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Boxers Plumbing vs Reliant Plumbing And Drain

Santa Clara Plumbing Contractors Comparison · Updated March 2026

Quick Verdict

Both are newer contractors with similar emergency service strengths, but Boxers carries workers compensation while Reliant does not.

Boxers Plumbing: Two-year-old plumbing contractor in Milpitas with workers comp coverage and strong emergency response reputation.
Reliant Plumbing And Drain: One-year-old plumbing contractor in Morgan Hill with high owner involvement but no workers compensation on file.
Note: Reliant Plumbing And Drain does not carry workers compensation insurance, creating potential liability for homeowners if a worker is injured on your property.
Boxers Plumbing Reliant Plumbing And Drain
Rating 4.9 5.0
Years Licensed 2 years 1 years
License # 1118575 1125974
Workers' Comp ✓ Yes
Bond Amount $25,000 $25,000
Location Milpitas, CA Morgan Hill, CA
Website boxersplumbing.com www.reliantplumbingservices.com

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Key Differences

The most significant difference between these contractors is workers compensation coverage. Boxers Plumbing carries workers comp insurance while Reliant does not have coverage on file. This matters because if a worker is injured at your home and the contractor lacks workers comp, your homeowner's insurance could be liable for medical costs and lost wages. Beyond insurance, Boxers has double the licensure time at two years versus one, which translates to an additional year of diagnosing problems and handling code compliance. Both companies excel at emergency response with same-day availability, but customer feedback suggests slightly different operational models: Boxers appears to have a team structure supporting their 24-hour availability, while Reliant operates with high owner involvement serving repeat clients over multi-year relationships.

What Customers Say

Boxers Plumbing

Customers emphasize extremely fast emergency response with documented arrival times under an hour and appreciate detailed explanations of problems before work begins.

Reliant Plumbing And Drain

Customers highlight long-term relationships with repeat service over multiple years and consistent professional communication from the owner directly.

Key Takeaway: Boxers' feedback centers on speed and availability as a service feature, while Reliant's reviews emphasize personal relationship-building with the owner over time.

Customer Reviews

Boxers Plumbing

Dec 2025

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...

Dec 2025

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...

Oct 2025

Quality works and friendly too👍😊

Reliant Plumbing And Drain

Jan 2026

Matt is very reliable and provides a nominal price for plumbing jobs. He is very professional and has gained trust with fair and upfront costs and expectations

Jan 2026

We had a wonderful experience with Matt Lenwell from Reliant Plumbing and Drain. From the very beginning, his communication was outstanding - he responded right away and kept us informed throughout th...

Dec 2025

I've been using Reliant plumbing company for 10 years and they've never let me down once. Matt is absolutely incredible to work with-professional, knowledgeable, and genuinely cares about getting the ...

Consider Boxers Plumbing if...

  • You want the liability protection of workers compensation coverage, especially for larger projects with multiple workers or extended timelines
  • You need guaranteed 24-hour emergency service with quick dispatch, as Boxers specifically advertises this capability with documented 30-minute to one-hour response times
  • Your project involves specialized installations like automatic gas shutoff valves or water treatment systems that benefit from their broader service scope
  • You're located in Milpitas or northern Santa Clara County where their service area is centered
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Consider Reliant Plumbing And Drain if...

  • You're comfortable verifying your homeowner's insurance covers contractor injuries and accepting that risk in exchange for potentially working directly with the owner
  • You value building a long-term relationship with a single contractor, as multiple customers mention repeat service over several years
  • Your project is straightforward (fixture replacement, drain cleaning, valve work) where one year versus two years of licensure makes minimal practical difference
  • You're located in Morgan Hill or southern Santa Clara County where Reliant is based
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Questions to Ask Before Hiring

  • For Reliant: Ask specifically about liability coverage and confirm with your homeowner's insurance agent whether your policy covers injuries to uninsured contractors and their workers
  • For both companies: Request references from projects completed in the past six months that match your specific plumbing need
  • For Boxers: Ask whether your service will be performed by the owner or a crew member, and how long their technicians have been with the company
  • For Reliant: Ask about backup availability if the owner is unavailable during your emergency, given the high owner involvement

The Bottom Line

For most homeowners, Boxers Plumbing is the lower-risk choice with workers compensation coverage that protects you from liability if someone gets hurt on your property. Their extra year of licensure and documented 24-hour emergency infrastructure provide additional confidence. However, if you're in Morgan Hill with a straightforward plumbing need and you verify your homeowner's insurance adequately covers contractor injuries, Reliant's owner-operated model and repeat customer base suggest reliable service at fair prices. Do not hire Reliant without first confirming your insurance coverage with your agent.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, it creates real financial exposure. If a worker is injured on your property and the contractor has no workers comp, your homeowner's insurance may become the primary coverage for medical bills and lost wages, potentially leading to rate increases or out-of-pocket costs. Call your insurance agent to understand your specific policy before hiring any contractor without workers comp.

For straightforward fixture replacements or simple repairs, the difference is minimal. However, for diagnostic work involving hidden leaks, repiping projects, or situations where code interpretation matters, that extra year represents dozens more projects and problem-solving scenarios. Both are still quite new compared to contractors with 5-10+ years of experience.

The speed appears comparable based on customer reports of same-day and after-hours service. The structural difference is that Boxers advertises 24-hour service as a company capability, suggesting team coverage, while Reliant's emergency availability appears dependent on the owner's personal schedule. For middle-of-the-night emergencies, ask both about current response capabilities.

Boxers is the safer choice for extended projects due to workers comp coverage, which matters more when workers are on-site for multiple days. Their customer feedback also specifically mentions bathroom repiping projects. However, confirm they have crew availability for your timeline, as scheduling can be challenging for newer contractors during busy seasons.

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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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