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Above All Plumbing vs Mallard Plumbing
Alameda Plumbing Contractors Comparison · Updated March 2026
Above All Plumbing offers proven customer service execution while Mallard Plumbing has deeper industry tenure but mixed feedback patterns.
| Above All Plumbing | Mallard Plumbing | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 4.4 | ★ 3.3 |
| Years Licensed | 28 years | 43 years |
| License # | 739199 | 443102 |
| Workers' Comp | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Bond Amount | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Location | Newark, CA | Oakland, CA |
| Website | www.aboveallplumbing.com | mallardplumbing.com |
Key Differences
What Customers Say
Above All Plumbing
Customers consistently praise responsive emergency service, clear technician communication, efficient problem-solving, and professional worksite maintenance across both residential and property management contexts.
Key Takeaway: Above All demonstrates a clear pattern of positive service execution while Mallard's mixed feedback provides no reliable theme to predict customer experience quality.
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...
Mallard Plumbing
Knowledgeable reliable plumber
Good service, fair price, have used for many years.
Consider Above All Plumbing if...
- ✓ You need emergency plumbing service with confidence in same-day response and clear communication throughout the crisis, as Above All consistently demonstrates availability and coordination.
- ✓ Your property requires ongoing plumbing maintenance and you value building a relationship with a contractor who property managers trust for repeat work across multiple units.
- ✓ You want technicians who explain issues clearly and protect your home during work, priorities that appear repeatedly in Above All's customer feedback.
- ✓ You're managing an HOA or multi-property situation where service consistency across multiple calls matters more than finding the absolute oldest company in the region.
Consider Mallard Plumbing if...
- ✓ Your project involves diagnosing complex issues in a very old home where Mallard's 43 years of exposure to legacy systems, outdated materials, and historical code variations could provide additional perspective.
- ✓ You have specific references from Mallard customers whose projects closely match yours in scope and complexity, allowing you to verify current service quality directly.
- ✓ You're willing to invest extra time in the vetting process, asking detailed questions about crew composition and recent project outcomes to assess whether you'll receive their best service.
Questions to Ask Before Hiring
- → Ask Mallard Plumbing for three recent references from the past six months for projects similar to yours, and specifically inquire about communication quality and whether the work was completed as quoted.
- → Ask Mallard about their current crew structure and how long their lead technicians have been with the company, as mixed feedback often correlates with crew turnover.
- → Ask Above All about their experience with your specific plumbing issue, particularly if your home has unusual features or legacy systems where Mallard's additional years might provide value.
- → Ask both companies about their warranty terms and how they handle callbacks if issues arise after completion.
The Bottom Line
Above All Plumbing is the clearer choice for most homeowners who need reliable plumbing service this week. Their 28-year track record combined with consistent positive feedback about responsiveness, communication, and professional execution provides confidence in what you'll receive. Mallard's 43 years represents deeper industry tenure, but mixed customer feedback introduces uncertainty about service quality that their extra 15 years of licensing doesn't justify. Unless your project involves unusually complex diagnosis of very old systems where you can verify Mallard's specific expertise through recent references, Above All offers more predictable results with less vetting risk.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Extra tenure provides value when it translates to better problem-solving or customer service, but Mallard's mixed feedback suggests their longevity hasn't consistently produced superior outcomes. Unless your project specifically requires expertise with very old systems that Above All's 28 years wouldn't cover, the additional tenure doesn't offset concerns about service variability. Ask Mallard directly what happened with negative feedback and how they've addressed it.
Their customer feedback includes both emergency response and scheduled work like water heater replacements and installations, with property managers using them for routine maintenance across multiple properties. The emergency capability indicates dispatch coordination and availability, which benefits scheduled customers through reliable appointment windows. Their feedback doesn't suggest emergency work compromises other projects.
The absence of detailed positive feedback patterns is a practical concern when comparing contractors. It suggests either limited recent positive reviews or inconsistent service that doesn't produce clear themes. This doesn't disqualify Mallard, but it shifts responsibility to you for thorough reference checking before hiring. Request specific examples of recent successful projects similar to yours.
Both companies have sufficient tenure to handle legacy systems, galvanized pipes, outdated venting, and code upgrade requirements common in older Bay Area homes. Mallard's 43 years provides marginally more exposure to historical systems, but Above All's 28 years covers multiple generations of plumbing technology and codes. The differentiator is communication quality and problem-solving approach, where Above All's feedback specifically mentions efficient troubleshooting, while Mallard's track record is unclear.
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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 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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