Meet Our Diamond Certified Expert Contributor

Matthew Hechim: Water Heater Master

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

CONCORD — Matthew Hechim’s involvement in the plumbing industry may have begun from a family connection, but it was his own talent and drive that led to his mastery of the trade. “My grandfather worked construction, and when I was growing up, I tried my hand at several aspects of the industry, from demolition to concrete to carpentry,” he says. “I enjoyed plumbing the most, so that’s what I ended up sticking with. I started doing it professionally in the early ’90s, worked my way up from an installer to a field supervisor and, in 2006, founded Water Heaters Masters with my partner, Alex Diaz.”

Today, after 25 years in plumbing, Matthew says his favorite part of his job is the versatility made possible by modern industry innovation. “Things have changed a lot since I first started—there are more high-end, energy-efficient products on the market, which gives us more flexibility when it comes to finding products that meet our clients’ needs. Plus, with our long-term experience, we’re able to utilize today’s technology to come up with smart solutions for particular problems.”

A lifetime resident of the Bay Area, Mathew grew up in Brisbane and today resides in Vacaville with his wife, Maura, and daughter, Samantha. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with family and pursuing outdoor activities. “As a family, we love going skiing at Lake Tahoe in the winter, as well as going to Disneyland when we get a chance,” he says. “I also enjoy fishing; playing golf; and going to 49ers, Raiders, and Warriors games.”

In regard to his professional career, Matthew espouses the value of going above and beyond for customer satisfaction. “In addition to doing good work, I think our commitment to taking care of our customers is the secret to our success,” he affirms. “For example, we always clean up after ourselves because we want to leave things looking better than when we arrived. Also, if a customer has a problem with something we’ve installed, we go back and take care of it at no extra charge. It all comes down to customer service.”

When asked what his future retirement might look like, Matthew says he’ll make sure to stay active. “I’ll probably play a lot of golf and do a lot of hiking, as well as get involved with some type of charity work. But as it stands, I’m not really thinking about retirement because I like working, and I hope to be doing plumbing for a long time.”

Ask Me Anything!

Q: What’s your favorite TV show?
A: “Mad Men.”

Q: What was your favorite toy as a child?
A: My Evel Knievel toy, which came with a ramp so you could build your own jumps.

Q: What’s your favorite local restaurant?
A: Scott’s Seafood in Walnut Creek.

Q: Have you ever read a book more than once?
A: I’ve read “The Lord of the Rings” a few times, as well as some of Ernest Hemingway’s books, like “The Old Man and the Sea” and “The Sun Also Rises.”

Q: What’s your favorite snack?
A: Pretzels, carrots and hummus.