Quick Comparison
| Firm | Founded / Tenure & Credentials | Services & Specialties | Geographic Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield Plumbing Company, Inc. | 1910 (116 years); long tenured Kern County operation | CA CSLB License #383310 (active), BBB Accredited | Bakersfield base; Kern County |
| J. Noble Binns Plumbing Co., Inc. | 1945 (James Noble Binns founder); Don Schimnowski acquired 1985; current President Donald Jay Schimnowski plus Secretary Carolyn Schimnowski | CA CSLB Plumbing Contractor, BBB Accredited | Pegasus Drive base in Bakersfield (93308); Kern County, Bakersfield Metro |
| HPS Mechanical, Inc. | 1959 (founded as Harry's Plumbing Service by Harry DenHerder); three DenHerder family generations (Harry → Les 1976 → Scott 2018) | CA CSLB General Engineering, General Building, plus C-36 Plumbing, HVAC, Pipeline, Fire Protection, Septic, Boiler | E Belle Terrace base in Bakersfield (93307); Kern County, San Diego branch |
| Hector's Plumbing Inc. | 30+ years of family-owned operation; multi-decade Hector family operating tenure | CA CSLB C-36 Plumbing Contractor, BBB Accredited | Bakersfield service base; Kern County |
1. Bakersfield Plumbing Company, Inc.
- Address: 4625 District Boulevard, Bakersfield, CA 93313
- Phone: (661) 327-7929
- Founder: Original 1910 founding; long tenured Kern County operation
- Operating Since: 1910 (116 years; the longest-tenured plumbing operation in Bakersfield)
- License: California CSLB License #383310 (Active); BBB Accredited
- Service area: Bakersfield, Oildale, Rosedale, East Bakersfield, Stockdale, Riverlakes, Brimhall, Lake Ming, Tehachapi, Arvin, Lamont, Wasco, Shafter, Delano, Kern County
- Website: bakersfieldplumbingcompany.com
116-Year Operating Tenure in Kern County
Bakersfield Plumbing Company has served Kern County since 1910. The 116-year operating history makes Bakersfield Plumbing the longest-tenured plumbing operation in the city. The firm’s continuous Kern County presence spans the entire arc of Bakersfield’s growth from a small Central Valley oil and agriculture town into the contemporary metro area.
Bakersfield and Kern County Service Coverage
The Bakersfield service base supports dispatch across Kern County. Service extends through Oildale, Rosedale, East Bakersfield, Stockdale, Riverlakes, and Brimhall in the Bakersfield Metro core. The wider footprint includes Tehachapi, Arvin, Lamont, Wasco, Shafter, and Delano across the broader Kern County agricultural and oilfield corridor.
CSLB License #383310 and Multi Decade Compliance
California regulates contractors through the Contractors State License Board (CSLB) under the C-36 Plumbing Contractor classification. Bakersfield Plumbing Company holds CSLB License #383310 with active status. The 116-year operating history plus continuous CSLB credentialing across multiple ownership generations supports a verifiable multi-decade compliance record. BBB Accreditation provides third-party reputation verification.
2. J. Noble Binns Plumbing Co., Inc.
- Address: 3529 Pegasus Drive, Bakersfield, CA 93308 (current); 1725 Eye Street, Bakersfield, CA 93301 (business address); PO Box 1947, Bakersfield, CA 93303
- Phone: (661) 615-6101
- Founder: James Noble Binns (founded 1945); Don Schimnowski purchased the firm in 1985; current President Donald Jay Schimnowski; Carolyn Schimnowski as Secretary; family-owned across two ownership eras
- Operating Since: 1945 (81 years); two ownership eras: Binns founding 1945 through 1985, Schimnowski family ownership 1985 to present
- License: California CSLB Plumbing Contractor; BBB Accredited; Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce member
- Service area: Bakersfield (downtown, East Bakersfield, Stockdale, Riverlakes, Brimhall, Oildale), Kern County, Tehachapi, Arvin, Lamont, Wasco, Shafter, Delano, Greater Bakersfield Metro
- Website: binnsplumbing.com
James Noble Binns Founding Plus Schimnowski Family Operating Continuity
James Noble Binns founded the firm in 1945 in post-war Bakersfield. The Binns operation served as a Bakersfield area cornerstone for four decades. In 1985, Don Schimnowski purchased the company as a small service operation. Across the 41-year Schimnowski family operating period since 1985, the firm has grown into a major Bakersfield plumbing contractor. Donald Jay Schimnowski serves as current President. Carolyn Schimnowski serves as Secretary.
Pegasus Drive Plus Eye Street Bakersfield Operating Bases
The current 3529 Pegasus Drive headquarters sits in northeast Bakersfield. The Eye Street business address at 1725 Eye Street frames the central downtown Bakersfield corridor. The dual location footprint supports residential and commercial plumbing service across Kern County. Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce membership reflects participation in the local business community.
CSLB Plumbing Contractor and Greater Bakersfield Service Mix
J. Noble Binns Plumbing operates under California CSLB Plumbing Contractor licensing through the State License Board. BBB Accreditation provides third-party reputation verification through BBB Central California. Service mix covers commercial and residential plumbing across the broader Kern County market, with substantial commercial contracting across Bakersfield’s oil and agriculture commercial properties.
3. HPS Mechanical, Inc.
- Address: 3100 East Belle Terrace, Bakersfield, CA 93307
- Phone: (661) 832-5419
- Founder: Harry DenHerder (founded 1959 as Harry’s Plumbing Service with one truck); son Les DenHerder purchased 1976; grandson Scott DenHerder formalized third generation succession 2018; three DenHerder family generations
- Operating Since: 1959 (67 years); three DenHerder family generations
- License: California CSLB General Engineering plus General Building plus C-36 Plumbing, HVAC, Pipeline, Fire Protection, Septic, and Boiler specialty classifications
- Service area: Bakersfield, Kern County, Central Valley, plus San Diego branch operations
- Website: hpsmechanical.com
Three DenHerder Family Generations Plus 67 Year Operating Tenure
Harry DenHerder founded Harry’s Plumbing Service in 1959 with a single truck focused on service work. His son Les DenHerder purchased the firm in 1976, transitioning to second generation DenHerder ownership. In June 2018, Les and his son Scott DenHerder formalized an agreement making HPS Mechanical a third-generation family business. The 67-year operating tenure spans three continuous DenHerder family generations.
East Belle Terrace Bakersfield Base Plus San Diego Expansion
The 3100 East Belle Terrace headquarters sits in Bakersfield’s eastern industrial corridor. HPS has expanded from the founding era single truck Bakersfield operation into a regional commercial and industrial mechanical contracting firm. A San Diego branch extends operating presence into Southern California. The firm’s service and construction scope covers both Central Valley and Southern California commercial markets.
Multi Classification CSLB License Stack
HPS Mechanical holds an notably broad CSLB credential portfolio: General Engineering Contractor, General Building Contractor, C-36 Plumbing, HVAC, Pipeline, Fire Protection, Septic, and Boiler specialty classifications. The eight credential stack materially exceeds typical single trade plumbing contractor configurations. The breadth supports commercial and industrial mechanical system projects requiring multi-trade integrated execution.
4. Hector’s Plumbing Inc.
- Address: Bakersfield, CA
- Phone: (661) 213-2295
- Founder: Hector family lineage (founded approximately 30+ years ago); family-owned and family-operated
- Operating Since: 30+ years of family-owned operation in Bakersfield
- License: California CSLB C-36 Plumbing Contractor; BBB Accredited
- Service area: Bakersfield (Stockdale, Riverlakes, East Bakersfield, Oildale, Rosedale, Brimhall, downtown), Kern County
- Website: hectorsplumbinginc.com
Hector Family Multi Decade Operating Tenure
Hector’s Plumbing has served Bakersfield as a family-owned business for over three decades. The Hector family operating structure has remained intact across the multi-decade tenure. The 30+ year continuous operating history represents substantial Bakersfield market depth distinguishing Hector’s from newer market entrants.
Bakersfield Service Geography
Hector’s Plumbing operates from a Bakersfield service base covering the broader Kern County market. Service extends across central Bakersfield neighborhoods (downtown, Stockdale, Riverlakes, East Bakersfield) plus the surrounding Oildale, Rosedale, and Brimhall communities. The Kern County agricultural and oilfield economy shapes residential housing stock characteristics that the firm has accumulated experience with.
CSLB C-36 Plumbing Contractor Compliance
Hector’s Plumbing operates under California CSLB C-36 Plumbing Contractor classification. BBB Accreditation provides third-party reputation verification through BBB Central California. Service mix covers residential plumbing repair, drain cleaning, water heater service, sewer service, and the broader plumbing trade scope across the Bakersfield Metro market.
Reference Notes
California plumbing licensing runs through the Contractors State License Board (CSLB). The C-36 Plumbing Contractor classification roots plumbing specific work. Verification runs through cslb.ca.gov. The City of Bakersfield Building Department issues building permits within Bakersfield city limits. Kern County administers permits in unincorporated Kern County areas. The City of Bakersfield Public Works Water Resources Department handles water service connections plus annual backflow prevention testing. Title 24 energy code revisions, drought conservation requirements, and seismic zone Plumbing Code provisions add layered pressures.
Bakersfield area residential housing reflects Central Valley oil and agriculture economy patterns. Pre-1900 housing remains in central Bakersfield’s historic core. The early 20th century oil boom (Kern River Field discovered 1899, Midway Sunset Field 1894) drove substantial 1900-1940 residential construction across Bakersfield’s central neighborhoods. The 1952 Bakersfield earthquake reshaped the central commercial district, with substantial post 1952 reconstruction. Postwar tract construction built out east Bakersfield, west Bakersfield, and Oildale through 1945-1975. The 1980s-1990s drove the Stockdale, Riverlakes, and Brimhall master-planned community expansion. Hard water mineralization plus extreme summer heat (Bakersfield regularly exceeds 100°F across June-September) plus expansive clay soil substrate plus oilfield area soil contamination considerations shape recurring service categories.
The four firms profiled cover four positions on the Bakersfield market arc. Bakersfield Plumbing Company leads tenure with 116 years of Kern County operation since 1910 plus active CSLB License #383310. J. Noble Binns Plumbing Co., Inc. follows with 81 years of operation since James Noble Binns’s 1945 founding, plus Don Schimnowski’s 1985 acquisition under current President Donald Jay Schimnowski and Secretary Carolyn Schimnowski. HPS Mechanical, Inc. brings 67 years of three generation DenHerder family operation since Harry DenHerder’s 1959 founding. Les DenHerder acquired the firm in 1976. Scott DenHerder formalized the third generation succession in 2018. The firm holds an particularly broad eight classification CSLB credential stack covering plumbing, HVAC, pipeline, fire protection, septic, boiler, plus general engineering and general building. Hector’s Plumbing Inc. runs 30+ years of Hector family operation under CSLB C-36 Plumbing Contractor credentialing across Bakersfield and Kern County.
Verification paths run through cslb.ca.gov, BBB Central California listings, the PHCC of California directory, and the City of Bakersfield Building Department contractor records. Pre-1940 oil boom era central Bakersfield housing tilts toward Bakersfield Plumbing Company’s 116-year operating depth. Commercial and residential service across multiple ownership eras fits J. Noble Binns. Multi-trade industrial mechanical contracting across Bakersfield and San Diego fits HPS Mechanical’s eight credential portfolio. Family owned residential service in Bakersfield Metro fits Hector’s Plumbing.
Selection Methodology
Selection follows four criteria. First, continuous family ownership or founder-operator continuity outside the national rollup pattern. Second, verifiable CSLB C-36 Plumbing Contractor license cross-checked via the California Contractors State License Board public lookup. Third, BBB Accreditation or equivalent third-party rating. Fourth, minimum 10-year continuous operating tenure with documented Bakersfield service coverage. Firms acquired by national franchise networks (Authority Brands’ Benjamin Franklin Plumbing, Neighborly’s Mr. Rooter, Service Experts, Roto-Rooter, Wrench Group, Redwood Services, Master Trades Group, ARS) are excluded.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I verify a Bakersfield plumber’s license?
Use the California Contractors State License Board public licensee database at cslb.ca.gov. Search by license number or business name. Confirm active status, classification, bonding, and insurance before authorizing work.
What credentials should a Bakersfield plumber hold?
At minimum: CSLB C-36 Plumbing Contractor classification plus general liability insurance and workers’ compensation coverage. Specialty work (gas line, backflow prevention, fire sprinkler, sewer lateral) requires additional credential layers.
How can I tell if a Bakersfield plumber is locally owned versus a national rollup?
Check ownership disclosures and acquisition history. National franchise brands typically operate under parent company branding. Search the firm name plus “acquired” or “parent company” to surface ownership structure. The four firms in this directory all run as independent locally owned operators.
When should I call an emergency plumber in Bakersfield?
Burst pipes, sewer backups, gas leaks, no water events, and water heater failures justify after-hours dispatch. Extreme summer heat drives water heater and outdoor fixture service demand peaks. Each firm in this directory offers either 24/7 emergency service or structured after-hours response.
Editorial Note
Compiled by the editorial team. Firm details cross-verified through state license databases, BBB business profiles, and firm-published websites where available. License numbers should be re-verified through the California CSLB public lookup before authorizing work. Information current as of the date below; firm details may change without notice. Last updated: 2026-05-10.