About Us

Dells’ Plumbing, Heating and A/C, Inc., a well-respected family-based company, is owned by David and Wendy DellGrottaglia. The company’s reputation is built on reliability, perfectionism, and a good worth ethic.

This Truly Is A Family Business

The DellGrottaglia family arrived in Columbia County from the Bronx during the 1940s and ‘50s. Father, sons, uncles, and cousins quickly established themselves as hard-working, quality workmen in almost every aspect of the building industry. From an early age, David DellGrottaglia wanted to run his own family business. His goal was to perfect the technical/mechanical end of a chosen specialty, rather than becoming a general contractor.

David worked alongside his father and uncles while still at Chatham High School. There he met and eventually married his high school sweetheart, Wendy Engel, who was in the Honor Society and Homecoming Queen. David began more specialized training work with father-in-law Fred Engel, who owned a plumbing, heating, and air-conditioning business for 50 years.

“I was drawn to this field for many reasons,” said David. “I liked the problem solving aspect of it, and I saw the respect on job sites for the mechanical contractors. Everyone would be running around perfecting everything so it would be ready for the plumbers to come in.”

It’s Also A Growing Business

David says that Dells’ often gets hired for the “impossible jobs.” “Our strength lies in having a dialogue before the job to get it done right the first time.” There is a health competition locally, which he welcomes, saying “this heightens everyone’s awareness of the issues involved in plumbing. We all learn from each other. There is rarely a need to go out of the area to find the required expertise.”

Dells’ building on Route 217 has a long history. Built by the Boyle family contractors, it was once Bits & Pieces Lumber Yard. Long-time residents will also recall the recreational vehicle business that was owned by Bud Celentano. The building continued to changed hand until Dells’ bought it from the Meltz Lumber family in 1998. In 2005, George Lagonia Jr. completed an addition to the building. Now it is perfect for Dells’ seven vans and growing inventory of equipment and supplies.

Dells’ staff maintains the company’s standard of excellence. Office Manager (and cousin) Crystal Yager and Receptionist Robin Scheller are usually the first pleasant encounters will Dells’. Andrew Campbell is in charge of the purchasing and parts for contracting and retail. Whether you need radiant floor heating installation, a new furnace, air conditioning unit, or simply a new part of accessory, Dell’s can handle it.

Rob Remler is Dells’ seasoned Service Manager, and their son Matt DellGrottaglia works as an Installation Technician, along with Eric Budd, Brandon Fuhlbrigge, Sean Boyles, and Jeff Keefner. Malcolm oversees the truck maintenance, while Mike Corts works part-time with estimating!

Dells’ Appreciates Its Experienced and Dedicated Staff

The feeling of family is great at Dells’ and shows in everything they do. Bob Broadway and Peter “Scooter” Hotaling Jr. have been great employees and good friends, and David takes great pride in the fact that some have opened business ventures of their own. David and Wendy’s son Matt is a great mechanic and runs his own job sites when he works in the business with them. Daughter Michele worked in the field before she became a mother to their three grandchildren.

Dedication to service and follow-through is evident in every encounter with Dells’ and is a big reason for their continued success. While the business, about 50/50 sales/service, is based mostly in Columbia County, they do take on work in Greene and other surrounding counties. “We like to stay local,” says David, “and we treat every customer as if they were our next door neighbor. If we miss something, we want to go back immediately and make it right.”

David and Wendy love the challenges of the business and look forward to many more years as a premium plumbing, heating and air conditioning contractor in Columbia County.