Compare Local Pros
Boxers Plumbing vs KDS Plumbing
Santa Clara Plumbing Contractors Comparison · Updated March 2026
A newcomer with proven emergency response speed versus a 31-year veteran with minimal online presence.
| Boxers Plumbing | KDS Plumbing | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 4.9 | ★ 3.7 |
| Years Licensed | 2 years | 31 years |
| License # | 1118575 | 696971 |
| Workers' Comp | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Bond Amount | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Location | Milpitas, CA | San Jose, CA |
| Website | boxersplumbing.com | — |
Key Differences
What Customers Say
Boxers Plumbing
Boxers Plumbing consistently receives praise for rapid emergency response times (30-60 minutes), same-day availability, and transparent communication with detailed problem explanations.
Key Takeaway: Boxers has substantial verifiable customer feedback documenting current performance, while KDS has no available reviews despite 31 years in business.
Customer Reviews
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👍😊
KDS Plumbing
Fast dependable reasonable priced
They do great afordabe work. Old school!
Consider Boxers Plumbing if...
- ✓ You need emergency plumbing service and want documented proof of rapid response times, with multiple customers reporting arrivals within 30-60 minutes
- ✓ You value transparent communication and detailed explanations of problems and pricing before work begins
- ✓ You prefer working with a contractor who has recent, verifiable customer feedback showing consistent performance
- ✓ Your project is straightforward (drain clearing, fixture replacement, leak repair) where speed and reliability matter more than decades of experience
Consider KDS Plumbing if...
- ✓ Your home is older and may have complex plumbing issues requiring someone who has seen every generation of Bay Area plumbing systems over 31 years
- ✓ You're planning a complex repiping project or major renovation where deep experience with code changes and legacy systems is crucial
- ✓ You have direct referrals from trusted neighbors or colleagues who can vouch for KDS's current work quality
- ✓ You're willing to thoroughly vet the company through direct conversation and references since online feedback isn't available
Questions to Ask Before Hiring
- → For KDS: Ask for at least three recent customer references from projects completed in the past year, and call them to verify responsiveness and work quality
- → For KDS: Ask about their typical response time for emergency calls and whether they offer after-hours availability
- → For Boxers: Ask for references from more complex projects like whole-house repiping to verify capability beyond emergency repairs
- → For both: Confirm their specific experience with your home's age and plumbing system type
The Bottom Line
If you need emergency service or value documented proof of responsiveness and communication, Boxers Plumbing's extensive recent customer feedback showing 30-60 minute response times and transparent pricing makes them the safer choice for most homeowners. However, if you're tackling a complex project in an older home and can obtain strong recent references directly from KDS, their 31 years navigating every generation of Bay Area plumbing could justify the extra vetting effort. For straightforward repairs and standard installations where speed and verified reliability matter most, Boxers is the clearer choice this week.
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Frequently Asked Questions
For common residential work like drain clearing, fixture installation, leak repairs, and water heater replacement, two years is sufficient—customers report quality results across these projects. However, for highly complex work like foundation plumbing issues or extensive repiping in older homes, KDS's 31 years navigating code changes and legacy systems could prove valuable if their current work quality matches their longevity.
Many established contractors built their business through word-of-mouth before online reviews became standard and never prioritized building an online presence. This doesn't necessarily indicate problems, but it does mean you'll need to request direct references and verify their current service quality through phone calls rather than relying on recent customer feedback.
Boxers Plumbing has documented evidence of rapid emergency response, with customers consistently reporting arrival within 30 minutes to an hour and same-day service availability. KDS doesn't have available feedback about their emergency responsiveness, so you'd need to ask them directly about their typical response times and after-hours availability before deciding.
Both companies meet California's legal requirements, which protects you equally from liability and provides basic financial recourse if work isn't completed. Since this baseline is identical, your decision should focus on the experience gap and the availability of verifiable customer feedback about actual service delivery.
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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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