H J Pertzborn

What H J Pertzborn does

H.J. Pertzborn Plumbing and Fire Protection Corporation is a fourth-generation, family-owned plumbing and fire protection contractor headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin, operating since 1928. The company delivers three core service lines: Service Plumbing (residential repairs, drain cleaning, water heater service, pipework, sump pumps, natural gas lines and same-day emergency response), Contract Plumbing (commercial design/build, project management, excavation, sanitary sewer line repair and underground utility work), and Fire Protection (NFPA-compliant system design, installation, retrofit, inspection and ongoing service for residential and commercial properties). Operations run from a single headquarters at 802 John Nolen Drive, Madison, with service plumbing concentrated in Dane County and commercial project delivery extending across Madison, Metro Milwaukee and the Fox Valley region of Wisconsin.

The underlying technology is conventional specialty-trade equipment and methodology rather than a software platform: high-pressure water jetting for drain and sewer clearing, video camera sewer line inspection and line locating for diagnostic accuracy, in-house excavation and boring equipment enabling full limited warranties on sewer replacements (more than 2,500 replacements completed to date), and value-engineered design/build project delivery that combines CAD design, project management and field installation under one roof. Digital infrastructure consists of a WordPress website with detailed service pages, an email newsletter funnel, a Google Business Profile accumulating 563 reviews, and Facebook/Instagram community engagement; online bill pay runs through Global Payments. No APIs, mobile applications, or AI/ML components are disclosed.

H.J. Pertzborn makes money through quote-based, time-and-materials professional services billed per service call for residential work and per project for commercial and fire protection contracts. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; an upfront-transparent model is offered to residential customers, supported by a $25 service coupon promotion. The customer base is a hybrid split between long-tail residential homeowners in Dane County and recurring commercial/institutional accounts across healthcare, education, government, recreation and manufacturing, distributed across Wisconsin. Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer and direct-to-business via phone (608-256-3900), web contact forms, walk-in office, and dispatched field service crews; field service unions the workforce in a union shop with average service plumber tenure of approximately 15 years. The company is privately held, has no parent company, no institutional funding, and no disclosed subsidiaries.

Name

H J Pertzborn

Legal name

H. J. Pertzborn Plumbing and Fire Protection Corporation

Website

https://hjpertzborn.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1928

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

H.J. Pertzborn is a fourth-generation, family-owned plumbing and fire protection contractor founded in 1928, serving residential homeowners and commercial/institutional customers across Madison, Dane County, Metro Milwaukee and the Fox Valley region of Wisconsin.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Plumbing and Fire Protection Services

NAICS

Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors (23822), Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors (238220)

SIC

Construction - Special Trade Contractors (1700)

akta.pro primary industry

Sump Pump & Sewage Ejector Pump Service (HSAOABAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Fire Sprinkler & Standpipe Systems (Design/Install/Service/Testing) (BPABAHAB)

Keywords

• Residential plumbing services
• Commercial plumbing contracting
• Fire protection systems
• Drain cleaning services
• Sewer line repair

Headquarters

HQ city

Madison

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Service Plumbing: On-demand residential and light commercial plumbing services including repairs, maintenance, drain cleaning, water heater services, and emergency plumbing. Revenue generated per service call.
2. Contract/Commercial Plumbing: Large-scale commercial plumbing projects including design/build, project management, excavation, underground water and sewer pipe repair. Projects span Madison and across Wisconsin including Metro Milwaukee and Fox Valley.
3. Fire Protection Services: Fire system design, installation, repair, service, and inspection for residential and commercial customers. Includes automatic fire protection systems and retrofit work. NFPA-compliant quarterly inspections and annual testing.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

H.J. Pertzborn is a multi-generation family-owned plumbing and fire protection services provider serving Madison, WI and surrounding communities. The company delivers residential service plumbing (repairs, drain cleaning, water heaters, emergency plumbing), commercial contract plumbing (design/build projects, excavation, underground pipe repair), and fire protection services (design, installation, inspection, and NFPA-compliant testing). All work is performed by licensed union plumbers dispatched to customer locations.

Product overview

H.J. Pertzborn Plumbing & Fire Protection is a multi-generation family-owned plumbing and fire protection services company founded in 1928. The company offers three core service lines: Service Plumbing (residential repairs and maintenance), Contract Plumbing (commercial design/build and large-scale projects), and Fire Protection (design, installation, and inspection). Service Plumbing includes sub-services such as water heater repair, pipework, drain cleaning, emergency plumbing, sump pump installation, and natural gas line services. Contract Plumbing encompasses design/build project delivery, excavation services, and sewer services. Fire Protection covers fire systems design, installation, repair, inspection, and automatic fire protection systems. The company operates from a single location in Madison, WI, serving Dane County and surrounding communities in Southern Wisconsin.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Service Plumbing Residential plumbing services addressing everyday problems including leaky faucets, clogged drains, pipe leaks, water heater repairs, sump pump installation, natural gas line service, and emergency services for homeowners in Madison and Dane County.
• Contract Plumbing Large-scale commercial plumbing services for businesses including design/build project delivery, project management, excavation, underground water and sewer pipe repair, and sanitary sewer line work across Madison, Metro Milwaukee, and Fox Valley.
• Fire Protection Fire protection services including fire systems design, installation, repair, service, inspection, and automatic fire protection systems for residential and commercial customers. NFPA-compliant quarterly inspections and annual testing.
• Water Heater Repair & Softeners Water heater repair, installation, and replacement services along with water softener repair and installation for residential and commercial customers.
• Pipework Services Pipe repair and replacement services for water leaks, clogged pipes, and frozen or burst pipes including winterization services.
• Drain Cleaning Professional drain cleaning services for kitchen, bathroom, and all parts of the home using high-pressure water jetting to clear blockages and prevent damage.
• Emergency Plumbing Same-day emergency plumbing services for urgent issues such as burst pipes, backed-up sewer systems, broken water lines, and leaking pipes.
• Excavation Services Underground water and sewer pipe repair services including excavating, boring, and plumbing with company-owned equipment and personnel.

Quantifiable outcome

• Same-day service often available for emergency plumbing needs
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers12 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

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Moms Everyday! (WMTV)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerH.J. Pertzborn is a proud sponsor of Moms Everyday! on WMTV (NBC 15), a local television program. This sponsorship provides visibility with local Madison-area viewers and community engagement.
• West Madison Little LeagueminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of West Madison Little League Atlantic League Consolation Champs. Community support through youth sports sponsorship builds local brand recognition and community goodwill.
• Project Home - Hammer with a HeartminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity outreach program reaching out to families in need through Project Home's Hammer with a Heart program. The company makes a strong commitment to enhancing the Wisconsin community through this initiative.
• United WayminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProud supporter of United Way, a major charitable organization. Support for such causes demonstrates community commitment.
• Second Harvest Food BankminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProud supporter of Second Harvest Food Bank, addressing food insecurity in Wisconsin communities.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• Lee Mechanical: Wisconsin-based commercial mechanical, plumbing, and HVAC contractor. Comparable to H.J. Pertzborn's contract plumbing division given similar commercial project focus and Wisconsin geography.
• JW Plumbing & Heating: Wisconsin-based commercial and residential plumbing contractor serving Madison and broader South Central Wisconsin. Direct competitor to H.J. Pertzborn in service plumbing and contract plumbing projects within the same regional footprint.
• Hooper Corporation: Madison, WI-based mechanical and plumbing contractor serving commercial, industrial, and institutional customers across the Midwest. Directly comparable to H.J. Pertzborn's commercial/contract plumbing division given overlapping geography and customer profile.

Broad incumbents

• APi Group: Large publicly traded holding company of fire and life safety services businesses across North America. Competes with H.J. Pertzborn on commercial fire protection design, installation, inspection, and service at much greater scale.
• Roto-Rooter: National plumbing and drain cleaning franchise with significant Madison/Wisconsin presence. Competes with H.J. Pertzborn's drain cleaning, sewer line, and emergency plumbing services, though at much greater scale and brand reach.
• Mr. Rooter Plumbing: National residential and commercial plumbing franchise operating in Wisconsin markets. Overlaps with H.J. Pertzborn's service plumbing and drain cleaning offerings, with comparable business model of dispatch-based field service.
• Cintas Fire Protection: Large national provider of fire protection inspection, testing, and maintenance services. Competes with H.J. Pertzborn's fire protection service line, particularly for recurring NFPA inspection and compliance work in commercial facilities.
• Benjamin Franklin Plumbing: National franchised residential plumbing service with Wisconsin franchisees. Competes with H.J. Pertzborn on residential service calls, drain cleaning, water heaters, and emergency response.

Others

• ServiceMaster Restore: National restoration and cleaning services franchise that handles water damage mitigation from plumbing failures. Adjacent to H.J. Pertzborn's emergency plumbing work, often partnering or competing for the same incident response.

Direct peers

• Dave Jones Inc. Madison, WI-based HVAC, plumbing, and electrical contractor for residential and commercial customers. Directly competes with H.J. Pertzborn in the same Madison/Dane County service area across plumbing and related mechanical services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/HJPertzborn
• Xx.com/hjpertzborn
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/h-j-pertzborn-plumbing-and-fi

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 H J Pertzborn