Quick Comparison
| Firm | Founded / Tenure & Credentials | Services & Specialties | Geographic Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ballard Plumbing Heating & Air Conditioning | 1949 (founders Lohman and Elizabeth "JL" Ballard); four Ballard family generations; current operators Lohman's grandsons Dennis Montano and Mike Montano | CA CSLB License #1073870, BBB Accredited | E Baseline Street base in San Bernardino (92410); Rialto branch; Riverside, San Bernardino, Inland Empire |
| Carns Rooter, Inc. | 1979 (Graham J. Carns founder; retired 2001); current President/CEO Joseph M. Uribe (son-in-law); Managing Officer Bernard M. Garcia | CA CSLB Licenses #839923, #809086, #721787, BBB Accredited | Four Winds Drive base in Riverside (92503); Corona, Moreno Valley, Norco, Riverside, San Bernardino, Inland Empire |
| Jim & Sons Plumbing & Rooter | 1983 (James William Costilow Sr. founder); family-owned and operated | CA CSLB License #1045626, BBB Accredited | Riverside, Inland Empire; San Bernardino, Riverside County |
| Hiniker Plumbing | 2012 (Gary P. Hiniker founder/owner); family-owned and operated | CA CSLB License #972420, BBB Accredited | W Linden Street base in Riverside (92507); Riverside County |
1. Ballard Plumbing Heating & Air Conditioning
- Address: 25260 East Baseline Street, San Bernardino, CA 92410 (San Bernardino headquarters); 620 W Rialto Avenue, Rialto, CA (Rialto branch since 1960s)
- Phone: (909) 884-1118
- Founder: Lohman Ballard and Elizabeth Ballard (founded 1949 as JL Ballard plumbing in San Bernardino); son Joe Ballard partnered for the 1960s Rialto expansion; current operators Dennis Montano and Mike Montano (Lohman’s grandsons); fourth-generation Ballards on the team
- Operating Since: 1949 (77 years; four Ballard family generations)
- License: California CSLB License #1073870; BBB Accredited
- Service area: Riverside, San Bernardino, Rialto, Highland, Redlands, Loma Linda, Colton, Yucaipa, Moreno Valley, Corona, Norco, Eastvale, Fontana, Rancho Cucamonga, Ontario, Upland, Chino, Inland Empire
- Website: ballardplumbingandair.com
Four Ballard Generations Spanning 77 Years
Lohman and Elizabeth “JL” Ballard founded the firm in 1949 in San Bernardino. In the 1960s, JL Ballard partnered with his son Joe Ballard to open a second location in Rialto. The firm has expanded across the Inland Empire under continuous Ballard family ownership. Current operators include Lohman’s grandsons Dennis Montano and Mike Montano, plus several fourth-generation Ballards on the operating team.
San Bernardino Headquarters Plus Rialto Branch
The 25260 East Baseline Street headquarters in San Bernardino grounds the firm’s Inland Empire operations. The 620 West Rialto Avenue Rialto branch (established in the 1960s) extends operating presence into the western San Bernardino County corridor. The dual-location structure brings dispatch within across Riverside, San Bernardino, Rialto, Redlands, Highland, and the broader Inland Empire residential market.
CA CSLB License #1073870 and Plumbing-Plus-HVAC Service Stack
Ballard Plumbing operates under California CSLB License #1073870 with plumbing-and-HVAC service-stack scope. The integrated trade portfolio supports residential customers needing both plumbing service and HVAC mechanical work under one operating relationship. BBB Accreditation provides third-party reputation verification through BBB Inland Empire.
2. Carns Rooter, Inc.
- Address: 14115 Four Winds Drive, Riverside, CA 92503
- Phone: (951) 354-9700
- Founder: Graham J. Carns (founded 1979); retired 2001 and turned the business over to his son-in-laws; current President/CEO Joseph M. Uribe; Managing Officer Bernard M. Garcia; daughter Christine Susan Uribe in operations
- Operating Since: 1979 (47 years); Carns-Uribe-Garcia family operating continuity
- License: California CSLB Licenses #839923, #809086, #721787 (multiple plumbing classifications); BBB Accredited
- Service area: Riverside, Corona, Moreno Valley, Norco, Eastvale, Jurupa Valley, San Bernardino, Loma Linda, Colton, Highland, Redlands, Rialto, Fontana, Rancho Cucamonga, Ontario, Inland Empire
- Website: carnsrooter.com
Graham Carns Founding Plus Uribe Family Successor Operating Tenure
Graham J. Carns founded Carns Rooter in 1979 as a small family-owned plumbing service. He built the firm on hardwork, fairness, and honesty principles. Mr. Carns retired in 2001 and turned the business over to his son-in-laws. Joseph M. Uribe serves as current President/CEO. Bernard M. Garcia serves as Managing Officer. Daughter Christine Susan Uribe contributes to operations.
Four Winds Drive Riverside Base and Inland Empire Coverage
The 14115 Four Winds Drive headquarters sits in west Riverside near the Norco corridor. The position opens rapid dispatch coverage across the broader Inland Empire. Service extends through Corona, Moreno Valley, Norco, Eastvale, Jurupa Valley to the west and Riverside proper east. The full Inland Empire coverage area covers more than 15 named San Bernardino County and Riverside County communities.
Triple CSLB License Stack
Carns Rooter holds three California CSLB licenses (#839923, #809086, #721787) covering multiple plumbing classifications. The triple-license configuration reflects sustained credentialing across multiple operating eras and license-renewal cycles. BBB Accreditation provides third-party reputation verification through BBB Inland Empire.
3. Jim & Sons Plumbing & Rooter
- Address: 9345 Narnia Drive, Riverside, CA 92503
- Phone: (951) 689-2188
- Founder: James William Costilow Sr. (founded 1983); family-owned and operated since 1983
- Operating Since: 1983 (43 years); Costilow family operating continuity
- License: California CSLB License #1045626; BBB Accredited
- Service area: Riverside, Corona, Moreno Valley, Norco, Eastvale, San Bernardino, Loma Linda, Colton, Highland, Redlands, Rialto, Fontana, Rancho Cucamonga, Ontario, Upland, Chino, Inland Empire
- Website: jimandsonsplumbing.com
James William Costilow Sr. Founder Plus 43-Year Family Operation
Jim & Sons Plumbing & Rooter was founded in 1983 by James William Costilow Sr. The firm has remained family-owned and operated since founding. The “& Sons” designation in the firm name signals deliberate father-to-sons family-trade transmission across the multi-generation history. The 43-year tenure spans the post-1980 Inland Empire residential expansion through the contemporary period.
Riverside and San Bernardino Inland Empire Coverage
Jim & Sons Plumbing operates from a Riverside-area base supporting service across the broader Inland Empire. Service extends through Riverside proper, Corona, Moreno Valley, Norco, Eastvale, plus the San Bernardino County arc through Rialto, Fontana, Rancho Cucamonga, Ontario, Upland, and Chino.
CA CSLB License #1045626 and BBB Accreditation
Jim & Sons holds California CSLB License #1045626 with C-36 Plumbing Contractor classification. BBB Accreditation provides third-party reputation verification through BBB Inland Empire. Service mix covers residential plumbing repair, drain cleaning, sewer service, water heater work, and the broader plumbing-trade scope.
4. Hiniker Plumbing
- Address: 1433 West Linden Street, Riverside, CA 92507
- Phone: (951) 780-5011
- Founder: Gary P. Hiniker (founder and owner; 2012); family-owned and operated
- Operating Since: 2012 (14 years); Gary P. Hiniker founder-operator continuity
- License: California CSLB License #972420; BBB Accredited
- Service area: Riverside, Moreno Valley, Corona, Norco, Eastvale, Jurupa Valley, Mission Grove, Canyon Crest, Orangecrest, Riverside County
- Website: lasthonestplumber.com
Gary P. Hiniker Founder-Operator Profile
Gary P. Hiniker founded Hiniker Plumbing in 2012 as a family-owned and operated plumbing firm. The 14-year founder-operator tenure means the senior decision-maker carries direct field experience with Riverside-area plumbing infrastructure across the modern period. The “Last Honest Plumber” positioning reflects deliberate brand differentiation versus larger franchise operators.
West Linden Street Riverside Operating Base
The 1433 West Linden Street headquarters sits in central Riverside near the I-215 corridor. The position speeds dispatch reach across Riverside County. Service extends through Moreno Valley east, Corona west, Eastvale and Norco northwest, plus the central Riverside neighborhoods (Mission Grove, Canyon Crest, Orangecrest).
CA CSLB License #972420
Hiniker Plumbing operates under California CSLB License #972420 with C-36 Plumbing Contractor classification. BBB Accreditation provides third-party reputation verification. Service mix covers residential plumbing repair, drain cleaning, water heater service, sewer service, and the broader plumbing-trade scope across Riverside County.
Reference Notes
California plumbing licensing runs through the Contractors State License Board (CSLB). The C-36 Plumbing Contractor classification secures plumbing-specific work. Verification runs through cslb.ca.gov. The City of Riverside Building and Safety Division issues building permits within Riverside city limits. Riverside Public Utilities handles water service connections plus annual backflow-prevention testing for Riverside residents. Surrounding Riverside County jurisdictions plus San Bernardino County administer their own permit-and-utility frameworks. Title 24 energy-code revisions, drought-conservation requirements, and seismic-zone Plumbing Code provisions add layered pressures.
Riverside-area residential housing reflects more than 150 years of construction. The 1870s-era citrus-industry founding drove early Riverside development. The Mission Inn (founded 1876) frames downtown Riverside’s historic core. Pre-1925 housing remains in the Mission Inn District, Wood Streets, and Magnolia Center neighborhoods. Postwar tract construction built out central Riverside and the Arlington corridor through 1945-1970. The 1980s-1990s drove the Canyon Crest, Orangecrest, and Mission Grove master-planned-community expansion. Eastvale, Jurupa Valley, and the eastern Riverside County arc extended outer-suburban growth through the 2000s. Inland Empire’s hot summer climate plus expansive-clay-soil substrate plus seismic-zone Plumbing Code requirements shape recurring service categories.
The four firms profiled cover four positions on the Riverside market arc. Ballard Plumbing Heating & Air Conditioning leads tenure with Lohman and Elizabeth Ballard’s 1949 founding. Four Ballard family generations have run the firm across 77 years of Inland Empire service. California CSLB License #1073870 roots the credentialing. Dual San Bernardino and Rialto operating bases support the Inland Empire footprint. Carns Rooter, Inc. follows with 47 years of operation since Graham J. Carns’s 1979 founding (retired 2001 to son-in-laws), under current President/CEO Joseph M. Uribe and Managing Officer Bernard M. Garcia, plus a triple-CSLB-license stack (#839923, #809086, #721787). Jim & Sons Plumbing & Rooter brings 43 years of family operation since James William Costilow Sr.’s 1983 founding under California CSLB License #1045626. Hiniker Plumbing runs 14 years of founder-operator continuity under Gary P. Hiniker since the 2012 founding, plus California CSLB License #972420 from a West Linden Street Riverside base.
Verification paths run through cslb.ca.gov, BBB Inland Empire listings, the PHCC of Inland Empire directory, and the City of Riverside Building and Safety Division contractor records. Pre-1970 central Riverside and Magnolia Center housing tilts toward Ballard’s 77-year four-generation depth. Inland Empire wide-area drain-and-sewer service fits Carns Rooter’s triple-license stack. Family-owned Inland Empire residential service fits Jim & Sons. Founder-operator central Riverside service fits Hiniker.
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 Riverside 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 Riverside 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 Riverside 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, seismic gas-shutoff valves) requires additional credential layers.
How can I tell if a Riverside 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 Riverside?
Burst pipes, sewer backups, gas leaks, no-water events, and water heater failures justify after-hours dispatch. 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.