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Big Brothers Plumbing vs Plumbing Experts
Alameda Plumbing Contractors Comparison · Updated March 2026
Big Brothers Plumbing offers twice the experience and full insurance coverage, while Plumbing Experts lacks workers compensation protection.
| Big Brothers Plumbing | Plumbing Experts | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 5.0 | ★ 4.9 |
| Years Licensed | 10 years | 5 years |
| License # | 1015557 | 1075672 |
| Workers' Comp | ✓ Yes | — |
| Bond Amount | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Location | Alameda, CA | Dublin, CA |
| Website | www.bigbrothersplumbinginc.com | www.plumbingexpertsinc.com |
Key Differences
What Customers Say
Big Brothers Plumbing
Big Brothers Plumbing customers consistently emphasize same-day availability, transparent pricing discussions, and technicians who take time to educate homeowners about their systems.
Plumbing Experts
Plumbing Experts receives praise for extremely rapid response times with the owner often arriving within hours or minutes, along with efficient diagnosis and professional interactions.
Key Takeaway: Both deliver quick service, but Plumbing Experts shows higher owner involvement with personal responses, while Big Brothers appears to operate with multiple technicians and emphasizes educational customer interactions.
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!
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 Big Brothers Plumbing if...
- ✓ You want complete insurance protection without liability concerns if a worker is injured on your property during the job.
- ✓ Your home is older or the plumbing issue seems complex, where 10 years of experience diagnosing hidden problems and handling complications matters.
- ✓ You prefer an established company with a longer track record and likely multiple technicians available for scheduling flexibility.
- ✓ You're located in Alameda, Oakland, or San Leandro where they maintain a strong local presence.
Consider Plumbing Experts if...
- ✓ You want direct owner involvement throughout your project and value working with the business owner personally.
- ✓ You're willing to verify your homeowner's insurance covers contractor injuries and accept that risk in exchange for potentially competitive pricing.
- ✓ Your project is straightforward (standard water heater replacement, fixture installation, drain clearing) where 5 years of experience is sufficient.
- ✓ You're located in Dublin or eastern Alameda County where they're based.
Questions to Ask Before Hiring
- → For Plumbing Experts: Ask specifically about liability coverage and confirm with your homeowner's insurance whether you're protected if a contractor without workers comp is injured at your property.
- → For Plumbing Experts: Ask whether the owner will personally handle your job or if other technicians work for the company, and what their insurance situation is.
- → For both companies: Request references from projects similar to yours completed within the past year to verify their current service quality.
The Bottom Line
Big Brothers Plumbing is the safer choice for most homeowners, offering complete insurance protection, twice the experience, and strong service quality across similar project types. The workers compensation gap with Plumbing Experts creates real financial risk that isn't worth accepting unless you've verified your homeowner's insurance covers contractor injuries and you're comfortable with that exposure. If you're set on Plumbing Experts for their owner-involved approach or location convenience, call your insurance agent first to understand your liability, then get written confirmation of their coverage situation. For straightforward protection and a decade of proven experience, Big Brothers is the clearer path forward.
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Frequently Asked Questions
It's a significant liability concern. If a plumber is injured at your property and the company lacks workers comp, you could face a lawsuit or medical cost claims. Many homeowner's insurance policies specifically exclude coverage for contractor injuries when the contractor should have carried their own insurance. Before hiring Plumbing Experts, call your insurance agent to verify your coverage in this scenario.
For straightforward jobs like replacing a standard water heater or clearing a drain, 5 years is generally sufficient experience. The gap becomes meaningful for complex situations like diagnosing intermittent leaks, working with older plumbing systems that may have hidden issues, or handling unexpected complications mid-project. A 10-year contractor has seen more edge cases and problem scenarios.
The data doesn't indicate clear pricing differences, as both receive feedback about competitive pricing and transparency. However, companies without workers compensation insurance may have lower overhead costs that could translate to lower prices. That potential savings comes with the liability risk you're assuming. Ask both for detailed written estimates before deciding.
Customer feedback indicates high owner involvement at Plumbing Experts, with the owner frequently mentioned as arriving personally for service calls. However, you should confirm this directly when booking, especially for larger projects that might require multiple visits or additional crew members.
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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 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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