The Otter Guys

Call Directions Website Contact the business

The Otter Guys Call us for your heating, air conditioning, and plumbing needs! As we grew into JLK, those same values remained at the heart of everything we did.
(1)

Our story began in the 1960s with a simple promise: provide honest, dependable service and treat every customer like a neighbor. Founded as J L Kerley, we earned the trust of families and businesses across the greater Charlottesville community through hard work, integrity, and quality craftsmanship. In 2022, we became The Otter Guys. While our name changed, our commitment never did. For more than 60 years, we've proudly delivered trusted plumbing, heating, cooling, and now electrical services with professionalism and genuine care. We're grateful to the employees, customers, and community who have been part of our journey, and we're honored to continue serving Charlottesville with the same neighborly spirit that has defined us from the very beginning—providing Service Like No Otter.

🦦🔧 MEET THE TEAM MONDAYS! 🔧🦦Meet Debbie Cowgill — Our HVAC Install Coordinator & Electrical Dispatcher! ⚡📞With almost 40...
10/19/2026

🦦🔧 MEET THE TEAM MONDAYS! 🔧🦦

Meet Debbie Cowgill — Our HVAC Install Coordinator & Electrical Dispatcher! ⚡📞

With almost 40 years of customer service experience, Debbie brings a wealth of knowledge, organization, and a whole lot of heart to The Otter Guys! She’s been part of the Otter family for almost a year now, helping keep our HVAC installations organized and our new electrical department running smoothly.🔧🦦

Born and raised in Fredericksburg, Virginia, Debbie brings her experience and dedication to the community we proudly serve.

In Her Spare Time: Debbie has a creative side, too! When she’s not helping keep our Otters on track during the week, she spends her weekends designing and making shirts and doing engraving.

🍝Favorite Food: Spaghetti! A classic favorite that never disappoints!
�🐾 Favorite Pets: Debbie has three furry family members: Peppers, her Old English Bulldog; Bella, her Pug; and Puddin, her English Bulldog!

Debbie’s Favorite Part of the Job: Taking care of customers and ensuring they’re treated like family.

For Debbie, the best part of her work is knowing that customers are looked after and treated with care. It’s about making people feel comfortable, knowing they have someone ready to help, and ensuring they’re never just another appointment on the schedule. That personal touch is what makes a difference!

🦦🔧 What does SERVICE LIKE NO OTTER! mean to Debbie?

To Debbie, it means The Otter Guys are different! Our customers become part of the Otter family, and we go above and beyond to make sure they receive the care and service they deserve. It’s about showing up, putting in the extra effort, and treating people the way we’d want our own family to be treated.

We’re proud to have Debbie swimming alongside our Otter crew! From coordinating HVAC installations to keeping our electrical team organized, she helps ensure everything keeps flowing behind the scenes. Her experience, creativity, and family-first attitude make her a wonderful part of The Otter Guys family! 🦦⚡

10/16/2026

Drain clogged? Let’s blast it away! 💦

A slow drain can quickly turn into a BIG plumbing problem!

Our professional drain jetting service uses high-pressure water to break through grease, sludge, buildup, roots, and other stubborn debris hiding inside your pipes. 💥

Unlike a simple drain snake, which is primarily designed to break through the initial clog, hydrojetting provides a more thorough cleaning of your drain system.
The high-pressure water blasts through buildup along the inside of the pipes, helping clean the entire drain line rather than simply punching a hole through the clog. 💦💥

✅ Clears tough blockages
✅ Cleans buildup throughout the drain line
✅ Helps improve water flow
✅ Helps prevent recurring clogs
✅ Great for stubborn or heavily built-up drains

Don’t keep reaching for the drain cleaner every time your sink or shower slows down! Give your pipes the deep clean they need. 🧼

Contact us today to schedule your drain jetting service! 🦦🔧

10/16/2026

🦦🔧DRAIN CAMERA INSPECTION!🔧🦦

Before we start guessing what's going on inside your pipes, let's take a look! 👀💦

A clogged drain isn't always as simple as it seems. Grease, sludge, tree roots, damaged pipes, or stubborn buildup could be hiding deeper in your plumbing system. And without seeing what's happening inside, it's easy to treat the symptom without identifying the real problem!

That's why The Otter Guys offer drain camera inspection! 🎉📹
By sending a specialized waterproof camera down your drain, our plumbing team can get a closer look at what's happening inside your pipes before making a diagnosis or recommending the next steps.

💡 Why is a camera inspection so valuable?

✅ See the real problem: Identify potential blockages, buildup, root intrusion, or visible pipe damage.
✅ Avoid guesswork: Get a clearer understanding of what's happening inside your drain before deciding on a solution.
✅ Find hidden trouble spots: A problem may be farther down the line than you think!
✅ Choose the right solution: Knowing what we're dealing with helps our plumbers recommend the most appropriate next steps.
✅ Make informed decisions: Understand what we find so you can feel more confident about your plumbing repair options.

Why treat the problem blindly when you can see what's going on first!

📞 Contact The Otter Guys today to ask about your drain camera inspection!

10/14/2026

🦦🍂 THE ANNUAL OTTER COOKOUT: MORE THAN JUST A TEAM! 🍂🦦

On Friday, October 9th, our Otters came together for our annual Otter Cookout!

This event is about more than good food and a little fun. It’s about taking a step back from the daily hustle, spending quality time together, strengthening our bonds, and celebrating the people who make The Otter Guys what we are today.

At The Otter Guys, we believe that a great team is built on more than just working side by side. It’s built on trust, teamwork, laughter, and looking out for one another. We may come together as coworkers, but we leave as family. 🦦

As the year moves along, we also take time to reflect on everything we’ve accomplished. Every job completed, every customer helped, and every challenge overcome has been possible because of the people standing beside us. We rely on one another, support one another, and work together to deliver the quality service our community deserves. We couldn’t do it without our incredible Otter family!

😂🥧 And of course, no annual Otter gathering would be complete without settling a few grievances the Otter way… WE DON’T FIGHT — WE PIE! 🥧🤣 Sometimes all it takes is a little whipped cream to clear the air and remind us not to take ourselves too seriously!

Our annual cookout is a reminder that even the hardest-working Otters need time to reconnect, share some laughs, appreciate how far we’ve come, and make sure everyone has found their log before we head back out into the water. 🪵🌊🦦

To our Otter family, thank you for the hard work, dedication, and heart you bring to this team every day. And to our Charlottesville community, thank you for giving us the opportunity to serve your homes and families. The relationships we build, both inside and outside the workplace, are what make all the hard work worthwhile.

Here’s to another year of teamwork, family, laughter, accomplishments, and plenty of otterly awesome memories!

Now that we’ve found our logs, it’s time to get back to floating!

Because at The Otter Guys, we’re more than a team — we’re family. And we’re proud to serve our community together! 🦦

🦦🔧 MEET THE TEAM MONDAYS! 🔧🦦Meet Brenda Taylor — Our Plumbing Dispatcher! 📞With over 8 years of experience in the plumbi...
10/12/2026

🦦🔧 MEET THE TEAM MONDAYS! 🔧🦦

Meet Brenda Taylor — Our Plumbing Dispatcher! 📞

With over 8 years of experience in the plumbing industry, Brenda brings organization, know-how, and a whole lot of heart to The Otter Guys! She joined the Otter family a year and a half ago and has been keeping our plumbing Otters moving in the right direction ever since! She’s also completed the Dispatch Manager Course through Nexstar, adding even more expertise to her role.

Born in Charlottesville and raised in Madison County, Virginia, Brenda has deep roots right here in the community we proudly serve.

In Her Spare Time: Brenda loves spending time with her family and hanging out with her fur babies! 🐾

🍝 Favorite Food: Italian! You can never go wrong with a little pasta!

🐶 Favorite Pet: Her Chihuahua, Rascal! With a name like that, we’re guessing this little pup keeps things interesting!

💙 Brenda’s Favorite Part of the Job: Making a difference in the lives of the customers we serve, both professionally and personally.

For Brenda, dispatch is about more than scheduling appointments. It’s about making a positive impact on the people who trust us with their homes, and making sure every customer, new or old, is treated like family.

What does SERVICE LIKE NO OTTER! mean to Brenda?

Providing service from start to finish that’s better than anyone else’s, by always doing what’s honest and fair, and showing loyalty and compassion to every customer.

It also means making sure our technicians in the field always know they have our support, with their well-being and safety coming first. 🔧

We’re proud to have Brenda on our team, helping keep our plumbing department flowing, our technicians supported, and our customers in good hands! 🦦💦

🦦 MEET THE TEAM MONDAYS! 🦦 Meet Terence Mitchell — Our General Manager! 👋 With over 25 years of executive management exp...
10/05/2026

🦦 MEET THE TEAM MONDAYS! 🦦

Meet Terence Mitchell — Our General Manager! 👋

With over 25 years of executive management experience, Terence brings a wealth of leadership, experience, and people skills to The Otter Guys! He joined the Otter family in 2022 and has been helping keep our Otters on course ever since! 🚢 🦦

Born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Terence has lived and worked throughout the Southeast, from Virginia to Georgia, and now calls Laurens, South Carolina home.
In His Spare Time: Terence is an avid cruiser and traveler and says he could actually live on a cruise ship full-time!

🍝 Favorite Food: Seafood pasta! But Terence loves cooking all kinds of dishes and is always up for trying exotic foods from around the world!

🐟 Favorite Pets: Although Terence doesn't have a favorite pet at home, he absolutely adores his fish tank here in the office and has a pretty special place in his heart for our office puppy, Tilly!

🙏 Terence's Favorite Part of the Job: Being able to use his faith to serve people and make a difference in their lives.

Terence is a licensed and ordained minister in the Christian faith, and serving others is deeply important to him. He strives to make a positive impact on everyone he encounters — whether it's a customer, an employee, a stranger, or anyone else who crosses his path.

🦦What does SERVICE LIKE NO OTTER! mean to Terence?

"Making a difference in the lives of everyone I encounter."

That pretty much sums up Terence! His leadership, faith, and passion for helping others shape the way he approaches every person he meets.
Whether he's helping a customer, supporting a team member, or simply crossing paths with someone who needs a little encouragement, Terence believes in making a positive difference wherever he can.

We're proud to have Terence on our team, helping keep our Otters afloat while making a positive difference in the lives of the people and community we're so proud to serve! 🦦

🦦🔧 MEET THE TEAM MONDAYS! 🦦🔧Meet Jade Dennis — Our CSR Manager! 📞🦦Born and raised in Madison County, Jade brings 6 years...
09/28/2026

🦦🔧 MEET THE TEAM MONDAYS! 🦦🔧

Meet Jade Dennis — Our CSR Manager! 📞🦦

Born and raised in Madison County, Jade brings 6 years of CSR experience to The Otter Guys!

Jade plays a huge role in keeping our team and our customers taken care of every day. Her favorite part of the job is helping make a difference in the community and in the lives of the people we serve.

And when Jade isn't helping customers, you'll find her thrifting or spending time with her family!

🍣Favorite Food: Sushi
🐾Favorite Pets: Her dogs, Duke and Tilly!
🎯Favorite Part of the Job: Helping make a difference in the community and for the people we serve

🦦What does SERVICE LIKE NO OTTER! mean to Jade?
"Not just helping customers but making them part of our Otter family. It means helping, listening, and taking care of our customers and our team. Providing exceptional service from the time they call in to the time our technicians leave their home."

Jade is truly the glue of the team! She's always willing to jump in and help, and she knows pretty much everything about what makes the Otter machine run every day!

And of course, every great team needs someone to keep everyone fueled and ready for the day! That's where Jade's role as our Chief Morale Officer comes in! From birthday cupcakes to a well-stocked Gatorade fridge and the morning brew, Jade makes sure we have it all!

With 6 years of CSR experience, a heart for helping people, and a knack for keeping the entire Otter machine moving, Jade is an essential part of The Otter Guys team! 🦦

🦦🔧 MEET THE TEAM MONDAYS! 🔧🦦This Monday, we’re introducing the person behind The Otter Guys — our President and Owner! A...
09/21/2026

🦦🔧 MEET THE TEAM MONDAYS! 🔧🦦

This Monday, we’re introducing the person behind The Otter Guys — our President and Owner! Aaron Katarya

He has owned The Otter Guys since fall of 2021, bringing a background in Chemical Engineering from the University of Minnesota — SKI-U-MAH, GO GOPHERS! 🏈 — along with a Class A Contractor’s License.

Born in the Chicago suburbs and raised in southeastern Minnesota, his journey eventually took him to Milwaukee, Chicago, New York, and even Australia before landing here in Charlottesville and making Central Virginia home.

Favorite food: He’s a fan of just about anything! Lately, though, you can find him enjoying the nachos at B**r Run or taking advantage of Taco Tuesdays at Brazos.
Hobbies: He’s a die-hard Chicago Bulls and Minnesota Vikings fan, plays in several fantasy football leagues—including one with college friends that has been going strong for more than 20 years! and enjoys chess and board games. 🏈
When he’s not working, he and his wife love exploring Central Virginia’s hiking trails with their dog, Nala, and traveling to visit family across the Midwest and overseas. 🥾
Favorite Pet: Definitely Nala! This 80-pound hound/shepherd mix keeps the household entertained with plenty of shenanigans. 😂🐾
Favorite part of the job:
Two things stand out: happy customers and the Otter Guys team.
There’s nothing better than reading a customer review and seeing how the team’s work made a real difference for someone. He also loves working alongside such a talented, passionate, and high-energy group of people—and seeing team members take pride in their work, grow their skills, and build their careers.

🦦 What does “SERVICE LIKE NO OTTER” mean to Aaron?

We intentionally chose a tagline centered on service. For him, service means taking
care of our customers, our team, and our community.

For our customers, that means doing the job with high integrity, technical excellence, and deep care.

For our team, it means creating a workplace where people enjoy coming to work, continuing learning, and can build a long-term career. In fact, we currently have ten sets of family members working at The Otter Guys! That means a lot—because when employees feel strongly enough about where they work to encourage their family members to join them, that says something special.

And for our community, it means giving back to the people who support us. The Otter Guys sets aside a portion of our revenue to support local youth sports, community events, and holiday drives. Each year around Christmas, we also install an HVAC system for someone in need.

At the end of the day, SERVICE LIKE NO OTTER! 🦦 means taking care of the people who make The Otter Guys what it is—our customers, our team, and the community we’re proud to call home.

Help us give a big OTTERLY AWESOME welcome to the person who started this journey! 🦦

When was the last time you had your dryer vent cleaned? 🧺Your dryer's lint trap isn't the only place lint builds up.Over...
09/20/2026

When was the last time you had your dryer vent cleaned? 🧺

Your dryer's lint trap isn't the only place lint builds up.

Over time, lint, dust, and debris collect inside the vent itself, restricting airflow and making your dryer work much harder than it should. A clogged vent can mean:

🔥 Increased fire risk
⏱️ Longer drying times
⚡ Higher energy bills
🔧 Extra wear and tear on your dryer
⚠️ On gas dryers, exhaust gases backing up into your home

A few signs your vent needs attention:
• You're running the dryer twice to get one load dry
• The dryer feels unusually hot to the touch
• You notice a burning or musty smell
• Little or no air coming from the vent hood outside

Most homes need this done about once a year — sooner with a long duct run, a big household, or pets.

Don't let your dryer get all clogged up! Have questions or want yours checked out? Give The Otter Guys a call! 🦦

09/18/2026

DON’T LET YOUR SUMP PUMP GET CAUGHT WITHOUT BACKUP! 🦦💧

Here's the problem with sump pumps: the storm that fills your sump pit is often the same storm that knocks out your power. Your pump needs electricity at the exact moment it doesn't have any.

That's what a battery backup system is for. Here's a little time-lapse from The Otter Guys as our team installs one — so this pump keeps running even when the lights don't.

Already have a backup battery? Don't just look at it — test it, and know how old it is.Most backup batteries last only a few years, and a battery can look perfectly fine right up until the day it's asked to do its job.

Because the worst time to find out your backup isn't ready is when the power is already out.

Questions about your sump pump or backup system? Give The Otter Guys a call — we're here to help! 🦦

Address

1224 Monticello Road
Charlottesville, VA
22902

Opening Hours

Monday 7:30am - 5pm
Tuesday 7:30am - 5pm
Wednesday 7:30am - 5pm
Thursday 7:30am - 5pm
Friday 7:30am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 4pm
Sunday 9am - 4pm

Telephone

+14342953121

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when The Otter Guys posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to The Otter Guys:

Shortcuts

Share

Category