Colgate is a small unincorporated community in the Town of Richfield, Washington County, along Highway 167 west of the Menomonee Falls border. Like its neighbors in the Richfield area, Colgate is characterized by a quiet rural character — a mix of older homes along the highway corridor, residential properties on larger wooded lots, and agricultural land. The community sits near the Washington-Waukesha county line and draws its identity from the broader Richfield-Holy Hill area.
Burkhardt Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electric serves Colgate as part of our Washington County service area. We reach the community via Highway 167 and Highway 164 north from our Brown Deer location.
What We Know About Colgate Homes
Homes in Colgate span a range of eras, from mid-century farmhouses to newer rural residential builds from the 1990s and 2000s. Like the rest of Richfield, Colgate properties generally rely on propane for heating, as natural gas service is not available throughout the area. Private well water is standard, and Washington County's limestone geology means hard water is a consistent issue for water heaters and plumbing fixtures.
Electrical service in older rural homes along the Highway 167 corridor is often dated — 100-amp panels with aging breakers that were adequate for a farmhouse in 1960 but are strained by modern loads. Generator backup is increasingly important for rural homeowners who may see extended outages after ice storms.
Services Available in Colgate
- Furnace & propane heating repair & replacement
- Central AC & heat pump service and installation
- Water heater replacement (tank & tankless)
- Water softeners & filtration systems
- Plumbing repair & drain cleaning
- Electrical panel upgrades & generator transfer switches
- 24/7 emergency service
Burkhardt serves Colgate and the surrounding Richfield area. GreenSky financing available. Call 414-206-3049.
Our Colgate home is on propane and we want to compare the cost of switching to a heat pump. Can Burkhardt help with that analysis?
Yes. Burkhardt can perform a heat load calculation on your home and model the operating cost comparison between your current propane system and a cold-climate heat pump. In many cases, a dual-fuel system — heat pump for moderate temperatures, propane backup for extreme cold — offers the best balance of efficiency and reliability.
We have well water in Colgate and our dishes come out with white spots. Is that fixable?
White spotting is a classic hard water symptom — dissolved calcium and magnesium depositing on dishes and glassware. A water softener installed at the main supply line resolves this throughout the home and protects your water heater, dishwasher, and plumbing fixtures from scale buildup. Burkhardt installs and services water softeners in the area.
Our older Colgate home's electrical panel is a fuse box. How urgent is an upgrade?
Fuse boxes are generally a sign of 60-amp or older service that is both undersized for modern loads and potentially a concern for homeowner's insurance. While not an immediate emergency if the wiring is in sound condition, an upgrade to a modern 200-amp breaker panel is strongly recommended. Burkhardt Electric handles this regularly in older rural homes.
How does Burkhardt get to Colgate for service calls?
We travel Highway 167 and Highway 164 northwest from our Brown Deer location. Colgate is part of our regular Washington County service area. For emergency calls, we dispatch 24/7 — call 414-206-3049.
Does Burkhardt service ductless mini-split systems in Colgate?
Yes. Mini-splits are an increasingly popular option for rural homes that want to add efficient heating and cooling to a specific space — a garage, a sunroom, or an addition — without extending existing ductwork. Burkhardt installs and services mini-split systems from leading manufacturers. Call 414-206-3049.
Our Services in Colgate
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Call Us At: (414) 206-3049
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