Plumbing, heating & cooling — done right.
Three generations of South Dakota homeowners trust Ekern for honest pricing, clean installs, and a real technician on the phone when something goes wrong.
- SD Licensed Plumbing Contractor
- EPA 608 Certified
- NATE-Certified Techs
- Lennox Premier Dealer
- Bradford White Pro
- BBB Accredited
What we do
Three trades. One trusted crew.
From a 2am burst pipe to a planned full-system replacement, Ekern handles the whole job — diagnosis to cleanup.
Why Ekern
The local crew you'd recommend to your neighbor.
Licensed & insured
Master plumbers and NATE-trained HVAC technicians. Permits pulled, code-compliant, warranty-backed.
Upfront pricing
You approve the price before we start. No surprise add-ons, no after-hours scare tactics.
24/7 emergency service
Burst pipes and dead furnaces don't keep business hours. Neither do we.
Local since 1952
Family-run in Flandreau and Brookings. The same name on the truck for three generations.
Service area
Proudly local — Flandreau, Brookings & all around.
We cover eastern South Dakota with two dispatch hubs so help is rarely more than 30 minutes away. If you're not sure we serve your town, give us a call — odds are we do.
- Flandreau
- Brookings
- Egan
- Aurora
- Volga
- Elkton
- Trent
- White
- Colman
- Estelline
- Bruce
- Arlington
Reviews
What customers say.
"Furnace quit at 11pm in February with a newborn in the house. Ekern had a tech at our door before 7am and a new high-efficiency unit running by noon. Calm, professional, fair price."
"Used them for a water heater last year and a full AC replacement this spring. They show up when they say, leave the place cleaner than they found it, and stand behind the work."
"Got three quotes for a new furnace and AC. Ekern wasn't the cheapest, but their walkthrough was the most thorough and the install was flawless. Worth every dollar."
How it works
From your first call to a clean handoff.
No mystery, no pressure, no left-behind mess.
Call or request online
Talk to a real person, often within minutes. We'll triage and book.
On-site diagnosis
Flat trip-and-diagnose fee, waived if you approve the repair.
Upfront, written quote
You see the price before any work starts. Financing available.
Clean install or repair
Job done right, area left spotless, work warrantied.
Common questions
Answers, no run-around.
A quick look at what we get asked the most. Full knowledge base in the FAQ.
Browse all FAQsDo you really answer the phone 24/7?+
Yes. After-hours calls to our Brookings line route to an on-call technician. If pipes burst, your furnace dies in January, or your AC quits in July, call us.
What counts as an HVAC or plumbing emergency?+
No heat in winter, no AC during a heat advisory, active water leaks, sewer backups, gas smell, or any safety concern like CO alarms. Shut off your main water valve or gas if it's safe to, then call.
Why is my water heater taking forever to recover?+
It usually means sediment buildup in the tank, a failing heating element, or a dip tube issue. Most units last 8–12 years; if yours is past that, replacement is often cheaper than another repair.
Should I get a tankless water heater?+
Tankless saves space and gives you endless hot water, but needs the right gas line and venting. We can walk you through whether it makes sense for your home — sometimes a quality tank is still the better call.
From the field
Follow along on social.
Job-site photos, seasonal tips, equipment specials, and community happenings — straight from the Ekern crew.
Ready when you are
Talk to a real technician — usually same day.
Tell us what's going on and we'll get you on the schedule.