Quick Comparison
| Firm | Founded / Tenure & Credentials | Services & Specialties | Geographic Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scottsdale Plumbing | 1946 (founder lineage); 80 years continuous family-owned and operated; 65-plus years recognized family-owned tenure | AZ Registrar of Contractors plumbing classification, BBB Accredited | Scottsdale base; Scottsdale plus Phoenix metro |
| Christian Brothers Plumbing, AC, & Electrical | 1976 (two friends who attended the same church founded the firm); three Christian Brothers family generations | AZ ROC plumbing, HVAC, and electrical classifications, BBB Accredited | 6827 West Belmont Avenue Glendale base; Scottsdale plus Phoenix metro |
| Superstition Plumbing | 1981 era (founder lineage with 45 years operating tenure); two-generation family-owned operation | AZ ROC plumbing classification, BBB Accredited | Scottsdale base; Scottsdale plus Phoenix metro (East Valley) |
| AC by J | 1983 (father and son founders working out of residential garage; Bryce Johnson hired first employee that same year; founder passed; Bryce later bought out son Brad); current President Kelly Johnson (Bryce's wife and partner); female-owned and operated | AZ ROC HVAC and plumbing classifications, BBB Accredited | 7595 East Gray Road Scottsdale base (85260); Scottsdale plus Phoenix metro (Valley of the Sun) |
1. Scottsdale Plumbing
- Address: Scottsdale, AZ (Phoenix metro service)
- Phone: (480) 994-3505
- Founder: Founder lineage 1946; 80 years continuous family-owned and operated; 65-plus years recognized family-owned tenure
- Operating Since: 1946 (80 years; one of the longest-tenured plumbing operations in the Phoenix metro)
- License: Arizona Registrar of Contractors plumbing classification; BBB Accredited
- Service area: Scottsdale (Old Town Scottsdale, Arcadia, McCormick Ranch, Gainey Ranch, Troon, Grayhawk, DC Ranch, Silverleaf, Desert Mountain, Kierland, North Scottsdale, South Scottsdale) plus Phoenix metro (Phoenix, Mesa, Tempe, Chandler, Gilbert, Paradise Valley, Cave Creek, Carefree, Fountain Hills)
- Website: scottsdaleplumbing.com
80 Years of Continuous Family-Owned Scottsdale Operation
Scottsdale Plumbing was founded in 1946. Across 80 years of continuous family-owned and operated service, the firm has built a Scottsdale-supported Phoenix metro reputation. The firm’s 65-plus years of recognized family-owned tenure spans pre-WWII Scottsdale through the contemporary master-planned-community era. The 80-year operating tenure ranks Scottsdale Plumbing among the longest-tenured family-owned plumbing operations in Maricopa County.
Scottsdale Operating Base With Phoenix Metro Reach
Scottsdale Plumbing operates from a Scottsdale base. The position extends dispatch reach across Scottsdale (Old Town Scottsdale, Arcadia, McCormick Ranch, Gainey Ranch, Troon, Grayhawk, DC Ranch, Silverleaf, Desert Mountain, Kierland, North Scottsdale, South Scottsdale). Coverage extends through the broader Phoenix metro corridor including Paradise Valley, Cave Creek, Carefree, and Fountain Hills.
AZ ROC Plumbing Plus 80-Year Compliance Record
Scottsdale Plumbing operates under Arizona Registrar of Contractors plumbing classification credentialing. Verification runs through the AZ ROC license search at roc.az.gov. The 80-year continuous family-owned operating tenure supports a verifiable long-tenure compliance record. BBB Accreditation provides third-party reputation verification.
2. Christian Brothers Plumbing, AC, & Electrical
- Address: 6827 West Belmont Avenue, Glendale, AZ 85303 (Scottsdale service)
- Phone: (623) 825-3525
- Founder: Two friends who attended the same church founded the firm 1976; three Christian Brothers family generations still operating today
- Operating Since: 1976 (50 years; over 40 years of Scottsdale plumbing-and-water-heater service)
- License: Arizona Registrar of Contractors plumbing, HVAC, and electrical classifications; BBB Accredited
- Service area: Scottsdale plus Phoenix metro (Phoenix, Glendale, Peoria, Surprise, Mesa, Tempe, Chandler, Gilbert, Paradise Valley, Cave Creek)
- Website: cbrothers.com
Three Christian Brothers Family Generations Across 50 Years
Christian Brothers Plumbing was founded in 1976 by two friends who attended the same church and decided to start a plumbing business together. Across 50 years of continuous family-owned operation, the firm has grown across three Christian Brothers family generations. The firm has expanded service depth from plumbing-only operation through HVAC and electrical service.
Glendale Base With Scottsdale and Phoenix Metro Reach
The 6827 West Belmont Avenue Glendale headquarters brings dispatch within across the Phoenix metro. Service extends through Scottsdale plus Phoenix, Glendale, Peoria, Surprise, Mesa, Tempe, Chandler, Gilbert, Paradise Valley, and Cave Creek. Multi-trade service depth covers plumbing, HVAC, and electrical work.
AZ ROC Multi-Trade Plumbing-HVAC-Electrical Credentialing
Christian Brothers operates under Arizona Registrar of Contractors plumbing, HVAC, and electrical classifications. Multi-trade credentialing supports unified residential service across plumbing, heating, cooling, and electrical scope. BBB Accreditation provides third-party reputation verification.
3. Superstition Plumbing
- Address: Scottsdale, AZ (East Valley service)
- Phone: (480) 459-1015
- Founder: Founder lineage 1981 era; 45 years local plumbing expertise; family-owned across a couple generations
- Operating Since: 1981 era (45 years operating tenure)
- License: Arizona Registrar of Contractors plumbing classification; BBB Accredited
- Service area: Scottsdale plus East Valley (Mesa, Tempe, Chandler, Gilbert, Apache Junction, Queen Creek)
- Website: superstitionplumbing.com
Two-Generation Family-Owned Superstition Operation Across 45 Years
Superstition Plumbing has been a family-owned plumbing company in the valley for a couple of generations. The firm carries 45 years of local plumbing expertise. Across the 45-year operating tenure plus two-generation family ownership, the firm has built an East Valley reputation centered on local Scottsdale and Mesa-area service.
Scottsdale Base With East Valley Reach
Superstition Plumbing operates from a Scottsdale base. The position opens rapid dispatch coverage across Scottsdale plus the East Valley including Mesa, Tempe, Chandler, Gilbert, Apache Junction, and Queen Creek. Service depth covers residential and commercial plumbing.
AZ ROC Plumbing Plus 45-Year Compliance Record
Superstition Plumbing operates under Arizona Registrar of Contractors plumbing classification. The 45-year continuous family-owned operating tenure plus two-generation transition supports a verifiable compliance record. BBB Accreditation provides third-party reputation verification.
4. AC by J
- Address: 7595 East Gray Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85260
- Phone: (480) 922-3300
- Founder: Father and son (1983, working out of residential garage); first employee Bryce Johnson hired same year; founder passed away after a heart attack on the job; Bryce and son Brad ran the firm; Bryce later bought out Brad; current President Kelly Johnson (Bryce’s wife and partner); female-owned and operated
- Operating Since: 1983 (43 years; $10 million residential/light commercial service operation)
- License: Arizona Registrar of Contractors HVAC and plumbing classifications; BBB Accredited
- Service area: Scottsdale plus Phoenix metro (Phoenix, Paradise Valley, Cave Creek, Carefree, Fountain Hills, Mesa, Tempe, Chandler, Gilbert, Glendale, Peoria)
- Website: acbyj.com
43 Years of Johnson Family Operation Plus Female-Owned Status
AC by J was founded in late 1983 by a father and son working out of their residential garage. Bryce Johnson was hired as the first employee that same founding year. After the original owner suffered a heart attack on the job and passed away, Bryce and the founder’s son Brad were left in charge. Bryce later bought out Brad and began growing the business. Today the entire operation is managed by Bryce’s wife and partner Kelly Johnson, who serves as President. AC by J operates as a female-owned and operated business.
Gray Road Scottsdale Operating Base With Valley-Wide Reach
The 7595 East Gray Road Scottsdale headquarters speeds dispatch reach across the Phoenix metro. The firm now employs 45 co-workers and fields 18 HVAC service vehicles plus 8 plumbing trucks. Service extends through Scottsdale plus Phoenix, Paradise Valley, Cave Creek, Carefree, Fountain Hills, Mesa, Tempe, Chandler, Gilbert, Glendale, and Peoria.
AZ ROC HVAC and Plumbing Multi-Trade Plus $10 Million Operation
AC by J operates under Arizona Registrar of Contractors HVAC and plumbing classifications. The firm has grown into a $10 million residential/light commercial service and replacement operation serving the HVAC and plumbing marketplace throughout the Valley of the Sun. BBB Accreditation provides third-party reputation verification.
Reference Notes
Arizona plumbing licensing runs through the Arizona Registrar of Contractors (ROC). ROC issues sequentially numbered contractor licenses with classification codes for trade specialties (e.g., L-37 Residential Plumbing, C-37 Commercial Plumbing, K-37 Dual Plumbing). Verification runs through the AZ ROC license search at roc.az.gov. The City of Scottsdale Planning and Development Services Department issues building permits within Scottsdale city limits. City of Scottsdale Water Resources handles water service connections plus annual backflow-prevention testing.
Scottsdale-area residential housing reflects more than 90 years of construction since the city’s 1951 incorporation. Pre-1980 housing remains in Old Town Scottsdale around the historic Brown Avenue and Main Street commercial corridor. The 1980s-2000s drove the master-planned-community expansion that transformed Scottsdale from agricultural town into the Phoenix metro’s premium residential market. McCormick Ranch, Gainey Ranch, Troon, Grayhawk, DC Ranch, Silverleaf, Desert Mountain, Kierland, North Scottsdale, and the broader Sonoran Desert north corridor account for the bulk of post-1980 residential stock. Slab-on-grade construction throughout the suburban tracts, copper-and-PEX supply piping in newer construction, plus episodic Sonoran Desert summer heat stress on water heaters and fixtures shape recurring service categories. High-mineral-content water supply across the Salt River Project footprint drives frequent water heater service.
The four firms profiled cover four positions on the Scottsdale market arc. Scottsdale Plumbing leads tenure with 80 years of continuous family-owned operation since 1946. Christian Brothers Plumbing follows with three Christian Brothers family generations across 50 years since 1976. Two friends who attended the same church founded the firm. Superstition Plumbing brings 45 years of two-generation family-owned operation. AC by J runs 43 years of Johnson family operation since the 1983 father-and-son residential-garage founding. Bryce Johnson was hired as the first employee that same year. Founder Brad’s wife Kelly Johnson now serves as President, supporting female-owned and operated status. The firm has grown into a $10 million Valley of the Sun residential and light commercial operation.
Verification paths run through roc.az.gov, BBB Central Arizona listings, the PHCC of Arizona directory, and the City of Scottsdale Planning and Development Services contractor records. Long-tenure Scottsdale and Phoenix metro residential and commercial plumbing service since 1946 fits Scottsdale Plumbing. Three-generation multi-trade plumbing-HVAC-electrical service since 1976 fits Christian Brothers. Two-generation East Valley service since 1981 fits Superstition Plumbing. Female-owned multi-trade HVAC-and-plumbing Valley-wide service since 1983 fits AC by J. National rollup brands operating in the Phoenix metro (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 Arizona Registrar of Contractors plumbing classification cross-checked through the AZ ROC public lookup. Third, BBB Accreditation or equivalent third-party rating. Fourth, minimum 10-year continuous operating tenure with documented Scottsdale 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 Scottsdale plumber’s license?
Use the Arizona Registrar of Contractors license search at roc.az.gov. Search by license number or business name. Confirm active plumbing classification, expiration date, and bonding before authorizing work.
What credentials should a Scottsdale plumber hold?
At minimum: Arizona Registrar of Contractors plumbing classification (L-37 Residential, C-37 Commercial, or K-37 Dual) plus general liability insurance and workers’ compensation coverage. Specialty work (gas line, backflow prevention, fire sprinkler, sewer lateral, solar water heater installation) may require additional ROC classifications.
How can I tell if a Scottsdale 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 Scottsdale?
Burst pipes, sewer backups, gas leaks, no-water events, water heater failures, and slab leak events justify after-hours dispatch. Sonoran Desert summer heat plus high-mineral-content water drive water heater service demand across the Salt River Project footprint. 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 AZ ROC public lookup before authorizing work. Information current as of the date below; firm details may change without notice. Last updated: 2026-05-10.