Meet our Industry Person of the Week, Keefer Rader the owner of Westcom Plumbing and Gas Ltd., Westcom Roofing and Sheetmetal, and The Lady Plumber.
Q: How did you get started working in your field?
Keefer: I’ve been in the plumbing and HVAC industry my entire life, but boilers have always spoken to me and I’ve been my favorite years ago. We decided to make the jump. We all we install service and repair is boilers and hydronics
Q: What do you love the most about your job? What are you most proud of?
Keefer: I love the change of scenery every day because no Home is the same. I love solving the problems that no one else can.. and nothing can make me happier than giving Climate comfort to a person or family that’s been without.
Q: What advice would you give to someone considering this line of work or new to the field?
Keefer: The trades are a dying breed. We have a generational gap between the guys who are retiring out and the people getting in the trade. With the shortage, it’s easy to overwork yourself. Pace yourself and most importantly, take care of your body.
Q: Can you talk about a project you recently worked on?
Keefer: Recently we fixed the radiant heating system that three previous contractors could not figure out and only wanted to sell the customer a boiler with a proper size circulator some flushing and education. The customers never been happier. We truly believe in treating people the way we expect to be treated in our own homes. Everyone that I train. I explained to them how would you want somebody treating your grandmother in her home? After a while with them thinking about it it hits Home.
Q: Anything else you would like to add?
Keefer: Our industry is changing. We really need to focus on bringing the next generation into the trade and training them correctly. Recently, I attended the HVAC tactical awards during the AHR show. And I was absolutely blown away. Ben, the gentleman who runs this event is bringing back the prestige to being a trades person. I think all of us is a whole need to show the world that we’re not just basic blue-collar workers we keep this world going pro providing people with comfort and safety.
Connect with Keefer on Instagram.
THANK YOU, KEEFER! WE LOOK FORWARD TO KEEPING UP WITH YOU THROUGH THE #PUMPTALK COMMUNITY!
