Markle's Plumbing and Heating and Sewer and Drain, offers commercial and residential customers a plethora of services that range from fixing everyday plumbing issues to running mineral tests on drinking water.
"We really just do such a variety," Sharon Markle, corporate secretary for the business, said.
The business employs 10 people and about half of the company's business comes from commercial businesses, and the company even has accounts with different restaurants and businesses in the area.
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ALISSA EATON/Sun-Gazette
Glenn Markle, owner of the business, works with Scott Hoffman and Tim Peck Jr. on a sewer line in Williamsport. Not only does the company do work on sewers but it also does work on residential homes.
"We have the Rapid Rooter service which is the hydrojet end of the business and that is comparable to Roto Rooter," Markle said. "People are familiar with that name."
She said that the company succeeds because it offers its customers the latest most high-tech equipment that is on the line.
"We have the TV cameras and we can make videos to show people what is going on in their pipes," Markle said.
The company also has two hydrojet machines as well as regular sewer machines.
"A hydrojet machine is a pull behind piece of equipment that shoots high pressure water through the lines that can blast through roots and other clogs," Markle said.
The company can create maintenance plans for customers or can just come when there is an emergency.
"We do a lot of emergency work," she said.
Because the business has a lot of corporate accounts, sometimes they are traveling up to two hours away.
But typically they do work within and around Williamsport, Lewisburg, Danville, Sunbury and Lock Haven.
Although the corporate side of the business is very important, residential plumbing is the other half of the business, according to Markle.
"No one is excited to need us," Markle said. "But when they do need us, they are really excited when we come."
And the business has expanded from just plumbing services.
"We do water treatment and water conditioning," Markle said. "We actually install the water treatment unit and we test people's water for mineral content but we don't do bacteria testing."
The company can test for mineral content and hardness and then install a unit that will help them condition that water.
The company can also work on wells. "We repair wells and well pumps and sump pumps," Markle said. "We can even do bathroom remodeling."
The company is also purchasing some top of the line equipment to help homeowners that need to get their sewers up to date because of the Chesapeake Bay Initiative.
"There is equipment that makes it possible for the ground not to be dug up and install the pipes the standard way," Markle said.
She said the equipment actually installs the pipe underground without having to dig up the yard. "It's more cost efficient and it allows them to not have their whole property dug up," Markle said.
The Markle's Plumbing employees have experience on their side too.
"We have one employee that has been with us for 24 years now," Markle said. "I would say that we have a lot of experience and that sets us apart."
History
The Markle's took control of a plumbing business that began in 1929, in 1952 and renamed it Markle's Plumbing and Heating and Sewer and Drain.
Glenn T. Markle Sr., who has since passed away, purchased the business which was known at Newberry Plumbing and was located in the same spot.
"He (Glenn T. Markle Sr.) worked for the man who owned Newberry Plumbing when he got home from World War II," Sharon Markle, corporate secretary for the business said. "When the owner was ready to retire he sold it to my father-in-law."
Glenn Markle Jr. who is involved with the business has been working for Markle Plumbing since his high school graduation in 1971.
Although Glenn Markle Jr. works in the field sometimes, his role has gravitated more toward the estimating and supply purchasing end of the business.
Some services offered by the company:
Water analysis, septic tank repair, sewer line locating, garbage disposal repair, water heater installation and repair, repair well pumps, bathroom remodeling, and the company serves gas and heating needs
Markle's Plumbing and Heating & Sewer and Drain
1020 Dewey Avenue
Contact: 570-322-4920 or 570-322-2555
