Kennihans score points with TV show
MIDDLESEX TWP — Kennihan Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning intercepted an unusual job for a popular Steelers standout.
Jerry Kennihan explained that the Animal Planet television series “Treehouse Masters” was planning an episode in which the show's crew would build a treetop specimen at the Gibsonia home of Antonio Brown of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The show's producers soon discovered that Allegheny County requires all plumbing projects to be completed by a master plumber and undergo an inspection to ensure the work passes.
So they sent at least 100 emails to various master plumbers in the Pittsburgh area to see if any were interested in being the first down for the job.
Kennihan explained that he received an email that included the producer's name but didn't say “Animal Planet.”
“I didn't know if it was someone just fooling around,” Kennihan said.
The second time his office got the email, he instructed the staff to reply with the directive to have the producer call him.
The producer did so, and the two talked about ideas for plumbing a treehouse. The producer also mentioned that the “Treehouse Masters” crew planned to include a floor-mounted air conditioning unit in the structure.
“I said it would never work, because some specs of the house require more air flow than that unit could provide,” Kennihan recalled.
He suggested a ductless unit and offered to huddle up with his distributor to see if they could get a unit for the treehouse.
“He said, 'We only want you guys to do it, and you're going to do both the plumbing and air conditioning,'” Kennihan said.
Animal Planet then handed off the show's production schedule and Jerry and his father, the company's founder Bill Kennihan, set about completing the preliminary work of preparing underground drains before construction kicked off.
“What's really interesting about (“Treehouse Masters” producers) is they follow a very strict schedule,” Jerry Kennihan said. “There were a couple days that Dad and I stayed late, until 9:30 or 10 p.m., to meet that schedule because we did not want to be the guys who held his schedule back.”
The Kennihans worked at the property for about six days in June, and Brown himself arrived in the construction zone on one of those days.
“He's a very friendly and open gentleman,” Jerry Kennihan said of “A.B.” “We got to talk a little bit about the project.”
“It's a very interesting design,” Kennihan said, tiptoeing around the secrecy mandate. “The producer said they have never done one like this before.”
He said the show's quirky and lovable star, Pete Nelson, also put his ego on the bench for the project.
“He was a pleasure to work with,” Kennihan said. “He kept everything lighthearted and fun.”
The crew that builds the treehouse is amazing, Kennihan said, and Nelson is not an armchair quarterback.
“He's involved in almost every aspect (of construction),” he said. “He wants to be involved with it in every piece as it goes.”
Since the project finished in July, Kennihan has been in contact with the show's producer. He told Kennihan that the plumber on the current treehouse project wasn't earning any extra points with him.
“He's like, 'Yeah, I wish you guys were here,'” Kennihan said. “I said 'Send us some plane tickets and we'll be on the next flight.'”
The Kennihan family are longtime Steelers fans and were thrilled to participate in the project.
“It was an exciting opportunity for us,” Kennihan said, “and when we heard it was for A.B., well, that's just great.”
In December, the Kennihans will celebrate the company's 50th year in the same location on Steiner Bridge Road in Middlesex Township, but the company has never participated in such a high-profile project.
“'Treehouse Masters' was a great opportunity for our company, and we really enjoyed it,” he said.
WHAT: “Treehouse Masters” episode featuring Antonio Brown’s home and the work of Kennihan Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning.WHEN: 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. Sept. 7WHERE: Animal Planet, Channel 58
