Quick Comparison
| Firm | Founded / Tenure & Credentials | Services & Specialties | Geographic Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Green's Furnace & Plumbing Co., Inc. | Founder lineage dates to early 1900s; BBB Accredited continuously since 1943-01-01; over a century of service across Southeastern Nebraska | NE Plumbing Contractor License #NEPC021, BBB Accredited (since 1943), licensed and insured technicians | 1701 Cushman Drive Lincoln base; Lincoln plus Southeastern Nebraska |
| Biggerstaff Plumbing & Heating, Inc. | 1957 (Keith Biggerstaff founder with wife June, started in their Havelock garage); current owners Doug, Dennis, and Don Biggerstaff (Keith and June's three sons); three-generation Biggerstaff family operation | NE Plumbing Contractor, NE HVAC, BBB Accredited | 3605 North 40th Street Lincoln base; Lincoln plus Lancaster County |
| Action Plumbing, Heating, A/C, & Electrical | 1968 (James "Jim" Kreifels founder; expanded to HVAC in 1974); current leadership Terry Kreifels (President, plumbing), Doug Kreifels (VP, HVAC), Jeff Kreifels (Secretary-Treasurer, plumbing construction); three Kreifels brothers running the business | NE Plumbing Contractor, NE HVAC, NE Electrical, BBB Accredited (PHCC affiliated) | 4101 South 8th Street Lincoln base (since 1996); Lincoln plus Lancaster County |
| Bob Nohavec Plumbing, Inc. | 1980s era (Bob Nohavec founder); current President Bob Nohavec; over 40 years operating tenure; family-owned and operated | NE Plumbing Contractor (3 licenses on file with the Nebraska license board), BBB Accredited | 3400 South 6th Street Lincoln base; Lincoln plus Lancaster County (residential and commercial) |
1. Green’s Furnace & Plumbing Co., Inc.
- Address: 1701 Cushman Drive, Lincoln, NE 68512
- Phone: (402) 423-4276
- Founder: Founder lineage dates to the early 1900s; family-owned across multiple generations
- Operating Since: Over a century of service (BBB Accredited continuously since 1943-01-01)
- License: Nebraska Plumbing Contractor License #NEPC021; BBB Accredited (since 1943)
- Service area: Lincoln (Havelock, Belmont, College View, University Place, Eastridge, Indian Hills, Capitol Hill, Country Club, South Haymarket, Near South, Far South Lincoln) plus Southeastern Nebraska (Beatrice, Crete, Seward, York, Hickman, Waverly, Eagle, Ashland)
- Website: callgreens.com
Over a Century of Continuous Lincoln Operation
Green’s Furnace & Plumbing has operated in Lincoln across more than a century of service. The firm has held continuous BBB Accreditation since January 1, 1943, grounding its long-tenure compliance record. The business runs as a family-owned operation specializing in HVAC and plumbing service for both residential and commercial clients across Southeastern Nebraska. The 80-plus-year BBB Accreditation tenure ranks Green’s among the longest-tenured BBB-accredited operators in the Lincoln market.
Cushman Drive Lincoln Operating Base
The 1701 Cushman Drive headquarters positions the firm in central Lincoln (68512). The position speeds dispatch reach across Lincoln plus the Southeastern Nebraska market. Service depth includes plumbing repair, heating installation, cooling installation, and remodeling project work. The firm’s licensed and insured technicians cover both residential and commercial markets.
Nebraska Plumbing Contractor License #NEPC021
Green’s Furnace & Plumbing operates under Nebraska Plumbing Contractor License #NEPC021. Nebraska plumbing licensing runs through the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services Plumbing Program. Verification runs through the Nebraska DHHS license search. The combined long-tenure BBB Accreditation since 1943 plus active state plumbing credentialing supports a verifiable compliance record.
2. Biggerstaff Plumbing & Heating, Inc.
- Address: 3605 North 40th Street, Lincoln, NE 68504
- Phone: (402) 466-8118
- Founder: Keith Biggerstaff (founded 1957 with wife June; started by working from their Havelock-area garage); current owners Doug, Dennis, and Don Biggerstaff (Keith and June’s three sons); three-generation Biggerstaff family operation
- Operating Since: 1957 (69 years; family-owned for over three generations)
- License: Nebraska Plumbing Contractor; Nebraska HVAC; BBB Accredited
- Service area: Lincoln (Havelock, Belmont, University Place, Capitol Hill, Country Club, Near South, Far South, Eastridge, Indian Hills) plus Lancaster County
- Website: biggerstaffs.com
Three-Generation Biggerstaff Family Operation Across 69 Years
Keith Biggerstaff founded Biggerstaff Plumbing & Heating in 1957 alongside his wife June. The couple began by working from their Havelock-area garage. Keith and June’s three sons Doug, Dennis, and Don now own and manage the firm together. Three Biggerstaff family generations have run the business across 69 years of continuous family ownership. The brothers have built a community-recognized reputation for reliability and professionalism in HVAC and plumbing trade work.
North 40th Street Lincoln Base in Havelock Heritage Area
The 3605 North 40th Street headquarters establishes the firm in north Lincoln near the historic Havelock area where Keith and June started the business. The position enables rapid dispatch across Lincoln’s north and east neighborhoods (Havelock, Belmont, University Place) plus the central and south Lincoln corridor (Capitol Hill, Country Club, Near South, Far South, Eastridge, Indian Hills).
NE Plumbing Plus HVAC Multi-Trade Credentialing
Biggerstaff Plumbing & Heating operates under Nebraska Plumbing Contractor licensing through the Nebraska DHHS Plumbing Program plus Nebraska HVAC credentialing. Combined plumbing-and-HVAC credentialing supports unified residential and commercial service. BBB Accreditation provides third-party reputation verification. The three-generation family ownership represents a 69-year continuous operating record.
3. Action Plumbing, Heating, A/C, & Electrical, Inc.
- Address: 4101 South 8th Street, Lincoln, NE 68502 (current location since 1996)
- Phone: (402) 466-8118
- Founder: James “Jim” Kreifels (founded 1968 as plumbing company; expanded to HVAC in 1974); current leadership Terry Kreifels (President, plumbing division), Doug Kreifels (Vice-President, HVAC division), Jeff Kreifels (Secretary-Treasurer, plumbing construction); three Kreifels brothers running the business; Jim now in semi-retirement
- Operating Since: 1968 (58 years; 2023 Inc. 5000 honoree)
- License: Nebraska Plumbing Contractor; Nebraska HVAC; Nebraska Electrical; BBB Accredited; Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors-National Association (PHCC) affiliation through Jim Kreifels’s former local, state, and national PHCC officer service
- Service area: Lincoln (downtown, Capitol Hill, Country Club, Near South, Far South, Havelock, Belmont, University Place, Eastridge, Indian Hills, College View) plus Lancaster County
- Website: actionlincoln.com
Three Kreifels Brothers Running the Business Since Jim’s 1968 Founding
James Kreifels founded Action Plumbing in 1968 as a plumbing-only operation. In 1974, Jim expanded the firm to add heating and air conditioning service. Action moved to its current 4101 South 8th Street Lincoln location in 1996. Jim is now in semi-retirement, with his three sons running daily operations. Terry Kreifels serves as President and oversees the plumbing division. Doug Kreifels serves as Vice-President and oversees the HVAC division. Jeff Kreifels serves as Secretary-Treasurer and oversees plumbing construction projects. Action earned 2023 Inc. 5000 honoree recognition.
South 8th Street Lincoln Operating Base
The 4101 South 8th Street headquarters has grounded the firm since 1996 (30 years at the same address). The position extends dispatch reach across central Lincoln plus the Lancaster County market. Multi-trade service depth covers plumbing, heating, air conditioning, and electrical work for residential and commercial customers.
Nebraska Multi-Trade Credentialing Plus PHCC National Affiliation
Action Plumbing operates under Nebraska Plumbing Contractor licensing through Nebraska DHHS plus Nebraska HVAC and Nebraska Electrical credentialing. Founder Jim Kreifels formerly served as a local, state, and national officer for the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors-National Association (PHCC), establishing the firm’s national-trade-association compliance posture. BBB Accreditation provides third-party reputation verification.
4. Bob Nohavec Plumbing, Inc.
- Address: 3400 South 6th Street, Lincoln, NE 68502
- Phone: (402) 477-6228
- Founder: Bob Nohavec (founder); current President Bob Nohavec; family owned and operated; over 40 years of plumbing-trade experience
- Operating Since: 1980s era (40+ years operating tenure under Bob Nohavec)
- License: Nebraska Plumbing Contractor (3 licenses on file with the Nebraska license board); BBB Accredited
- Service area: Lincoln plus Lancaster County (residential and commercial plumbing)
- Website: bobnohavecplumbing.net
Over 40 Years of Bob Nohavec Family-Owned Operation
Bob Nohavec founded the firm and serves as President of Bob Nohavec Plumbing, Inc. With over 40 years of operating tenure, the firm operates as family-owned and family-operated. The team of trained and licensed plumbers handles residential and commercial plumbing repairs, drain cleaning, water heater installation, and remodeling work across Lincoln and Lancaster County.
South 6th Street Lincoln Operating Base
The 3400 South 6th Street Lincoln headquarters underpins the firm in central-south Lincoln (68502). The position brings dispatch within across Lincoln plus the Lancaster County market. Service depth covers full residential plus commercial plumbing.
Three Nebraska License Records Plus BBB Accreditation
Bob Nohavec Plumbing holds three license records on file with the Nebraska license board, including Nebraska Plumbing Contractor credentialing. The combined multi-license posture supports the firm’s residential-and-commercial service mix. BBB Accreditation provides third-party reputation verification. The 40-plus-year continuous operating tenure under Bob Nohavec supports a verifiable family-owned compliance record.
Reference Notes
Nebraska plumbing licensing runs through the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Plumbing Program. DHHS issues Plumbing Contractor and Journey/Master Plumber credentials through sequentially numbered records (NEPC prefix for Plumbing Contractor). Verification runs through the Nebraska DHHS license search. The City of Lincoln Building and Safety Department issues building permits within Lincoln city limits. Lincoln Water System handles water service connections plus annual backflow-prevention testing.
Lincoln-area residential housing reflects more than 155 years of construction since the city’s 1867 designation as Nebraska’s state capital. Pre-1900 housing remains in Near South, Capitol Hill, and the Haymarket District. The 1900-1940 streetcar-suburb expansion built out Havelock, University Place, Belmont, College View, and Country Club. Pre-war Tudor-revival, Colonial-revival, and bungalow housing filled out 1900-1940 across Country Club, Eastridge, and the South Lincoln grid. Postwar tract construction built out Indian Hills, Capitol Beach, and the Lancaster County suburban ring through 1945-1980. The 1980s-2000s drove the Far South Lincoln, Southeast Lincoln, and Northwest Lincoln subdivision expansion. Cast-iron drain stacks, galvanized supply piping, lead service lines in pre-1940 housing, plus winter freeze considerations driven by Great Plains cold snaps shape recurring service categories.
The four firms profiled cover four positions on the Lincoln market arc. Green’s Furnace & Plumbing leads tenure with over a century of operation and continuous BBB Accreditation since 1943-01-01, supported by Nebraska Plumbing Contractor License #NEPC021. Biggerstaff Plumbing & Heating follows with three Biggerstaff family generations since Keith and June Biggerstaff founded the firm in their Havelock-area garage in 1957. Three sons Doug, Dennis, and Don now own the firm. Action Plumbing brings 58 years of Kreifels family ownership since Jim Kreifels’s 1968 founding. Three Kreifels brothers (Terry, Doug, Jeff) now run the business across plumbing, HVAC, and plumbing-construction divisions. Bob Nohavec Plumbing runs over 40 years of family-owned operation under President Bob Nohavec from a South 6th Street Lincoln base.
Verification paths run through the Nebraska DHHS license search, BBB Lincoln-area listings, the PHCC of Nebraska directory, and the City of Lincoln Building and Safety contractor records. Long-tenure Southeastern Nebraska residential and commercial service since the early 1900s fits Green’s Furnace & Plumbing. Three-generation Havelock-rooted plumbing-and-HVAC service since 1957 fits Biggerstaff. Three-Kreifels-brothers multi-trade plumbing-HVAC-electrical service since 1968 fits Action. Four-decade Lincoln-and-Lancaster-County residential and commercial plumbing fits Bob Nohavec Plumbing. National rollup brands operating in Nebraska (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 Nebraska Plumbing Contractor license cross-checked through the Nebraska DHHS license search. Third, BBB Accreditation or equivalent third-party rating. Fourth, minimum 10-year continuous operating tenure with documented Lincoln 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 Lincoln plumber’s license?
Use the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services license search. Search by license number or business name. Confirm active Plumbing Contractor or Master Plumber status, expiration date, and bonding before authorizing work.
What credentials should a Lincoln plumber hold?
At minimum: Nebraska Plumbing Contractor 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 Lincoln work additionally requires registration with the City of Lincoln Building and Safety Department.
How can I tell if a Lincoln 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 Lincoln?
Burst pipes, sewer backups, gas leaks, no-water events, frozen-pipe events, and water heater failures justify after-hours dispatch. Great Plains cold snaps drive freeze-burst pipe demand across Lincoln. 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 Nebraska DHHS license search before authorizing work. Information current as of the date below; firm details may change without notice. Last updated: 2026-05-10.