Rhode Island's Oldest Plumbing Company — Still Family-Owned After 135 Years
Some businesses say they've been around a long time. We can prove it. F.G. Lees & Son has been licensed, working, and trusted across Rhode Island since 1889 — through every era of plumbing technology, every shift in the trades, and every generation of homeowners and building operators who needed someone they could count on.
Five Generations, One Family, One Standard of Work
Frederick G. Lees founded this company in Providence in 1889. What he built wasn't just a plumbing business — it was a trade practice passed directly from parent to child, five times over. Today, Neal and Leah lead F.G. Lees & Son through its fifth generation of family ownership, and both are active in day-to-day operations. When you call us, you're not reaching a call center or a regional franchise. You're reaching the people whose name is on the truck.
That continuity matters in ways that are hard to quantify. A family business entering its sixth generation of clients doesn't cut corners. We have too much history to protect and too many neighbors who remember our work.
Upfront pricing, fast response, and solutions that last
Credentials That Commercial Decision-Makers Require
We know that facility managers, property owners, and hospital engineers don't hire on reputation alone — they verify. Here is what we bring to that conversation:
Rhode Island State Plumbing License — fully licensed and insured for all residential and commercial work statewide
Navien-Certified Service — factory-authorized training for high-efficiency condensing boilers and water heaters; one of a small number of RI contractors holding this credential
4.6 stars on Google — independent, verified customer feedback
RealWork Verified — geographic documentation of active job volume across Rhode Island
130+ years of continuous operation in the state of Rhode Island
If your facility requires documentation of licensing, insurance, or manufacturer certifications before awarding a service contract, we can provide it.
Built for Residential Homes and Commercial Buildings Alike
Our residential work spans the full range of plumbing and heating needs — drain cleaning, water heater replacement, boiler service, kitchen and bath plumbing, backflow prevention, and emergency calls at any hour. We work in older and historic Providence-area homes regularly, and we know what the pipes in a 1920s triple-decker look like.
Our commercial division operates at a different scale entirely. We service rooftop HVAC units on high-rise buildings, install and maintain booster pump stations for condominiums, hotels, and hospitals, and manage large mechanical systems that require both the licensing and the crew capacity to execute correctly. These are not services we offer occasionally — they are a primary line of our commercial practice.
If you manage a building or a portfolio of properties in Rhode Island, we have the depth to serve you across both planned maintenance and emergency response.
What Our Customers Say
Frequently Asked Questions About F.G. Lees & Son
How long has F.G. Lees & Son been in business?
F.G. Lees & Son was founded in Providence, Rhode Island in 1889, making us the oldest plumbing company in the state. We are currently operated by the fifth generation of the Lees family, with Neil and his brother leading day-to-day operations.
Is F.G. Lees & Son licensed and insured in Rhode Island?
Yes. We hold a Rhode Island state plumbing license and carry full insurance for all residential and commercial work. We can provide documentation of licensing and insurance upon request for commercial contracts.
What is Navien certification and why does it matter?
Navien manufactures high-efficiency condensing boilers and tankless water heaters that require factory-specific training to service correctly. We are Navien-certified, which means our technicians have completed that manufacturer-required training. Most Rhode Island plumbers and HVAC companies do not hold this credential.
Do you perform your own excavation work?
Yes. We own our excavation equipment — backhoes and trenching machinery — and perform all underground sewer and water line work with our own crew. We do not subcontract this work, which means tighter scheduling, a single point of accountability, and lower overall cost.
Ready to Work With Rhode Island's Most Experienced Plumbing Team?
Let's Talk
We've been earning this trust since 1889. Whether you need a licensed plumber for your home or a mechanical contractor for your building, we're ready to talk.