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Just Water Heaters And Plumbing vs R B Travis
Alameda Plumbing Contractors Comparison · Updated March 2026
R B Travis carries workers compensation insurance and demonstrates stronger communication reliability, while Just Water Heaters has nearly triple the licensing experience.
| Just Water Heaters And Plumbing | R B Travis | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 3.2 | ★ 4.8 |
| Years Licensed | 11 years | 4 years |
| License # | 997251 | 1084502 |
| Workers' Comp | — | ✓ Yes |
| Bond Amount | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Location | Fremont, CA | Livermore, CA |
| Website | www.justwaterheatersplumbing.com | www.serviceexperts.com |
Key Differences
What Customers Say
Just Water Heaters And Plumbing
Customers report successful repeat service for water heater and plumbing work, but at least one customer experienced difficulty getting callbacks after initial contact.
R B Travis
Customers consistently praise punctuality, advance arrival notices, thorough explanations of problems, and clean work practices across diverse plumbing projects.
Key Takeaway: R B Travis demonstrates systematic communication reliability that Just Water Heaters' feedback suggests is inconsistent, despite Just Water Heaters having more years of established operation.
Customer Reviews
Just Water Heaters And Plumbing
Have had this young man in my home several times. He's installed our water heaters from Dale Hardware and today he repaired our toilet and checked and cleared and repaired the drains in both our bathr...
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 Just Water Heaters And Plumbing if...
- ✓ You have an older home with a complicated plumbing layout or a water heater installation that may involve unexpected challenges requiring extensive troubleshooting experience gained over 11 years.
- ✓ Your specific need is water heater focused, and you value working with a specialist who has made this their primary business emphasis rather than a general plumber.
- ✓ You've confirmed with your homeowner's insurance that you have adequate coverage for contractor injuries, and you're comfortable accepting that liability risk in exchange for the company's specialized experience.
- ✓ You prefer working with an owner-operated business with high owner involvement and you're willing to be proactive about following up on communications.
Consider R B Travis if...
- ✓ You want to eliminate the liability risk of a worker injury on your property, which R B Travis' workers compensation insurance accomplishes.
- ✓ Communication reliability is a priority for you, and you value receiving advance notice of arrival times, clear explanations of problems, and consistent responsiveness throughout the project.
- ✓ Your project involves sewer lines, water mains, or exterior plumbing work where R B Travis demonstrates broader service capability.
- ✓ You're working through a home warranty provider like HomeServe, as R B Travis has established relationships with these networks and customers report smooth coordination.
Questions to Ask Before Hiring
- → For Just Water Heaters: Ask directly about their liability insurance coverage and confirm with your homeowner's insurance whether you're protected if a contractor without workers comp is injured on your property.
- → For Just Water Heaters: Ask about their current communication practices and how they handle callback requests, given mixed feedback in this area.
- → For R B Travis: Ask for references from projects that involved complications or unexpected issues, to better understand how their 4 years of experience translates to problem-solving ability on complex jobs.
- → For both: If your home was built before 1990, ask about their specific experience with older plumbing systems and whether they've encountered issues similar to what older homes in your neighborhood typically face.
The Bottom Line
For most homeowners, R B Travis is the safer choice. Their workers compensation coverage eliminates a real liability risk, and their consistent communication reliability means fewer headaches during your project. The 7-year experience gap matters primarily for complicated installations or older homes with unusual configurations. If your project is straightforward, R B Travis' 4 years is adequate, and their liability coverage and communication systems provide better protection. Choose Just Water Heaters only if your homeowner's insurance confirms you're covered for contractor injuries, you have a complex water heater situation that truly benefits from specialized experience, and you're comfortable being proactive about communication follow-up. Confirm insurance coverage before making any deposit.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it's a real concern. Your homeowner's policy may not cover contractor injuries, or you could face a claim that increases your premiums. When a contractor carries workers comp, their insurance handles worker injuries, keeping your policy out of it entirely. Before hiring Just Water Heaters, call your insurance agent to confirm your specific coverage for contractor injuries.
For a straightforward swap in an accessible location with modern plumbing, probably not. Both have adequate experience for routine installations. The experience gap matters more if you have an unusual setup, older home with galvanized pipes, code compliance issues, or if complications arise during installation that require quick diagnostic thinking.
The feedback mentions difficulty with callbacks after initial contact, which can happen with smaller, owner-operated businesses juggling active jobs. This doesn't mean they won't complete your work, but it may require more persistence on your part to get responses. R B Travis appears to have more structured communication systems in place despite being newer.
Yes, customer feedback specifically mentions R B Travis completing water heater installations successfully. They handle this as part of broader plumbing services rather than as a specialty focus. The question is whether you need a dedicated water heater specialist's depth of experience or whether a capable general plumber meets your needs.
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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 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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