West Allis is one of Milwaukee's most densely settled inner suburbs — a city built on the factory floor and the 30-foot lot. The bungalows, cape cods, and two-flats that line streets like W. Greenfield Avenue, National Avenue, and S. 70th Street were built for the men and women who worked at Allis-Chalmers, Kearney & Trecker, and the other heavy manufacturers that defined this city through most of the 20th century. Most of those homes date from the 1920s through the early 1950s, and their mechanical systems — furnaces, electrical panels, and plumbing stacks — are aging along with them.
At Burkhardt Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electric, we've been servicing these same post-war neighborhoods since 1961. Our Brown Deer location sits roughly 20 minutes north on I-894 and N. 76th Street, putting us squarely in range for fast response anywhere in West Allis.
What We Know About West Allis Homes
The compact housing stock here creates specific challenges. Original 100-amp electrical panels — common in homes built before 1960 — can't keep pace with today's window AC units, dishwashers, and electric vehicle chargers. Many older West Allis furnaces are oversized for the house footprint they now heat, running short cycles that wear out heat exchangers prematurely. And in a neighborhood where basements are common and lots are small, even modest ground saturation events can overwhelm aging floor drains and sump pump systems.
Near the Six Points neighborhood along S. 84th Street and around the West Allis Farmers Market on W. Greenfield Avenue, we regularly see calls for boiler maintenance on the radiator-heated two-flats that define those blocks. On the west side of the city, post-1950s ranch homes along W. Oklahoma Avenue tend to have crawlspaces and slab foundations that bring their own unique challenges for ductwork and drain line routing.
Services Available in West Allis
- Furnace repair, tune-up & replacement
- Central air conditioning repair & installation
- Boiler service & repair
- Heat pump installation
- Radiant heating systems
- Water heater repair & replacement
- Drain cleaning & sewer inspection
- Sump pump installation & backup systems
- Electrical panel upgrades
- Generator installation
- Circuit breaker & wiring repair
Whether your boiler stopped responding on a January night or your basement drain is backing up during a summer storm, Burkhardt's 24/7 emergency line is 414-206-3049. We also offer GreenSky financing so you're never forced into a band-aid repair when a full replacement makes more long-term sense.
Getting to West Allis from Burkhardt
From our Brown Deer location, we take I-894 south to the W. Greenfield Avenue exit — about 18 miles and well under 25 minutes in normal traffic. Schedule online or call us at 414-206-3049.
My West Allis home has an older boiler with cast iron radiators. Should I repair it or replace it?
Cast iron radiators are highly efficient and very durable — the radiators themselves can outlast multiple boilers. If your boiler is over 20 years old and repair costs are climbing, replacement often makes sense. Burkhardt's NATE-certified technicians can assess your system and help you weigh repair versus a modern high-efficiency boiler upgrade.
Why does my West Allis bungalow get so hot upstairs in summer even with the AC running?
Bungalows with finished upper floors are notorious for heat stratification. Attic insulation is often minimal in homes built in the 1930s and 1940s, and original duct layouts weren't designed for upper-floor cooling. A Burkhardt technician can inspect your ductwork, check refrigerant charge, and recommend zoning solutions or targeted insulation improvements.
How do I know if my West Allis home's electrical panel needs upgrading?
If your panel is a 60- or 100-amp service, uses fuses instead of breakers, or you're tripping breakers regularly, an upgrade is likely overdue. Panels in West Allis homes from the 1940s–1960s often can't safely support modern appliances. Burkhardt Electric handles panel upgrades and can assess your current service load.
My sump pump ran constantly during last spring's heavy rains. Is that normal?
Running frequently during heavy rain is expected, but a pump that runs without stopping — or one that struggles to keep up — may be undersized or failing. Homes on West Allis's flatter terrain near the Kinnickinnic River corridor can see significant water table pressure. Burkhardt can evaluate your current pump and install a battery backup for protection during power outages.
How quickly can Burkhardt respond for emergency furnace repair in West Allis?
We offer 24/7 emergency service and typically dispatch within a few hours for urgent heating failures. From our Brown Deer location, West Allis is a quick run down I-894. Call 414-206-3049 any time.
Our Services in West Allis
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Call Us At: (414) 206-3049
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