Local plumbing provider celebrates major milestone

Now being run by the next generation, Caporuscio marks 50 years serving area

After completing plumbing courses at the Altoona Area Vocational Technical School, Patsy Caporuscio went to work for a local plumbing company.

His employer at the time did not offer 24-hour service.

"He (Patsy) was leaving work one day at 4 p.m. when the phone rang. The boss said it can wait until tomorrow. He said we are done until tomorrow," said Tanya Colbert, Caporuscio's daughter-in-law and office manager for 13 years.

So Patsy decided to start his own business out of the basement of his 20th Avenue home.

Established in 1976, Caporuscio Plumbing & Heating, now at 307 S. Kettle St., has been a trusted provider of professional plumbing, heating, air conditioning and drain cleaning services for decades. Their experienced team is committed to dependable service, quality workmanship and fast, effective solutions for both residential and commercial customers, according to their web page.

In the beginning it was Caporuscio and Robert Mock, who stayed with him until he retired in 2018, Colbert said.

Today, the business has 10 full-time employees with plumbing work making up about 60 percent of the business and heating work about 40 percent, Colbert said.

The business has about 10,000 customers, 80% residential and about 20% commercial.

"Most of our customers are in Blair County within a 10-mile radius and we have a few customers in outlying areas," Colbert said.

Krystal Diveglia, owner of Princess Property Management of Altoona, has been a customer for 20 years.

"They are professional and reliable. I can call them on a Saturday in the winter and they will come; they are very reliable. Their technicians have the best technology. They are professional, knowledgeable and reliable; those are my three words to describe them. They have kept me coming back for two decades. They are good people," Diveglia said.

Jared Colmer and his wife own rental properties in the Altoona area and have been a customer for six years.

"I was new in the rental market business. I took advice from a maintenance guy. They were always willing to get there as fast as possible, they always made time for me. Loyalty is important to me, they are my sole plumbing heating and air conditioning company," Colmer said.

"They always do the right thing by their customers, they communicate very well and they are as efficient as possible."

Today the business is owned by Anthony and Aaron Colbert, Patsy's grandchildren and Greg Colbert, his son. Anthony and Aaron are Greg and Tanya's children.

Colbert said today the business is well known for its sewer and drain work.

"When people have clogged sewers others (plumbers) tell people to call us, that is our forte," Colbert said.

The company's technicians have been the key to the business' success.

"They are what makes the business. They are the ones out there doing the hard work," Cobert said.

Colbert said the business is pleased to reach 50 years.

"It is exciting, many don't last that long. The boys want to keep pap's legacy going on," Colbert said.

The business is poised for the future.

"I think our name is well known, we are a household name, we have a good reputation," Colbert said. "There has been talk about expanding and talk about downsizing. Times are changing, it makes things a little rough with the price of materials going up and price of fuel going up and trying to stay competitive. They have talked about another location, they have lots of ideas. The biggest challenge is finding qualified technicians."

Mirror Staff Writer Walt Frank is at 814-946-7467.