Home services for the historic village square.
Century-old buildings around the East Troy square carry cast iron stacks, legacy wiring and boilers with stories. We're the hometown company, two miles up the road since 1958.
Does O'Leary work on the historic buildings around the East Troy square?
Yes, this is literally our hometown. We service and modernize the plumbing, heating, cooling and electrical systems in the historic homes and mixed-use buildings around the village square, and we know how the Village of East Troy's permitting and historic-preservation review works because we live with it too.
What village-square buildings are working with
The blocks around the square include some of the oldest building stock in our service area, and the Village's own comprehensive plan commits to promoting and preserving the historic downtown square as East Troy's community center. That preservation focus is why exterior mechanical changes on historic properties can require committee review in addition to normal permits; we plan equipment placement and screening with that in mind.
Unlike the surrounding lake country, the village core runs on municipal services: East Troy Waterworks is a groundwater-fed municipal system with roughly 1,500 service connections (per the Wisconsin DNR's public water system records), plus public sanitary sewer. Village policy requires new development to connect to both.
Old buildings still carry their history inside the walls: galvanized or lead-era supply lines, cast iron drain stacks, knob-and-tube remnants, and boilers or gravity furnaces retrofitted many times over. We modernize these systems without wrecking what makes the buildings worth keeping.
The systems work Historic Downtown East Troy homes actually need
Legacy piping & stacks
Galvanized supply lines and cast iron stacks corrode from the inside. We repipe strategically, prioritizing the worst runs so budgets stay sane.
Knob-and-tube era wiring
Pre-war wiring and 60-amp services can't safely carry modern loads. Panel upgrades and circuit-by-circuit rewiring bring old buildings to code.
Historic-district equipment placement
Exterior condensers and generators on historic properties may need Village review before installation. We design placements and screening that pass review the first time.
Verified local infrastructure and programs
East Troy Waterworks is the village's municipal water utility, drawing 100% groundwater (Wisconsin DNR public water system record), with public sanitary sewer managed by the Village's public works department. Cross-connection and backflow rules apply to commercial plumbing on the square.
The Village's adopted comprehensive plan explicitly promotes preserving the historic downtown square and requires new development to connect to municipal sewer and water.
Wisconsin's IRA Home Energy Rebates (HOMES and HEAR) are live through Focus on Energy; with natural gas widely available in the village, high-efficiency furnace, boiler and heat pump upgrades are all on the table, performed by an IRA Registered Contractor.
- Wisconsin DNR: East Troy Waterworks public water system record
- Village of East Troy: Department of Public Works
- Focus on Energy: IRA Home Energy Rebates
Infrastructure and program details verified July 2026 against the first-party sources above.
Historic Downtown East Troy questions we hear the most
Can you add central air to a century-old home without tearing up the plaster?
Usually yes. High-velocity systems use small flexible ducts that snake through existing walls, and ductless mini-splits skip ductwork entirely. Both preserve historic interiors far better than conventional duct retrofits.
Our building still has some knob-and-tube wiring. How urgent is that?
Treat it as a priority. Beyond safety, most insurers penalize or refuse coverage on active knob-and-tube. We rewire circuit by circuit and upgrade the panel so the building can carry modern loads.
Do we need special approval to put a condenser or generator outside a historic building?
On historic properties near the square, exterior equipment can require Village review in addition to the standard permit, and placement or screening requirements may apply. We design for that up front so review doesn't stall the project.
Who do we call about water and sewer on the square?
The village core is on East Troy Waterworks municipal water and public sewer. Inside the building, everything from the meter in is our department, including code-required backflow prevention for commercial spaces.
Is it worth replacing our old boiler instead of patching it again?
If it's decades old, a high-efficiency replacement usually pays for itself in fuel savings, and current Focus on Energy programs improve the math further. Bring us your last repair bills and we'll give you an honest repair-versus-replace answer.
One call for every essential system.
Call O'Leary or request service online and a real team member will help you schedule. Free installation estimates and 24/7 emergency service across East Troy, WI and the surrounding lake country.