Celebrating HVAC Technician Day 2025 — Spotlight on One of NEIF’s Highest Performing Contractors and Their Expert Techs, Burkholder’s Heating & Air Conditioning
Energy efficiency, health, safety and comfort are top priorities for American home and building owners when they evaluate heating and cooling system upgrades. But who can they rely on to ensure the installations are done correctly and that the project fits within their monthly budget?
The National Energy Improvement Fund (NEIF) is one of the nation’s top energy efficiency lenders, amassing more than 1,800 contractors nationwide who are authorized to participate in low-cost financing programs and have earned the NEIF Seal of Approval after meeting high standards of commitment to quality work, customer service and financial stability.
Burkholder’s Heating & Air Conditioning is one of NEIF’s highest performing contractors and has been an integral part of the NEIF Approved Contractor network since 2019. Located just five miles from NEIF’s Allentown, PA headquarters, Burkholder’s serves a wide range of customers across the greater Lehigh Valley.
In recognition of National HVAC Technician Day on June 22, NEIF has partnered with Burkholder’s to offer a behind-the-scenes look at a career in HVAC. From a typical day on the job to what technicians enjoy most about the field, this feature pulls back the curtain on the profession that keeps homes and businesses comfortable year-round.
In his role, Llewellyn performs all the jobs of a normal service tech: fulfilling routine maintenance requests, service appointments, and helping customers navigate a variety of issues they might be having in the home.
Though often used interchangeably, there are notable differences between HVAC maintenance and HVAC service. Similarly to how an automobile requires periodic oil changes and tire rotations, a heating and cooling system works most efficiently when maintained regularly. For a technician, this means that they will check parts, inspect and clean the unit, and take other preventative measures to ensure proper functioning. Servicing, on the other hand, generally indicates that a unit has already started to experience issues— ultimately becoming the job of the tech to diagnose and solve the problem.
The ability to problem solve and think critically as an HVAC contractor is paramount, in fact, according to Michael Rivera, one of Burkholder’s Service and Maintenance Technicians.
“We do a little bit of everything. In a field that’s constantly evolving, it’s important to stay current and on top of things,” said Rivera. “It’s one of the things I enjoy most, though, learning new things and taking on new challenges every day.”
Except for weekly service meetings that bring the Burkholder’s team into the shop to discuss big projects or trends in the field, Rivera explained that he usually hits the ground running— leaving directly from his home in the morning to head to his first appointment of the day.
“A typical day runs from around 8:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. but can go longer if there are calls added onto the schedule last minute or if a customer really needs our help,” he said.
The team at Burkholder’s revealed that another key part of their job — beyond technical skill and expertise — is interacting with others.
“I’m a people person,” said Skip Rossanese, one of Burkholder’s most seasoned Service Technicians.
Rossanese, who has worked at Burkholder’s for more than 22 years, shared that customers will sometimes remember him even after long periods of time have passed since working at their home. To Rossanese, growing rapport with customers starts with forming a level of trust.
“I like to consider the longevity of a system and what makes most sense for the customer,” he said. “There’s a difference between ‘fixing’ and ‘replacing’ — I’ll tell the customer my honest opinion and help them understand exactly which one is needed.”
For some customers, affordability is another factor that can shape the decision to upgrade or replace equipment. By partnering with NEIF, Burkholder’s can offer low monthly payment options to home and business owners looking to install a number of improvements that qualify for energy efficiency financing.
“Working with NEIF is simple, straightforward, and hassle-free. They offer great programs that make energy upgrades affordable for Burkholder’s customers,” said Jennifer Bowers, a Residential Account Coordinator at Burkholder’s.
If customers are interested in financing, Bowers will discuss the options available through NEIF before putting them in touch with a member of Burkholder’s sales team. Integrating financing directly into the sales process ensures that the experience on both ends— with both customer and contractor — is streamlined and efficient from start to finish.
“We’re getting ready to head into our busy season,” said Llewellyn. “This job is primarily weather driven, so we always expect business to pick up over the season once we hit a couple of 80-degree days.”
When asked what customers can do to prepare for summer heatwaves ahead, the advice among technicians was unanimous: maintain your unit!
“If something isn’t running quite right, a good starting place is to check your filters,” said Rossanese. “An old or a bad filter can make it hard for your system to breathe. Keeping your outdoor unit free of debris can also help.”
As National HVAC Tech Day approaches — and demand grows for skilled professionals in the field — technicians like Dave Llewellyn, Michael Rivera, and Skip Rossanese at Burkholder’s Heating & Air Conditioning are not only helping to solve the challenges of customers today but are helping to shape more comfortable and efficient communities to come.
SOURCES: Bureau of Labor Statistics, ENERGY STAR®
