Think Ahead to the Summer Cooling Season: 8 Tips to Make Your HVAC Company More Profitable
Now that it’s almost March, it’s time for HVAC contractors to start thinking about cooling season. Smart contractors start preparing for summer now, even though the weather is still a bit cold and gray. Here are some important things you might want to consider:
- Supply chain issues with HVAC parts and equipment that are typically in high demand for the summer season are still lingering in 2023. Now is the time to place orders to ensure you have these items available this spring and summer. This may include popular 2 and 3-ton split systems, ductless mini-splits, compressors, etc.
- If you handle a lot of service calls, consider stocking up on universal parts like contactors, fan relays, fan motors, condenser fans, thermostatic expansion valves, refrigerant filters, and many others. Trying to find these parts readily available on a hot summer’s day is never welcome, and having these items on hand allows you to be way more efficient and profitable.
- Installation-focused contractors should consider stocking up on items like flex duct and wrap insulation.
- Do you have enough workers for the summer busy season? Don’t wait too long to start finding HVAC service technicians and other personnel. Though the labor market is improving, there is still an ongoing skilled trade shortage, and the best-qualified technicians get snapped up in an instant.
- Have you stepped up your marketing game? How will customers find you? Is your website up-to-date does it easily explain everything you do? Do you have brochures to hand out on service calls? Do you have stickers to leave on equipment with your company’s name and pertinent information?
- Reach out to last year’s customers that decided not to move forward with a needed project, especially ones that should be completed before cooling season. Perhaps an attic exhaust fan that wasn’t in their budget last summer, or a change in return ductwork, or a whole-house humidifier. You probably have a few good customers that need an air balance, or maybe an electronic air cleaner or basement dehumidifier. This is an excellent time to get those types of projects done.
- If you have technicians needing any training or continued education hours for licensing, now is when people have more time to attend in-person classes and online webinars. Training on new equipment or procedures is very important as it makes your company more knowledgeable and you’ll have greater success diagnosing and fixing problems the first time.
- Now is also the time to update tools and equipment and take advantage of close-of-winter sales. Consider investing in new cordless drills, battery chargers, percussion drills, propress kits, and ladders before they’re in high demand.
About E.P. Homiek
E.P. Homiek Sheet Metal Fabrication & HVAC Supply, with two convenient locations in Lakewood, NJ and Union, NJ, provides one- to two-day turnaround on all residential and light commercial ductwork, as well as one- to two-hour emergency fabrication service, rapid delivery, and competitive prices. HVAC parts, supplies, and equipment lines include Goodman, Resideo/Honeywell, Bryant, Bradford White, Crown Boiler, Daikin, Weil-McLain, Sea Breeze, Generac, Fantech, ZM, A.O. Smith, Hart & Cooley, Malco, Mueller, York Commercial, and many more.
