By Tucker Henderson

Reporter

It’s the time of year when a leaking pipe or frozen drain field can become a big problem in a short amount of time. Fortunately, for homeowners all around the Highway 10 corridor from east of Wadena all the way to Casselton, N.D., their problems can be remedied with a phone call to Esser’s Family of Companies, which includes Esser Plumbing and Heating/Aire Serv of Perham, Aqualawn of Perham, Green’s Plumbing/Aire Serv of Detroit Lakes, and Aire Serv of Fargo.

“Our service area has expanded over the years, but we remain very focused on the communities close to home,” said Joe Esser, Jr., General Manager. “We generally serve areas along the Highway 10 corridor, from east of Wadena, through New York Mills, Perham and Detroit Lakes, to west of Fargo near Casselton, which works out to about a 35-mile radius of each of our home bases.”

While winter is a busy time of year for Esser’s, they have dedicated service teams who are out across the region working each day with homeowners to rectify winter plumbing issues that arise. From plumbing and heating repairs, routine maintenance, and equipment replacements among other winter challenges. There are several things to watch out for throughout the cold season to keep things in running order.

“Indoor air quality becomes especially important during the colder months,” said Esser. “With windows closed and families spending more time inside, we help our customers improve their air quality and feel by controlling humidity for their comfort, knocking down pet dander and allergens, reducing strong cooking smells, and addressing concerns that tend to show up during cold and flu season, especially with kids in school and daycare.”

Winter emergencies have a tendency to happen during the coldest days of the season. The most common winter calls Esser’s receives include burst or leaking pipes, sewer odors or backups, no hot water, carbon monoxide alarms, gas leaks, and no-heat situations.

“When those things happen, our team is ready to help neighbors get back to normal as quickly and safely as possible,” said Esser. “One of the best things homeowners can do is keep up with regular maintenance on their heating systems, whether that is a furnace, boiler, or geothermal heat pump. Preventative maintenance keeps equipment running efficiently, helps catch small issues before they become big problems, and makes systems more reliable when we hit extreme cold.”

One easy fix for homeowners is to make sure they are changing their filters on a regular schedule as dirty filters make systems work harder and can even shorten their lifespan. Keeping snow and ice out of furnace intake and exhaust vents is important during the winter as covered vents can cause further problems.

“A toilet that doesn’t flush normally is often an early warning sign,” said Esser. “In lighter snow years, making sure drain fields stay insulated can also prevent freezing. While frozen drain lines can often be thawed, frozen drain fields are much more difficult and can lead to ongoing issues throughout the winter.”

Winter is also a time when homeowners are busy renovating the interiors of their homes in anticipation for spring and the year ahead. Many of those updates include changes to their bathrooms and other plumbing installations.

“Winter is a popular time for bathroom and other small-to-mid-size plumbing remodels,” said Esser. “We work closely with other local trades on home and commercial building and remodeling projects, installing plumbing systems, fixtures, heating, cooling, and indoor air quality equipment.”

“Many people prefer to tackle these projects while they are spending more time indoors, so everything is finished and ready to enjoy once spring arrives. We also install many water softeners and water treatment systems in the winter, when homeowners start to notice things like poor water quality, low pressure at fixtures, or staining.”

With locations in Perham, Detroit Lakes, and West Fargo, the Esser Family of Companies is always looking for quality workmanship, trained professionals, and the right fit for their team.

“We are always open to adding the right people to our team,” said Esser. “With many experienced tradespeople nearing retirement, the skilled trades continue to offer stable, hands-on careers for people who enjoy problem-solving and working in their communities. We are also encouraged to see local schools and communities reinvesting in trade education and skills training programs.”

The management team at Esser’s finds local involvement and investment to be essential to their business and want to be good stewards of their community.

“Being a local, family-run company means a great deal to us,” said Esser. “Our team members live in the same communities we serve, attend the same schools and churches, and run into our customers at local events and businesses. Because of that, we take our responsibility seriously.”

“We want to do right by our neighbors, offer honest advice, and stand behind our work. Supporting our communities, both publicly and behind the scenes, is simply part of who we are and how we operate. We feel good about where we are today, but we are always looking for ways to better serve our customers and communities.”

“Our focus remains on steady, thoughtful growth and continuing to improve the service and support we provide.”