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Clogbusters Plumbing And General Building vs R B Travis
Alameda Plumbing Contractors Comparison · Updated March 2026
R B Travis combines workers compensation coverage with consistently reliable service, while Clogbusters offers veteran experience but lacks workers comp and has mixed communication feedback.
| Clogbusters Plumbing And General Building | R B Travis | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 3.4 | ★ 4.8 |
| Years Licensed | 25 years | 4 years |
| License # | 792293 | 1084502 |
| Workers' Comp | — | ✓ Yes |
| Bond Amount | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Location | Berkeley, CA | Livermore, CA |
| Website | — | www.serviceexperts.com |
Key Differences
What Customers Say
Clogbusters Plumbing And General Building
Customers praise Clogbusters for quick emergency response and effective technical work but report frustrations with appointment confirmations and receiving quotes.
R B Travis
Customers consistently highlight R B Travis' punctuality, advance communication, thorough explanations, and professional cleanup across diverse project types.
Key Takeaway: R B Travis demonstrates reliable service processes across routine and complex jobs, while Clogbusters excels specifically in emergency situations but shows inconsistent administrative communication.
Customer Reviews
Clogbusters Plumbing And General Building
Great Experience. Highly Recommend!
Amazing service. Professional and he got it done. This man is our savior. Thank you from Breathe Health Center and Services!
Had a plumbing emergency tonight, called 4 other plumbers who couldn't send someone out until later in the week before I found Clogbusters. They sent someone out right away, did an excellent job with ...
R B Travis
Excellent work and we appreciate his professionalism
Have made multiple calls over more than 3 years. Consistently received expert service. Shoutout for Cody. Professional, good listener, fast and knowledgeable about his job. I would recommend RBTravis ...
Outstanding service from Javier at R.B. Travis. HomeServe scheduled R.B. Travis to fix two clogged sinks in my home (kitchen and bathroom). Javier called ahead, arrived on time, and went above and be...
Consider Clogbusters Plumbing And General Building if...
- ✓ You have an urgent plumbing emergency right now and need same-day service, as Clogbusters has demonstrated ability to respond quickly when other plumbers cannot
- ✓ Your project involves an older home with unusual plumbing configurations where 25 years of troubleshooting experience could prove valuable in diagnosing hidden issues
- ✓ You have confirmed with your homeowner's insurance that you carry adequate liability coverage for contractors without workers compensation
- ✓ You prefer working with a veteran contractor and can manage communication proactively by following up on appointments and quotes yourself
Consider R B Travis if...
- ✓ You want workers compensation protection to avoid potential liability if someone is injured during your plumbing project
- ✓ You value reliable communication, advance notice of arrival times, and technicians who explain problems clearly before beginning work
- ✓ Your project is non-emergency work like water heater installation, pipe replacement, or sewer line service where R B Travis has documented successful completion
- ✓ You prefer a contractor with consistent positive feedback across multiple project types rather than variable service experiences
Questions to Ask Before Hiring
- → Ask Clogbusters specifically about liability coverage and confirm with your homeowner's insurance whether your policy adequately covers injuries to uninsured contractors working on your property
- → Ask Clogbusters how they prefer to handle appointment confirmations and quote requests, given feedback about communication challenges
- → Ask R B Travis for references from projects involving older homes or complex diagnostics to understand how their 4-year experience applies to unusual situations
- → Ask both companies about their experience with your specific plumbing issue and how they would approach diagnosing the root cause
The Bottom Line
R B Travis is the safer choice for most homeowners because workers compensation coverage protects you from liability, and their consistent communication practices reduce scheduling frustration. Their four years of experience is sufficient for the vast majority of residential plumbing needs, from leak repairs to water heater installations to sewer line work. Choose Clogbusters only if you have a genuine emergency requiring same-day response, your homeowner's insurance adequately covers uninsured contractor injuries, and you can manage communication proactively. For planned projects, complex installations, or situations where you value reliability over emergency speed, R B Travis offers better protection and more predictable service.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Experience matters for complex diagnostics, but workers compensation is about financial protection, not skill level. If an experienced but uninsured worker is injured at your home, you may face liability regardless of how well they do the work. Check your homeowner's policy limits before deciding whether the experience advantage is worth the insurance gap.
Four years of licensing means the company has completed hundreds of jobs across various scenarios, which is substantial for routine and moderately complex work. However, Clogbusters' 25-year history means six times more exposure to unusual configurations and aging system failures. For standard repairs and installations, R B Travis has demonstrated capability; for mysterious issues in very old homes, more experience helps.
The feedback pattern suggests Clogbusters excels at emergency technical work but has inconsistent office processes for scheduling and quoting. If you can reach them during an urgent situation and communicate directly with technicians on-site, you may have a good experience. If your project requires multiple conversations to coordinate quotes and appointments, you may encounter the frustrations other customers reported.
R B Travis has documented successful water heater installations with positive feedback about thorough explanations and clean work. While Clogbusters likely handles water heaters given their 25-year history, their customer feedback focuses on emergency repairs rather than planned installations. For a scheduled project requiring clear communication and coordination, R B Travis' track record is more relevant.
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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 13, 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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