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Hoppers Plumbing vs Absolute Rooter And Plumbing
Placer Plumbing Contractors Comparison · Updated March 2026
Hoppers Plumbing brings four times the licensed experience and full workers compensation coverage that Absolute Rooter lacks.
| Hoppers Plumbing | Absolute Rooter And Plumbing | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 5.0 | ★ 4.8 |
| Years Licensed | 20 years | 5 years |
| License # | 872354 | 1075235 |
| Workers' Comp | ✓ Yes | — |
| Bond Amount | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Location | Auburn, CA | Roseville, CA |
| Website | www.hoppersplumbing.com | absoluterooter.com |
Key Differences
What Customers Say
Hoppers Plumbing
Customers consistently praise Hoppers for thorough communication, detailed explanations of needed work, and knowledgeable handling of older plumbing systems.
Absolute Rooter And Plumbing
Customers highlight Absolute Rooter's rapid response times, same-day service availability, and ability to handle emergency situations within hours of contact.
Key Takeaway: Hoppers builds trust through comprehensive assessment and explanation, while Absolute Rooter earns loyalty through speed and emergency availability.
Customer Reviews
Hoppers Plumbing
Hoppers is the best! They are knowledgeable, and provide great service,.
Very positive experience. Responsive, knowledgeable, and the estimate that I received was reasonable for the work required.
Hopper's Plumbing is fantastic! They arrived on time and performed the job flawlessly. Couldn't be happier!
Absolute Rooter And Plumbing
Great service at a reasonable price! Will definitely be calling again for any future services.
Emergency sewer pipe service. Kareem worked efficiently and professionally to remove a huge tree root. The water flowed normally in a few hours. The second day the pipe was replaced. Apprecia...
This is the second time I've used this company. They are honest, quick, efficient, and competitive in their pricing.
Consider Hoppers Plumbing if...
- ✓ Your home has older plumbing that may hide problems behind walls or under slabs, where Hoppers' 20 years of diagnostic experience becomes valuable
- ✓ You want full liability protection during the project, as Hoppers carries workers compensation insurance to cover employee injuries
- ✓ Your project involves whole-house repiping, sewer line replacement, or other complex work where experience diagnosing hidden damage matters
- ✓ You prioritize thorough assessment and detailed explanations over fastest possible response time
Consider Absolute Rooter And Plumbing if...
- ✓ You have an urgent plumbing emergency and need same-day service, where Absolute Rooter's fast response reputation is their strongest advantage
- ✓ Your project is straightforward (water heater replacement, drain clearing, simple repairs) where 5 years of experience is sufficient
- ✓ You're comfortable confirming your homeowner's insurance covers contractor injuries or verifying Absolute Rooter's current liability coverage
- ✓ You need service coverage extending to South Lake Tahoe where Absolute Rooter operates
Questions to Ask Before Hiring
- → For Absolute Rooter: Ask what liability insurance they carry and confirm with your homeowner's insurance whether your policy covers contractor employee injuries during work
- → For both companies: Ask for references from projects similar to yours in age and scope, particularly if your home was built before 1990
- → For Absolute Rooter: Ask whether the owner will be on-site or which crew will handle your project, given their smaller company size
- → For Hoppers: Ask about their typical response time for emergency situations if speed is a priority for your needs
The Bottom Line
Hoppers Plumbing is the stronger choice for most homeowners due to their workers compensation coverage, which protects you from liability, and 20 years of experience diagnosing problems in older plumbing systems. The insurance gap alone is significant—you're exposed to financial risk if someone gets hurt working for Absolute Rooter. Consider Absolute Rooter only if you have a genuine emergency requiring same-day service and you've confirmed your homeowner's policy covers contractor injuries, or if you need service in South Lake Tahoe. For planned projects, complex work, or older homes, Hoppers' veteran experience and full insurance make them the safer, more qualified choice.
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Frequently Asked Questions
For straightforward projects like water heater replacement or drain clearing, 5 years is sufficient experience. The gap matters most when dealing with older homes where problems aren't obvious—corroded pipes behind walls, failed sewer lines with root intrusion, or outdated systems that need assessment before work begins. Hoppers' 20 years means they've handled far more complications and hidden issues that newer contractors haven't encountered yet.
If a worker is injured on your property, you could be held liable for medical costs and lost wages depending on your homeowner's insurance policy. Many policies have gaps in contractor injury coverage. Before hiring Absolute Rooter, call your insurance agent to confirm your coverage and ask Absolute Rooter what general liability insurance they carry. This isn't a theoretical concern—contractor injuries happen regularly in plumbing work.
It depends entirely on your situation. For a true emergency like a sewer backup flooding your home, same-day service has immediate value and the simpler nature of emergency stopgap work reduces the experience advantage. For planned projects like repiping or complex diagnostics, speed matters less than thorough assessment and proper protection. The workers comp issue remains a concern regardless of response time.
Yes, both serve Placer County including Auburn and Roseville, though Hoppers is based in Auburn and Absolute Rooter in Roseville. Hoppers focuses on Auburn and Placer County, while Absolute Rooter extends service to South Lake Tahoe. Location shouldn't be a deciding factor between these two for standard Placer County addresses.
Looking for the Best?
See our ranked list of top plumbing contractors in Placer.
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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 10, 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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