Ongaro & Sons provides a complete range of plumbing services for residential and commercial clients in Sonoma and Marin Counties. In addition to servicing, repairing and replacing all types of plumbing systems, the family-owned and operated company has the in-house capabilities to install and repair water heaters and HVAC systems, clean and replace sewer lines, install products that improve indoor air quality, and more.
Co-owner Ernie Ongaro says Ongaro & Sons’ customer-oriented business approach has been the key to its 93 years of success. “Since 1932, we’ve been focused on serving our customers, being responsive to their needs and ensuring their satisfaction. We want them to be so happy with our services that they tell their friends and family about us, which is why we have so many second- and third-generation customers.”
Ongaro & Sons makes sure its technicians are comprehensively trained before they start working in the field, which Mr. Ongaro says allows the company to ensure high levels of quality control. “We spend a lot of time and money on training, both in-house and through organizations like PHCC and NATE. It’s important for us to have technicians who know exactly what they’re doing so we can ensure each client gets the best possible value.”
“We want every customer to walk away feeling 100 percent satisfied about doing business with us. We’ve been providing quality workmanship and exceptional service for nine decades, and we’re proud that our third- and fourth-generation family members and valued employees are carrying on that tradition.”
Cutting-edge plumbing and HVAC technologies are helping homeowners save substantial amounts of water, energy, and money.
“As time goes on, HVAC and plumbing equipment is getting more and more efficient,” says Ernie Ongaro, co-owner of Ongaro & Sons in Santa Rosa. “Heating and air conditioning equipment is as high as 97 percent efficient, and plumbing fixtures like water heaters are being designed to consume less energy than ever before.”
Besides providing more efficient performance, Mr. Ongaro says today’s HVAC and plumbing products are literally getting smarter. “Plumbing and HVAC products are becoming even more water- and energy-efficient with the application of smart technology. For example, Navien has a tankless water heater that utilizes ‘intelligent preheating technology’ to function in accordance with your daily patterns. Let’s say you get up at 6am every day to take a shower—the water heater will learn that pattern and program the pump to turn on in time to give you instant hot water. If your pattern changes, the water heater will adjust to the new schedule. This is revolutionary technology that can potentially save thousands of gallons of water in your home each year.”
Mr. Ongaro says this “learning” capability is also being applied to modern HVAC technology. “The biggest thing in the HVAC industry right now is the ‘learning’ thermostat. Like the Navien water heater, this thermostat gets to know your daily patterns and preferences and operates accordingly. There are also applications that allow you to control your thermostat via your smartphone or computer. It doesn’t matter whether you’re home, at work or on vacation—you just log into your portal and adjustment the temperature.”
While convenient and cutting-edge, Mr. Ongaro reemphasizes the most important aspect of this technology: water and energy conservation. “Between the improved efficiency and the application of smart technology, today’s plumbing and HVAC equipment saves a tremendous amount of water and energy, which translates to lower utility bills. All in all, it’s definitely worth the investment.”
Few plumbing companies earn the prestigious Diamond Certified award, which means they’ve been independently rated Highest in Quality and Helpful Expertise. Even fewer can also claim more than 80 years in the industry, but that’s exactly the case for Ongaro & Sons. “We’ve been in business since 1932, and we continue to maintain the same standards of quality and service that have defined us from the beginning,” says co-owner Ernie Ongaro. “Our customers know they can count on us to be here whenever they need us."
Ongaro & Sons provides a wide range of plumbing services for residential and commercial clients in Sonoma and Marin Counties. The family-owned and operated company has the training and equipment to service, repair, and replace all types of plumbing systems, and it’s also qualified to install and fix water heaters and HVAC systems, install products that improve indoor air quality, and more.
Unlike plumbing companies that hire inexperienced technicians in an attempt to reduce their operating costs, Ongaro & Sons emphasizes thorough training for all of its field technicians. “We spend a tremendous amount of time and effort on training, and we even send our technicians to do training programs in other states,” affirms Mr. Ongaro. “We also encourage them to get certified by third-party organizations like PHCC and NATE, which allows them to expand their industry expertise.”
To further differentiate itself from its competition, Ongaro & Sons proactively follows up with its clients after their jobs are complete to ensure they’re satisfied with its work. “We have a customer service representative who calls every recent client to check in after the job is over,” explains Mr. Ongaro. “That way, if they weren’t happy or they had a concern about something, we’re able to directly address the issue rather than have it come up later.”
