The HVAC industry can be hot and cold, and weathering ongoing challenges takes high-quality services, reliable employees, and strong leadership. With nearly 43 years under its belt, Sharon’s Heating & Air Conditioning knows a thing or two about navigating the climate, becoming the go-to service provider for an array of local commercial and residential clients. With a focus on preventative maintenance, the business aims to provide services that keep systems running as efficiently as possible for as long as possible, meaning clients get the highest quality products for the best possible value.
The eponymous company was founded in 1981 in Westland, Michigan by Sharon Klicker, one of the first woman in the state of Michigan to get her mechanical contractor’s license. While she was one of very few women doing this kind of work, she felt very empowered. “I never felt disadvantaged as a woman and rarely felt intimidated by my male counterparts,” says Sharon. She recalls many customers acting surprised to see her handling tasks like removing old furnaces, carrying them upstairs and outside, and installing new ones, but for her it was all in a day’s work to complete the job.
A pioneer in the industry, she grew the company over the next four decades, initially focusing on the residential sector before expanding into commercial work in the late 90s to early 2000s. Things really took off from there, growing from a handful of employees to about 70 today with an even split across residential and commercial work. “I credit my upbringing on a farm for developing the skills that have served me well,” says Sharon, who remains extremely proud to get to watch from afar in retirement as the company continues to thrive under honest, caring, and responsible leadership, ensuring customers continue receiving the service they have come to expect from Sharon’s Heating & Air Conditioning.
In 2022, Sharon passed the torch along to Peter Ciaverilla, the company’s current owner, who had been looking into business ownership after years in the consulting industry in the United States and abroad. “I’d always been interested in owning and operating a small business,” Peter said. However, he didn’t feel comfortable starting a business from scratch due to a lack of specific passion or expertise. During his MBA program and through connections, he learned about acquiring existing businesses, which appealed to him.
Peter wanted to stay in Metro Detroit to be close to his family and was particularly interested in skilled trades businesses. “There is a talent and labor shortage in skilled trades, which presents good economic potential. Plus, it’s essential work that can’t be outsourced or offshored,” he explained.
While searching for a company to acquire, Peter stumbled upon Sharon’s Heating and Air Conditioning. “It just worked out timing-wise as Sharon was looking to retire,” Peter said. He was attracted to the company because it was profitable, had a strong reputation, an established customer base, a skilled management team, and solid relationships with customers and suppliers. “The foundation was already set. All I had to do was not screw it up,” Peter says with a laugh.
Sharon’s Heating & Air Conditioning offers comprehensive residential services, including maintenance, service, and replacement of various equipment types. They handle forced air split systems like air conditioners and natural gas furnaces, as well as hydronic work on boilers and hot water tanks. Its expertise extends to commercial applications, such as replacing water source heat pumps, rooftop units, and hydronic piping for radiant heating. A key focus is establishing preventative maintenance plans, especially following large commercial projects, to ensure ongoing efficiency and reliability for its clients. “We do this for two reasons,” says Peter. “One, we installed the equipment, so we know it better than anyone and two, preventative maintenance is crucial because it ensures equipment lasts longer, improves comfort, and reduces the need for emergency service calls. Customers who schedule regular tune-ups and perform simple tasks like changing filters experience fewer issues and greater satisfaction with their systems.”
“We want to make sure every decision we make leads to intelligent growth for the future.”
On the commercial side of things, Sharon’s Heating & Air Conditioning offers comprehensive services, including the installation of HVAC equipment for new construction projects. Unlike many competitors, they have an in-house metal shop with a dedicated team that custom fabricates ductwork from rolled steel for both residential and commercial jobs. This capability allows them to efficiently handle custom designs and make quick adjustments as needed, ensuring high-quality and timely service.
The company remains industry agnostic, bidding and estimating for projects that make sense for the 70-person team. In the last 12 – 18 months, Sharon’s Heating & Air Conditioning has amassed a portfolio of jobs spanning senior and assisted living facilities, multi-residential apartment buildings, houses of worship, school buildings, and a handful of various big box retailers and grocery stores. “For commercial work specifically, we’re not focused on one industry. Instead, we’re really interested in the partnerships that we have with the general contractors and the business and the building owners,” says Peter. For Sharon’s Heating & Air Conditioning, relationship building is integral to project success and in most cases, long-term partnerships.
But while the company is no doubt thriving, it is not without its challenges. One of the biggest challenges, Peter says, has been finding and retaining skilled talent, an issue that is widespread among the construction and skilled trades industries. To address this, the company has implemented various initiatives, including employee recognition programs, active career planning, and feedback sessions, prioritizing retention to reduce employee turnover. The company has also introduced incentive programs to ensure that employees share in the company’s success.
Inflation has also been a major challenge over the past 18-24 months, significantly increasing the cost of equipment, parts, and services. This has led to price hikes, which have affected the entire industry. Peter noted that the cost of basic equipment has risen by about 40% since he joined the company. These ongoing challenges require constant innovation to ensure it remains competitive.
So, what sets Sharon’s Heating & Air Conditioning apart from competitors? For Peter, it’s the intense focus on quality and transparency. “Quality is really important to us because the cost of poor quality affects us in multiple ways,” says Peter. Poor quality incurs direct costs of rework, reputational costs with customers, and opportunity costs by diverting resources from new business.
To maintain high quality, Sharon’s Heating & Air Conditioning implements rigorous documentation, follows manufacturer specifications, and maintains strong relationships with suppliers and technical support. “We have a big focus on quality, and it shows in our low recall rates and minimal warranty-related calls,” Peter noted.
Transparency is another key differentiator, especially on the residential side. “We aim to be open and honest with our customers,” Peter said. Technicians explain diagnoses, repairs, and costs, ensuring customers understand the work being done. Peter shared an example of a recent Google review where a technician helped a customer keep an old AC unit running instead of pushing for an expensive replacement, highlighting its commitment to customer needs.
The community has fallen on harder economic times, with cost-of-living skyrocketing. He has seen it firsthand, with supply chain issues making equipment costs double and triple in recent years. It could be tempting as a small business owner to maximize profits any chance he gets, but that goes against everything Peter and the team stand for. In fact, recently, the company had a supplier lower its costs by about 15% – the first time this had happened since Peter took over the company.
For him, what to do next was a no brainer. “We want to be competitive and pass along savings to our customers where possible,” he said, underscoring its dedication to fairness and customer satisfaction. Peter in turn, lowered customer prices, too.
Below is an overview of three successful projects servicing commercial and residential clients.
Faust Public Library Renovation
Last year, Sharon’s Heating & Air Conditioning undertook a significant renovation of Westland’s Faust Public Library. Renowned as a local and regional destination for families, the library’s improvements aimed to further enhance its reputation and functionality. As the chosen HVAC contractor, they installed complex, technologically advanced systems, ensuring the project was completed smoothly and on time. This project holds special significance for the company, not only because of its proximity to the office but also because of its vital role in the community. The successful upgrade of this important public facility is a source of pride, and Peter even had the pleasure of taking his kids there for story time.
Flats at Iron Ridge
Sharon’s Heating & Air Conditioning also worked on the Flats at Iron Ridge, a 92-unit apartment building in Ferndale, MI. This project was particularly meaningful to Peter, as it is located close to where he grew up. The project was a collaboration with Cunningham-Limp, a general contractor they have partnered with before. This building is almost entirely electric, featuring air source heat pumps—a technology typically found in warmer climates but now being adapted for Michigan’s environment. The project required special engineering and technical considerations, marking a forward-thinking approach to building design. It was an excellent opportunity for the company to be at the cutting edge of its industry.
Flats at Iron Ridge 
Flats at Iron Ridge
StoryPoint of Clinton Township
Sharon’s Heating & Air Conditioning is currently wrapping up a project on the east side of Detroit called StoryPoint of Clinton Township, a large, assisted living facility for senior citizens. Partnering with O’Brien Construction, a company with which they have a strong relationship, this project was notable for its large scale, quick timeline, and organized execution. The facility addresses the growing need for senior living spaces and features a range of HVAC applications, from advanced commercial units to basic residential systems. Its custom metalwork played a crucial role in this project, showcasing the harmonious collaboration among all parties involved. “For StoryPoint of Clinton Township, we collaborated with Winsupply of Farmington. Winsupply has been our MagicPak (Allied Air) distributor for years, and their technology has been a win-win for us and the developers. The all-in-one units provide a simpler engineering solution as well as an economical choice for decision makers.”
Peter’s goals for the future of Sharon’s Heating & Air Conditioning include maintaining its current successful infrastructure while continuing to grow both residentially and commercially. He aims to expand the volume of projects and work, leveraging its well-established organizational and administrative setup to sustain high-quality standards.
“We don’t want to grow just for the sake of growth, and we don’t want to grow at the expense of our quality or reputation,” says Peter of what the future hold for Sharon’s Heating & Air Conditioning. “We want to make sure every decision we make leads to intelligent growth for the future.”
Looking for commercial or residential HVAC services? Contact Sharon’s Heating & Air Conditioning by submitting a service request online.
