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Moore Plumbing vs R B Travis

Alameda Plumbing Contractors Comparison · Updated March 2026

Quick Verdict

Moore Plumbing brings 35 years of experience but lacks workers compensation insurance, while R B Travis offers complete liability protection with 4 years in business.

Moore Plumbing: Veteran plumber with 35 years of hands-on experience and direct owner involvement, but no workers comp coverage on file.
R B Travis: Growing plumbing company with 4 years licensed, full workers compensation coverage, and consistent professional communication.
Note: Moore Plumbing does not carry workers compensation insurance, which means homeowners could be liable if a worker is injured on their property.
Moore Plumbing R B Travis
Rating 4.5 4.8
Years Licensed 35 years 4 years
License # 599650 1084502
Workers' Comp ✓ Yes
Bond Amount $25,000 $25,000
Location San Leandro, CA Livermore, CA
Website www.serviceexperts.com

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Key Differences

The critical distinction is workers compensation insurance. R B Travis carries it; Moore Plumbing does not. Without workers comp, if a plumber is injured on your property, your homeowner's insurance may become the primary coverage, potentially exposing you to claims and rate increases. Beyond this liability concern, the experience gap is substantial. Moore Plumbing's 35 years means the owner has diagnosed thousands of plumbing systems, handled complications in older homes, and worked through building code changes over decades. This depth matters when dealing with complex issues like septic systems or hidden pipe problems in vintage Bay Area homes. R B Travis, at 4 years, has built solid operational systems with consistent communication and punctuality, working effectively within home warranty networks. Customer feedback shows Moore Plumbing excels through owner expertise and honest assessments, while R B Travis delivers through professional systems and reliable technician performance. Both handle similar project types competently, but they bring different strengths to the job.

What Customers Say

Moore Plumbing

Customers emphasize Moore Plumbing's honest assessments, direct owner involvement, and quick response times built on long-term relationships spanning years or decades.

R B Travis

Customers consistently praise R B Travis for punctual arrivals, thorough communication throughout service, professional technician behavior, and clean work completion.

Key Takeaway: Moore Plumbing earns loyalty through the owner's personal expertise and straightforward guidance, while R B Travis builds satisfaction through systematic reliability and professional service delivery.

Customer Reviews

Moore Plumbing

Mar 2025

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.

Dec 2023

Fastest response, quick, quality work and best price I've seen vs. 3 other plumbers in the area

May 2023

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!

R B Travis

Jan 2026

Excellent work and we appreciate his professionalism

Jan 2026

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 ...

Jan 2026

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 Moore Plumbing if...

  • You have a complex plumbing problem in an older home that may require diagnostic expertise and creative problem-solving based on decades of encountering unusual situations
  • You value direct interaction with an experienced owner who will personally assess your project and explain options based on 35 years of hands-on work
  • You're comfortable verifying your homeowner's insurance provides adequate coverage for contractor injuries, or the owner confirms he works alone and accepts the liability risk
  • You prefer the straightforward, relationship-based approach of a veteran tradesperson who has served customers continuously for decades
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Consider R B Travis if...

  • Workers compensation coverage is non-negotiable for you, and you want complete protection from liability if someone is injured during your plumbing work
  • You're working through a home warranty provider and need a contractor with established processes for coordinating insurance claims and approvals
  • You value systematic communication practices like advance arrival notifications, scheduled service windows, and technicians who reliably show up on time
  • Your project is straightforward repair or installation work where professional execution and cleanup matter more than decades of diagnostic experience
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Questions to Ask Before Hiring

  • Ask Moore Plumbing specifically how they handle worker injury liability: Does the owner work alone, and will you sign any waiver? Confirm your homeowner's policy covers contractor injuries.
  • Ask R B Travis which technician would handle your project and how long they've been with the company, since the business is relatively new.
  • For complex projects with Moore Plumbing, ask the owner to walk you through similar situations he's encountered and how his experience would apply to your specific issue.
  • Ask both companies for references from projects similar to yours completed in the past year, paying attention to how they handled unexpected complications.

The Bottom Line

If you need complete liability protection and value systematic, reliable service, R B Travis is the clearer choice with their workers compensation coverage and professional operations. However, if you're facing a complex plumbing situation in an older home where diagnostic expertise truly matters, Moore Plumbing's 35 years of experience represents significant added value—provided you're willing to accept the workers comp risk after verifying your insurance coverage. For straightforward repairs and installations, R B Travis offers better risk management without sacrificing quality. For complicated problems requiring veteran insight, Moore Plumbing's experience advantage may justify the additional liability consideration if you can address the insurance gap adequately.

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Frequently Asked Questions

For straightforward repairs like faucet replacements or drain clearing, the experience gap matters less since both companies handle these competently. The difference becomes significant when problems are more complex than they initially appear—an older home's corroded pipes, unusual septic configurations, or code compliance issues in renovated properties. Moore Plumbing's owner has likely seen your specific situation before, while R B Travis technicians may need to research or escalate unusual problems.

This depends entirely on your risk tolerance and homeowner's insurance coverage. If a worker is seriously injured on your property and the company has no workers comp, your insurance becomes primary, potentially leading to claims that increase your rates or even legal exposure. Some homeowners accept this risk for access to highly experienced contractors, but you should make that choice deliberately after consulting your insurance agent, not by default.

Both companies regularly perform water heater installations including tankless systems. Moore Plumbing's advantage would be if your home has unusual venting requirements or older plumbing that needs assessment during replacement. R B Travis offers more predictable scheduling and communication, plus the security of workers comp if something goes wrong during installation. For a standard replacement in a typical home, either can handle it competently.

No, warranty work indicates established business relationships and ability to meet service standards required by large networks. Both companies actually work with home warranty providers. R B Travis appears more systematized for this work with consistent communication protocols, while Moore Plumbing brings deep experience to warranty jobs that may have been misdiagnosed or require expert assessment beyond the initial service call.

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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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