Patriot Plumbing’s LaVergne adds HVAC services
Posted on 31. Dec, 2009 by yvettedavis in Companies
by Yvette Davis
When Matt LaVergne opened Patriot Plumbing on Sept. 11, 2006, he already had the knowledge and training to provide heating, ventilating and air-conditioning work, he just wasn’t ready to add the service to his business, yet.
The right time came this year. He settled into his new 3,000-square-foot building at 536 S. Chelan Ave. this March and by June had added HVAC operations — and hired a technician to go with it.
He focused on plumbing at first to keep the startup simple, but adding more services was part of the plan all along, LaVergne said. He is licensed for the work, as is his technician Jacob Gillaspie.
By starting the service in June, LaVergne was able to take advantage of the demand for air conditioning services during the summer.
As the weather cooled he wooed customers for furnace inspections with a direct mail post card. He said the mailing has worked well for him so far.
Patriot Plumbing works on electric, gas, forced air and oil furnaces, heat pumps and boilers. LaVergne said his business also sees a lot of boiler work in downtown commercial buildings.
In addition, it services baseboard and hydronic (heated water) radiant heat systems.
His business also sells and installs humidifiers, which LaVergne said is a system upgrade that eases sore throats caused by dry heat, and protects pianos and wood floors.
He said his experience in the plumbing business leads him to believe that by improving people’s heating systems, it improves their lives since so much time is spent at home and people want to be comfortable.
In the spring LaVergne hopes to add another HVAC technician and one to two apprentices.
From his market research, using national averages based on population, number of homes, average income and anticipated market share, that is what he believes he will need to handle the business volume. Right now he has four vehicles and six employees, and has two open positions for journeyman plumbers. Lori Dawson is the office manager.
LaVergne has no fewer than 11 family members spread throughout Washington also in the plumbing business. His grandfather started in the business in the 1950s, then his father, uncles, himself, his brothers, cousins and nephews. His wife Melanie LaVergne is his partner in the business.
“Conversation at the Thanksgiving table is more often that not about work,” he said.
Editor’s note: The original story, published in the December issue of the Wenatchee Business Journal, incorrectly listed Melanie LaVergne’s name and title, as well as that of Manager Lori Dawson. The online version was corrected Dec. 30.
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