History

In 1911 Andy Thorsen Sr. started his plumbing business as a one man shop in a shed attached to his first home on 567 High Street in Turlock, CA.  In 1916 Andy relocated to 214 Lander Avenue with the sign "Andy Thorsen The Plumber".

In the early days, his work mainly consisted of simple plumbing with water storage tanks and wind driven pumps.  As the demand for modern indoor plumbing increased, Andy's business grew, and in 1933 Andy Thorsen the Plumber moved to 134 Lander Avenue to a larger facility.

As post war construction boomed across the nation, Thorsen's grew with the continued increase in new homes and business construction.

During the 1950's, air conditioning became popular in the central valley providing comfort and quality to homes. Thorsen's responded by expanding their services to include central air conditioning and heating.

Thorsen's saw its greatest expansion during the 1960's and 1970's and in 1977 Thorsen's moved to our present location at 2310 North Walnut Road. We provide plumbing and air conditioning installation and service to a community we have grown up with.

Andy Thorsen's two sons, Rodney and Andy Jr., were both involved as partners in the business until 1965 when Rodney took over as president. Rodney managed the company for the next 20 years and in 1984, his youngest son Norman graduated from college and returned to Turlock to take over the reins of the company. In 1988 Norman was involved in a serious automobile accident which forced Rodney to take over managing the company again.

Over the next 14 years, Norman was able to help Rodney manage the company on a limited basis. Through the skill and devotion of key long-term employees in the office and the field, Thorsen's Inc. was able to remain competitive. 

In 2002 Craig Pitau was asked to join Thorsen’s as the General Manager and was given the opportunity to purchase ownership in the company. Craig worked with Norman managing Thorsen’s until Norman’s untimely passing in 2004. In 2005 Rodney also passed away. The company was owned by Carl Thorsen, Don Thorsen, Judy Thorsen Enchelmayer and Craig Pitau until 2012 when Craig Pitau became the sole owner of Thorsen’s Incorporated.

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