Quick Comparison
| Firm | Founded / Tenure & Credentials | Services & Specialties | Geographic Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alternative Plumbing Plus | 1929 (founder lineage; current owner Mark Schuster, Office Manager Debra Schuster); three Schuster family generations | OH Plumbing Contractor, OH Sewer Contractor (22 city/county jurisdictions), Ohio Backflow Certified, BBB Accredited | 6205 N Summit Street Toledo base (43611); Toledo plus Maumee, Sylvania, Perrysburg, Oregon, Northwood |
| Able Master Sewer Company | 1958 (founder lineage; owner Fred Brueshaber; LLC reorganized 2011) | OH Plumbing Contractor, BBB Accredited | Toledo base; Toledo plus Lucas County and Wood County corridor |
| Joe Ganzel Plumbing | 1960 (Joe Ganzel founder); ownership transitioned to Paul Ganzel 1994; transitioned to Luke Ganzel 2026-01-01; three Ganzel family generations | OH Plumbing Contractor, City of Toledo Active Plumbing Contractor, BBB Accredited | Toledo plus Wauseon base; Toledo plus Lucas County and Fulton County corridor |
| T&J Rooter Service | 2007 (Jamie St.Pierre founder); current owner Jamie St.Pierre | OH Plumbing Contractor PL.22926, BBB A+ Rated | 3264 South Avenue Toledo base; Greater Toledo plus southeast Michigan border (Adrian, Bedford, Lambertville) |
1. Alternative Plumbing Plus, Inc.
- Address: 6205 North Summit Street, Toledo, OH 43611
- Phone: (419) 727-8777
- Founder: Founder lineage dates to 1929; current owner Mark Schuster; Office Manager Debra Schuster; three Schuster family generations
- Operating Since: 1929 (97 years; locally operated family business)
- License: Ohio Plumbing Contractor; Ohio Sewer Contractor (licensed in 22 city, county, and jurisdictional registrations); Ohio Backflow Certified; BBB Accredited
- Service area: Toledo (downtown, Old North End, Point Place, Ottawa Hills, Old West End, South Toledo) plus Maumee, Sylvania, Perrysburg, Oregon, Northwood, Holland, Rossford, Walbridge, Monclova, Swanton
- Website: alternativeplumbingplusinc.com
97 Years of Continuous Toledo Operation
Alternative Plumbing Plus traces its founding to 1929. Three Schuster family generations have run the business across 97 years. Current owner Mark Schuster leads the firm, with Debra Schuster serving as Office Manager. The 97-year operating tenure ranks Alternative Plumbing Plus among the longest-tenured family-owned plumbing operations in Northwest Ohio.
North Summit Street Point Place Base
The 6205 North Summit Street headquarters sits in north Toledo near the Point Place corridor along the Ottawa River. The position speeds dispatch reach across the Toledo core plus the surrounding suburban arc. Service extends through the historic Toledo neighborhoods (Old North End, Old West End, Ottawa Hills, downtown) plus the southwest suburban corridor (Maumee, Sylvania, Perrysburg, Holland, Monclova).
Plumbing Plus Sewer Contractor Plus Backflow Certification
Alternative Plumbing Plus operates as a licensed plumbing contractor and a licensed sewer contractor across 22 cities, counties, and jurisdictional registrations. The firm holds Ohio Backflow Certification through the State of Ohio. Multi-jurisdiction sewer-contractor credentialing supports work across the fragmented Northwest Ohio municipal-permit landscape. BBB Accreditation provides third-party reputation verification.
2. Able Master Sewer Company
- Address: Toledo, OH (Lucas County base)
- Phone: (419) 944-1577
- Founder: Founder lineage dates to 1958; current owner Fred Brueshaber; LLC reorganized 2011
- Operating Since: 1958 (68 years)
- License: Ohio Plumbing Contractor; BBB Accredited
- Service area: Toledo plus Lucas County (Maumee, Sylvania, Holland, Ottawa Hills, Point Place, Oregon, Perrysburg) plus Wood County corridor
- Website: ablemasterrootertoledo.com
68 Years of Continuous Toledo Sewer-and-Plumbing Service
Able Master Sewer Company traces its founding to 1958. The firm has operated continuously across 68 years of Toledo service. Current owner Fred Brueshaber leads the business, which reorganized as a Limited Liability Company on May 25, 2011. The 68-year operating tenure supports a deep institutional record across changing Northwest Ohio housing markets.
Toledo Lucas County Operating Base
Able Master Sewer Company operates from a Toledo base. The position enables rapid dispatch across Lucas County (Maumee, Sylvania, Holland, Ottawa Hills, Point Place, Oregon) plus the southern Wood County corridor (Perrysburg, Rossford, Walbridge). Service depth includes 24-hour emergency dispatch for sewer and drain emergencies across the metro footprint.
Ohio Plumbing Contractor Compliance and Sewer Specialty
Able Master Sewer Company operates under Ohio Plumbing Contractor licensing through the Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board (OCILB). The sewer specialty positions the firm for cast-iron drain, lateral-line, and stack work common in pre-1960 Toledo housing. BBB Accreditation provides third-party reputation verification. Continuous 1958-2026 family-owned operation supports a verifiable compliance record.
3. Joe Ganzel Plumbing, Inc.
- Address: Toledo, OH plus Wauseon, OH (Lucas and Fulton county service)
- Phone: (419) 470-9933
- Founder: Joe Ganzel (founded 1960); ownership transitioned to Paul Ganzel 1994; transitioned to Luke Ganzel 2026-01-01; three Ganzel family generations
- Operating Since: 1960 (66 years)
- License: Ohio Plumbing Contractor; City of Toledo Active Plumbing Contractor registration; Master Plumber on staff; BBB Accredited
- Service area: Toledo plus surrounding areas (Maumee, Sylvania, Perrysburg, Holland, Monclova, Swanton, Wauseon, Fulton County corridor)
- Website: jganzelplbg.com
Three Ganzel Generations Across 66 Years
Joe Ganzel founded Joe Ganzel Plumbing in 1960. Joe’s son Paul Ganzel took ownership in 1994. Paul’s son Luke Ganzel joined the firm in 2003 and assumed ownership on January 1, 2026, completing the third-generation transition. Three Ganzel family generations have run the firm across 66 years. The firm specializes in residential plumbing service across the Toledo metro plus the western Fulton County corridor.
Toledo Plus Wauseon Operating Base
Joe Ganzel Plumbing operates from a Toledo base plus a Wauseon presence. The position extends dispatch reach across central Lucas County plus the western Fulton County rural-and-small-town corridor. Service extends through Toledo’s residential neighborhoods plus Maumee, Sylvania, Perrysburg, Holland, Monclova, Swanton, and the Wauseon-area service zone.
Ohio Plumbing Contractor Plus City of Toledo Active Registration
Joe Ganzel Plumbing operates under Ohio Plumbing Contractor licensing through OCILB. The firm holds active City of Toledo Plumbing Contractor registration through the Toledo Building Inspection Department. A Master Plumber on staff carries the State of Ohio Master Plumber credential. BBB Accreditation provides third-party reputation verification.
4. T&J Rooter Service, Inc.
- Address: 3264 South Avenue, Toledo, OH 43609
- Phone: (419) 244-1818
- Founder: Jamie St.Pierre (founded 2007); current owner Jamie St.Pierre
- Operating Since: 2007 (19 years)
- License: Ohio Plumbing Contractor PL.22926; licensed, bonded, and insured; BBB A+ Rated
- Service area: Greater Toledo (Toledo, Maumee, Sylvania, Perrysburg, Holland, Ottawa Hills, Point Place, Oregon, Rossford, Northwood, Walbridge, Monclova, Bowling Green, Elmore, Genoa, Harbor View, Haskins, Luckey, Swanton, Woodville) plus southeast Michigan border (Adrian, Bedford, Blissfield, Erie, Ida, Lambertville)
- Website: tandjrooterservice.com
19 Years of Continuous Greater Toledo Operation
Jamie St.Pierre founded T&J Rooter Service in 2007. The firm has operated continuously across 19 years of Greater Toledo service. The owner brings over two decades of plumbing trade experience to the firm. T&J Rooter Service operates as an A+ BBB-rated independent locally-owned plumber outside the national rollup pattern.
South Avenue South Toledo Base With Cross-Border Reach
The 3264 South Avenue headquarters sits in south Toledo near the Maumee River corridor. The position brings dispatch within across the Greater Toledo footprint plus the cross-border southeast Michigan service area. Service extends across Lucas, Wood, Sandusky, and Ottawa counties in Ohio plus Lenawee, Monroe, and Hillsdale counties in southeast Michigan (Adrian, Bedford, Blissfield, Erie, Ida, Lambertville).
Ohio Plumbing Contractor PL.22926 Plus Cross-Border Service
T&J Rooter Service operates under Ohio Plumbing Contractor License PL.22926 issued through OCILB. The firm holds licensed, bonded, and insured status. Cross-border southeast Michigan service requires additional registration verification through the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) Bureau of Construction Codes Plumbing Division. BBB A+ Rating provides third-party reputation verification. 24-hour emergency dispatch supports drain, sewer, and plumbing emergency calls across the metro footprint.
Reference Notes
Ohio plumbing licensing runs through the Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board (OCILB). OCILB issues Plumbing Contractor and Plumbing/HVAC Contractor credentials through sequentially numbered records (PL prefix). Verification runs through com.ohio.gov/dico. The City of Toledo Building Inspection Department issues local plumbing-contractor registration and building permits within Toledo city limits. The Toledo Active Plumbing Contractors list (toledo.oh.gov/business) provides a public registry of registered firms. Toledo Department of Public Utilities handles water service connections plus annual backflow-prevention testing.
Toledo-area residential housing reflects more than 175 years of construction. Pre-1880 housing remains in the Old West End and the historic Vistula district near the Maumee River. The 1880-1920 streetcar-suburb expansion built out the Old North End, Old West End, Birmingham, Lagrange, and Polish Village. Pre-war Tudor-revival, Colonial-revival, and bungalow housing filled out 1900-1940 across Ottawa Hills, the Old Orchard district, and the South Toledo grid. Postwar tract construction built out West Toledo, Point Place, Holland, and Sylvania Township through 1945-1970. The 1980s-2000s drove the Perrysburg, Sylvania, Maumee, and Monclova suburban expansion. Cast-iron drain stacks, galvanized supply piping, lead service lines, steam-and-radiator boilers, plus Lake Erie-influenced winter freeze considerations shape recurring service categories.
The four firms profiled cover four positions on the Toledo market arc. Alternative Plumbing Plus leads tenure with three Schuster family generations since 1929, supported by 22-jurisdiction sewer-contractor credentialing plus Ohio Backflow Certification. Able Master Sewer Company follows with 68 years of continuous sewer-and-plumbing service since 1958 under Fred Brueshaber’s leadership. Joe Ganzel Plumbing brings three Ganzel family generations since Joe Ganzel’s 1960 founding. Paul Ganzel took ownership in 1994. Luke Ganzel completed the third-generation transition on January 1, 2026. T&J Rooter Service runs founder-led continuity since Jamie St.Pierre’s 2007 founding. The firm holds Ohio Plumbing Contractor License PL.22926 plus BBB A+ Rating, supporting cross-border southeast Michigan service alongside Greater Toledo.
Verification paths run through com.ohio.gov/dico, the City of Toledo Active Plumbing Contractors registry (toledo.oh.gov/business), BBB Northwest Ohio listings, and the PHCC of Ohio directory. Pre-1900 Old West End and Vistula housing tilts toward Alternative Plumbing Plus’s 97-year operating depth. Lucas County sewer-and-drain specialty since 1958 fits Able Master. Three-generation Toledo plus Fulton County residential service fits Joe Ganzel Plumbing. Cross-border Greater Toledo plus southeast Michigan service fits T&J Rooter Service. National rollup brands operating in Northwest Ohio (Authority Brands’ Benjamin Franklin Plumbing, Neighborly’s Mr. Rooter, Service Experts, Roto-Rooter, Wrench Group, Redwood Services, Master Trades Group, ARS, Apex Service Partners) 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 Ohio Plumbing Contractor license cross-checked through OCILB public lookup. Third, BBB Accreditation or equivalent third-party rating. Fourth, minimum 10-year continuous operating tenure with documented Toledo 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 Toledo plumber’s license?
Use the Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board public licensee database at com.ohio.gov/dico. Search by license number or business name. Cross-check with the City of Toledo Active Plumbing Contractors list at toledo.oh.gov/business. Confirm active status, classification, bonding, and insurance before authorizing work.
What credentials should a Toledo plumber hold?
At minimum: Ohio Plumbing Contractor credential plus general liability insurance and workers’ compensation coverage. City of Toledo work requires additional active Plumbing Contractor registration through the Toledo Building Inspection Department. Specialty work (gas line, backflow prevention, fire sprinkler, sewer lateral, boiler service) requires additional credential layers.
How can I tell if a Toledo 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 Toledo?
Burst pipes, sewer backups, gas leaks, no-water events, frozen-pipe events, and water heater failures justify after-hours dispatch. Cold Lake Erie winter snaps drive freeze-burst pipe demand across Northwest Ohio. 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 Ohio OCILB public lookup before authorizing work. Information current as of the date below; firm details may change without notice. Last updated: 2026-05-10.