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Contra Costa Heating And Air Conditioning vs Simply Plumbing And Rooter

Alameda Plumbing Contractors Comparison · Updated March 2026

Quick Verdict

You're comparing an HVAC contractor to a plumbing contractor, so your decision depends entirely on which trade you need for your project.

Contra Costa Heating And Air Conditioning: Established HVAC specialist with 14 years experience, full insurance coverage, but inconsistent post-installation support reported by customers.
Simply Plumbing And Rooter: Veteran plumber with 17 years experience known for quick response times, but operates without workers compensation insurance on file.
Note: Simply Plumbing And Rooter lacks workers compensation insurance, which shifts liability risk to you if a worker is injured on your property.
Contra Costa Heating And Air Conditioning Simply Plumbing And Rooter
Rating 4.1 5.0
Years Licensed 14 years 17 years
License # 970192 923441
Workers' Comp ✓ Yes
Bond Amount $25,000 $25,000
Location San Leandro, CA Hayward, CA
Website www.contracostaheating.com simplyplumbingandrooter.com

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Key Differences

The most critical difference is workers compensation insurance status. Contra Costa Heating carries current workers comp coverage, while Simply Plumbing operates without it on file. This matters because if a plumber is injured at your home, your homeowner's insurance may become the primary coverage—potentially affecting your rates or leaving you exposed to liability claims. Beyond insurance, these companies show distinct service patterns. Contra Costa Heating excels during installation with clean, efficient crews but struggles with post-project communication when customers need warranty support or follow-up service. Simply Plumbing demonstrates the opposite profile: highly responsive at initial contact with quick arrival times and accessible communication throughout, suggesting stronger ongoing service relationships. Experience levels are comparable with Simply Plumbing holding a slight edge at 17 years versus 14 years, both well beyond the learning curve phase.

What Customers Say

Contra Costa Heating And Air Conditioning

Customers praise clean, efficient installation work with professional crews but report frustration trying to reach the company for post-installation service and warranty support.

Simply Plumbing And Rooter

Customers consistently highlight exceptionally quick response times, sometimes within an hour of contact, along with accessible communication and reasonable pricing throughout projects.

Key Takeaway: Contra Costa Heating excels at project execution but struggles with ongoing support, while Simply Plumbing demonstrates strength in responsiveness and accessibility from first contact through completion.

Customer Reviews

Contra Costa Heating And Air Conditioning

Jan 2026

Contra Costa Heating and Air Conditioning did an excellent job repairing our heater during winter. They arrived on time, explained the issue clearly, and left the work area very clean. Highly professi...

Jan 2026

We had our furnace serviced and everything went smoothly. The technician was punctual, courteous, and respectful of our home. It's hard to find companies this reliable anymore.

Jan 2026

Our furnace stopped working during a cold week and CCHA responded quickly. They fixed the issue the same day and left no mess behind.

Simply Plumbing And Rooter

Dec 2025

Carlos was my knight in shining armor! He was at my house with an hour of contacting him after a prior. Plumber stood me up two days in a row came and assessed the situation with my toilet. Explain t...

Oct 2025

Carlos came out to replace my garbage disposal. He was very professional & prompt. Communicates clearly and responds quickly. Garbage disposal still working great!

Mar 2020

I've used the services of Simply Plumbing & Rooter for my Hayward and San Jose rental properties: install new water heater and haul away the old one, install a water line for the refrigerator automati...

Consider Contra Costa Heating And Air Conditioning if...

  • You need HVAC services like furnace installation, air conditioning replacement, heat pump systems, or thermostat upgrades rather than plumbing work
  • You're planning a straightforward installation where post-warranty service is less likely to be needed, or you're comfortable being persistent about follow-up
  • Workers compensation coverage is a priority for your liability protection, particularly for multi-day installation projects with crews in your home
  • You're purchasing through Costco or Home Depot and want a contractor who works within those retail partnerships
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Consider Simply Plumbing And Rooter if...

  • You need plumbing services like water heater installation, garbage disposal replacement, toilet repairs, or water line work rather than HVAC services
  • Quick response time matters because you have an urgent plumbing issue requiring same-day or next-day service
  • You value accessible, ongoing communication and want a contractor with high owner involvement throughout your project
  • You're willing to verify workers comp coverage directly or confirm your homeowner's policy covers contractor injuries on your property
View full profile →

Questions to Ask Before Hiring

  • For Simply Plumbing: Ask directly about liability insurance coverage and whether they carry workers comp through a different policy not on file, then verify your homeowner's insurance covers contractor injuries
  • For Contra Costa Heating: Ask how warranty service requests are handled, typical response times for callbacks, and whether a dedicated service contact will be assigned after installation
  • Ask both contractors for references from projects completed in the past six months to verify current service patterns match historical feedback

The Bottom Line

Your decision starts with identifying which trade you need—these contractors don't overlap in services. If you need HVAC work, Contra Costa Heating is the appropriate choice with full insurance coverage, though you should establish clear warranty service expectations upfront given reported communication gaps. If you need plumbing services, Simply Plumbing offers faster response times and better ongoing accessibility, but you must address the workers comp gap before hiring. Call your homeowner's insurance agent to understand your liability exposure, then ask Simply Plumbing directly about coverage. Don't let the missing insurance slide without verification—it's your financial protection at stake.

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Frequently Asked Questions

These contractors work in completely different trades and cannot help with each other's specialties. Contra Costa Heating cannot repair your water heater or fix plumbing leaks, and Simply Plumbing cannot service your furnace or air conditioner. Make sure you've correctly identified whether your project involves heating and cooling systems or plumbing before reaching out.

It's a legitimate liability concern. If a plumber is injured at your home and the company lacks workers comp, your homeowner's insurance may become primary coverage for medical bills and lost wages. Before hiring Simply Plumbing, call your insurance agent to understand your exposure and confirm your policy limits. Some homeowners decide this risk is acceptable for small jobs but not for major installations.

Some customers report difficulty reaching the company for post-installation support and callbacks, while others complete projects without issue. This inconsistency is worth addressing directly: ask how they handle warranty requests, what their typical response timeframe is, and get a specific contact name for follow-up service before signing your contract.

No, because the workers comp difference creates meaningfully different risk profiles. Bonds protect you if work isn't completed as agreed, but workers comp protects you from injury liability. Simply Plumbing's 17 years suggests they know their trade well, but the missing insurance shifts financial risk to you regardless of their technical competence.

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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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