EAST PALESTINE – Bush Heating has made COVID-19 operating adjustments, set a plan going forward and isn’t looking back, its owner says.
“COVID-19 brought about some uneasy feelings on how we would handle business,” says Eric Oltmann, who acquired the 80-plus year-old company in 2020. By obtaining personal protection equipment and putting new safety protocols in place, Bush Heating was able to maintain business as usual, he says.
Throughout 2021, Bush Heating experienced an increase in regular check-up and services calls, along with new equipment installations throughout 2021, Oltmann says. “Last year was quite outside the norm but with people spending more time at home, they wanted to be comfortable, which is where we came in,” he says.
This year, the company is expecting to add employees to keep pace with growth, he says.
New and existing customers, Oltmann says, are looking to lower utility expenses with more efficient equipment, as well as installing upgrades such as smart thermostats in their homes.