In The News

O'Leary Plumbing & Heating Showcases Alternative to High Energy Costs as Part of Wisconsins's 2008 Solar Tour

Plumbers Get Down and Dirty

O’Leary Plumbing & Heating Among 2008 Family Business Winners

O'Leary Celebrates 50 Years

***DNR Mandate for Water System Inspections***

O’Leary Showcases Alternative to High Energy Costs as Part of Wisconsin's Solar Tour

O’Leary Employees Buy Raffle Tickets to Support Holiday Help For Families & East Troy Food Pantry

O'Leary Plumbing & Heating Showcases Alternative to High Energy Costs as Part of Wisconsins's 2008 Solar Tour

East Troy, Wisconsin – Home and business owners around the state are sharing their secret: renewable energy is technology for today! The public is invited to see renewable energy up close during the 2008 Wisconsin Solar Tour, October 3rd & 4th.

On Friday, October 3rd, O’Leary’s Office & Shop will be open for tour from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m

O’Leary’s entire facility, built in 2000, is heated by in-floor radiant heat and cooled by a high velocity cooling system. The building’s roof holds 8 solar collector panels absorbing the sun’s energy and transferring the heat into water as it moves through a copper tubing system. The hot water is used for the radiant heating system. “A solar heating system saves energy, reduces utility costs and produces clean energy.” said Kevin O’Leary, O’Leary’s Heating Division Manager.

The Wisconsin Solar Tour, sponsored by Midwest Renewable Energy Association & Focus on Energy, features nearly 150 sites around the state open to the public for free tours. Sites will showcase advances in energy efficient construction, new products, sustainable landscaping and renewable energy technologies. For additional site locations log onto: www.the-mrea.org or call 1-715-592-6595 to receive a guide via mail.

Plumbers Get Down and Dirty

East Troy – A lone plumber fights the waste of an entire city. Working against the clock – and the waste – as the whole city’s flushed “debris” comes pouring into the pit, the brave plumber dives in without hesitation, after a 24-inch city main became clogged.
As the whole city flushed waste into the hole, the plumber’s co-workers stood at the top of the pit, razzing him and giving him a hard time. The stench grew more and more foul as the pit filled up. He was the only one willing to jump into the pit and fix the plug, braving the filth for more than an hour.
That plumber, Lannie Ross, works at O’Leary Plumbing and Heating in East Troy.
“I’ll pretty much do anything,” Ross explained.
Although those types of situations don’t happen all that often, the plumbers who work at O’Leary Plumbing see their fair share of muck and grime. That’s why their jobs are considered “dirty jobs.”
Ross has been with O’Leary for four years after moving to the area from Sheboygan.
Steve Rhode is another O’Leary plumber, and says he’s done just about every job there is to do since coming to O’Leary in 1986. He earned his master plumber license in 1994 and is DNR-certified in pump installation. Rhode serves as the service manager and water quality specialist for O’Leary.
Rhode said he’s been in septic tanks and grease traps, neither of which is exactly a clean work environment.
In fact, there is a shower in the office so if any employees come back a mess, they can clean off before continuing the day.
“We don’t actually jump into the septic tanks anymore,” explained Rhode. “We used to do it, but it became too dangerous. You might not come out.”
Rhode said that he has jumped in the tanks if it was a necessity, which means jumping into a pit of slop up to their knees.
Even without jumping into the tanks, plumbers have to deal with the smell and sight of what comes out of clogged pipes. Sometimes, they deal with old cast-iron pipes and face the possibility of getting splashed with what’s inside.
Rhode described what’s inside as a black scummy residue. Yuck. Teeth of Steel Lannie at Work

Rhode and Ross say they’ve found many interesting things plugged in drains. Ross once pulled a Nerf football out of a pipe. He’s also seen dentures, and even diamonds stuck in drains.
Another problem the two see often is clogged drains due to the homeowner dumping grease down the drain.
“Common sense should tell you that you only want waste and water to go down the drain, not grease.”
Bathroom pipes clogged? Nine times out of 10, that clog is due to feminine hygiene products. Feminine hygiene projects don’t deteriorate and therefore end up just sitting in the pipes.
Think flushing products and draining products will help a plug? Think again. Ross and Rhode say that unless those products are used routinely, they don’t do much good.
“By the time people use those types of products, it’s too late,” explained Ross.
One of the dirtiest jobs Rhode said he’s ever worked on was rotting out a pig drain.
“Imagine rotting out a drain in the slop pigs eat, then putting your machine back in the truck with you on a hot summer day,” he explained, the look of disgust still on his face. “My machine smelled like that for weeks.”
Although a machine is used to reach into a pipe and clear it out, the plumbers at O’Leary see their fair share of muck.
“I’ve been in lots of homes where I’ve had to go through a foot of sewage to get to the drain. That isn’t fun,” said Rhode. “At least we have rubber gloves and boots that come up to our knees.”
Ross and Rhode each went to school for five years and apprenticed five more before becoming plumbers.
At times, they have risked their health and safety for their dirty jobs – but it’s all in a day’s work for Ross and Rhode.

“It’s an everyday thing. We’re used to it,” said Ross.

What do Madonna, Sharon Stone & Milwaukee Public Television have in common with O’Leary Plumbing & Heating?

East Troy, Wisconsin – They’re all turning 50 this year. O’Leary Plumbing started in1958 as a two-person business based out of the family home. Ray O’Leary performed the labor with a focus on pump service for area farms and his wife, Ruth, handled the customers and billing.

Much has happened over the years. As demand grew, the small business added more services, including residential and light commercial plumbing, septic, emergency service and radiant heat.

Today, the company is owned and operated by Ray and Ruth’s sons, Dan and Tim O’Leary and their wives. Dan, President, oversees the operations of the company and the plumbing division, while his wife, Marge, is the company’s Chief Financial Officer. Tim, Vice President, oversees the septic/pump division and his wife Debbie serves as the company Secretary. The business operates out of a 10,000 sq ft state of the art building built in 2000 and has grown to employ 27 people and serves customers across southeastern Wisconsin.

The O’Leary’s attribute their company’s success to strong customer service started by Ray and Ruth. “Although they are not here physically, Ray and Ruth are very much here in spirit,” said Marge. “Ruth knew every customer – it was more than just business. She knew all about their lives, when they had a baby and when their kids grew up and got married.”

Over the years O’Leary has carefully adjusted to their customer’s needs by focusing on and transitioning to new technology. O’Leary has become known for its use of renewable energy, offering energy efficient heating and cooling solutions, including thermal solar water heating and geothermal.

“We’re a family business, we love what we do and we’re looking forward to 50 more years. We appreciate working with the community, our customers and friends.” said Dan O’Leary, President.

This year the company launched its website (www.olearyplumbingandheating.com) and are planning events throughout the year to celebrate 50 years with their customers and the community.

****DNR Mandate for Water Systems Inspections****

As of June 1st, 2008, the DNR is mandating only licensed Well Drillers or Pump Installers perform water system inspections. This will impact you when a system inspection is necessary.

The DNR is in the process of drafting a “Property Transfer Well & Pressure System Inspection” form. Completion of the form will require Bacteria and Nitrate water test results and strongly recommends taking an Arsenic test as well.

O’Leary Plumbing & Heating can provide both Water System and Septic System Inspections. Our Inspectors are Master Plumbers and Licensed Pump Installers.

Feel free to call with any questions or for a quote. We’re your water system specialists for inspection, testing and repair or replacement.

O’Leary Showcases Alternative to High Energy Costs as Part of Wisconsin's Solar Tour

On Friday, October 5th O’Leary’s Office & Shop will be open for tour from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m

O’Leary’s entire facility, built in 2000, is heated by in-floor radiant heat and cooled by a Unico cooling system. The building’s roof holds 8 solar collector panels absorbing the sun’s energy and transferring the heat into water as it moves through a copper tubing system. The hot water is used for the radiant heating system. “A solar heating system saves energy, reduces utility costs and produces clean energy. Last year, the first year of utilizing our solar system, we saved roughly 22% on annual heating costs.” said Kevin O’Leary, O’Leary’s Heating Division Manager.

O’Leary Employees Buy Raffle Tickets to Support Holiday Help For Families & East Troy Food Pantry

This year O’Leary Plumbing & Heating’s annual Holiday party not only honored their employees but also offered a way to raise money for local charities. O’Leary employees brought food items for the East Troy Food Pantry and purchased $1.00 raffle tickets for a chance to win many prizes the evening of their January Holiday party. Employees took home prizes of all sizes and raised $1,680.00 for Holiday Help for Families and 3 truck-loads of food were delivered to the East Troy Food Pantry.

“It was a fun way to raise money for area families. I’m always impressed with the generosity of our people.” said Dan O’Leary, President of O’Leary Plumbing & Heating.

HOLIDAY HELP FOR FAMILIES

Holiday Help for Families began thirteen years ago with a small number of East Troy Community Schools’ staff members providing winter clothing and gifts to families in need over the holidays. The program has since grown into a district-wide community outreach effort for East Troy children and families. School district employees, student groups, community organizations, church groups, and businesses all work together to meet the needs of families in East Troy. The emphasis is on providing winter outerwear and other clothing, gifts, household items and gas cards during the holidays and throughout the year, depending on the families needs. Staff, students and community members who wish to help can either shop for specific items or give monetary contributions to the program.

The Middle School Student Council organizes a “Penny War” every December with proceeds going toward grocery gift certificates for the families.

Holiday Help for Families assisted 35 families with over 100 children this past holiday season. Even though the holidays are behind us, families in our community still need help. Your donations and generosity allows us to help families throughout the year. All donations go to assist families.

If you are interested in learning more or making a donation to Holiday Help for Families, contact Sandy Tellefson at 642-6760.

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