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San Francisco Plumbing Company vs Stellar Plumbing

San Mateo Plumbing Contractors Comparison · Updated March 2026

Quick Verdict

San Francisco Plumbing Company brings 49 years of experience compared to Stellar Plumbing's 20 years, though both are veteran contractors with identical insurance and bonding.

San Francisco Plumbing Company: Nearly five-decade veteran with high owner involvement but occasional communication challenges from limited office staffing.
Stellar Plumbing: Twenty-year veteran emphasizing punctuality and clear customer communication throughout the service process.
San Francisco Plumbing Company Stellar Plumbing
Rating 3.9 5.0
Years Licensed 49 years 20 years
License # 323223 863322
Workers' Comp ✓ Yes ✓ Yes
Bond Amount $25,000 $25,000
Location Brisbane, CA Brisbane, CA
Website www.sfplumbingcompany.com stellarplumbinginc.com

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Key Differences

The most significant difference is operating tenure: San Francisco Plumbing Company has been continuously licensed for 49 years versus Stellar Plumbing's 20 years. While both qualify as veteran contractors, nearly five decades means San Francisco Plumbing has navigated vastly more system complications, building code evolutions, and legacy plumbing configurations common in older Bay Area properties. That said, customer feedback reveals contrasting strengths. Stellar Plumbing earns consistent praise for punctual arrivals and clear explanations throughout projects, suggesting streamlined scheduling systems. San Francisco Plumbing receives recognition for responsive owner involvement and thorough workmanship, particularly on commercial projects, but some customers report scheduling clarity issues tied to limited office staffing. Both handle similar project types, from basic repairs to installations, though San Francisco Plumbing explicitly mentions commercial consultation experience.

What Customers Say

San Francisco Plumbing Company

Customers appreciate responsive owner involvement and thorough workmanship but note occasional scheduling communication gaps from limited office capacity.

Stellar Plumbing

Customers consistently praise punctual arrivals, clear explanations during work, and professional service delivery throughout the project process.

Key Takeaway: Stellar Plumbing demonstrates stronger operational systems for scheduling and customer communication, while San Francisco Plumbing offers deeper owner engagement and commercial project experience.

Customer Reviews

San Francisco Plumbing Company

Nov 2025

Our kitchen sink was clogged, call sf plumbing and Sean sent out a plumber And he had sink unclogged and cleaned sink Cleaner than it's ever been. Very professional

Feb 2020

Shan, the owner is a great guy. He has just finished a job on my commercial property and did a great job. He was very responsive , punctual. He gave me free consultation at first and when I signed the...

Nov 2018

Great experience. Prompt response to a plumbing issue, great customer experience, and trust worthy people. Very happy and will use them again.

Stellar Plumbing

Jan 2026

Carter is an experienced professional who's on time and always fixes any issues we are having. Highly recommend!

Jan 2026

Great experience from start to finish. Scheduling the appointment was easy, they arrived right on time, and Lan was extremely knowledgeable. Everything was explained clearly and the work was done effi...

Nov 2025

Super happy with our upgraded kitchen faucet and water filtration system! Highly recommended professional service!

Consider San Francisco Plumbing Company if...

  • Your property has older plumbing systems that may require diagnosing hidden damage or working with outdated configurations where 49 years of field experience becomes valuable
  • You're planning a commercial plumbing project and want a contractor experienced in business property consultation and larger-scale planning
  • You prefer direct owner involvement and don't mind potentially slower office communication turnaround times
  • Your project complexity benefits from a contractor who has seen virtually every plumbing scenario over nearly five decades
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Consider Stellar Plumbing if...

  • You prioritize predictable scheduling with on-time arrivals and want minimal disruption to your daily routine
  • Clear communication throughout the project matters significantly to you, and you value technicians who explain work as they proceed
  • You're tackling straightforward residential projects like faucet upgrades, fixture installations, or water filtration systems where 20 years of experience is thoroughly sufficient
  • You want a smoother administrative experience with fewer callback delays during the scheduling process
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Questions to Ask Before Hiring

  • Ask San Francisco Plumbing Company how they handle scheduling coordination given limited office staffing, and what their typical callback timeframe is for non-emergency requests
  • Ask Stellar Plumbing for references from projects similar in scope to yours, particularly if you're considering commercial work where their experience is less documented
  • Ask both companies about their familiarity with your property's age and construction type to assess whether their experience aligns with your specific plumbing system

The Bottom Line

Both contractors bring veteran-level expertise and proper insurance protections. Choose San Francisco Plumbing Company if your property has older, complex plumbing systems or you need commercial project experience, and you're comfortable with potentially slower office communication. Choose Stellar Plumbing if you want predictable scheduling, punctual service, and clear communication throughout your project, particularly for residential installations and repairs where 20 years of experience is thoroughly adequate. For straightforward residential work, Stellar's stronger customer communication patterns may provide a smoother overall experience.

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Frequently Asked Questions

For straightforward residential repairs like fixing leaks or unclogging drains, both contractors have more than enough experience. The gap becomes meaningful if your property is older with legacy systems, or if complications arise requiring diagnosis of hidden problems where San Francisco Plumbing's additional three decades provides broader exposure to unusual scenarios.

Customer feedback suggests Stellar Plumbing has more consistent scheduling systems with repeated mentions of punctual arrivals and straightforward booking. San Francisco Plumbing has received some feedback about scheduling clarity issues tied to limited office staffing, though their technical work quality remains well-regarded.

San Francisco Plumbing Company explicitly mentions commercial project experience and offers free initial consultations for business properties, with customer feedback confirming commercial work. Stellar Plumbing's documented projects focus more on residential installations and repairs, so ask them directly about their commercial project portfolio if that's your need.

No, both companies maintain active workers compensation insurance and carry identical $25,000 bonds, providing proper protection if workers are injured on your property or contracted work isn't completed as agreed. Both meet California's regulatory requirements for financial protections.

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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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