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Comet Plumbing And Sewer vs Washburn Construction

Santa Clara Plumbing Contractors Comparison · Updated March 2026

Quick Verdict

Established plumber with proven customer track record versus general contractor with no visible feedback or service details.

Comet Plumbing And Sewer: Fifteen-year plumbing specialist with extensive customer reviews highlighting fast response times and transparent communication.
Washburn Construction: Twenty-nine-year general contractor with proper licensing and insurance but no available customer feedback or project information.
Note: Washburn Construction lacks any customer reviews or project details, making it impossible to verify service quality or responsiveness.
Comet Plumbing And Sewer Washburn Construction
Rating 4.9 5.0
Years Licensed 15 years 29 years
License # 951887 734942
Workers' Comp ✓ Yes ✓ Yes
Bond Amount $25,000 $25,000
Location Sunnyvale, CA Sunnyvale, CA
Website www.call-comet.com washburnconstructionca.com

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Key Differences

The most significant difference isn't years licensed—it's the complete absence of verifiable customer feedback for Washburn Construction. While Comet Plumbing demonstrates a clear service profile with reviews consistently praising same-day availability, weekend response, and transparent pricing, Washburn Construction provides no project examples, customer testimonials, or service details beyond basic licensing information. For plumbing work specifically, Comet's 15 years represents deep specialization in drain clearing, sewer line replacement, water heaters, and re-piping. Washburn's broader general contractor license spans 29 years, but without knowing their plumbing expertise or recent project activity, homeowners face uncertainty about whether plumbing represents a core competency or occasional side work. The contrast in owner involvement is equally stark: Andrew Rhodes at Comet personally handles fieldwork and maintains direct customer contact, while Washburn's operational structure remains unclear.

What Customers Say

Comet Plumbing And Sewer

Customers consistently emphasize rapid response times, same-day availability including weekends, and clear communication with detailed problem explanations.

Key Takeaway: Comet Plumbing has substantial customer feedback documenting service quality and responsiveness, while Washburn Construction has no visible reviews to assess their plumbing capabilities or customer service approach.

Customer Reviews

Comet Plumbing And Sewer

Dec 2025

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.

Dec 2025

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!

Dec 2025

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!

Washburn Construction

Jul 2022

Excellent service some of the best carpentry work I've seen in my life.

Consider Comet Plumbing And Sewer if...

  • You need plumbing work completed this week and value proven responsiveness—customers consistently report same-day service and weekend availability
  • Your project involves specialized plumbing like sewer camera inspections, full re-pipes, or water main repairs where 15 years of focused experience matters
  • You want transparency in pricing and detailed explanations before work begins, both recurring themes in customer feedback
  • Direct owner involvement is important to you, as Andrew Rhodes personally handles much of the fieldwork
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Consider Washburn Construction if...

  • You have a multi-trade construction project beyond plumbing where a general contractor license might be relevant
  • The 29-year licensing history provides comfort even without customer reviews available for evaluation
  • You're willing to conduct thorough vetting through direct references since no public feedback exists to guide your decision
View full profile →

Questions to Ask Before Hiring

  • For Washburn Construction: Ask for at least three recent references for plumbing projects specifically, including contact information you can verify independently
  • For Washburn Construction: Ask what percentage of their current work involves plumbing and who would actually perform the work on-site
  • For Washburn Construction: Ask about typical response times and whether they offer emergency or weekend service for urgent plumbing issues

The Bottom Line

For plumbing work needed this week, Comet Plumbing And Sewer is the clear choice based on available evidence. The company demonstrates proven responsiveness, specialized plumbing expertise, and consistent customer satisfaction across the exact services most homeowners need. Washburn Construction may be a qualified contractor, but without any customer feedback, project examples, or clarity about their plumbing focus, you're making a decision blind. If you're considering Washburn, invest significant time vetting references and confirming their plumbing capabilities before hiring—time you may not have if you need service promptly.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Not necessarily for plumbing work. Washburn holds a general contractor license covering multiple trades over 29 years, while Comet has focused exclusively on plumbing for 15 years. Without knowing how much plumbing Washburn actually performs, Comet's specialized experience may be more relevant for most homeowner plumbing needs.

This could indicate several scenarios: the company may focus on commercial work rather than residential customers who typically leave reviews, they may receive jobs through industry channels rather than consumer platforms, or they may simply have limited recent activity. You should ask Washburn directly about their current customer base and request verifiable references.

Comet Plumbing has documented evidence of same-day and emergency response, with multiple customers reporting service within hours of contact, including weekends. Washburn Construction provides no information about response times, so you would need to ask them directly about availability and emergency service policies.

Comet Plumbing has verifiable experience with sewer line replacements, camera inspections, and full re-pipes based on customer project examples. Washburn's qualifications for this specific work are unknown without project history or references. For major plumbing infrastructure work, documented experience with similar projects provides important assurance.

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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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