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Egan Plumbing vs Natan Plumbing
San Mateo Plumbing Contractors Comparison · Updated March 2026
A 40-year veteran with full insurance faces a responsive newcomer without workers compensation coverage.
| Egan Plumbing | Natan Plumbing | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 3.7 | ★ 5.0 |
| Years Licensed | 40 years | 0 years |
| License # | 484784 | 1148295 |
| Workers' Comp | ✓ Yes | — |
| Bond Amount | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Location | San Carlos, CA | Redwood City, CA |
| Website | www.eganplumbing.com | www.natanplumbing.com |
Key Differences
What Customers Say
Natan Plumbing
Customers consistently praise fast response times, same-day availability, professional conduct, and fair pricing with particular emphasis on thorough diagnostics and efficient completion.
Key Takeaway: Natan has substantial recent customer feedback documenting service quality and responsiveness, while Egan's 40-year history lacks visible recent customer validation despite decades of operation.
Customer Reviews
Egan Plumbing
The Best
Natan Plumbing
Found these guys on Thumbtack, they were super responsive, super reliable, and when they arrived, the plumber got to work immediately. I would certainly call these guys again. Super reliable and thoro...
What a fantastic experience. Natan came out the same day and was extremely nice and such a stand up person. Do not look any further for any plumbing work. He's got a customer for life.
Had my drain cleared by Natan Plumbing. Communication was excellent and price was good. Eugen actually showed up a little early and was very professional. The job had some complications and he did not...
Consider Egan Plumbing if...
- ✓ You're dealing with a complex issue in an older home where hidden problems are likely, such as corroded pipes behind walls or outdated plumbing systems requiring specialized knowledge of Bay Area construction from the 1950s-1980s.
- ✓ Workers compensation protection is non-negotiable for you, and you want to eliminate any risk of your homeowner's insurance being dragged into a contractor injury claim.
- ✓ You value the stability of a business that has survived four decades of market changes, economic cycles, and evolving building codes in San Mateo County.
- ✓ Your project can accommodate a contractor without extensive recent customer feedback visible online.
Consider Natan Plumbing if...
- ✓ You need fast response for an urgent plumbing issue and value demonstrated same-day availability and weekend emergency service based on actual customer experiences.
- ✓ You're comfortable verifying your homeowner's insurance coverage for contractor injuries and willing to accept the workers compensation gap in exchange for other benefits.
- ✓ Your project is straightforward (drain cleaning, fixture replacement, leak repair) where 40 years of experience provides diminishing returns over competent newer contractors.
- ✓ Fair pricing and transparent communication are top priorities, and you want to work with a contractor who has recent feedback confirming these qualities.
Questions to Ask Before Hiring
- → For Natan Plumbing: What liability insurance coverage do you carry, and can you confirm in writing that my homeowner's policy won't be the primary coverage if a worker is injured?
- → For Egan Plumbing: Can you provide references from projects completed in the past 12 months, particularly jobs similar to mine?
- → For both: How long has your current crew been working together, and who specifically will be working on my property?
- → For Natan Plumbing: Given your newer licensing status, what training or background do your technicians have, and can you provide references from complex projects if mine involves hidden or older plumbing systems?
The Bottom Line
For most homeowners, Egan Plumbing's 40 years of licensing and workers compensation coverage provide the safer choice, particularly for complex projects or older homes where experience diagnosing hidden issues matters. The insurance protection alone eliminates a real liability risk that Natan's absence of workers comp creates. However, if you have an urgent need, can verify your homeowner's insurance covers contractor injuries, and your project is straightforward, Natan's demonstrated fast response and fair pricing make them worth considering despite their newer status. Before hiring Natan, explicitly confirm liability coverage in writing and understand your own insurance position.
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Frequently Asked Questions
It matters regardless of project size. If a technician is injured while unclogging your drain or replacing a faucet, the liability question doesn't scale down with project simplicity. Your homeowner's insurance could become primary coverage, potentially affecting your rates or exposing you to direct liability. This is a real financial risk that you should either accept consciously or verify your own insurance coverage can handle before hiring Natan.
For truly routine tasks like replacing a standard fixture, the difference is minimal. However, many seemingly simple jobs reveal complications once work begins—corroded pipes, non-standard configurations in older homes, or code violations that need addressing. Four decades of experience means Egan has likely encountered your specific situation before and can diagnose hidden issues that a newer contractor might miss or handle inefficiently.
Many established contractors built their reputation through word-of-mouth and repeat customers before online reviews became standard. This doesn't necessarily indicate poor service, but it does mean you're relying on licensing history rather than recent customer experiences. Ask Egan directly for recent references and consider whether the lack of visible feedback affects your confidence in their current service quality and responsiveness.
That depends on your specific situation and risk tolerance. If you have an emergency and can verify your homeowner's insurance provides adequate contractor injury coverage, Natan's demonstrated same-day availability and weekend service may be valuable. For non-urgent work or if you cannot confirm insurance protection, the workers compensation gap becomes harder to justify regardless of response speed.
Looking for the Best?
See our ranked list of top plumbing contractors in San Mateo.
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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 13, 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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