What Delco Sales does

Delco Sales is a privately held manufacturer's representative agency founded in June 1963 by David E. Lasher and headquartered in Anaheim, California. The company operates as an intermediary between more than 50 manufacturer principals and construction professionals — including contractors, wholesale distributors, engineers, architects, facility managers, and developers — across three verticals: Plumbing & Heating, Waterworks & Fire Protection, and Irrigation. Its territory covers Southern California, Northern California, Southern Nevada, and Hawaii, served through four strategically located offices with warehouse facilities in Anaheim, Las Vegas, Waipahu (HI), and Hayward (CA). Delco does not manufacture products; its value lies in field sales coverage, inside sales and order management, specification and design account management for the architectural and engineering (A&E) community, and local stocking for faster delivery. A 4-hour response guarantee on all customer inquiries is a stated service standard.

The business earns revenue primarily through commissions on the sale of represented manufacturer brands, supplemented by post-installation service revenue from Delco Plumbing Service (launched 2017) and the 2021 acquisition of SouthWest HydroTech. Key principal relationships include A.O. Smith, Watts (and its Ames, Febco, Dormont, Mueller Steam Specialty, Orion, Powers, and Raincycle brands), Sloan, Liberty Pumps, and Oatey (with Dearborn, Harvey, and Hercules). Go-to-market is relationship-driven: outside sales representatives call on assigned territories, inside sales handles quotes and orders, and a dedicated specification & design team conducts lunch-and-learn and continuing education sessions for engineers and architects. Marketing channels include a website with downloadable line cards, active LinkedIn/Facebook/Instagram profiles, and participation in over 20 industry associations (AIA, ASPE, ASHRAE, AWWA, IAPMO, NFPA, PHCC, USGBC). Revenue is not publicly disclosed.

Since Chris Nicosia (CEO & Principal) and Larry Burchill (COO & Principal) assumed leadership in 2010, Delco has nearly tripled headcount from 24 to over 70 employees and expanded from a single Southern California location to four. Recent strategic moves include the Northern California expansion (2023), the Hayward office and warehouse opening (2024), the 2021 SouthWest HydroTech acquisition, the 2017 launch of Delco Plumbing Service, and the 2016 A.O. Smith partnership. The company was recognized as a 2024 Top Workplace by the Orange County Register. Ownership remains with the operating leadership team; no institutional investment or public listing has been disclosed. The company is structured as a California LLC.

Name

Delco Sales

Legal name

Delco Sales LLC

Website

https://delcosales.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1963

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Delco Sales is a privately held manufacturer's representative agency founded in 1963 and headquartered in Anaheim, California. It connects over 50 manufacturer brands with contractors, engineers, distributors, and architects across plumbing, waterworks, fire protection, and irrigation verticals throughout California, Nevada, and Hawaii.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Anaheim

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Manufacturer's Representative Commissions: Delco Sales operates as a premier manufacturer's representative agency, earning commissions from the manufacturers it represents. The company connects industry-leading manufacturers with construction professionals (contractors, engineers, distributors, facility managers) across California, Nevada, and Hawaii. Revenue is generated through the sale of manufacturer products across three verticals: Plumbing & Heating, Waterworks & Fire Protection, and Irrigation. The company also provides supplementary services including Delco Plumbing Service (post-installation support, launched 2017) and acquired SouthWest HydroTech in 2021 to strengthen service offerings.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Delco Sales is a manufacturer's representative agency connecting industry-leading manufacturers with construction professionals across three verticals: Plumbing & Heating, Waterworks & Fire Protection, and Irrigation. The company operates through outside field sales, inside sales, and specification & design account management teams serving California, Nevada, and Hawaii, and supplements its representation services with Delco Plumbing Service for post-installation support.

Product overview

Delco Sales is a manufacturer's representative agency, not a product developer. The company acts as an intermediary between manufacturers and construction professionals (contractors, engineers, distributors, facility managers). Their offering consists entirely of brand representations across three verticals: Plumbing & Heating (water heaters, drainage, pumps, valves, restroom fixtures), Waterworks & Fire Protection (backflow preventers, fire protection equipment, waterworks infrastructure), and Irrigation (landscape lighting, drip systems, irrigation controls). Key represented brands include A.O. Smith, Sloan, Watts, Febco, Liberty Pumps, Oatey, and many others. They do not manufacture products themselves but provide sales, specification support, and technical expertise to connect customers with the right manufacturer solutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Plumbing & Heating Manufacturer Representation Manufacturer's representative services for commercial and residential plumbing and heating products including water heaters, drainage systems, backflow preventers, pressure regulators, smart water controls, restroom fixtures, grease interceptors, pipe hangers, and seismic systems, for contractors, engineers, distributors, and facility managers across California, Nevada, and Hawaii.
• Waterworks & Fire Protection Manufacturer Representation Manufacturer's representative services for municipal water infrastructure and fire protection products including backflow prevention assemblies, fire protection valves, waterworks couplings, casing spacers, tapping sleeves, enclosures, drainage, pumps, and related infrastructure products, for contractors, engineers, distributors, and municipalities.
• Irrigation Manufacturer Representation Manufacturer's representative services for professional irrigation products including backflow preventers for irrigation systems, professional landscape lighting, no-dig irrigation field wire repair solutions, garden edging, and water controls, for irrigation contractors, landscape professionals, distributors, and engineers.
• Delco Plumbing Service Post-installation product support service for plumbing products Delco represents, providing customers with continued technical assistance and service after installation.
• Specification & Design Account Management

Quantifiable outcome

• 4-hour response guarantee on all customer inquiries — 'Even if it’s just to leave a message, we make sure every inquiry is acknowledged quickly.'

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

25 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• A. O. SmithcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDelco established a partnership with A. O. Smith in 2016, bringing new talent and product depth to the company's portfolio. A. O. Smith is a leading manufacturer of commercial and residential water heaters including heat pump, gas, electric, hybrid electric, and tankless systems. The partnership strengthened Delco's Plumbing & Heating vertical and was a significant milestone in the company's growth.
• SouthWest HydroTechcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDelco acquired SouthWest HydroTech in 2021 to strengthen its service offerings. This acquisition expanded Delco's post-installation support capabilities and reinforced the company's commitment to providing comprehensive service from specification through installation and beyond.
• Steve KlappcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSteve Klapp partnered with Jon Adamek in 1991 and together guided Delco through the 1990s and early 2000s. Steve took on full leadership after Jon's departure in 2005, continuing to strengthen Delco's market position until 2010. Steve's continued involvement (including his quote in company materials) reflects an enduring founding partnership.
• Watts (and related brands: Ames, Febco, Dormont, Mueller Steam Specialty, Orion, Powers, Raincycle)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWatts Water Technologies is one of Delco's most significant manufacturer partners, with multiple brand listings across all three verticals (Plumbing & Heating, Waterworks & Fire Protection, Irrigation). Brands represented include Ames Fire & Waterworks, Febco, Dormont, Mueller Steam Specialty, Orion, Powers Controls, and Raincycle. Products span flow control, backflow prevention, water filtration, drainage, and water safety.
• Oatey (and related brands: Dearborn, Harvey, Hercules)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOatey is a key manufacturer partner across Plumbing & Heating and Irrigation verticals. Delco also represents Oatey's subsidiary brands Dearborn (commercial tubular, bath waste, basket strainers), Harvey (solvent cements, heating chemicals, toilet bolts, wax gaskets), and Hercules (cements, primers, cleaners, thread sealants, lubricants, hand cleaners).
• Liberty PumpsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLiberty Pumps is represented across Plumbing & Heating, Waterworks & Fire Protection, and Irrigation verticals. Products include sump, drain, effluent, sewage, and grinder pumps, as well as pump systems for commercial and residential applications.
• SloanmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSloan is a leading manufacturer partner for smart, clean, sustainable restroom solutions and designs, featured in Delco's Plumbing & Heating vertical for Southern California and Hawaii markets.
• American Water HeatersmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAmerican Water Heaters is a manufacturer partner providing commercial and residential water heaters across Southern California and Hawaii, complementing A. O. Smith and State Water Heaters in the water heating category.
• State Water HeatersmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState Water Heaters is a manufacturer partner represented in Southern California and Hawaii, offering residential and commercial water heating solutions.
• Sloan (Ames Fire & Waterworks)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAmes Fire & Waterworks (a Watts brand) is represented across Waterworks & Fire Protection in all Delco territories. Products include backflow, control valves, in-building risers, and strainers for the commercial fire protection market.
• Schier ProductsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchier Products manufactures lifetime-guaranteed grease interceptors made in the USA, represented in Delco's Hawaii and Southern California Plumbing & Heating verticals.
• QuickDrainminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerQuickDrain provides aesthetic linear and square drains for commercial, hospitality, and residential applications, represented in Southern California, Hawaii, and Southern Nevada.
• BlucherminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBlucher manufactures stainless steel drainage systems including floor and shower drains, pipe, channels, and accessories. Represented across Southern California, Southern Nevada, and Hawaii.
• Universal Lighting Systems (UNVLS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversal Lighting Systems provides professional grade landscape lighting including directional, area flood, path, step, and deck lighting. Represented in Hawaii and Southern California irrigation verticals.
• WireVirusminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWireVirus provides innovative products for repairing field wire and adding new zones to irrigation systems — no digging required. Represented across all Delco territories.
• Valley View IndustriesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerValley View Industries provides professional grade edgings made in the United States from recycled materials, represented in Hawaii and Southern Nevada irrigation verticals.
• Tyler PipeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTyler Pipe manufactures cast iron and epoxy soil pipe, couplings, fittings, and gaskets made in the USA, represented in Southern California and Southern Nevada.
• FlushMateminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFlushMate provides manual and sensor pressure assisted systems for tank type toilets, represented in Southern California and Hawaii Plumbing & Heating verticals.
• Fox Environmental SystemsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFox Environmental Systems manufactures washdown units designed to divert all wash down water to waste. Represented across all Delco territories and verticals.
• Leak DefenseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeak Defense provides smart and connected leak detection for residential and commercial applications to help prevent flooding. Represented in Southern California Plumbing & Heating vertical.
• Lift SafetyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLift Safety provides industrial safety gear including gloves, head protection, eye protection, and more. Represented in Southern California across multiple verticals.
• Cascade ManufacturingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCascade Manufacturing provides casing spacers, tapping sleeves, saddles, and couplings for waterworks applications. Represented across Northern California, Southern California, Southern Nevada, and Hawaii Waterworks & Fire Protection verticals.
• Anaco-HuskyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnaco-Husky provides no-hub, heavy-duty couplings and service weight gaskets for commercial and industrial applications. Represented in Southern California and Southern Nevada.
• TakagiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTakagi manufactures tankless commercial and residential water heaters. Represented in Southern California and Hawaii Plumbing & Heating verticals.
• T&S BrassminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerT&S Brass provides faucets, fittings, and specialty products for a wide range of markets. Represented in Northern California, Southern California, and Hawaii.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Winsupply: National plumbing, HVAC, and industrial distribution cooperative with strong Western US presence. Comparable to Delco because it serves the same contractor and commercial customer base with overlapping plumbing/waterworks product lines, though Winsupply is a direct distributor with owned inventory rather than a rep agency.
• Ferguson Enterprises: One of the largest North American distributors of plumbing, HVAC, and waterworks products. Comparable to Delco because it supplies many of the same manufacturer brands to contractors in the same CA/NV/HI geographies, but as a much broader enterprise with direct inventory, logistics, and e-commerce capabilities rather than a commission-based rep model.
• Hughes Supply (now part of Hajoca): Hajoca is one of the largest privately held US plumbing, HVAC, and waterworks distributors with broad Western US operations. Comparable to Delco because it serves the same contractor and waterworks customer base across California and Hawaii, but at much greater scale and with owned inventory rather than rep commissions.

Emerging players

• PlumbMaster: Specialty plumbing distributor serving independent wholesalers and contractors with curated plumbing repair, replacement, and remodel products. Comparable to Delco because it represents overlapping manufacturer brands (Oatey, Dearborn, Jones Stephens) to similar trade customers, but operates a wholesale/distributor model rather than rep commissions.
• AIM Supply (Wholesale): Wholesale distributor of plumbing, hydronics, and HVAC products serving Western US contractors. Comparable to Delco because it serves many of the same plumbing and waterworks customers in California and Nevada with overlapping manufacturer lines, though via a stock-and-ship wholesale model.

Direct peers

• Vanguard Marketing Group: Manufacturer's rep firm covering plumbing, heating, and industrial markets across multiple US regions. Comparable to Delco because it represents many of the same manufacturer lines (including Watts-family brands) and uses the same field-sales + inside-sales + warehouse model to serve contractors.
• Marketing Associates Inc. Manufacturer's representative agency serving plumbing, HVAC, and industrial markets in the Northeast US. Directly comparable to Delco because it operates the same commission-based rep model, calling on contractors, engineers, and distributors with a portfolio of leading manufacturer brands.
• RHP Sales & Service: Manufacturer's representative agency for plumbing, heating, and waterworks products in the Western US. Comparable to Delco because it serves similar contractor and engineering customers with overlapping manufacturer brands across the same region.

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/DelcoSales
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/delco-sales
• Instagraminstagram.com/delcosales
• Xx.com/DelcoSales

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Delco Sales