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Choice Plumbing vs Mr Drain
Sacramento Plumbing Contractors Comparison · Updated March 2026
Mr Drain offers 20 years of experience with workers compensation coverage, while Choice Plumbing provides highly accessible owner-operated service at five years licensed without workers comp.
| Choice Plumbing | Mr Drain | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 4.9 | ★ 4.9 |
| Years Licensed | 5 years | 20 years |
| License # | 1074674 | 871866 |
| Workers' Comp | — | ✓ Yes |
| Bond Amount | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Location | Sacramento, CA | Carmichael, CA |
| Website | choiceplumbinginc.com | www.mrdrainplumbers.com |
Key Differences
What Customers Say
Choice Plumbing
Customers consistently emphasize the owner's personal accessibility, same-day response, and fair pricing with transparent communication throughout the service process.
Mr Drain
Customers highlight professional technician expertise, thorough diagnostic explanations, and clean work practices, though some mention pricing feels higher than alternatives.
Key Takeaway: Choice Plumbing earns specific praise for pricing fairness and owner accessibility, while Mr Drain receives recognition for technical professionalism but occasional concern about cost competitiveness.
Customer Reviews
Choice Plumbing
The best! Responsive and professional. Kevin has saved me many times.
Great service, I will always choose them......
Prompt, communicate, and trustworthy. Kevin from Choice pluming Inc far exceeded our expectations. He found and fixed problems quickly. I can't recommend him high enough.
Mr Drain
They were technicians extraordinary! From the moment they arrived, their expertise was obvious. They pulled a foreign object out of my shower drain that looked like it had been lodged there since 1990...
My son flushed 3 little toys down the toilet which clogged it. Collin Rochester was our technician. He was very professional, friendly and took care of the problem quickly and efficiently. The price w...
Very nice guy and very knowledgeable, but he underestimated the age of my hot water heater. I'm probably would not have had it replaced because it was only seven years old instead of 30 years old like...
Consider Choice Plumbing if...
- ✓ You need direct access to the owner and value working with the same person from estimate through completion rather than rotating technicians
- ✓ Pricing is a primary concern and you appreciate transparent, competitive quotes without feeling pressured
- ✓ Your project is straightforward (fixture replacement, drain clearing, standard water heater) rather than a complex diagnostic challenge
- ✓ You're willing to verify your homeowner's insurance covers contractor injuries and accept that liability risk in exchange for more personalized service
Consider Mr Drain if...
- ✓ Workers compensation coverage is non-negotiable for your peace of mind and liability protection
- ✓ Your project involves older plumbing where 20 years of diagnostic experience matters—hidden galvanized pipe issues, unusual configurations, or permit-required work
- ✓ You prefer an established company with multiple technicians who can handle scheduling flexibility and backup coverage
- ✓ You're comfortable paying potentially higher rates for the protection and depth of experience a veteran contractor provides
Questions to Ask Before Hiring
- → For Choice Plumbing: Ask specifically whether your homeowner's insurance policy covers injuries to contractors without workers comp, and request documentation that any helpers working on your project carry their own coverage
- → For Mr Drain: Request an itemized estimate and ask how their pricing compares to their own standard rates, given customer feedback about occasional pricing concerns
- → For both: Ask how they handle unexpected complications discovered mid-project and whether they provide written change order processes before additional charges
The Bottom Line
Mr Drain is the safer choice for most homeowners because workers compensation coverage eliminates a significant liability risk and their 20-year track record provides deeper expertise for complex diagnostics. Pay the potential premium for that protection, especially if your home is older or your project could reveal hidden complications. Choose Choice Plumbing only if you've confirmed your homeowner's insurance covers contractor injuries, your project is straightforward, and direct owner involvement matters enough to accept the insurance gap. The accessibility and fair pricing are real advantages, but not worth the liability exposure unless you've specifically addressed it.
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Frequently Asked Questions
If a worker is injured on your property and the contractor lacks workers comp, your homeowner's insurance may become the primary coverage for medical bills and lost wages. This creates financial risk that doesn't exist with fully insured contractors like Mr Drain. Before hiring Choice Plumbing, call your insurance agent to confirm your policy covers this scenario.
For straightforward work like replacing a toilet fill valve or clearing a simple drain clog, the experience gap matters less. However, if your repair reveals underlying issues—corroded pipes behind walls, code violations from previous work, or drainage problems requiring diagnosis—20 years of pattern recognition helps identify root causes faster and avoid incomplete repairs.
Established companies with full insurance coverage, veteran experience, and multiple employees typically charge more than smaller operations to cover their overhead. The feedback doesn't suggest overcharging, but rather that their rates reflect their full-service structure. Get itemized estimates from both companies to compare specific line items rather than total price alone.
With Choice Plumbing, customer feedback consistently indicates the owner handles jobs personally, providing direct communication throughout. Mr Drain operates with multiple field technicians, so you'll likely work with trained employees rather than the owner. Both approaches work well, but the choice depends on whether you prioritize owner access or company depth.
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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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