Utah plumbing company headed to Texas to help with cleanup

SPRINGVILLE — One Utah plumber said he couldn't just sit at home and watch people in Texas suffer anymore, so he and his team decided to travel down south to help with cleanup efforts.

Every company starts with an idea. It's the hard work, though, that often turns that idea into a success.

"We started out with just a few houses a year and it just blew up from there," said Frank Hatch.

Hatch started Imperial Plumbing in Utah County a few years ago and is proud with how far it has come.

"We are very blessed," said Hatch. "Really, it's just because I have an amazing crew of young men and we get things done."

But the project they're getting ready to do is, by far, their biggest idea yet.

"I always make the joke, 'I'm trying to buy my way into Heaven,'" said Hatch with a laugh.

This time, though, it might just work.

Like many in Utah, Hatch saw news coverage of what was happening with cold temperatures and icy conditions in Texas. He also saw video of how residents were without water and other utilities because of frozen or broken pipes and lines.

"The other morning, I woke up, it was two in the morning, and I was having anxiety. I was feeling really bad for the people in Texas," he said. "And I knew they didn't have enough plumbers down there to take care of their needs. They don't deal with frozen lines like we do."

That's when Hatch got another idea.

He figured he and his team have the expertise to fix those problems, so he decided to go to Texas and help.

"For us to be able to go down to Texas and help our fellow Americans, it means a lot to me," he said. "When I reached out to my employees, it was only within minutes that they jumped on the boat and they said, 'Frank, we'll follow you anywhere.'"

For the next couple of days, Hatch and his team will be gathering supplies — like pipes, fixings, and other gear — and will load their trucks for the drive.

He's planning on staying as long as it takes to help as many people as possible.

He's also doing it for free.

With as divided as our country has been feeling, Hatch believes this is an opportunity to remind everyone we're still Americans, and that we can get through anything together.

He feels it's his best idea yet.

"I need to help in this country, and I need to feel a part of something. I want to show how we can unite and take care of each other," said Hatch. "Just for a few moments, let me go down and show these young men and the people of Texas that there is still love in our country."

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