Compare Local Pros
Comet Plumbing And Sewer vs Nelson Plumbing
Santa Clara Plumbing Contractors Comparison · Updated March 2026
Nelson Plumbing brings twice the experience but lacks workers compensation insurance, while Comet Plumbing offers complete coverage with 15 years of proven service.
| Comet Plumbing And Sewer | Nelson Plumbing | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 4.9 | ★ 5.0 |
| Years Licensed | 15 years | 34 years |
| License # | 951887 | 626176 |
| Workers' Comp | ✓ Yes | — |
| Bond Amount | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Location | Sunnyvale, CA | San Jose, CA |
| Website | www.call-comet.com | nelsonplumbers.com |
Key Differences
What Customers Say
Comet Plumbing And Sewer
Comet Plumbing customers consistently emphasize rapid response times, same-day availability including weekends and holidays, clear communication with detailed explanations, and fair pricing across a wide range of project types.
Nelson Plumbing
Nelson Plumbing customers highlight technical expertise, professional service quality, and emergency response capability for both minor repairs and major repiping projects.
Key Takeaway: Comet's reviews provide significantly more detail about communication practices, scheduling flexibility, and diagnostic thoroughness, while Nelson's feedback focuses more narrowly on technical competence and professionalism without elaborating on service experience details.
Customer Reviews
Comet Plumbing And Sewer
Comet plumbing did a excellent job at my home . A fair price, competent, knowledgeable, efficient , clean and professional! Thank you Andy, I will be calling you for future issues if needed.
We had a drain issue right around the holidays and Andrew fixed it that same day. He and his team have always done great work at a fair price!
Andrew from Comet Plumbing was wonderful! He helped install two clean-outs and fixed a root infested pipe for a reasonable price (plus nice discount). I'll definitely be using them again!
Nelson Plumbing
I have so much to say about how great Nelson Plumbing is! In an emergency I was lucky I picked the right company for the job! Fast response on a Saturday! Professional and super knowledgeable! New wat...
I don't know what I'd do without Carrie Nelson (ok and P.J., her husband) We have used Nelson Plumbing from small things like replacing our kitchen sink faucet to repiping our entire 2 story house wit...
Consider Comet Plumbing And Sewer if...
- ✓ You want complete insurance protection without verifying additional coverage details or relying on your homeowner's policy for contractor injuries
- ✓ Communication and detailed explanations are priorities, especially if you want camera inspections and thorough diagnostics of underlying problems
- ✓ You need flexible scheduling with documented weekend and holiday availability, including same-day service
- ✓ You value extensive customer feedback showing consistent performance across drain clearing, sewer replacement, water heaters, and full re-pipes
Consider Nelson Plumbing if...
- ✓ You're comfortable verifying workers comp status directly and ensuring adequate liability coverage before work begins
- ✓ Maximum technical experience matters most for your project, particularly if you have an older home with potentially complicated plumbing systems
- ✓ You're facing a major undertaking like whole-house repiping where 34 years of field experience provides additional confidence
- ✓ You prioritize deep industry knowledge over communication details and are willing to do additional due diligence on insurance
Questions to Ask Before Hiring
- → For Nelson Plumbing: Ask directly about workers compensation coverage status and request proof of current insurance, then verify with your homeowner's policy whether you're covered if a contractor is injured on your property
- → For both companies: Request references from projects similar in scope to yours, particularly if you're considering major work like repiping
- → For Nelson Plumbing: Given limited review details about communication, ask how they handle project updates and whether they provide diagnostic explanations and documentation
- → For both companies: Confirm specific response times and weekend availability for your project timeline
The Bottom Line
For most homeowners, Comet Plumbing is the safer choice this week. Their 15 years of veteran experience is more than sufficient for residential projects, they carry full workers compensation coverage protecting you from liability, and customer feedback consistently highlights responsive communication and service across diverse project types. Choose Nelson Plumbing only if you're willing to verify insurance coverage thoroughly and specifically value their additional 19 years of technical experience for a complex project. Don't hire Nelson without confirming workers comp status and understanding your liability exposure first.
Get Up to 3 Free Quotes
Compare prices from licensed, verified contractors
Frequently Asked Questions
For straightforward repairs like faucet replacements or drain clearing, both companies have more than sufficient experience. The gap becomes more meaningful for complex diagnostics on older homes, hidden sewer line damage, or whole-house repiping where Nelson's additional two decades of problem-solving experience could prove valuable. However, Comet's 15 years still qualifies as veteran-level expertise for most residential projects.
It's a real liability concern you shouldn't ignore. If a worker is injured on your property and the company lacks workers comp, your homeowner's insurance may have to cover medical costs and damages, potentially affecting your rates. Before hiring Nelson, verify their current coverage status directly and confirm with your insurance agent what your exposure would be. Comet's coverage eliminates this concern entirely.
Both companies demonstrate fast emergency response in customer reviews. Comet has more detailed feedback about same-day service, weekend availability, and arriving within hours of contact, even on holidays. Nelson also receives praise for emergency responsiveness but with less specific documentation of availability patterns. If immediate response is critical, ask both for their typical emergency response times and weekend coverage.
Not necessarily—it means Comet's customers specifically highlight detailed explanations and multiple contact options as standout qualities. Nelson receives recognition for technical knowledge, but reviews don't provide as much detail about their communication style. If having problems thoroughly explained matters to you, ask Nelson directly about their diagnostic process and how they keep customers informed throughout projects.
Looking for the Best?
See our ranked list of top plumbing contractors in Santa Clara.
Other Santa Clara Plumbing Contractors Comparisons
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.
Get in Touch
Have questions or feedback? We'd love to hear from you.