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Allstar Plumbing vs Farwest Plumbing

Santa Clara Plumbing Contractors Comparison · Updated March 2026

Quick Verdict

Both are veteran plumbers with decades of experience, but Allstar carries workers comp while Farwest does not.

Allstar Plumbing: Veteran San Jose plumber with 29 years of licensing, active workers comp, and strong customer feedback on responsiveness and professionalism.
Farwest Plumbing: Veteran Mt View plumber with 33 years of licensing but no workers comp on file and no visible customer review history.
Note: Farwest Plumbing does not carry workers compensation insurance, which shifts injury liability risk to the homeowner if a worker is hurt on your property.
Allstar Plumbing Farwest Plumbing
Rating 4.8 4.0
Years Licensed 29 years 33 years
License # 732611 669680
Workers' Comp ✓ Yes
Bond Amount $25,000 $25,000
Location San Jose, CA Mt View, CA
Website goallstar.com www.farwestplumbing.com

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Key Differences

The most critical difference is workers compensation insurance. Allstar carries active workers comp, while Farwest does not have coverage on file. This matters because if a plumber is injured on your property and the company lacks workers comp, your homeowner's insurance may become the primary coverage—potentially exposing you to significant liability claims. Beyond insurance, Allstar has substantial customer feedback documenting quick response times, professional service, and expertise across diverse projects from emergency leak repairs to gas line installations. Farwest's lack of visible review history means you're hiring without insight into recent customer experiences, communication style, or service reliability. While Farwest's four additional years of licensing demonstrates longevity, Allstar's 29 years also qualifies as veteran-tier experience with the added advantage of documented customer satisfaction and proper insurance protection.

What Customers Say

Allstar Plumbing

Customers consistently highlight Allstar's rapid response times with same-day service, professional technicians who explain work clearly, and effective problem-solving on both routine and complex plumbing issues.

Key Takeaway: Allstar has visible customer feedback documenting service quality and responsiveness, while Farwest has no public review history to assess recent customer experiences.

Customer Reviews

Allstar Plumbing

Jan 2026

Great job Luis I give a 10

Jan 2026

Joe L. Provided a great services and very satisfied with the work he did.

Jan 2026

Joe was a great technician that new his job very well. He did a great job in letting us know what was happening with all of the repairs. You have a great company that is very helpful and professional....

Farwest Plumbing

No reviews available

Consider Allstar Plumbing if...

  • You want to minimize liability risk with confirmed workers compensation coverage protecting you if injuries occur during the job
  • You value being able to verify recent customer experiences before hiring, particularly regarding response times and communication quality
  • You need confidence in emergency responsiveness, as multiple customers report same-day service and arrival within an hour of calling
  • Your project involves complex diagnostics or problem-solving where documented experience with challenging repairs provides reassurance
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Consider Farwest Plumbing if...

  • You're located in Mt View and prioritize a contractor based in your immediate area over one in nearby San Jose
  • You're willing to ask detailed questions about insurance coverage and liability arrangements directly, and verify how worker injuries would be handled
  • The four additional years of licensing history (33 vs 29) holds particular value for your specific situation
  • You're comfortable hiring without visible customer feedback and can obtain references directly from the company
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Questions to Ask Before Hiring

  • Ask Farwest directly about their workers compensation status and request written confirmation of how liability would be handled if a worker is injured on your property
  • Confirm with your homeowner's insurance whether your policy covers contractor injuries for companies without workers comp, and what your deductible and liability limits are
  • Ask Farwest for recent customer references specific to your type of project, since public review history is not available
  • Request detailed written estimates from both companies that specify scope of work, materials, timeline, and warranty terms

The Bottom Line

Allstar Plumbing is the clearer choice for most homeowners. Both contractors bring veteran experience, but Allstar provides workers comp protection that eliminates a significant liability risk Farwest exposes you to. Additionally, Allstar's documented track record of quick response times, professional service, and successful handling of diverse projects gives you confidence before hiring. Unless you're specifically committed to a Mt View-based contractor and willing to navigate the workers comp gap directly, Allstar offers better protection and transparency for your plumbing needs.

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Frequently Asked Questions

It means if a plumber is injured while working on your property, your homeowner's insurance may become the primary coverage for medical bills and lost wages, potentially leading to claims against your policy. This is a real financial risk that Allstar's workers comp coverage eliminates by making the contractor's insurance responsible instead.

Both qualify as veteran-tier experience with deep knowledge of plumbing systems, local codes, and complex problem-solving. The four-year difference is less significant than other factors like insurance coverage and documented customer service quality. Either contractor has sufficient experience to handle standard and complex plumbing work.

This could reflect different business practices around requesting feedback, online presence strategies, or customer engagement approaches. The absence of reviews doesn't necessarily indicate poor service, but it does mean you lack independent verification of recent customer experiences, making direct references more important.

For most homeowners, yes. The liability risk is real and potentially expensive if an injury occurs. If you're considering Farwest despite this, get written confirmation of their liability coverage, verify your homeowner's policy covers contractor injuries, and understand you're accepting additional financial risk that doesn't exist with Allstar.

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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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