Compare Local Pros Compare Local Pros

Ducks Plumbing Heating Air vs Mikes Plumbing And Rooter

Sacramento Plumbing Contractors Comparison · Updated March 2026

Quick Verdict

Ducks Plumbing brings nine years of licensed experience and full workers compensation coverage versus Mike's two-year practice without workers comp on file.

Ducks Plumbing Heating Air: Established plumbing and HVAC contractor with nine years of experience, full insurance coverage, and a track record handling complex projects including century-old homes.
Mikes Plumbing And Rooter: Newer plumbing contractor with two years of licensure, known for extremely fast emergency response but currently operating without workers compensation insurance.
Note: Mike's Plumbing operates without workers compensation insurance on file, which could leave homeowners liable if a worker is injured on their property.
Ducks Plumbing Heating Air Mikes Plumbing And Rooter
Rating 5.0 5.0
Years Licensed 9 years 2 years
License # 1022840 1111606
Workers' Comp ✓ Yes
Bond Amount $25,000 $25,000
Location Sacramento, CA Sacramento, CA
Website www.ducksplumbingca.com www.mikesplumbingandrooter.com

Need help deciding?

Get free quotes from both contractors and compare pricing.

Get Free Quotes

Key Differences

The most significant difference is Ducks Plumbing's nine years of licensure compared to Mike's two years. This experience gap matters practically when diagnosing hidden issues in older homes, anticipating complications during installations, and handling unexpected problems mid-project. Ducks has worked on century-old residences with complex plumbing systems, suggesting depth in problem-solving that comes with years of varied scenarios. The workers compensation gap is equally important: Ducks carries full coverage while Mike's has none on file, meaning if a worker is injured at your home, your homeowner's insurance could potentially be exposed. Both companies demonstrate high owner involvement and receive praise for communication, but their service strengths differ slightly. Mike's excels at ultra-fast emergency response with arrivals often within 30 minutes to 2 hours, while Ducks offers same-day or next-day service with particular strength in HVAC work alongside plumbing. Both maintain transparent pricing and no-pressure approaches.

What Customers Say

Ducks Plumbing Heating Air

Customers consistently highlight Ducks' professional presentation, thorough cleanup, clear explanations of options, and reliability for repeat business across multiple years.

Mikes Plumbing And Rooter

Customers emphasize Mike's exceptional speed with same-day and often same-hour service, transparent pricing without upselling, and accessibility during evenings, weekends, and holidays.

Key Takeaway: Mike's demonstrates significantly faster emergency response times with arrivals often within 30 minutes to 2 hours, while Ducks focuses on thoroughness, professionalism, and handling more complex projects including HVAC installations.

Customer Reviews

Ducks Plumbing Heating Air

Jan 2026

I have never been disappointed with the service from the crew at Ducks. They always provide outstanding service.

Jan 2026

They came in within a day of my calling them, were fast and made great recommendations.

Jan 2026

Super efficient & very personable. Saul showed me where the issues were and did a beautiful job on my shower & feed lines. Additionally, it was a messy job cutting into the wall, but he cleaned up eve...

Mikes Plumbing And Rooter

Jan 2026

Mike is the only plumber you need. He is friendly, straightforward, and doesn't try to upsell. We needed someone to adjust the gas connection behind our new range to bring the range closer to the wall...

Jan 2026

We hit a frantic snag on day one of a kitchen remodel when the water wouldn't turn off. A friend referred Mike and he came out the same day into the evening, fixed and replaced the valves and had wate...

Jan 2026

I cannot recommend Mike enough- he really went above and beyond to get the job done. He's reliable, easygoing and has integrity. I appreciated his advice about potential future issues in my older home...

Consider Ducks Plumbing Heating Air if...

  • You have an older home that may reveal unexpected complications during repairs, where Ducks' nine years of diagnostic experience becomes valuable
  • You need HVAC services alongside plumbing work, as Ducks handles comprehensive heating and air conditioning projects
  • You want the liability protection of confirmed workers compensation coverage, eliminating potential exposure if injuries occur on your property
  • Your project involves complex installations or system replacements where experience with investment properties and diverse residential situations matters
View full profile →

Consider Mikes Plumbing And Rooter if...

  • You're facing a plumbing emergency and need someone on-site within 30 minutes to 2 hours, where Mike's rapid response time is a documented strength
  • You need evening, weekend, or holiday availability for urgent situations
  • You're comfortable verifying insurance details directly and confirming your own homeowner's policy covers contractor injuries given the lack of workers comp on file
  • Your project is straightforward plumbing work like drain clearing or fixture installation rather than complex diagnostics
View full profile →

Questions to Ask Before Hiring

  • For Mike's Plumbing: Ask directly about liability coverage and confirm whether your homeowner's insurance policy covers contractor injuries, given the lack of workers compensation on file
  • For Mike's Plumbing: Ask for references from projects similar in scope to yours to assess capability despite newer licensure status
  • For both companies: Request a detailed written estimate and timeline, particularly if your project involves potential hidden issues like old galvanized pipes or outdated fixtures
  • For both companies: Ask about warranty terms on parts and labor, and whether they'll handle any necessary permit applications for your specific project

The Bottom Line

For most homeowners, Ducks Plumbing Heating Air is the safer choice with nine years of experience, full workers compensation coverage, and HVAC capabilities alongside plumbing. The experience difference matters for older homes and complex projects, and the insurance coverage protects you from liability exposure. Choose Mike's Plumbing only if you're facing a true emergency requiring arrival within an hour or two, and only after confirming your homeowner's insurance covers contractor injuries and verifying their liability coverage directly. For planned work, Ducks offers better protection and proven capability handling complicated scenarios.

Get Up to 3 Free Quotes

Compare prices from licensed, verified contractors

3 pros will compete for your business
Licensed & Insured
Top-Rated Pros
100% Free

Frequently Asked Questions

It matters significantly for your liability exposure. If a worker from a company without workers comp is injured on your property, your homeowner's insurance could potentially be held responsible for medical costs and lost wages. With Ducks' confirmed workers comp coverage, that risk transfers to their insurance carrier. Before hiring Mike's, contact your insurance agent to understand your specific exposure and consider requiring proof of liability coverage.

Yes, particularly for older homes and complex projects. Nine years means Ducks has encountered a wider range of complications like corroded pipes, outdated systems, and hidden damage that only reveals itself mid-project. Newer contractors can absolutely do quality work, but they have less pattern recognition for diagnosing tricky issues. For straightforward repairs, the gap matters less; for older homes or full system replacements, it matters more.

It depends on your situation. For true emergencies like burst pipes flooding your home, Mike's 30-minute to 2-hour response time could prevent thousands in water damage, making it the right choice despite the tradeoffs. For non-emergency work like planned replacements or routine repairs, Ducks' same-day or next-day service is fast enough, and you gain the benefits of more experience and full insurance coverage.

Mike's handles many of the same project types including water heater replacements, leak repairs, and drain work that appear in both companies' histories. However, Ducks explicitly mentions working on century-old homes and investment properties, suggesting comfort with more complicated scenarios. Mike's also focuses solely on plumbing while Ducks handles HVAC, which matters if you need both services. For standard residential plumbing, Mike's capability appears solid based on customer feedback.

Looking for the Best?

See our ranked list of top plumbing contractors in Sacramento.

View Top 10 Plumbing Contractors in Sacramento

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.

Get in Touch

Have questions or feedback? We'd love to hear from you.

Get Free Quotes