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Plumbing Plus vs R B Travis
Alameda Plumbing Contractors Comparison · Updated March 2026
Plumbing Plus brings 33 years of veteran expertise but lacks workers comp, while R B Travis offers 4 years of solid service with proper insurance coverage.
| Plumbing Plus | R B Travis | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 5.0 | ★ 4.8 |
| Years Licensed | 33 years | 4 years |
| License # | 655535 | 1084502 |
| Workers' Comp | — | ✓ Yes |
| Bond Amount | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Location | Alameda, CA | Livermore, CA |
| Website | — | www.serviceexperts.com |
Key Differences
What Customers Say
Plumbing Plus
Customers emphasize top-notch quality work and professional credibility, with the company coming recommended by other trade professionals.
R B Travis
Customers consistently note punctual service, clear communication about problems and timing, thorough explanations, and clean worksites across diverse project types.
Key Takeaway: R B Travis has established documented patterns across communication and operational reliability, while Plumbing Plus's limited review history focuses on technical quality and trade reputation.
Customer Reviews
Plumbing Plus
Scott is an excellent plumber and provided truly top-notch service. He came highly recommended by **Styles Bath & Kitchen**, and it was clear right away why they trust his work. From the first call to...
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 Plumbing Plus if...
- ✓ Your project involves an older Alameda home where diagnosing hidden problems requires deep experience with the area's historic plumbing configurations and you're willing to verify your homeowner's insurance covers contractor injuries.
- ✓ You value working directly with a veteran plumber who has three decades of field knowledge and you've confirmed liability coverage with your insurance provider.
- ✓ You're prioritizing technical expertise over operational systems and have addressed the workers comp gap through other risk mitigation measures.
Consider R B Travis if...
- ✓ You want standard liability protection without gaps, particularly the peace of mind that comes with a contractor carrying workers compensation insurance.
- ✓ Your project requires coordination with a home warranty provider or you value systematic communication practices like advance arrival notices and thorough explanations.
- ✓ You prefer working with a company that has documented patterns of punctuality, worksite cleanliness, and customer communication across a range of common plumbing repairs.
- ✓ You're hiring for standard residential work like leak repairs, water heater installation, or drain clearing where 4 years of focused experience is sufficient.
Questions to Ask Before Hiring
- → Ask Plumbing Plus directly about liability coverage and confirm with your homeowner's insurance whether you're protected if an uninsured contractor's employee is injured on your property.
- → Ask Plumbing Plus for references from recent projects similar to yours, particularly if your home has older plumbing systems where their veteran experience would be most valuable.
- → Ask R B Travis about their experience with your specific problem type and whether they've handled complications beyond routine repairs in their 4 years of operation.
The Bottom Line
For most homeowners, R B Travis is the clearer choice because they carry workers compensation insurance, eliminating a significant liability gap that Plumbing Plus presents. Their 4 years of operation is sufficient for standard residential plumbing work, and customer feedback shows reliable patterns around communication and service quality. However, if you own an older Alameda home with complex plumbing issues where 33 years of veteran diagnostic experience would meaningfully reduce risk of misdiagnosis, Plumbing Plus's depth of knowledge is genuinely valuable—but only if you first verify liability coverage with your homeowner's insurance and accept that risk. Don't let experience alone override the workers comp issue without understanding your exposure.
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Frequently Asked Questions
For straightforward repairs like faucet replacements or simple leaks, probably not significantly. But for older Alameda homes where a visible problem might indicate deeper issues with galvanized pipes, cast iron stacks, or outdated configurations, Plumbing Plus's three decades of local experience helps them anticipate complications before they become emergencies. R B Travis can handle standard repairs competently, but Plumbing Plus has seen problems evolve across multiple housing generations.
If a worker is injured on your property and the company lacks workers compensation insurance, your homeowner's insurance may become the primary coverage for their medical bills and lost wages. This could result in a claim against your policy, potentially affecting your rates or requiring you to pay out of pocket if the injury exceeds your coverage. You should call your insurance agent before hiring Plumbing Plus to understand your specific exposure.
Four years of licensure means they've handled hundreds of service calls across the range of common residential issues, as evidenced by their documented work on water heaters, sewer lines, and pipe replacements. For most homeowner needs, this is adequate experience. However, if you're dealing with a particularly unusual situation or a very old home with legacy systems, Plumbing Plus's additional 29 years provides deeper diagnostic capability for truly complex scenarios.
The data doesn't indicate emergency response capabilities for either company. R B Travis shows documented patterns of punctuality and advance communication, suggesting reliable scheduling, but this doesn't necessarily translate to emergency availability. Ask both companies directly about their emergency response times, after-hours availability, and whether they charge premium rates for urgent calls.
Looking for the Best?
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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