About us
Fred and Son Handywork: Local Plumber Rooted in Gainesville
Fred Harlan
Owner · Since 2008
Our Story
Fred and Son Handywork: Local Plumber Rooted in Gainesville
Fred Harlan built Fred and Son Handywork to serve the real plumbing needs of Gainesville homes and businesses. Starting from his own experience fixing issues in older properties, he focuses on neighborhoods like Duckpond and University Heights where many houses have aging pipes that react to the area's humid subtropical summers and occasional heavy rains.
As an owner-operated outfit, we cover Alachua County from Downtown and Magnolia Park out to Haile Plantation and Northwest Gainesville. The terrain near Paynes Prairie and the Florida Museum of Natural History influences how we approach underground work, while the mild winters reduce freeze risks but still require attention to water pressure changes around landmarks like the University of Florida and Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
We also handle calls from nearby Ocala and Lake City when Gainesville residents need reliable help beyond county lines, always showing up with clear explanations and leaving the work ready for inspection.
I grew up in Gainesville and started Fred and Son Handywork after fixing leaks and clogged lines in the older homes around Duckpond and University Heights for years. The sandy soil and humid subtropical weather here, with its hot summers and occasional winter dips, create constant issues like corrosion in copper lines and root intrusion from the live oaks common in Alachua County neighborhoods. Working near the University of Florida and Ben Hill Griffin Stadium showed me how student rentals and established houses in Magnolia Park and Northwest Gainesville each need different approaches, and I expanded to serve Haile Plantation and routes toward Ocala and Lake City because those same conditions travel with the terrain.
- Owner-operated plumbing services across Alachua County neighborhoods
- Upfront quotes provided before starting any job in areas like Duckpond
- Workmanship you can inspect on properties near Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park
- Local focus on how Gainesville's soil and climate affect pipe performance
- Straightforward service calls that reach from the University of Florida campus to Haile Plantation
Credentials & guarantees
Our guarantee
Locally owned and owner-operated plumber in Gainesville providing upfront quotes and workmanship you can inspect in neighborhoods like Duckpond, Haile Plantation, and Northwest Gainesville plus service to nearby Ocala and Lake City.
Testimonials
What Gainesville, FL Customers Say
“The kitchen sink in my older home near the courthouse kept backing up from a clog in the cast iron line. Fred ran a snake through the cleanout and replaced a rusted trap under the cabinet. Water now drains straight through without any gurgling or standing water.”
“Low water pressure from the shower head turned out to be mineral buildup in the old galvanized pipes. They flushed the line and swapped in a new PEX section to the fixture. Pressure improved noticeably, though it took two visits to finish the reroute.”
“A leaking supply valve behind the washing machine flooded the laundry room floor. Fred and his son shut off the main, replaced the valve with a quarter-turn ball type, and dried the subfloor. No more drips and the machine runs without any moisture under the tiles.”