With winter now in full swing, you’ve likely fielded most of the phone calls about furnace breakdowns. Now, you’re left with helping homeowners keep their furnace in working condition. But when it comes to keeping your customers warm and comfortable all winter long, there’s more to it than just the furnace. Do you offer a maintenance check and consultation package? This is a great way to help you fill your schedule during the winter season.
We’ve compiled a winter checklist here, assembled from our decades of experience in the industry, to help you fill in those gaps.
You can no longer just eyeball the plane on a furnace. You need to ensure the furnace is firing properly. Not only does this prevent serious carbon monoxide issues from creeping up, but it also improves the furnace’s efficiency. Helping your clients stay safe and save money will help you earn their trust, which will drastically increase the chances that they’ll call you when they have HVAC problems.
Some home HVAC systems have a humidifier built-in. Inspect and clean it, and replace the pad if needed. If the home doesn’t have a built-in humidifier, you can make the suggestion to your customers or suggest they add portable humidifiers that are sizeable to rooms within their home.
When customers buy air filters for their HVAC system, they typically look for three things:
Most customers don’t understand that the wrong air filters can actually impede airflow and cause their furnace to work harder–and maybe even shut off–leading to higher energy bills and uneven airflow in the home. So, while an air filter may claim to filter a high number of foreign air particles...if the air isn’t flowing, nothing is filtering!
When helping customers with air filters, make sure to choose the right ones for the best airflow and their furnace’s needs.
A common misconception among homeowners is that closing registers to avoid heating a rarely used room will save money. This misconception is most prevalent with homeowners who grew up with radiators. It’s up to you to explain to customers that this practice actually increases their energy costs.
Homeowners may also place furniture in front of return-air vents. It’s common to believe that “slightly” blocking one return-air vent or closing one or two registers won’t make much of a difference, but again, this practice doesn’t help airflow and decreases energy efficiency. Ensure, too, that any grilles to the outside are free and not blocked or clogged by autumn leaves, winter snow, or any furniture or small buildings (e.g. sheds).
With so many thermostats programmable these days, a homeowner may not know or may have forgotten how to program theirs. Walk through how to use a thermostat with your customers to give them the best value for their home’s HVAC.
Here are a few steps to help you carry the conversation:
An affordable maintenance check and consultation package for your customers will greatly help you fill in gaps in business during the winter season. In addition, you’ll also help customers save money with energy efficiency and keep them safe. In the end, this earns trust and builds your rapport with them in the long term.
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