Burkholder’s Heating & Air Conditioning Inc. is embracing the mobile technology age by adding the latest in mobile device applications to their list of products and services and to the way the company communicates with its customers.
The new products allow customers to set and reprogram their home heating and cooling system thermostats from their cell phones or anywhere that they have Internet access.
Customers can view the thermostats located throughout their homes and make appropriate adjustments. They also have an option to receive text messages or e-mails when the temperature has dropped below a pre-determined point. “This is a wonderful feature for snowbirds, people with vacation homes and those who like to travel during the winter months. Along with adjusting the temperature before you get to your property, it is also a safety feature, alerting customers before their pipes freeze,” says Bob Burkholder, president of Burkholder’s HVAC in Emmaus.
The internet-based systems are also installed in businesses providing the same advantages. “We’ve found that our commercial customers have been able to benefit by have a tighter control on energy consumption,” says Burkholder.
Burkholder’s customers may now communicate with the company via text messaging. Customers text 41513 and enter HVAC4U. “In today’s hectic environment it seems like everyone is doing the work of three people and schedules are tight. We’re making every effort to make contacting us easy for busy people,” says Burkholder. “Customers can request a service call and not have to wait at home within a specific timeframe. We can just text them when we’re on our way. We’re all about making life easier for our customers.”
“My father started the business in 1960 and his main focus was always on the customer. He developed a level of trust due to excellence in service and a dedication to quality. When I took over the business in 2000, we kept true to his ideals,” adds Burkholder. “We’ve grown quite a bit, back then we had12 employees, now we have 45. We have a great group of people with a vast array of experience.”
All of Burkholder’s service technicians participate in biweekly training to keep on the cutting edge of technology. In line with their strong belief in progressive training, Burkholder’s goal is for all of their technicians to be North American Technician Excellence (NATE) certified.
The company offers residential and commercial installation, service and maintenance agreements for every type of heating system including the environmentally friendly geothermal systems. Burkholder’s also provides full service, maintenance and installation of air conditioning systems, humidifiers and air filtration systems. The company recently added plumbing to its array of services.
Burkholder hopes that the industry keeps advancing in technology and efficiency, decreasing the carbon footprint. “We want our customers to be able to save money on energy and we want to leave the environment in great shape for future generations,” he adds.
