St. Francis WI HVAC, Plumbing & Electrical

Name: Burkhardt Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electric
Address: 8232 N Teutonia Ave, Milwaukee, WI, 53209, US
Telephone: 414-206-3049
Price range: $-$$$

St. Francis holds the distinction of being the smallest city in Milwaukee County — a compact two-square-mile community wedged between Lake Michigan and the southern edge of Milwaukee's Bay View neighborhood. Despite its size, St. Francis has a distinct identity: the historic St. Francis de Sales Seminary campus, the bluff-top views of Lake Michigan along E. Howard Avenue and S. Lake Drive, and the modest working-class homes that fill the interior blocks between the shoreline and Kinnickinnic Avenue.

The residential housing in St. Francis is predominantly from the 1940s and 1950s — brick ranch homes, cape cods, and simple frame construction that housed Milwaukee's working families as the post-war suburban expansion pushed south. These homes are now 70 to 80 years old, and many carry original plumbing, aging electrical panels, and heating systems that are well past their intended service life.

Burkhardt Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electric has served St. Francis from our Brown Deer location — about 25 minutes north via Kinnickinnic Avenue and I-894 — since 1961. In a community this compact, reputation matters enormously. Burkhardt's 4.8-star rating across more than 2,000 Google reviews reflects the standard we hold ourselves to in every home we enter.

What We Know About St. Francis Homes

Lake Michigan proximity in St. Francis creates the same accelerated corrosion conditions that affect all lakefront communities — outdoor HVAC equipment along S. Lake Drive and the bluff-adjacent streets is particularly vulnerable to salt-air exposure and benefits from annual servicing. The compact lot sizes and dense neighborhood pattern also mean that sewer and drain work requires careful attention to shared infrastructure and tight property lines.

Many St. Francis homes retain the original furnaces, water heaters, or electrical panels from their construction era. These aren't cosmetic concerns — a 70-year-old electrical panel, galvanized supply line, or heat exchanger on an aging furnace are genuine safety considerations that we approach with honesty and transparency.

Services Available in St. Francis

Furnace repair, tune-up & replacement
Central air conditioning repair & installation
Water heater replacement
Electrical panel upgrades
Drain cleaning & sewer inspection
Whole-home plumbing inspections
Sump pump installation

Call 414-206-3049 any time. Burkhardt serves every neighborhood in St. Francis.

(414) 206-3049

Our St. Francis home is from the late 1940s and we've never had the plumbing assessed. What should we check?

In a home from that era, the key concerns are galvanized steel supply lines (which corrode from the inside out and cause low pressure and discolored water), original cast-iron or clay drain lines that may have root intrusion or joint failure, and the water heater — if original or close to it, replacement is overdue. Burkhardt can walk through all three in a single inspection visit.

Does living near Lake Michigan in St. Francis affect outdoor HVAC equipment?

Yes. The salt-laden air off Lake Michigan causes accelerated corrosion on condenser coils, cabinet hardware, and electrical connections in outdoor AC and heat pump units. Annual cleaning and inspection is especially important for homes on S. Lake Drive and the bluff-adjacent streets. Catching corrosion early can add years to your equipment's life.

What's the process for a furnace replacement in a small St. Francis home?

Burkhardt starts with a proper load calculation — sizing a furnace to the actual heat loss of your home, not the old unit. In compact St. Francis homes, oversizing is a common mistake from previous replacements. We size correctly, handle the installation, pull the permit, and schedule the We Energies inspection. Most standard furnace replacements are completed in a single day.

Does the St. Francis Seminary campus affect the surrounding neighborhood's infrastructure?

The seminary campus maintains its own grounds and systems, but the surrounding residential infrastructure in St. Francis is standard Milwaukee County municipal service. Some blocks near the seminary's western edge have older water and sewer mains that serve neighboring homes — if you're experiencing unusual pressure or drainage issues, it's worth a professional assessment.

How quickly can Burkhardt respond to an emergency call in St. Francis?

We dispatch 24/7 from our Brown Deer location, reaching St. Francis in approximately 25 minutes via I-894. Call 414-206-3049 any time for heating, cooling, plumbing, or electrical emergencies.

(414) 206-3049