Arkansas HVACR NewsMagazine January 2026

HVACR NewsMagazine January 2026

Energy Talk

Questions for the customer First order of business is talking with the occupant. You are an expert, and you need information. The consumer is most often hoping the fix is quick and inexpensive so you may have to encourage the conversation. It may be wise to have a script to follow with the appropriate line of questioning. This will avoid asking questions that are misleading or discouraging. If your company holds with only dropping boxes, you are leaving money on the table and poor performing homes in circulation. Gross margins are a minimum of 20% more on renovation work compared to HVAC sales due to lower material cost. Significant information There are items that can help quickly identify what to expect and whether the data we receive is valid. Your eyes are the most valuable tool in the toolbox. Once you wrap your mind around simple concepts, your eyes will call out necessary corrections automatically. In past discussions we have pointed out the necessity of relational sizing. Poster board is a very inexpensive product that will allow us to relate to required surface area for required air flow during training. A target for velocity through filter media of 300 fpm keeps us aware commonly sized grilles are very inadequate.

At arrival on a job site, it is advisable to get a general idea of home size, number of floors layout, condition and materials can all be hints of what to expect. Get used to checking venting from the street if visible. Many opportunities are missed by failing to recognize issues from outside. Partner with other firms that offer everything from getting rid of pests, to companies that repair or replace siding and roofing companies .

Rusty vent outside indicates earlier draft failure and poor cap design as replacement.

Once inside identify indoor equipment locations. Make sure you identify all pieces of equipment and match them to the appropriate zone. Many consumer misunderstandings can be avoided by