Garrelts & Sons Plumbing, Heating & Water Treatment Inc. founder Richard A. Garrelts, was a farm boy growing up in McHenry, graduating from the local East Campus High School. He then enlisted himself in the Marine Corp. fighting for his country in the Korean War. When he returned he began working for Weber's Plumbing & Heating Company located in McHenry, this would help him to attain his apprentice plumbing license after 5 years of working in the field. On the weekends he would go to work for his brothers company, Walter Garrelts Well & Septic.

In 1959 he was able to attain his State Plumbing license and since he was familiar with the plumbing field he quickly came to realize that to become ahead in life and to be able to support his wife and growing family, he needed to own his own business, thus creating Richard A. Garrelts Plumbing in 1960.

As his clientele grew threw the years and business became steady, 3 of the 4 sons began to work with their father to learn the trade. In 1990 Richard decided to go into early retirement and the 2 brothers (Al & Steve) that remained with the business decided to buy out the business from their father. After a year of working with one another Al decided that he would like to venture out to create his own business. Steve bought out Al's half of the business, thus creating Garrelts & Sons Plumbing & Heating Inc.

As the 2nd generation, family-owned business expanded its horizons to better serve their customers needs, the company grew from a small community service shop into full service residential, commercial and industrial plumbing shop, servicing all of McHenry County and its surrounding areas.