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Above All Plumbing vs Pacific Rim Plumbing
Alameda Plumbing Contractors Comparison · Updated March 2026
Pacific Rim brings 17 more years of experience, but Above All has proven customer service and availability that you can verify right now.
| Above All Plumbing | Pacific Rim Plumbing | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 4.4 | ★ 4.6 |
| Years Licensed | 28 years | 45 years |
| License # | 739199 | 404372 |
| Workers' Comp | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Bond Amount | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Location | Newark, CA | Livermore, CA |
| Website | www.aboveallplumbing.com | pacrimplumbing.com |
Key Differences
What Customers Say
Above All Plumbing
Customers consistently highlight Above All's emergency responsiveness, efficient troubleshooting that avoids unnecessary repairs, and technicians who explain work clearly while maintaining clean worksites.
Key Takeaway: Above All provides extensive verifiable customer feedback on service delivery while Pacific Rim's limited review history leaves responsiveness, communication quality, and current crew competency unconfirmed.
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...
Pacific Rim Plumbing
Very professional and Very good service
Everything Good very good
Consider Above All Plumbing if...
- ✓ You need emergency or same-day service and want confirmation the company actually delivers on availability promises, not just claims to offer it
- ✓ Clear communication matters to you, and you want evidence that technicians explain problems and options rather than just presenting bills
- ✓ You value efficient troubleshooting that avoids upselling unnecessary repairs, as multiple customers report Above All solved problems with targeted fixes
- ✓ You're a property manager or HOA needing a reliable repeat service provider with documented performance across multiple properties
Consider Pacific Rim Plumbing if...
- ✓ Your project involves unusual complexity where 45 years of exposure to rare situations could provide diagnostic advantage over 28 years
- ✓ You're located in Livermore and want a company deeply rooted in your immediate community rather than based in Newark
- ✓ You're willing to be the one who establishes how this company performs on responsiveness and service quality, accepting that risk in exchange for their exceptional tenure
- ✓ You have the flexibility to interview them extensively about their current crew, processes, and references before committing
Questions to Ask Before Hiring
- → Ask Pacific Rim for at least three recent references from projects similar to yours, and actually call them to ask about responsiveness, communication, and whether the final cost matched the estimate
- → Ask Pacific Rim how long their current technicians have been with the company, since 45 years of licensing doesn't tell you if the crew doing your work is experienced or newly hired
- → Ask both companies about their typical response time for your type of project and their process if complications arise that change the scope or cost
- → Ask Above All about their service area response time specifically for your location if you're farther from Newark, to ensure their documented responsiveness applies to you
The Bottom Line
Above All Plumbing is the lower-risk choice for most homeowners who need a decision this week. Their 28 years of licensing provides veteran-level experience for virtually any residential plumbing situation, and their extensive customer feedback demonstrates the responsive service, clear communication, and efficient problem-solving you'll actually experience. Pacific Rim's additional 17 years of tenure is impressive and could provide an edge on truly unusual diagnostic challenges, but without verifiable information about current service quality, you're betting on history rather than demonstrated performance. If you're in Livermore and willing to invest time interviewing Pacific Rim thoroughly with reference checks, their deeper roots could be valuable. Otherwise, go with Above All where you can confidently predict what you're getting.
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Frequently Asked Questions
For straightforward repairs like leak fixes, drain clearing, or water heater replacement, probably not. Both companies have seen these situations hundreds of times. The additional 17 years matters more for truly unusual diagnostic challenges or very old homes with outdated systems, where Pacific Rim has had more exposure to rare configurations. For most residential work, verifiable service quality matters more than the difference between 28 and 45 years.
This could reflect different business models—Pacific Rim may focus on commercial work, long-term service contracts, or rely on word-of-mouth rather than online presence. It could also indicate a smaller operation or recent changes in how they solicit feedback. What matters for you is that you can't verify their current responsiveness, communication style, or pricing practices the way you can with Above All.
Not automatically. Both serve Alameda County, so verify actual response times for your location rather than assuming proximity equals faster service. A Newark-based company with documented emergency responsiveness may arrive faster than a Livermore company with unknown dispatch practices. Ask both about their typical travel time to your address and any trip charges that apply.
Possibly, but that doesn't help you make a confident decision this week. Established companies can still have crew turnover, changing service quality, or pricing that's out of sync with current market rates. Their 45-year tenure shows they've survived, but you need to verify how they actually operate today through references or direct interviews before committing to your project.
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 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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