Quick Comparison
| Firm | Founded / Tenure & Credentials | Services & Specialties | Geographic Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| H.C. Blake Inc. | 1884 (founder lineage); 142 years continuous family-owned operation; descendants of original founders still operate the firm | AL Master Plumber license through Alabama Plumbers & Gas Fitters Examining Board; BBB Accredited | Huntsville base; Huntsville plus Madison County (plumbing, HVAC, electrical) |
| The Hutchens Company | 1886 (W.T. Hutchens founder, originally a plumbing business); 140 years continuous Hutchens family operation; "owned and operated by a continuous line of Hutchens family members ever since" | AL Master Plumber license, BBB Accredited | Huntsville base; Huntsville plus Northern Alabama (HVAC and plumbing excellence) |
| Dean and Son Plumbing | 1963 (E.L. Dean and his brother founders); E.L.'s son Dennis Dean became President in 1992; second-generation Dean family operation | AL Master Plumber license, BBB Accredited | Huntsville base; Huntsville plus Madison County |
| B&C Plumbing, Inc. | 2001 (Bobby Pack founder, started with one van); current family operation under daughter Michelle and son-in-law Shaun Towry; second-generation Pack family transition | AL Master Plumber MP-3868, AL Journeyman Plumber JP-0997 (Alabama Plumbers & Gas Fitters Examining Board); BBB Accredited | Huntsville base; Huntsville plus Madison County |
1. H.C. Blake Inc.
- Address: Huntsville, AL (Madison County service)
- Phone: (256) 533-0030
- Founder: Founder lineage 1884; 142 years continuous family-owned operation; descendants of original founders still operate the firm
- Operating Since: 1884 (142 years; one of the oldest continuously operating plumbing firms in the United States)
- License: Alabama Master Plumber license through Alabama Plumbers & Gas Fitters Examining Board; BBB Accredited
- Service area: Huntsville (downtown, Five Points, Twickenham, Old Town, Blossomwood, Big Spring, Five Points South, Hampton Cove, Jones Valley, Madison-adjacent corridor) plus Madison County
- Website: hcblakeinc.com
142 Years of Continuous Blake Family Operation
H.C. Blake was first started in 1884 and has been a family owned and operated business ever since. Across 142 years of continuous Blake family ownership, descendants of the original founders still operate the firm. The 142-year operating tenure ranks H.C. Blake among the longest-tenured family-owned plumbing operations in the United States.
Huntsville Operating Base With Madison County Reach
H.C. Blake operates from a Huntsville base. The position enables rapid dispatch across Huntsville (downtown, Five Points, Twickenham, Old Town, Blossomwood, Big Spring, Five Points South, Hampton Cove, Jones Valley, Madison-adjacent corridor) plus Madison County. Multi-trade service depth covers plumbing, HVAC, and electrical work.
AL Master Plumber Plus Multi-Trade Compliance
H.C. Blake operates under Alabama Master Plumber credentialing through the Alabama Plumbers & Gas Fitters Examining Board. Combined plumbing-HVAC-electrical service depth supports unified residential and commercial project work. BBB Accreditation provides third-party reputation verification. The 142-year continuous Blake family operating tenure supports a verifiable long-tenure compliance record.
2. The Hutchens Company
- Address: Huntsville, AL (Northern Alabama service)
- Phone: (256) 837-2540
- Founder: W.T. Hutchens (founded 1886 as a plumbing business); 140 years continuous Hutchens family operation; “owned and operated by a continuous line of Hutchens family members ever since”
- Operating Since: 1886 (140 years; over 131 years of Huntsville-area service)
- License: Alabama Master Plumber license; BBB Accredited
- Service area: Huntsville plus Northern Alabama (Madison, Athens, Decatur, Cullman, Scottsboro, Madison County)
- Website: hutchenscompany.com
140 Years of Continuous Hutchens Family Operation
W.T. Hutchens founded the Hutchens Company as a plumbing business in the 1880s, with the firm tracing its origins to 1886. Across 140 years of continuous Hutchens family ownership, the firm has been owned and operated by a continuous line of Hutchens family members ever since the founder. The Hutchens Company has built a sustained Northern Alabama reputation across HVAC and plumbing service.
Huntsville Base With Northern Alabama Reach
The Hutchens Company operates from a Huntsville base. The position extends dispatch reach across Huntsville plus Northern Alabama including Madison, Athens, Decatur, Cullman, Scottsboro, and the broader Madison County market. Multi-trade service depth covers HVAC and plumbing.
AL Master Plumber Plus Multi-Generation Compliance Record
The Hutchens Company operates under Alabama Master Plumber credentialing. The 140-year continuous Hutchens family ownership plus multi-generation transition supports a verifiable compliance record. BBB Accreditation provides third-party reputation verification.
3. Dean and Son Plumbing
- Address: Huntsville, AL (Madison County service)
- Phone: (256) 539-3328
- Founder: E.L. Dean and his brother (founded 1963); E.L.’s son Dennis Dean became President in 1992; second-generation Dean family operation
- Operating Since: 1963 (63 years)
- License: Alabama Master Plumber license; BBB Accredited
- Service area: Huntsville (downtown, Five Points, Twickenham, Old Town, Blossomwood, Big Spring, Hampton Cove, Jones Valley) plus Madison County
- Website: deanandsonhsv.com
Two Dean Family Generations Across 63 Years
E.L. Dean and his brother founded Dean and Son Plumbing in 1963. In 1992, E.L.’s son Dennis Dean became President, formalizing the second-generation Dean family transition. Across 63 years of continuous Dean family ownership, the firm has built a sustained Huntsville reputation.
Huntsville Service Base With Madison County Reach
Dean and Son Plumbing operates from a Huntsville base. The position brings dispatch within across Huntsville plus Madison County. Service depth covers plumbing installation and service work for residential and commercial markets.
AL Master Plumber Plus 63-Year Compliance Record
Dean and Son Plumbing operates under Alabama Master Plumber credentialing. The 63-year continuous Dean family operating tenure plus second-generation transition supports a verifiable compliance record. BBB Accreditation provides third-party reputation verification.
4. B&C Plumbing, Inc.
- Address: Huntsville, AL (Madison County service)
- Phone: (256) 859-7585
- Founder: Bobby Pack (founded 2001 with one van); current family operation under daughter Michelle and son-in-law Shaun Towry; second-generation Pack family transition; staff Dewey Lee Driver (18-plus years at firm, 22 years total trade experience) plus son Dakota Driver (next-generation plumber)
- Operating Since: 2001 (25 years)
- License: Alabama Master Plumber MP-3868 and Journeyman Plumber JP-0997 through Alabama Plumbers & Gas Fitters Examining Board; BBB Accredited
- Service area: Huntsville plus Madison County (Madison, Hampton Cove, Owens Cross Roads, Jones Valley, Hazel Green)
- Website: bcplumbinghsv.com
Two Pack Family Generations Plus Multi-Driver Plumber Family Across 25 Years
Bobby Pack founded B&C Plumbing in 2001 with just one van and a commitment to honest work. The firm now operates under second-generation Pack family ownership: Bobby’s daughter Michelle and son-in-law Shaun Towry. Dewey Lee Driver has been a dedicated team member for 18-plus years, bringing 22 years of total plumbing experience. Dakota Driver, Dewey’s son, represents the next generation of plumbers at B&C, supporting a multi-Driver-family operating depth alongside the Pack family ownership transition.
Huntsville Dispatch Hub With Madison County Reach
B&C Plumbing operates from a Huntsville base. The position opens rapid dispatch coverage across Huntsville plus Madison County including Madison, Hampton Cove, Owens Cross Roads, Jones Valley, and Hazel Green.
AL Master Plumber MP-3868 Plus Journeyman JP-0997
B&C Plumbing operates under Alabama Master Plumber license MP-3868 plus Journeyman Plumber license JP-0997 issued by the Alabama Plumbers & Gas Fitters Examining Board. Dual-credential staffing supports both supervisory master-plumber oversight and journeyman-level field execution. BBB Accreditation provides third-party reputation verification.
Reference Notes
Alabama plumbing licensing runs through the Alabama Plumbers & Gas Fitters Examining Board. The Board issues Master Plumber, Journeyman Plumber, and Apprentice Plumber credentials through sequentially numbered records (MP prefix for Master Plumber, JP for Journeyman Plumber). Verification runs through the Alabama Examining Board public license search. The City of Huntsville Inspection Services issues building permits within Huntsville city limits. Huntsville Utilities handles water service connections plus annual backflow-prevention testing.
Huntsville-area residential housing reflects more than 200 years of construction since the city’s 1811 incorporation. Pre-1900 housing remains in the Twickenham Historic District, Old Town, and parts of Five Points. The 1900-1950 expansion built out Five Points, Blossomwood, Big Spring, Old Town, and the historic downtown core. The 1950s-1980s drove the Cummings Research Park-grounded explosive growth as Huntsville became a defense-and-aerospace hub. Hampton Cove, Jones Valley, the Madison-adjacent corridor, the Bailey Cove area, and the broader Madison County suburban arc account for the bulk of postwar residential stock. The 1980s-2010s drove the Madison, Hazel Green, Owens Cross Roads, and outer Madison County subdivision expansion. Cast-iron drain stacks, galvanized supply piping, lead service lines in pre-1940 housing, plus North Alabama winter freeze considerations shape recurring service categories.
The four firms profiled cover four positions on the Huntsville market arc. H.C. Blake Inc. leads tenure with 142 years of continuous Blake family ownership since 1884. Descendants of the original founders still operate the firm. The Hutchens Company follows with 140 years of continuous Hutchens family ownership since W.T. Hutchens founded the firm as a plumbing business in 1886. The firm has been owned and operated by a continuous line of Hutchens family members ever since. Dean and Son Plumbing brings 63 years of two-generation Dean family operation since E.L. Dean and his brother founded the firm in 1963. Dennis Dean became President in 1992. B&C Plumbing runs 25 years of Pack family operation since Bobby Pack founded the firm with one van in 2001. Daughter Michelle and son-in-law Shaun Towry now lead the firm. Dewey Lee Driver and son Dakota Driver represent multi-Driver-family staff across 18-plus years.
Verification paths run through the Alabama Plumbers & Gas Fitters Examining Board public license search, BBB North Alabama listings, the PHCC of Alabama directory, and the City of Huntsville Inspection Services contractor records. Pre-1900 Twickenham Historic District and Old Town housing tilts toward H.C. Blake’s 142-year operating depth. Continuous-line Hutchens family Northern Alabama service since 1886 fits The Hutchens Company. Two-generation Huntsville family service since 1963 fits Dean and Son Plumbing. Two-and-three-unit Pack-and-Driver Huntsville service since 2001 fits B&C Plumbing. National rollup brands operating in Northern Alabama (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 Alabama Master Plumber license cross-checked through the Alabama Plumbers & Gas Fitters Examining Board public lookup. Third, BBB Accreditation or equivalent third-party rating. Fourth, minimum 10-year continuous operating tenure with documented Huntsville 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 Huntsville plumber’s license?
Use the Alabama Plumbers & Gas Fitters Examining Board public license search. Search by license number or business name. Confirm active Master Plumber (MP) or Journeyman Plumber (JP) status, expiration date, and bonding before authorizing work.
What credentials should a Huntsville plumber hold?
At minimum: Alabama Master Plumber (MP) or Journeyman Plumber (JP) credential plus general liability insurance and workers’ compensation coverage. Specialty work (gas line, backflow prevention, fire sprinkler, sewer lateral) requires additional credential layers, including the Gas Fitters credential through the Alabama Plumbers & Gas Fitters Examining Board.
How can I tell if a Huntsville 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 Huntsville?
Burst pipes, sewer backups, gas leaks, no-water events, frozen-pipe events, and water heater failures justify after-hours dispatch. North Alabama winter freeze events drive freeze-burst pipe demand across Madison County. 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 Alabama Plumbers & Gas Fitters Examining Board public lookup before authorizing work. Information current as of the date below; firm details may change without notice. Last updated: 2026-05-10.