Quick Comparison
| Firm | Founded / Tenure & Credentials | Services & Specialties | Geographic Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Keil Plumbing & Heating, Inc. | 1930 (founder lineage); fourth-generation Keil family operation; 96 years continuous service | VA Class A Contractor with Plumbing classification through DPOR; BBB Accredited | Richmond base; Richmond plus surrounding counties |
| R.J. Tilley Plumbing & Remodeling, Inc. | 1976 (R.J. Tilley founder); 50 years continuous service; three-generation Tilley family operation | VA Class A Contractor with Plumbing classification through DPOR; BBB Accredited | Glen Allen base; Richmond plus Glen Allen, Henrico, Chesterfield, Hanover |
| Woodfin (Your Home Team) | 1977 (founder lineage); 49 years continuous family-owned service; over 225,000 Richmond homeowners served | VA Class A Contractor with Plumbing, HVAC, Electrical classifications through DPOR; BBB Accredited | Richmond base; Richmond plus surrounding counties (AC, plumbing, generators, electrical) |
| Master & Sons Plumbing | 30-plus years operating tenure (founded mid-1990s era); third-generation family-owned company; 30-plus years hands-on expertise | VA Class A Contractor with Plumbing classification through DPOR; BBB Accredited | Richmond base; Greater Richmond (Henrico, Chesterfield, Hanover, City of Richmond) |
1. Keil Plumbing & Heating, Inc.
- Address: Richmond, VA (Greater Richmond service)
- Phone: (804) 270-1234
- Founder: Founder lineage 1930; fourth-generation Keil family operation; 96 years continuous service
- Operating Since: 1930 (96 years; one of the longest continuously operating family-owned plumbing operations in Virginia)
- License: Virginia Class A Contractor with Plumbing classification through DPOR; BBB Accredited
- Service area: Richmond (Fan District, Carytown, Museum District, Manchester, Church Hill, Battery Park, North Side, downtown, West End) plus Henrico, Chesterfield, Hanover, Goochland counties
- Website: keilservice.com
Four Keil Family Generations Across 96 Years
Keil Plumbing & Heating has proudly served Richmond, Virginia since 1930. Across 96 years of continuous Keil family ownership, four generations have run the firm. The firm has built a sustained Greater Richmond reputation across plumbing, heating, cooling, and remodeling service. The 96-year operating tenure ranks Keil among the longest-tenured family-owned plumbing operations in Virginia.
Richmond Operating Base With Greater Richmond Reach
Keil Plumbing operates from a Richmond base. The position brings dispatch within across Richmond neighborhoods (Fan District, Carytown, Museum District, Manchester, Church Hill, Battery Park, North Side, downtown, West End) plus Henrico, Chesterfield, Hanover, and Goochland counties. Multi-trade service depth covers plumbing, heating, cooling, and remodeling.
VA Class A Contractor With Plumbing Plus Multi-Trade Credentialing
Keil Plumbing operates under Virginia Class A Contractor licensing with Plumbing classification through the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR). Combined plumbing-heating-cooling-remodeling service depth supports unified residential project work. BBB Accreditation provides third-party reputation verification. The 96-year continuous Keil family operating tenure plus four-generation transition supports a verifiable compliance record.
2. R.J. Tilley Plumbing & Remodeling, Inc.
- Address: Glen Allen, VA (Richmond service)
- Phone: (804) 270-1234
- Founder: R.J. Tilley (founded 1976); 50 years continuous service; three-generation Tilley family operation
- Operating Since: 1976 (50 years)
- License: Virginia Class A Contractor with Plumbing classification through DPOR; BBB Accredited
- Service area: Richmond plus Glen Allen, Henrico, Chesterfield, Hanover, Short Pump, Mechanicsville, Midlothian
- Website: rjtilley.com
Three Tilley Family Generations Across 50 Years
R.J. Tilley founded the firm in 1976. Across 50 years of continuous Tilley family ownership, three generations have run the business. The firm operates as a family-owned plumbing-and-remodeling contractor serving Richmond and the surrounding Greater Richmond suburban arc.
Glen Allen Base With Richmond and Greater Richmond Reach
R.J. Tilley Plumbing operates from a Glen Allen base. The position opens rapid dispatch coverage across Richmond plus Glen Allen, Henrico, Chesterfield, Hanover, Short Pump, Mechanicsville, and Midlothian. Combined plumbing-and-remodeling service depth supports unified residential project work.
VA Class A Contractor Plus Three-Generation Compliance Record
R.J. Tilley Plumbing operates under Virginia Class A Contractor licensing with Plumbing classification through DPOR. The 50-year continuous Tilley family operating tenure plus three-generation transition supports a verifiable compliance record. BBB Accreditation provides third-party reputation verification.
3. Woodfin (Your Home Team)
- Address: Richmond, VA (Greater Richmond service)
- Phone: (804) 730-9091
- Founder: Founder lineage 1977; 49 years continuous family-owned service; over 225,000 Richmond homeowners served
- Operating Since: 1977 (49 years)
- License: Virginia Class A Contractor with Plumbing, HVAC, Electrical classifications through DPOR; BBB Accredited
- Service area: Richmond plus Greater Richmond (Henrico, Chesterfield, Hanover, Goochland, Powhatan, New Kent, Charles City, Caroline counties)
- Website: askwoodfin.com
49 Years of Continuous Family-Owned Operation Across 225,000 Homeowners
Woodfin has proudly served over 225,000 Richmond homeowners since 1977 as a family-owned, local business. Across 49 years of continuous family ownership, the firm has expanded service depth from heating-and-cooling-only operation through plumbing, generators, and electrical service. The “Your Home Team” branding reflects the firm’s residential service focus.
Richmond Service Base With Greater Richmond Reach
Woodfin operates from a Richmond base. The position speeds dispatch reach across Greater Richmond including Henrico, Chesterfield, Hanover, Goochland, Powhatan, New Kent, Charles City, and Caroline counties. Multi-trade service depth covers AC, plumbing, generators, and electrical service.
VA Class A Contractor With Multi-Trade Credentialing
Woodfin operates under Virginia Class A Contractor licensing with Plumbing, HVAC, and Electrical classifications through DPOR. Multi-trade credentialing supports unified residential service across HVAC, plumbing, generator installation, and electrical work. BBB Accreditation provides third-party reputation verification.
4. Master & Sons Plumbing
- Address: Richmond, VA (Greater Richmond service)
- Phone: (804) 282-1252
- Founder: Founder lineage with 30-plus years operating tenure; third-generation family-owned company
- Operating Since: Mid-1990s era (30-plus years)
- License: Virginia Class A Contractor with Plumbing classification through DPOR; BBB Accredited
- Service area: Richmond (Fan District, Carytown, Museum District, Manchester, Church Hill, North Side, West End) plus Henrico, Chesterfield, Hanover counties
- Website: masterandsonsplumbing.com
Three Master & Sons Family Generations Across 30-Plus Years
Master & Sons Plumbing operates as a third-generation family-owned company serving Greater Richmond. The firm carries 30-plus years of hands-on plumbing trade expertise across the multi-generation family ownership. Across the 30-plus-year operating tenure, the firm has built a sustained Greater Richmond reputation centered on residential and commercial plumbing service.
Richmond Dispatch Hub With Greater Richmond Reach
Master & Sons Plumbing operates from a Richmond base. The position enables rapid dispatch across Richmond neighborhoods (Fan District, Carytown, Museum District, Manchester, Church Hill, North Side, West End) plus Henrico, Chesterfield, and Hanover counties.
VA Class A Contractor Plus Three-Generation Family Tenure
Master & Sons Plumbing operates under Virginia Class A Contractor licensing with Plumbing classification through DPOR. The 30-plus-year continuous family-owned operating tenure plus three-generation transition supports a verifiable compliance record. BBB Accreditation provides third-party reputation verification.
Reference Notes
Virginia plumbing licensing runs through the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR) Board for Contractors. DPOR issues Class A, Class B, and Class C contractor licenses with classifications including PLB (Plumbing), MPLB (Master Plumber), GFC (Gas Fitting), MGFC (Master Gas Fitter), CBC (Commercial Building), and RBC (Residential Building). Verification runs through the DPOR license search at dpor.virginia.gov/licenselookup. The City of Richmond Department of Planning and Development Review issues building permits within Richmond city limits. Henrico, Chesterfield, and Hanover counties handle their respective unincorporated suburban permits. Richmond Department of Public Utilities handles water service connections plus annual backflow-prevention testing.
Richmond-area residential housing reflects more than 280 years of construction since the city’s 1742 founding. Pre-1850 housing remains in Church Hill, Jackson Ward, Shockoe Slip, Manchester, and the historic downtown core. The 1850-1920 streetcar-suburb expansion built out the Fan District, Museum District, Carytown, North Side, Church Hill, Battery Park, and the West End. Pre-war Tudor-revival, Colonial-revival, Federal-revival, and Victorian housing filled out 1900-1940 across the Fan District, Museum District, Westhampton, and the historic Monument Avenue corridor. Postwar tract construction built out West End, Northside, Southside, and the Henrico-Chesterfield county suburban ring through 1945-1980. The 1980s-2000s drove the Short Pump, Glen Allen, Innsbrook, and outer Greater Richmond subdivision expansion. Cast-iron drain stacks, galvanized supply piping, lead service lines in pre-1940 housing, plus Mid-Atlantic winter freeze considerations shape recurring service categories.
The four firms profiled cover four positions on the Richmond market arc. Keil Plumbing & Heating leads tenure with four Keil family generations across 96 years since 1930. R.J. Tilley Plumbing follows with three Tilley family generations across 50 years since R.J. Tilley founded the firm in 1976 from a Glen Allen base. Woodfin brings 49 years of continuous family-owned operation since 1977. The firm has served over 225,000 Richmond homeowners with multi-trade plumbing-HVAC-electrical-generator service. Master & Sons Plumbing runs three generations of family-owned operation across 30-plus years of Greater Richmond service.
Verification paths run through dpor.virginia.gov/licenselookup, BBB Central Virginia listings, the PHCC of Virginia directory, the City of Richmond Department of Planning and Development Review, and county-level building department contractor records. Pre-1900 Church Hill, Jackson Ward, and Shockoe Slip housing tilts toward Keil Plumbing’s 96-year operating depth. Three-generation Glen Allen plus Greater Richmond plumbing-and-remodeling service since 1976 fits R.J. Tilley Plumbing. Multi-trade 225,000-homeowner Richmond service since 1977 fits Woodfin. Three-generation Greater Richmond plumbing service since the mid-1990s fits Master & Sons Plumbing. National rollup brands operating in Central Virginia (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 Virginia DPOR Class A or Class B Contractor license with Plumbing classification cross-checked through the DPOR public lookup. Third, BBB Accreditation or equivalent third-party rating. Fourth, minimum 10-year continuous operating tenure with documented Richmond 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 Richmond plumber’s license?
Use the Virginia DPOR license search at dpor.virginia.gov/licenselookup. Search by license number or business name. Confirm active Class A or Class B Contractor status with Plumbing (PLB or MPLB) classification, expiration date, and bonding before authorizing work.
What credentials should a Richmond plumber hold?
At minimum: Virginia DPOR Class A or Class B Contractor with Plumbing (PLB or MPLB) classification plus general liability insurance and workers’ compensation coverage. Specialty work (gas line, backflow prevention, fire sprinkler, sewer lateral, boiler service) may require additional MGFC, GFC, or other classification layers.
How can I tell if a Richmond 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 Richmond?
Burst pipes, sewer backups, gas leaks, no-water events, frozen-pipe events, and water heater failures justify after-hours dispatch. Mid-Atlantic winter freeze events drive freeze-burst pipe demand across Greater Richmond. 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 Virginia DPOR public lookup before authorizing work. Information current as of the date below; firm details may change without notice. Last updated: 2026-05-10.