For over five decades, Wimpy's Plumbing & Air has been a trusted name in Southwest Florida, delivering expert residential plumbing and air conditioning services. Founded in 1973 by Winfred “Wimpy” Butler during the region's construction boom, the company started with humble roots: a single truck and operations run from the family’s kitchen table. Today, Wimpy's Plumbing & Air has grown into a thriving business with 23 employees, a dedicated building, a full-service shop and a fleet of 18 trucks, all while maintaining its family-first values. We sat down with Mike Butler, grandson of Wimpy Butler and current owner and operator of Wimpy's Plumbing & Air to learn about what sets them apart in the industry.
A Legacy of Hands-On Expertise
As a third-generation master plumber, Mike Butler grew up in the trade. “I didn’t know any other way,” he recalls. Starting at an early age, he developed a love for working with his hands and solving complex problems. “Dad and Grandpa could look at situations and come up with a plan,” he says, a skill he learned to appreciate and practice over time. Though he initially pursued pre-law studies and later owned a scuba diving business in Orlando, the family trade eventually called him home. In 2015, he moved back to Sarasota with a clear mission: to grow Wimpy's Plumbing & Air into a sustainable, service-driven company.
A Vision for Growth
Taking on the ownership role, Butler was determined to expand the business while preserving its close-knit culture. “It was my job to grow this business as it wasn’t sustainable long-term as it was,” he shares. Through strategic hiring and fostering a strong team culture, Wimpy's Plumbing & Air grew. Along the way, Butler strived to preserve the personal touch that the decades-old business had come to be known for. “It’s really important that people don’t become numbers,” he says. Despite expanding to 23 employees, the company today maintains the same family-oriented values it was built on.
Efficiency and Quality
Wimpy's Plumbing & Air specializes in residential plumbing and air conditioning, with a focus on repiping and rewasting homes. Their expertise extends to trenchless pipe bursting, which allows them to replace water and sewer lines in half the time of traditional methods, all while minimizing disruption to the home. The team is passionate about delivering clean air and water with as little disturbance as possible. “We take pride in keeping homes clean and maintaining their appearance,” Butler emphasizes.
Why Viega?
The company’s relationship with Viega began in the early 1990s when the company was seeking a more reliable product to keep up with business. With Florida’s harsh water conditions making copper impractical, Wimpy's turned to PEX, and Viega PureFlow system quickly became their go-to choice. “Everything about it made sense,” Butler says.
The ability to join PEX, copper, galvanized and black iron piping with a single press tool system, revolutionized their operations. “Before, we had to use multiple different tools. Now, just one press tool takes care of everything in the house.” The efficiency and reliability of Viega press technology streamlined their work, making projects faster and more precise.
For the past six years, Wimpy's Plumbing & Air has been a 100% Viega shop. The team values the versatility and consistency of the system. “Press just makes sense,” Butler explains. “It allows for seamless transitions where I can press any PEX in any house.”
