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Big Brothers Plumbing vs Moore Plumbing
Alameda Plumbing Contractors Comparison · Updated March 2026
Moore Plumbing brings 35 years of veteran experience but lacks workers compensation insurance, while Big Brothers Plumbing offers full insurance protection with 10 years in business.
| Big Brothers Plumbing | Moore Plumbing | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 5.0 | ★ 4.5 |
| Years Licensed | 10 years | 35 years |
| License # | 1015557 | 599650 |
| Workers' Comp | ✓ Yes | — |
| Bond Amount | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Location | Alameda, CA | San Leandro, CA |
| Website | www.bigbrothersplumbinginc.com | — |
Key Differences
What Customers Say
Big Brothers Plumbing
Customers consistently praise Big Brothers Plumbing for same-day emergency response, transparent pricing with detailed explanations before work begins, and respectful treatment of their homes.
Moore Plumbing
Moore Plumbing customers emphasize long-term relationships spanning decades, the owner's direct hands-on involvement in projects, and honest straightforward communication about repairs and pricing.
Key Takeaway: Big Brothers focuses on speed and education for residential customers needing quick solutions, while Moore builds decades-long relationships through direct owner involvement and handling more complex specialized projects.
Customer Reviews
Big Brothers Plumbing
Chuck at Big Brothers Plumbing did an excellent job. We had a huge leak and needed help fast. Also, Ashton was very helpful in relaying our information to Chuck and sent him out the same day.
Called in to Big Brother because our relatively new Navien tankless heater stopped working late last night. After setting up a same day appointment, Sarai followed up with me and asked me to check a f...
Big Brothers Plumbing was great - friendly, timely, and able to quickly determine and solve the problem! Highly recommend!
Moore Plumbing
I've been doing business with Moore Plumbing since 2010. He's just a straight shooter. No BS , honest and hardworking. His prices are fair and he does good work.
Fastest response, quick, quality work and best price I've seen vs. 3 other plumbers in the area
Showed up and went out of their way to fix what they found. Also, took the time to discuss more problems they found. Will have them back when necessary!
Consider Big Brothers Plumbing if...
- ✓ You need same-day emergency service for urgent issues like water heater failures or significant leaks, as Big Brothers prioritizes rapid response within hours of your call.
- ✓ You want full liability protection during the project, since Big Brothers carries workers compensation insurance to cover any on-site injuries.
- ✓ You're a newer homeowner who appreciates detailed explanations and education about your plumbing system before work begins.
- ✓ You value transparent pricing with clear options presented upfront before any repair work starts.
Consider Moore Plumbing if...
- ✓ Your project involves complex or unusual plumbing challenges where 35 years of experience diagnosing problems in older homes becomes critical.
- ✓ You're comfortable accepting liability risk in exchange for working with a veteran contractor with decades of hands-on problem-solving experience.
- ✓ You specifically want the business owner directly involved in your project rather than working with assigned technicians.
- ✓ Your project includes specialized work like septic system installation where deep experience matters more than rapid response times.
Questions to Ask Before Hiring
- → For Moore Plumbing: Ask directly about liability coverage and confirm with your homeowner's insurance whether you're protected if a worker is injured on your property during the job.
- → For Moore Plumbing: Given the lack of workers comp on file, ask how many people will be working on your project and what safety protocols are in place.
- → For Big Brothers Plumbing: If your project involves older plumbing systems or unusual configurations, ask about their experience with similar vintage homes in your neighborhood.
- → For both companies: Request references from projects similar to yours completed within the past year, particularly if your work involves complexity beyond standard repairs.
The Bottom Line
For most homeowners, Big Brothers Plumbing is the safer choice. Their 10 years of experience is entirely sufficient for standard residential plumbing needs, and their workers compensation insurance protects you from significant liability risk. Their emphasis on same-day service, transparent pricing, and thorough explanations makes them particularly well-suited for emergency situations and homeowners who want clear communication. Consider Moore Plumbing only if your project involves genuinely complex challenges requiring 35 years of veteran expertise—and only after confirming your homeowner's insurance adequately covers contractor injuries on your property. The insurance gap is a real concern that shouldn't be dismissed for routine plumbing work.
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Frequently Asked Questions
It depends on your project complexity and risk tolerance. For straightforward repairs and replacements, Big Brothers' 10 years is entirely adequate with the significant advantage of full insurance protection. For highly complex issues in older homes or specialized work like septic systems, Moore's veteran experience may be worth the liability risk if you confirm your own insurance coverage and the owner works on-site.
You could be personally liable for medical bills, lost wages, and legal costs if a worker is injured on your property. This can reach tens of thousands of dollars depending on the injury severity. Your homeowner's insurance might provide some coverage, but many policies have limitations or exclusions for contractor injuries, so you need to verify your specific coverage before hiring.
Ten years of active licensing represents solid established experience for most residential plumbing issues including water heater replacements, leak detection, and fixture work. This is sufficient for the vast majority of homeowner needs. However, for truly unusual situations in very old homes or specialized systems, Moore's 35-year track record provides deeper problem-solving experience.
Big Brothers Plumbing specifically emphasizes same-day availability and quick response times, with customers reporting technicians arriving within hours for emergencies. While Moore Plumbing also receives positive feedback for quick response, their service model appears more focused on scheduled work and complex projects rather than optimized emergency dispatch.
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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 12, 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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