02/19/2026
Fifteen years ago today, I launched my business.
My wife and I lived in a two-bedroom mobile home in southwest Rochester. We had a growing young family: two little boys—Sam (3), Jonah (2)—and Gideon on the way.
We didn’t know what the future held, but we knew we had each other.
As I weighed working for someone else versus going solo, I realized fear of failure was the only real thing holding me back. We didn’t have much to lose, so we gave it a shot. We walked our neighborhood, chatted with neighbors, handed out door hangers. What a beautiful ride it’s been!
Growth was never our main goal while raising our five amazing kids—we just kept showing up. Slowly, steadily, we grew anyway.
Water Works Plumbing has now finished over seven thousand two hundred invoices. Four and a half years ago, we bought our first real shop in Oronoco (after years out of my detached garage). We hired our first full-time journeyman plumber—let me tell you, having sharp, reliable help feels amazing!
And I love that my oldest, Samuel, works with me full-time now. He set his first toilet at twelve.
We have bern through a lot! Not to mention the sweat, stress, late nights, and tears that go into a small business. But I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
Thank you to every customer who calls us first. Thank you for trusting us, for feeding my family. Thank you, Oronoco, for welcoming us when we moved here eleven years ago. We’re forever grateful.
Cheers to another fifteen!
Stay tuned—we’re throwing a 15-year bash and grand opening at the shop in May: BBQ, bounce houses, door prizes, and a surprise unveiling.
✌️❤️
Plumber Mike
Water Works Plumbing
