Top 4 Plumbers in Fort Wayne, IN

Quick Comparison

Firm Founded / Tenure & Credentials Services & Specialties Geographic Focus
North Side Plumbing & Heating Co., Inc. 1929 (John R. Hartman and wife Mildred founders, started at their kitchen table during the Great Depression); incorporated 1949-08-24; current President John D. Hartman Jr. (third-generation), Vice President Tara Hartman; three Hartman family generations IN Plumbing Contractor (state-licensed journeymen plumbers on staff), BBB Accredited 2234 North Clinton Street Fort Wayne base (46805); Fort Wayne plus Allen County
Blakley Plumbing, Inc. 1958 (founder lineage); incorporated 1979-10-25; current President Roger Blakley, Secretary/Treasurer Lynn A. Blakley; third-generation father-and-son operation IN Plumbing Contractor, BBB Accredited 5545 Lake Avenue Fort Wayne base (46815); Fort Wayne plus Allen County
Gibson's Heating & Plumbing, Inc. 1983-11 (Mark Gibson and wife Christine Gibson founders; started as 2-person shop after Mark left a corporate-acquired heating company); plumbing service line added a few years after launch; family-owned and operated; 20-plus employees IN Plumbing Contractor, IN HVAC, Indiana Plumbing Heating & Cooling Contractors Association (INPHCC) member, BBB Accredited Waterloo IN base; Fort Wayne plus Northeastern Indiana, Northwestern Ohio, Southeastern Michigan
Coy Plumbing, Inc. 2009-09 (Brad Coy founder; 30-plus years personal plumbing-trade experience); fully licensed plumbing service IN Plumbing Contractor, BBB Accredited 3434 Taylor Street Fort Wayne base (46802); Fort Wayne plus Allen County (residential and commercial)

1. North Side Plumbing & Heating Co., Inc.

  • Address: 2234 North Clinton Street, Fort Wayne, IN 46805
  • Phone: (260) 483-6111
  • Founder: John R. Hartman and wife Mildred (founded 1929 at their kitchen table during the Great Depression); incorporated 1949-08-24; current President John D. Hartman Jr. (third-generation); Vice President Tara Hartman; three Hartman family generations
  • Operating Since: 1929-06-01 (97 years; the oldest continuously operating independent plumbing firm in Fort Wayne)
  • License: Indiana Plumbing Contractor (state-licensed journeymen plumbers on staff); BBB Accredited
  • Service area: Fort Wayne (downtown, Lakeside, North Anthony, Northeast, Northcrest, Glenwood Park, Forest Park, Westwood, Pine Valley, Aboite, Waynedale, Southwest, South Calhoun, New Haven) plus Allen County
  • Website: northsideplumbingfw.com

Three Hartman Generations Across 97 Years

John R. Hartman and his wife Mildred founded North Side Plumbing & Heating in 1929 at their kitchen table amidst the Great Depression. The firm formally incorporated on August 24, 1949. Across 97 years of continuous Hartman family ownership, the firm has evolved into a multigeneration Fort Wayne institution. John D. Hartman Jr. now leads the firm as third-generation President, with Tara Hartman serving as Vice President. The 97-year operating tenure ranks North Side among the longest-tenured family-owned plumbing operations in Northeastern Indiana.

North Clinton Street Fort Wayne Base

The 2234 North Clinton Street headquarters grounds the firm in north Fort Wayne (46805). The position enables rapid dispatch across Fort Wayne plus Allen County. Service extends through Fort Wayne neighborhoods (Lakeside, North Anthony, Northeast, Northcrest, Glenwood Park, Forest Park, Westwood, Pine Valley, Aboite, Waynedale, Southwest, South Calhoun) plus the New Haven and outer Allen County corridor.

Indiana Plumbing Contractor Compliance Across 97 Years

North Side Plumbing & Heating operates with state-licensed journeymen plumbers on staff. Indiana plumbing licensing runs through the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency (IPLA) Plumbing Commission, which issues Plumbing Contractor and Journeyman Plumber credentials. Verification runs through the IPLA license search at mylicense.in.gov. BBB Accreditation provides third-party reputation verification. The 97-year continuous family ownership supports a verifiable multi-generation compliance record.

2. Blakley Plumbing, Inc.

  • Address: 5545 Lake Avenue, Fort Wayne, IN 46815
  • Phone: (260) 485-3412
  • Founder: Founder lineage 1958; incorporated 1979-10-25; current President Roger Blakley; current Secretary/Treasurer Lynn A. Blakley; third-generation father-and-son operation
  • Operating Since: 1958-01-01 (68 years; family-owned for over three generations)
  • License: Indiana Plumbing Contractor; BBB Accredited
  • Service area: Fort Wayne plus Allen County (Lake Avenue corridor, North Anthony, New Haven, Aboite, Waynedale, Pine Valley, Southwest, North Side, East Allen County)
  • Website: blakleyplumbing1958.com

Three Blakley Generations Across 68 Years

Blakley Plumbing was founded in 1958 by the Blakley family. The firm was formally incorporated on October 25, 1979. Across 68 years of continuous Blakley family ownership, the firm has built a Fort Wayne institution recognized as among the oldest and most highly respected plumbing operators in Allen County. Roger Blakley currently serves as President with Lynn A. Blakley as Secretary/Treasurer. The third-generation father-and-son team continues the legacy started by their grandfather in 1958.

Lake Avenue Fort Wayne Operating Base

The 5545 Lake Avenue Fort Wayne headquarters places the firm in northeast Fort Wayne (46815). The position extends dispatch reach across the Lake Avenue corridor, North Anthony, Aboite, Waynedale, Pine Valley, Southwest, North Side, and the New Haven and East Allen County market.

Indiana Plumbing Contractor Compliance Plus 68-Year Family Tenure

Blakley Plumbing operates under Indiana Plumbing Contractor licensing through the IPLA Plumbing Commission. The 68-year continuous Blakley family ownership plus three-generation operating tenure supports a verifiable compliance record. BBB Accreditation provides third-party reputation verification.

3. Gibson’s Heating & Plumbing, Inc.

  • Address: Waterloo, IN 46793 (Fort Wayne metro service)
  • Phone: (260) 837-7191
  • Founder: Mark Gibson and wife Christine Gibson (founded 1983-11 as 2-person shop); plumbing service added a few years after the heating-only launch; family-owned and operated
  • Operating Since: 1983 (43 years; grown from 2-person shop to 20-plus employees)
  • License: Indiana Plumbing Contractor; Indiana HVAC; Indiana Plumbing Heating & Cooling Contractors Association (INPHCC) member; BBB Accredited
  • Service area: Fort Wayne plus Allen County, DeKalb County, Steuben County, Noble County, Whitley County (Northeastern Indiana), Northwestern Ohio (Defiance, Williams, Fulton counties), Southeastern Michigan (Hillsdale, Branch counties)
  • Website: gibsonsheating.com

43 Years of Gibson Family Operation

Mark Gibson and his wife Christine founded Gibson’s Heating in November 1983, about a year after they got married. Christine had been working as a waitress at a Waterloo diner. Mark had been working as a heating technician for a company that had recently been acquired by a larger corporation. Christine put in her two-weeks notice in October 1983, and by November the new firm was operating. Gibson’s added plumbing service a few years after launch. Across 43 years of continuous Gibson family ownership, the firm has grown from a 2-person shop to a 20-plus-employee operation serving three states.

Waterloo IN Base With Tri-State Reach

The Waterloo IN headquarters brings dispatch within across Northeastern Indiana including Fort Wayne, plus Northwestern Ohio and Southeastern Michigan. Service extends across Allen, DeKalb, Steuben, Noble, and Whitley counties in Indiana, Defiance, Williams, and Fulton counties in Ohio, plus Hillsdale and Branch counties in Michigan.

Indiana Plumbing-Plus-HVAC Plus INPHCC Trade-Association Compliance

Gibson’s Heating & Plumbing operates under Indiana Plumbing Contractor and Indiana HVAC credentialing. The firm holds active membership in the Indiana Plumbing Heating & Cooling Contractors Association (INPHCC). Combined plumbing-plus-HVAC credentialing supports unified residential and light-commercial service. BBB Accreditation provides third-party reputation verification.

4. Coy Plumbing, Inc.

  • Address: 3434 Taylor Street, Fort Wayne, IN 46802
  • Phone: (260) 312-8508
  • Founder: Brad Coy (founded 2009-09; 30-plus years personal plumbing-trade experience); fully licensed plumbing service
  • Operating Since: 2009 (17 years as firm; founder-led with 30-plus-year personal trade tenure)
  • License: Indiana Plumbing Contractor; BBB Accredited
  • Service area: Fort Wayne (downtown, Taylor Street corridor, West Central, Tillman, North Side, South Calhoun, Lakeside, Aboite, Waynedale) plus Allen County (residential and commercial)
  • Website: coyplumbinginc.com

17 Years Founder-Led Coy Operation

Brad Coy founded Coy Plumbing in September 2009. Brad brings over 30 years of personal plumbing-trade experience to the firm. Across 17 years of continuous founder-led ownership, the firm has built a Fort Wayne residential and commercial working radius covering the city plus Allen County. The combined 17-year firm tenure plus 30-plus-year founder trade tenure supports an extended compliance record.

Taylor Street Fort Wayne Operating Base

The 3434 Taylor Street headquarters positions the firm in central Fort Wayne (46802). The position opens rapid dispatch coverage across central Fort Wayne plus Allen County. Service depth includes residential plus commercial plumbing across the metro footprint.

Indiana Plumbing Contractor Compliance Plus 30-Year Founder Trade Tenure

Coy Plumbing operates under Indiana Plumbing Contractor licensing through the IPLA Plumbing Commission. The 30-plus-year founder personal trade tenure plus 17-year firm operating tenure supports an extended compliance posture. BBB Accreditation provides third-party reputation verification.

Reference Notes

Indiana plumbing licensing runs through the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency (IPLA) Plumbing Commission. The Commission issues Plumbing Contractor and Journeyman Plumber credentials through sequentially numbered records. Verification runs through the IPLA license search at mylicense.in.gov. The Allen County Building Department issues building permits for unincorporated Allen County. The City of Fort Wayne Department of Community Development issues building permits within Fort Wayne city limits. Fort Wayne City Utilities handles water service connections plus annual backflow-prevention testing. Indiana does not require state-level licensing for residential plumbing contractors; municipal and county registration may apply.

Fort Wayne-area residential housing reflects more than 200 years of construction since the city’s 1815 founding around the historic Fort Wayne fortifications. Pre-1880 housing remains in the Old Fort, West Central, and historic Three Rivers core. The 1880-1930 streetcar-suburb expansion built out West Central, Tillman, North Anthony, North Side, Lakeside, and the South Calhoun corridor. Pre-war Tudor-revival, Colonial-revival, and bungalow housing filled out 1900-1940 across Forest Park, Westwood, Pine Valley, and the Glenwood Park district. Postwar tract construction built out Aboite, Waynedale, Southwest, and the Allen County suburban ring through 1945-1980. The 1980s-2000s drove the Aboite Township, Cedar Creek Township, Perry Township, and outer Allen County subdivision expansion. Cast-iron drain stacks, galvanized supply piping, lead service lines in pre-1940 housing, plus winter freeze considerations driven by Great Lakes cold snaps shape recurring service categories.

The four firms profiled cover four positions on the Fort Wayne market arc. North Side Plumbing & Heating leads tenure with three Hartman family generations since John R and Mildred Hartman founded the firm at their kitchen table in 1929. Current President John D. Hartman Jr, plus Vice President Tara Hartman represent the third generation across 97 years of continuous family ownership. Blakley Plumbing follows with three Blakley family generations since the firm’s 1958 founding, currently led by President Roger Blakley plus Secretary/Treasurer Lynn A. Blakley as a third-generation father-and-son operation. Gibson’s Heating & Plumbing brings 43 years of Gibson family ownership since Mark and Christine Gibson founded the firm in November 1983, growing from a 2-person shop to a 20-plus-employee tri-state operator. Coy Plumbing runs 17 years of founder-led operation under Brad Coy since the September 2009 founding, supported by 30-plus years of Brad’s personal plumbing-trade experience.

Verification paths run through mylicense.in.gov, BBB Northern Indiana listings, the INPHCC directory, the City of Fort Wayne Department of Community Development contractor records, and the Allen County Building Department records. Pre-1900 Old Fort and West Central housing tilts toward North Side’s 97-year operating depth. Three-generation Lake Avenue corridor and East Allen County service since 1958 fits Blakley Plumbing. Tri-state Northeastern Indiana plus Northwestern Ohio plus Southeastern Michigan service fits Gibson’s Heating & Plumbing. Founder-led Fort Wayne residential and commercial plumbing since 2009 fits Coy Plumbing. National rollup brands operating in Northeastern Indiana (Authority Brands’ Benjamin Franklin Plumbing, Neighborly’s Mr. Rooter, Service Experts, Roto-Rooter, Wrench Group, Redwood Services, Master Trades Group, ARS, Apex Service Partners, Turnpoint Services) sit outside the four-firm independent profile.

Selection Methodology

Selection follows four criteria. First, continuous family ownership or founder-operator continuity outside the national rollup pattern. Second, verifiable Indiana Plumbing Contractor license cross-checked through the IPLA Plumbing Commission public lookup. Third, BBB Accreditation or equivalent third-party rating. Fourth, minimum 10-year continuous operating tenure with documented Fort Wayne 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, Turnpoint Services) are excluded.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I verify a Fort Wayne plumber’s license?

Use the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency Plumbing Commission license search at mylicense.in.gov. Search by license number or business name. Confirm active Plumbing Contractor or Journeyman Plumber status, expiration date, and bonding before authorizing work. Indiana does not require statewide residential plumbing licensing, so additional verification through the City of Fort Wayne Department of Community Development or Allen County Building Department is recommended.

What credentials should a Fort Wayne plumber hold?

At minimum: Indiana Plumbing Contractor or Journeyman Plumber credential plus general liability insurance and workers’ compensation coverage. Specialty work (gas line, backflow prevention, fire sprinkler, sewer lateral, boiler service) requires additional credential layers. City of Fort Wayne work additionally requires registration with the Department of Community Development.

How can I tell if a Fort Wayne 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 Fort Wayne?

Burst pipes, sewer backups, gas leaks, no-water events, frozen-pipe events, and water heater failures justify after-hours dispatch. Great Lakes-area cold snaps drive freeze-burst pipe demand across Northeastern Indiana. 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 IPLA Plumbing Commission public lookup before authorizing work. Information current as of the date below; firm details may change without notice. Last updated: 2026-05-10.