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Plumbing Plus vs Star Rooter And Plumbing

Alameda Plumbing Contractors Comparison · Updated March 2026

Quick Verdict

Star Rooter offers comprehensive insurance protection and documented responsiveness that Plumbing Plus lacks in workers compensation coverage.

Plumbing Plus: Plumbing Plus brings 33 years of deep local experience but operates without workers compensation insurance on file.
Star Rooter And Plumbing: Star Rooter And Plumbing provides 19 years of veteran experience with full insurance coverage and strong track record for emergency availability.
Note: Plumbing Plus has no workers compensation insurance on file, which creates potential liability exposure for homeowners if a worker is injured on your property.
Plumbing Plus Star Rooter And Plumbing
Rating 5.0 4.7
Years Licensed 33 years 19 years
License # 655535 884481
Workers' Comp ✓ Yes
Bond Amount $25,000 $25,000
Location Alameda, CA San Lorenzo, CA
Website www.starrooter.com

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Key Differences

The most critical difference is workers compensation insurance. Star Rooter carries it; Plumbing Plus does not have coverage on file with state regulators. This means if a plumber from Plumbing Plus is injured at your home, you could potentially face liability claims against your homeowner's insurance. Beyond insurance, the companies show different operational profiles. Star Rooter demonstrates documented capacity for same-day emergency response, transparent pricing practices, and has completed a wide range of documented projects from simple repairs to complete home repipes and sewer lateral replacements. Their customer feedback reveals consistent patterns around communication and efficiency. Plumbing Plus offers 14 additional years of licensure (33 versus 19 years), suggesting deeper institutional knowledge of older East Bay plumbing systems, but has limited documented project history and customer feedback to assess current operational practices. Both maintain high owner involvement, but Star Rooter provides substantially more visibility into how they actually operate on customer projects.

What Customers Say

Plumbing Plus

Customers emphasize top-notch work quality and trust, with professional credibility indicated by referrals from other trade businesses.

Star Rooter And Plumbing

Customers consistently highlight same-day responsiveness, thorough diagnostic practices with camera inspections, transparent pricing, and efficient project completion with clean worksites.

Key Takeaway: Star Rooter has extensive documented feedback showing operational patterns across emergency response and complex projects, while Plumbing Plus has limited customer feedback available despite longer operating history.

Customer Reviews

Plumbing Plus

Dec 2025

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...

Star Rooter And Plumbing

Jan 2026

We appreciated how quickly the plumbers were able to come to our home and ascertain the best course of action they should take. They were able to resolve the issue of the stoppage in the drain line wh...

Jan 2026

Freddy was a great and a best work for me and family.

Dec 2025

We had a great experience with Star Rooter! He took very good care of my parents bathrooms who are located in Castro Valley. Freddy and crew, were knowledgeable, great to work with and super polite. P...

Consider Plumbing Plus if...

  • Your project involves an older Alameda home where Plumbing Plus's 33 years of local experience may prove valuable in diagnosing issues specific to the area's aging infrastructure and historical building methods.
  • You're comfortable verifying workers compensation coverage directly or accepting potential liability exposure, and your homeowner's insurance provides adequate contractor injury protection.
  • You value the company's established professional reputation within the local trade community and prioritize veteran local presence over documented customer feedback.
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Consider Star Rooter And Plumbing if...

  • You need workers compensation protection and want to avoid any liability risk if a contractor is injured during work on your property.
  • Your situation requires emergency or same-day service, where Star Rooter has demonstrated consistent availability including weekends.
  • You want transparent pricing and clear communication throughout the project, areas where customer feedback shows consistent strength.
  • Your project involves complex work like sewer lateral replacement, complete repipes, or water line installation where Star Rooter has documented completion experience and efficient timelines.
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Questions to Ask Before Hiring

  • Ask Plumbing Plus directly about workers compensation coverage and request current certificate of insurance; confirm with your homeowner's insurance what liability you face if they don't carry it.
  • Ask Plumbing Plus for references from recent projects similar to yours to supplement limited available customer feedback.
  • Ask Star Rooter about their typical response time for your type of project and whether they can provide same-day service if needed.
  • Ask both companies about their experience with your home's age and specific plumbing configuration, particularly if you have an older Alameda property.

The Bottom Line

Star Rooter And Plumbing is the lower-risk choice for most homeowners. The workers compensation coverage alone provides critical liability protection that Plumbing Plus doesn't offer, and Star Rooter's 19 years still represents veteran-level experience. Their documented track record for emergency responsiveness, transparent pricing, and successfully completing complex projects from repipes to sewer laterals gives you visibility into how they actually operate. Plumbing Plus's additional 14 years of licensure offers value if you have an older Alameda property with unique historical plumbing challenges, but only if you're willing to accept the workers comp liability gap and verify adequate protection through your own insurance.

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Frequently Asked Questions

The experience advantage is real—33 years means deeper knowledge of older East Bay plumbing systems. However, Star Rooter's 19 years still qualifies as veteran-tier experience, and the workers comp gap creates actual financial risk for you as the homeowner. If a worker is injured and the contractor has no coverage, your homeowner's policy becomes the target. You need to weigh whether those extra years justify accepting that liability exposure.

Star Rooter's customer feedback details specific completed projects—sewer laterals, complete repipes, water line replacements—so you know they've successfully handled complex work. Plumbing Plus likely has similar experience given 33 years in business, but without documented project history, you're relying on licensure tenure rather than confirmed recent performance. Ask Plumbing Plus directly for references matching your project type.

Star Rooter has consistent customer feedback mentioning same-day and weekend emergency response, indicating established capacity for urgent situations. Plumbing Plus may offer similar availability, but there's no documented pattern to confirm it. If timing is critical, Star Rooter's proven responsiveness reduces uncertainty.

You can certainly ask, but adding workers compensation mid-process isn't instantaneous and may affect their pricing. More importantly, a contractor operating for years without coverage suggests a business model built around that cost structure. Verify any coverage claims with a current certificate of insurance sent directly from their insurance carrier, not just a promise to obtain it.

Looking for the Best?

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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 08, 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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