The Cahill story began in the 1880s when an ambitious Irish immigrant, John J. Cahill, planted his roots in Chicago and the North Shore. In 1890, he opened his first plumbing shop, setting the foundation for a business built on hard work and integrity. By 1922, his reputation had earned him the title of President of the Illinois Association of Plumbing Contractors.

Through the decades, each generation has carried the Cahill legacy forward:

• John W. Cahill, our second-generation leader, expanded our services to include heating and moved our headquarters to Church Street, where our signature orange trucks became a well-known sight in the community.
• John J. Cahill II, who took the reins in the 1960s, adding air-conditioning services and introducing kitchen and bathroom remodeling—adapting to the evolving needs of our customers.
• Today, John J. Cahill II, John J. Cahill III and Charlie Schaefer, our third, fourth, and fifth generations, continue to serve northern Chicago and the North Shore with the same dedication and care that have defined our business for over a century.

From our early days of delivering coal-fired boilers by horse-drawn carriage to today’s expert plumbing, HVAC and remodeling services, one thing has remained constant: our unwavering commitment to our neighbors.

We believe in the promise of unions 

At John J. Cahill Inc., we believe that when tradespeople thrive, so does the community. That’s why we are a proud union shop, ensuring that our skilled technicians—members of Plumbers Local 130 and Pipefitters Local 597—receive fair wages, quality benefits and continuing education opportunities. Their expertise means our customers receive the highest level of service, every time. When tradespeople thrive, so does our community.