WhenTom Wallen wanted to expand and take his local plumbing business to the next level, he went looking for someone who could help support his goals – like a P-trap supporting a faucet – while he maintained that steady flow and confidence found in a locally owned and operated business.

Wallen, 38, is a lifelong resident of Wyandotte who graduated from Roosevelt High School in 2006. When he was just 15 years old, he started doing plumbing with Tom and Mark Stanko, and gained experience and skills in
residential plumbing.

“That’s where I first learned the importance of high-quality craftsmanship,” said Wallen, who also spent a year at Central Michigan University studying construction management. “After returning home from CMU that summer I decided to continue my plumbing career with Quint Plumbing. There I acquired a wide variety of plumbing skills, from underground sewer and water lines to commercial and industrial scale systems.”

After earning his master plumbing license, Wallen started his own business, Wallen Plumbing. With the help of his apprentice and now-journeyman Michael Jasinski, they built a loyal customer base throughout the Downriver area.

“As time went on it became harder for us to keep up with the increasing demands from customers, and our response times increased to unacceptable levels,” he said.

“As I began to explore options to grow our business, one of my customers named Brian Harnos reached out with a proposal. Brian had just begun working as the general manager at Z Plumberz of North America, and they were looking for someone to take over the Downriver territory.”It turned out to be a win-win-win – for Z Plumberz, Wallen and his growing customer base.

“It was a great fit,” Wallen said. “It’s exactly what we were looking for.”

Z Plumberz franchises are all locally owned and operated by individual businesses committed to their communities.

Founded in 2020 and based in Ann Arbor, Z Plumberz currently has around 20 franchises, including many in Metro Detroit such as Ann Arbor, Livingston and Downriver. They offer their franchise’s experience and resources, including marketing and professional branding, a worldclass training platform, home office staff support with a 24-hour in-house call center and access to commercial and industry connections.

Wallen’s Z Plumberz of Downriver not only covers all of Downriver, but also communities all the way down to and including Toledo.

“Since joining Z Plumberz nine months ago we've been able to add employees, equipment and services to better serve our existing customers and simultaneously build the capacity to take on new customers,” Wallen said. “As we continue to grow, our goal is to provide the highest level of service and offer professional solutions for the plumbing needs of the Downriver community.”

Z Plumberz of Downriver also strives to promote the plumbing industry as a valuable career option, and provide consistent training to its employees.


“Because of our training programs, they know how to properly diagnose and repair any plumbing problems we come across,” Wallen said. “Here at Z Plumberz of Downriver we have an experienced team of licensed professionals to provide permanent code compliant solutions and installations. Whether you need a new faucet or a whole new sewer line installed, you can count on us to get it done right the first time and on time.”

They also believe in giving back to the community and being good neighbors – they live here after all. For example, they recently teamed up with the SWCRC to do garden bed clean ups in and around Wyandotte.

For more information, visit zplumberz.com or call Z Plumberz of Downriver at (734) 977-1433.