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Darrell Bell likes to educate his customers while he helps them. Here are a few tips he offers to avoid many common or costly plumbing problems: Never pour cooking oil, grease or other fats down your kitchen drain. Know where your main water shut-off valve is located. Check all shut-off valves under sinks and toilets to make sure they operate correctly. Make sure your main sewer drain has an access outside. Don't ignore small drips or leaks. ose small leaks can lead to major water loss. Know what to do if something overflows or breaks. 4 | r e d f c u.o r g Hard work and a chance encounter helped build Bowers Plumbing Company into the multigenerational family business it is today. Darrell Bell was 8 years old when his mother, Peggy, met John Bowers in the mid-1970s. John was starting his plumbing business, and he was a frequent visitor to the City of Huntsville's Inspection Department for plumbing permits. at's where Peggy worked. As the story goes, she would make sure she handled Bowers' permits any time he came in. e couple married in 1978. "She eventually quit her job and went to work with him, and they worked the business together," Bell said. By the time he turned 13, Bell was John's flashlight holder during the summer. Eventually, he realized plumbing could be his life's work. Two years ago, John Bowers retired, and now Bell and his wife, Stephanie, are running the business. But Bowers still manages to stop by every day, Bell says with a smile. e Bells have been married for 28 years and have worked together full-time since 2003 – after their two sons, Brennan and Tanner, got older. Along the way, Redstone Federal Credit Union has been a great partner, Stephanie Bell said, rattling off a list of names she can call on for help, including Jared Love, Cara Sexton, Kim Hodge, and Brooke Bell. "Everyone is always so nice to help," she said, "and they have bent over backward at times to get our payroll out so our guys get paid on time." Bowers Plumbing primarily works in new construction, but the Bells said they are growing the repair and service business at the same time. eir oldest son, Brennan, 23, will join them soon after graduating from the University of Alabama in Huntsville. Contact Bowers Plumbing Co. at BowersPlumbing.com or 256-859-4600 S M A L L B U S I N E S S S P O T L I G H T BOWERS PLUMBING "We're carrying on a family tradition" Darrell Bell, John Bowers and Stephanie Bell