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Able Plumbing Sewer And Drain vs Boxers Plumbing
Santa Clara Plumbing Contractors Comparison · Updated March 2026
Able Plumbing brings three times the licensing experience but lacks workers compensation insurance, while Boxers Plumbing offers full coverage despite being newer.
| Able Plumbing Sewer And Drain | Boxers Plumbing | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 4.2 | ★ 4.9 |
| Years Licensed | 6 years | 2 years |
| License # | 1063451 | 1118575 |
| Workers' Comp | — | ✓ Yes |
| Bond Amount | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Location | San Jose, CA | Milpitas, CA |
| Website | www.ablesewer.com | boxersplumbing.com |
Key Differences
What Customers Say
Able Plumbing Sewer And Drain
Customers consistently highlight Able Plumbing's ability to diagnose problems and identify cost-effective alternatives that saved thousands compared to other contractors' quotes.
Boxers Plumbing
Boxers Plumbing receives repeated praise for exceptional emergency response speed, with multiple reports of same-day and after-hours service within 30-60 minutes.
Key Takeaway: Able's strength is diagnostic expertise that finds cheaper solutions to complex problems, while Boxers excels at rapid availability for urgent situations requiring immediate attention.
Customer Reviews
Able Plumbing Sewer And Drain
Able came yesterday and cleaned our septic tank and they were on time, efficient and dependable. I highly recommend this company!
Fast, courteous, professional! Great pricing and very friendly admin team!
Great work and Customer service.
Boxers Plumbing
They saved the day!! Nothing was draining, They Came out in less than an hour after i called. Got our main drain cleared and showed me how to help prevent it from happening again. I couldn't be happie...
Awesome service! Fixed my problem within 24 hours. My water main broke and the whole house lost water. I called 3pm, boxer plumbing showed up at 5pm. By 3 pm the day after, the whole thing is fixed. T...
Quality works and friendly too👍😊
Consider Able Plumbing Sewer And Drain if...
- ✓ You have a complex sewer or septic issue requiring diagnostic expertise, particularly if other contractors have quoted expensive solutions you want verified
- ✓ Your project involves older underground plumbing where experience identifying hidden problems matters more than emergency speed
- ✓ You're comfortable verifying your homeowner's insurance covers contractor injuries and are willing to accept that liability risk in exchange for greater experience
- ✓ You need specialized sewer line or septic tank work rather than general fixture repairs
Consider Boxers Plumbing if...
- ✓ You need emergency plumbing service, particularly after-hours or same-day response for urgent situations like leaks or drain backups
- ✓ Workers compensation coverage is non-negotiable for you, and you want to minimize liability exposure on your property
- ✓ Your project involves standard residential work like fixture installations, repiping, or drain clearing rather than complex diagnostics
- ✓ You value rapid availability and documented fast response times over additional years of licensing history
Questions to Ask Before Hiring
- → For Able Plumbing: Ask directly about liability coverage and verify whether your homeowner's insurance policy covers injuries to contractors without workers comp working on your property
- → For Boxers Plumbing: Ask for references from projects similar to yours completed during their 2 years in business, particularly if your work is complex
- → For both: Ask about their specific experience with your type of plumbing issue and how they handle unexpected complications discovered during work
- → Ask about warranty coverage and what happens if issues arise after project completion
The Bottom Line
Choose Boxers Plumbing if workers compensation coverage is important to you or if you need emergency response—their insurance protection and documented rapid availability are clear advantages. Choose Able Plumbing if your project involves complex sewer or septic diagnostics where their 6 years of experience matters, but only after confirming your homeowner's insurance covers contractor injuries. For most standard residential plumbing needs, Boxers offers better risk protection despite being newer, but Able's experience edge becomes meaningful for older homes and situations requiring cost-saving diagnostic work.
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Frequently Asked Questions
For straightforward fixture replacements or simple drain clearing, the difference is minimal. However, if your project involves older homes, sewer line diagnostics, or situations where other plumbers have already quoted expensive solutions, Able's additional years provide more exposure to unusual problems and cost-saving alternatives that customers specifically mention in their feedback.
If a worker is injured on your property and the company lacks workers comp, you could potentially be sued directly by the injured worker. Your homeowner's insurance may or may not cover this scenario depending on your specific policy. Before hiring Able Plumbing, call your insurance agent to verify your coverage explicitly includes contractor injuries.
Boxers Plumbing has documented emergency response capabilities with multiple customer reports of same-day and after-hours service, including arrivals within 30-60 minutes. While Able may offer emergency service, their customer feedback focuses on diagnostic work and cost savings rather than speed of response.
Boxers Plumbing's reviews mention successful completion of more extensive projects like bathroom repiping alongside routine repairs, suggesting capability beyond basic work. However, for unusually complex diagnostic challenges or older system troubleshooting, Able's additional experience provides more pattern recognition from encountering varied situations over 6 years.
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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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