Answers to the things people ask us all the time — about pricing, scheduling, services we do and don't offer, water heaters, sump pumps, winter prep, and everything in between.
Yes — on most common jobs. Water heater installs, sump pump replacements, toilet swaps, garbage disposal installs, and many standard repairs are flat-rate. You know the number before we lift a tool.
Complex diagnostics, custom remodel work, or jobs that require significant on-site discovery are quoted per project after we've actually seen what's involved. Either way, no surprise charges at the end.
Fastest way: text a couple photos of what's going on to 920-960-2133. Include a wide shot of the area, a close-up of the problem, and any model labels if you can get to them. We'll quote you flat-rate within the hour during business hours for common jobs.
For larger projects (remodels, repipes, new construction), we set up an in-person walkthrough.
For most service work, no. Standard repair quotes are free over the phone or by text. For full remodel walkthroughs and large project estimates, we may charge a small fee that gets credited against the project if you hire us — we'll be upfront about that when you call.
Cash, check, and all major credit cards. For commercial accounts and property management groups, we can set up invoiced billing on terms.
Always. Before we quote a replacement water heater, sump pump, or any other major component, we check the manufacturer's warranty on what you have. A recent customer saved hundreds of dollars because her water heater warranty was still active.
Most plumbers don't bother to look. We always do.
For larger projects like full repipes or remodels, ask us when you call. We can point you to financing options that customers have used in the past.
Monday through Friday, 7am to 5pm. We don't answer calls or run jobs outside those hours — by design, not by accident. Our crew needs to be home with their families, and we've found that customers who care about consistent, careful work value reliability over after-hours availability.
No. If you have actively flowing water at 2am on a Saturday, you'll want to call a 24/7 emergency plumber — not us. We'd rather tell you that honestly than pretend to offer service we don't actually provide well.
For active leaks during business hours, we prioritize those calls and usually get to you the same day.
Most standard service calls are scheduled within a few business days. Water heater swaps and active leaks typically get scheduled within 24 hours. Brand-new construction and remodel work runs on the project schedule we set up in advance.
We try. We give you a specific arrival time — usually within a 30-minute window — and if anything changes, we call you. Big plumbing companies have to give you 8am–noon because they're juggling 40 calls. We don't work that way.
For most jobs, yes — we need access to the area we're working in and someone to walk through what we found before we leave. For property managers with key access to multiple units, we'll work out logistics so a tenant doesn't have to be present every time.
National averages say 10–15 years. In eastern Wisconsin with our hard water, most tanks fail closer to 7 years. The standard manufacturer warranty is 6 years on purpose — they know the tanks usually die not long after.
Replacing your anode rod every 2–3 years can dramatically extend that lifespan. More on water heater service →
Probably not, in our area. Tankless units are great if you need unlimited hot water on demand. They're not a good way to save money on energy bills in hard-water regions — the math rarely works once you factor in the higher up-front cost, install complexity, and required maintenance every couple of years to descale the internals.
For most Fond du Lac homes, a standard tank or hybrid heat-pump tank is the better long-term value.
It's an electric tank with a heat pump on top. The heat pump pulls warmth from the surrounding air to heat the water, making it about 4× more efficient than a standard electric water heater. Upfront cost is higher, but the energy savings add up over the lifespan of the unit.
It's a metal rod inside your water heater that attracts impurities so they corrode it instead of the tank wall. Once the rod is gone, the impurities start eating the tank itself — which is when leaks start.
A new anode rod runs about $40 at Menards, takes 20 minutes with a 1-1/16" socket, and can add years to your water heater's life. Most homeowners never touch it. We're telling you to.
No — not unless it's showing warning signs. Our advice: as long as it's making hot water and not leaking, keep riding it. Every day a working water heater is in your basement, it's making you money. Once it shows signs of failure (rust, water at the base, weird sounds, inconsistent temperature), then we replace.
Yes. Send us photos and dimensions when you call and we'll quote the install. Tight spaces and upper-floor units sometimes need a power-vent or specific tank profile — we'll tell you what fits.
Three things matter most:
First: open the faucet attached to the frozen section so when it thaws, water can flow out instead of pressure-bursting the pipe. Then warm the frozen section slowly with a hair dryer, heat lamp, or space heater — never a torch or open flame.
If you can't locate the frozen section or it's in a wall you can't access, shut off the main water and call us. Catching it before it bursts is enormously cheaper than cleanup after.
Yes. Every single year. Even "frost-free" hose bibs fail when a hose is left attached — the water gets trapped in the bib housing instead of draining back into the house wall. When it freezes and expands, it cracks the bib inside the wall. You won't know it happened until spring when you turn the outside water on and it pours into your basement.
Five seconds of work in October could save a ton in repair costs in April.
If you have a black flexible corrugated discharge hose, yes — take it off in the fall. Water that sits inside it freezes solid, and when your pump kicks on the first time after thaw, it has nowhere to push water. The motor burns itself out.
Rigid PVC discharge that's properly pitched usually drains itself and doesn't need seasonal attention. More on sump pump service →
Simple drain clogs, yes — we clear them by hand or with a small snake. For sewer-line work that needs a camera, hydro-jetting, or trenchless pipe lining, we don't carry that equipment. We'll refer you to a specialist who does.
No. Heating and cooling is a separate trade with a separate license. We focus on plumbing and do that well, instead of being mediocre at three things.
We can handle simple boiler work, but we don't take on enough of it to be efficient. For boiler and radiant heat specifically, we'll point you to specialists who do it every day.
Yes — gas line work for ranges, ovens, grills, and outdoor kitchens is something we do, especially during remodel projects. More on remodel work →
We don't. Mobile-home plumbing has unique requirements we're not set up for. We'll tell you straight when you call so you can find someone equipped for that work.
Yes — we work with GCs on a lot of projects. If you have a contractor, give them our number and we'll get on their bid list. Most of our builder relationships started with one project that went well and turned into ongoing work.
Yes. Our team includes a Wisconsin Master Plumber (license #943998), and we're fully licensed and insured. We're happy to provide proof of insurance for commercial accounts or any customer who asks.
Every install comes with a 1-year labor warranty from us. If something we touched fails inside that year, we come back and fix it — no charge, no argument. On top of that, you get the full manufacturer warranty on whatever part or unit we installed.
Tell us. We'd rather hear about it and fix it than have you sitting at home frustrated. We don't leave a job until you're satisfied with what we did, and if something needs adjustment after the fact, we come back.
Always. We treat your home with care while we work, stage parts on protective surfaces, and clean up before we leave. The only sign we were there should be that the problem is gone.
If your question isn't in our FAQ, the fastest way to get an answer is to call or text us during business hours.
Call during business hours and you'll get our team — not a call center, not an answering service. Most water heater jobs scheduled within 24 hours.
Hours: Mon–Fri · 7am–5pm · No After-Hours Emergency Service
