Top 3 Questions Homeowners Ask Technicians
HOW MUCH IS THIS GOING TO COST ME?
The thought of unknown and unplanned HVAC related costs can be intimidating. Service rates, replacement parts and systems have a wide range of costs, making it difficult for the homeowner to budget ahead of time. HVAC-related costs can typically be broken down into three categtories:
- Maintenance: Offering your customers a maintenance service agreement for preventive maintenance on their HVAC system can prevent minor issues from turning into major, expensive problems over time and could maximize the life of the system. Effectively communicating this value to the homeowners is not only beneficial from a business standpoint, it also helps build trust and an on-going relationship with that customer.
- Repair: The cost to repair an HVAC system typically consists of a flat service call fee, the time associated to complete the repair and the specific replacement parts required for the system. Service calls outside regular working hours are generally more expensive than during normal business hours. These are all factors you will want to discuss with the homeowner so they have an accurate idea of the total cost and are not surprised with a larger-than-expected bill.
- Replacement: There are multiple factors that come into play when pricing out a full system replacement, including potential upgrades like higher-efficiency units and additional add-ons like in-duct IAQ products. Knowing which products will help the homeowner save money in the long run and increase the life of their brand new system is a great way to show that you are looking out for them.
HOW DO I KNOW WHEN I NEED TO REPLACE MY OLD SYSTEM?
When you are called out for a system repair, there may be a discussion of whether or not the system needs replacing; or how long the system will continue to last. Things you should discuss with the homeowner include the age of the system, the cost of potential repairs, if they have been experiencing a jump in their utility bills, the efficiency of their system, and how long they plan to live in the home. All of these can have an impact on their decision of when to replace the system so it’s important to have an open discussion about their options.
HOW CAN I SAVE MONEY ON MY UTILITY BILLS?
The more electricity or fuel the household uses, the higher their utility bill will be. So, to cut utility bills, you have to reduce the amount of energy that the home uses. In relation to their HVAC system, here are a few ways you can help educate your homeowner on how to maintain lower energy usage:
- Higher-efficiency units
- Routine air filter replacement
- More advanced, programmable thermostats
- Routine maintenance schedule
- Connected products for a more efficient home
