most homeowners who need plumbing service this week. Both companies bring equivalent veteran credentials and insurance protections, but Above All demonstrates consistent accessibility from initial contact through completion and shows documented experience across a broader range of residential plumbing projects. The pattern of unreturned calls at Fault Line creates unnecessary friction when you're trying to schedule service quickly. Choose Fault Line only if you have a tankless water heater requiring specialized service, you're located in Livermore where they're based, or you have a direct referral that includes guidance on reaching them efficiently. Otherwise, Above All's responsive communication pattern and diverse project documentation make it the safer bet for getting your plumbing work scheduled and completed this week.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Not meaningfully. Both contractors have operated continuously for nearly three decades, which means both have encountered virtually every residential plumbing scenario multiple times. The difference between 28 and 29 years of licensing is negligible compared to the gap you'd see between a 5-year and 15-year contractor. Focus instead on accessibility and documented experience with your specific project type.
The pattern suggests challenges with initial inquiry handling rather than technical capability. Some long-established contractors struggle with front-end customer service while maintaining strong field operations. If you're considering Fault Line, plan to be persistent with your initial contact attempts, or ask for a direct technician number if you have a referral from an existing customer.
Above All Plumbing shows documented customer feedback across drain clearing, leak repair, water heater service, faucet installation, sewer line work, pipe replacement, and multiple other residential services. Fault Line's available reviews focus primarily on tankless water heater servicing. Both companies likely handle standard residential plumbing given their veteran status, but Above All has more diverse documented project experience.
Location matters primarily for emergency response time and trip charges. Above All operates from Newark in eastern Alameda County, while Fault Line is based in Livermore to the east. For scheduled maintenance work, the difference is minimal. For emergency service where same-day or urgent response matters, choose the company closer to your property to ensure faster arrival times.
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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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