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Above All Plumbing vs Plumbing Experts
Alameda Plumbing Contractors Comparison · Updated March 2026
Above All Plumbing brings 28 years of experience versus 5 years, but the critical difference is Plumbing Experts lacks workers compensation insurance.
| Above All Plumbing | Plumbing Experts | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 4.4 | ★ 4.9 |
| Years Licensed | 28 years | 5 years |
| License # | 739199 | 1075672 |
| Workers' Comp | ✓ Yes | — |
| Bond Amount | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Location | Newark, CA | Dublin, CA |
| Website | www.aboveallplumbing.com | www.plumbingexpertsinc.com |
Key Differences
What Customers Say
Above All Plumbing
Customers emphasize Above All Plumbing's reliable availability for emergencies, efficient troubleshooting that avoids unnecessary work, and consistent professionalism across both technicians and office staff.
Plumbing Experts
Customers highlight Plumbing Experts' exceptionally rapid response times with the owner often arriving within hours, thorough problem explanations, and competitive pricing for efficient work.
Key Takeaway: Plumbing Experts receives particularly strong recognition for extreme speed of response, while Above All earns mentions for efficient diagnostic work that prevents over-repair—suggesting different strengths in urgency versus problem-solving depth.
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...
Plumbing Experts
Ivan is a very knowledgeable and customer-centric plumber. I used his services for both water heater replacement/installation and home water control system. Both times the business was very fairly pri...
Highly recommend Ivan. He did a great job diagnosing problems with my tankless water heater and clearly explained what was happening and what actually needed to be fixed. He returned later to help wit...
Ivan and Vlad are the best! They're my go to plumbing for all issues. Thanks for your help everytime!
Consider Above All Plumbing if...
- ✓ Your home is older and plumbing repairs often reveal additional issues requiring experienced judgment about what needs immediate attention versus what can wait
- ✓ You want full insurance protection without needing to verify your homeowner's policy covers contractor injuries or negotiate additional liability coverage
- ✓ Your project involves complex diagnostics like intermittent leaks, sewer line problems, or situations where pattern recognition from thousands of past jobs helps identify root causes faster
- ✓ You're a property manager or HOA managing multiple units where consistent, established protocols and long-term contractor relationships reduce coordination overhead
Consider Plumbing Experts if...
- ✓ You need the fastest possible response time and Plumbing Experts' reputation for arriving within hours matters more than experience depth for your straightforward project
- ✓ Your project is simple and well-defined like a standard water heater replacement where the task is routine and doesn't require extensive diagnostic experience
- ✓ You're willing to verify your homeowner's insurance covers contractor injuries and confirm Plumbing Experts carries adequate general liability coverage to address the workers comp gap
- ✓ You value the personalized attention and competitive pricing that customers mention and accept the tradeoffs in experience and insurance coverage
Questions to Ask Before Hiring
- → For Plumbing Experts: What general liability coverage do you carry, and can you confirm my homeowner's insurance will cover any worker injuries since you don't have workers comp? Can you provide a certificate of insurance?
- → For either company: Can you provide references from projects similar to mine, particularly if my home was built before 1980 or if the issue involves diagnostics rather than straightforward replacement?
- → For Plumbing Experts: How long has your current crew been working together, and what's your protocol if complications arise that require experience beyond your five-year history?
The Bottom Line
Above All Plumbing is the safer choice for most homeowners. The 28-year track record provides substantial diagnostic advantage for anything beyond the most routine work, and full workers compensation coverage protects you from liability if someone gets hurt on your property. Plumbing Experts earns strong customer feedback and offers notably fast response times, but the missing workers comp creates real financial risk that you'd need to address through insurance verification and possibly additional coverage. If you need same-hour emergency service and have a straightforward project, Plumbing Experts becomes viable—but only after confirming your homeowner's insurance covers contractor injuries and obtaining a certificate of general liability insurance. For most situations, especially older homes or projects requiring diagnosis, Above All's experience depth and complete insurance coverage make it the clear recommendation.
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Frequently Asked Questions
For a straightforward swap in an easily accessible location with standard connections, probably not—both companies handle water heater replacements regularly. However, if your water heater is in a tight crawl space, has unusual venting, or the job reveals corroded connections or code violations, Above All's 28 years means they've solved these complications hundreds of times. Even routine jobs can reveal non-routine problems.
If a worker is injured at your property, they could file a claim against your homeowner's insurance or pursue legal action against you directly. Workers comp exists specifically to protect homeowners from this scenario by covering worker injuries through the contractor's insurance. Before hiring Plumbing Experts, call your homeowner's insurance to confirm your coverage and understand your deductible. Some policies exclude contractor injuries entirely.
Customer feedback suggests Plumbing Experts has particularly rapid response times, with mentions of arrival within hours or even minutes for emergencies. Above All is described as responsive with same-day availability, but not quite at the extreme speed level. If you're dealing with a flooding emergency at 2am, this difference might matter. For scheduled work, both appear equally accessible.
Not if it means ignoring the workers comp issue or sacrificing significant experience for a complex job. If both can accommodate your timeline and your project is straightforward, availability is reasonable to prioritize. But if Plumbing Experts can come today and Above All can come tomorrow, that 24-hour difference is rarely worth accepting liability risk or giving up 23 years of diagnostic experience, especially for older homes or complicated repairs.
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 08, 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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