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Mr Drain vs Serieux Plumbing
Sacramento Plumbing Contractors Comparison · Updated March 2026
Mr Drain brings 12 more years of experience and full insurance protection, while Serieux Plumbing lacks workers compensation coverage.
| Mr Drain | Serieux Plumbing | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 4.9 | ★ 5.0 |
| Years Licensed | 20 years | 8 years |
| License # | 871866 | 1042242 |
| Workers' Comp | ✓ Yes | — |
| Bond Amount | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Location | Carmichael, CA | Sacramento, CA |
| Website | www.mrdrainplumbers.com | www.serieuxplumbing.com |
Key Differences
What Customers Say
Mr Drain
Customers consistently praise Mr Drain's professional technicians, rapid emergency response, and thorough diagnostic explanations, though some mention pricing concerns.
Serieux Plumbing
Serieux Plumbing receives strong feedback for punctuality, patient education of homeowners, and solving problems other contractors misdiagnosed or overcomplicated.
Key Takeaway: Mr Drain operates as a multi-technician emergency response team, while Serieux Plumbing functions as a smaller, owner-involved operation focused on complex projects requiring careful problem-solving.
Customer Reviews
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...
Serieux Plumbing
I am so thrilled to have found Alvin and Serieux Plumbing. I will never use anyone else! We had 75 year old pipes that needed replacing throughout our entire house. He talked us through all the price ...
Alvin replaced a toilet for us and will definitely be our go-to for future plumbing needs. He's friendly, great at explaining things and laying out your options, and fairly priced.
Alvin is an honest, reliable, and intelligent plumber. I will contact him for any of my future plumbing needs.
Consider Mr Drain if...
- ✓ You have an emergency plumbing situation requiring same-day response, as Mr Drain's multi-technician operation consistently delivers rapid arrival times for urgent calls.
- ✓ Your project involves older infrastructure where hidden complications are likely, and 20 years of diagnostic experience becomes valuable when problems don't match textbook scenarios.
- ✓ You want full insurance protection including workers compensation, eliminating any potential liability concerns if someone is injured during the work.
- ✓ You prefer an established company with two decades of sustained operations demonstrating stability and the ability to stand behind their work long-term.
Consider Serieux Plumbing if...
- ✓ Your project is a complex remodel or whole-house repipe where personalized attention and owner involvement matter more than rapid emergency response.
- ✓ You appreciate thorough education about your plumbing systems and want a contractor who takes time to explain options and help you understand preventative maintenance.
- ✓ Previous contractors have misdiagnosed your problem, and you need someone with strong troubleshooting skills who approaches issues methodically.
- ✓ You're willing to verify liability coverage directly and confirm your homeowner's insurance adequately protects you given the lack of workers comp on file.
Questions to Ask Before Hiring
- → For Serieux Plumbing: Ask specifically about liability coverage and confirm with your homeowner's insurance that you're protected if a worker is injured on your property given the absence of workers comp.
- → For Mr Drain: Ask which technician will handle your job and whether the same person will complete the entire project, given their multi-technician operation.
- → For both: Request references from projects similar in scope to yours, particularly if your home is older or the work involves potential complications.
- → For Serieux Plumbing: Ask how the contractor handles scheduling and availability for follow-up visits if issues arise after the initial work.
The Bottom Line
Mr Drain is the safer choice for most homeowners, offering full insurance protection, 12 additional years of problem-solving experience, and reliable emergency response. Their workers compensation coverage alone eliminates a significant liability concern that Serieux Plumbing presents. However, if you're planning a complex remodel where personalized attention matters most, and you've confirmed your insurance adequately covers contractor injuries, Serieux Plumbing's hands-on approach and problem-solving reputation make them worth considering—just understand you're accepting additional risk.
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Frequently Asked Questions
For straightforward repairs like toilet replacements or basic leak fixes, both contractors have sufficient experience. However, for diagnostic work on older homes, sewer line issues, or situations where the initial problem reveals underlying damage, Mr Drain's 20 years means they've seen more unusual scenarios and complications. Experience becomes most valuable when things don't go as expected.
If a worker is injured at your home and the contractor lacks workers compensation insurance, your homeowner's policy may become the primary coverage for medical bills and lost wages. This could result in claims against your policy, potential rate increases, and even lawsuits if injuries are severe. You should call your insurance agent to understand your specific exposure before hiring any contractor without workers comp.
Serieux Plumbing has specific customer feedback mentioning successful whole-house repiping with high owner involvement, suggesting they handle these complex projects methodically. Mr Drain's broader experience means they've likely done more total repipes over 20 years. The workers comp issue becomes more significant for multi-day projects with extended exposure to liability risk.
Some customers mention Mr Drain's pricing felt high, though workers compensation insurance does add real costs that contractors pass along. You're paying for full legal protection and deeper diagnostic experience. Get quotes from both contractors for your specific project and weigh the insurance protection and experience level against the price difference you actually see.
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See our ranked list of top plumbing contractors in Sacramento.
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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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