Heritage Plumbing & Heating

Goal: Master Plumber Ken Schmitz's goal is to build on his plumbing and heating company whether it is with new, remodel or other construction clientele. He also strives to stock plumbing parts and pieces that people need and provide advice to those that ask.

History: Schmitz grew up in a family of plumbers. His mother Darlene Smith and father Don Schmitz owned a plumbing business and several relatives were also in the business. When Schmitz finished his service in the Marine Corps nearly 24 years ago, he had a job waiting for him with the family business.

Schmitz started out with Condon Plumbing & Heating that changed to Seeley-Swan Plumbing & Heating. When he earned his Master Plumber license, Schmitz and his wife Dee branched out on their own and founded Heritage Plumbing & Heating in Seeley Lake. The word Heritage came from a song they found in a hymnal. They both liked the word.

Heritage has had a store front in downtown Seeley Lake since the beginning. Fourteen years ago the Schmitzes built the Heritage building at the north end of town and moved the business. While they have had several employees over the years, Rob Green has been with the business for nearly16 years. "He's not just an employee, he's a part of the family," said Schmitz.

Products & Services: Heritage Plumbing & Heating supplies all plumbing and heating needs. They stock parts including pipe, fittings, fixtures, faucets, water heaters and pressure tanks. They will cut and thread pipe, can fix problems at the shop or during a site visit and can design and build plumbing and heating systems. They only work with hydronic heating systems, steam or hot water heat, not electric or other scorched air heat systems.

Schmitz and Green travel all over Montana working with local contractors on new construction, remodels and doing service work for commercial and residential projects.

For more Information: Heritage Plumbing & Heating is located in the Heritage Building, 3195 Highway 83, Seeley Lake. It is open from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday, except Thursday when it closes at 12 p.m. Schmitz can be reached at 677-3838 or email itsheritage@yahoo.com