At one time or another, many New York City business people find themselves tasked with finding an HVAC service provider. Thiscan seem like an overwhelming assignment. While you certainly appreciate a comfortably heated and cooled building, how are you supposed to tell which heating and air conditioning service companies are any good?
You may have paid attention to the trucks you see around the neighborhood, and asked people you know for recommendations. You’ve probably done an internet search to see which HVAC service companies are the leading providers in your area. Beyond that, you may be at a loss about how to find a qualified and reliable company that can meet your needs.
A great way to evaluate the capabilities of an HVAC service company is by asking about the technology they use. Today’s leading providers use efficient automated tools to diagnose problems faster, keep accurate, detailed records about your equipment, manage their fleet to minimize delays, and streamline communication so you’re always in the loop with the information you need.
Today’s HVAC technician is equipped with more than just a tool bag. You’ll know the company is using the most efficient tools available if you see the tech carrying a tablet or wireless handheld device. Here are some of the capabilities provided by these tools, and how they improve service for you.
1. Improve diagnostic accuracy.
In the past, diagnosing an equipment problem meant taking a guess about the most likely cause, then trying one thing after another until the problem is found and fixed. Not only was this time consuming and expensive, but you would often have to call back the company for repeated visits to get to the bottom of an issue. Most NYC businesses can’t afford to have climate control problems that interrupt their work and even drive away customers. Luckily, today’s electronic diagnostic tools help technicians get it right the first time, so you can get back to business faster.
2. More easily detect performance issues.
Before the availability of performance diagnostic tools, you wouldn’t know that your system had a problem until there was an urgent symptom. Usually, that meant the system had failed and you had to wait, sometimes for days without heat or air conditioning, for a technician to get to you. Today, your technician can detect problems during routine preventative maintenance and fix them before you even know there was something wrong. The result: lower repair bills for you and fewer service outages.
3. Provide proof to you, the customer.
Now, there’s no need to wonder if you can trust the technician about what’s wrong with your system. He can easily show you the proof in the form of diagnostic reports. These reports can show what the normal readings should be as well as the actual readings from your system. When you establish a service contract and work with the same company over a period of time, you can even get reports that show how those readings have changed over time. This can be like a crystal ball that will tell you when it’s time for new equipment, rather than risking a failure that can disrupt your business and cost you a bundle.
4. Instant access to maintenance history.
A tech-savvy HVAC service company uses a database to record everything about your equipment and its maintenance history. This not only saves the technician time (which means he can fix your problem faster), but it saves you time as well. You no longer have to interrupt your work to look up the last time you changed the thermostat batteries or whether your air conditioning unit is still under warranty. Your technician has all the info he needs at his fingertips.
5. Access to parts availability.
If your furnace or air conditioner needs a new part, your tech can easily look up where to locate that part quickly and easily. You’ll no longer have to hear, “Well, I’ll have to get back to you in a couple of days once I find the part to fix this.” Your tech can see which warehouse has the part, and in most cases will be able to run over and pick it up right away.
6. Automated dispatching and fleet management.
If you’re like most people, you want to choose an HVAC service company that’s reliable. When you call with a problem, you want a technician to get to you in a hurry, and show up when they promise. Companies that use automated fleet management systems are better able to do that. Dispatchers track the location of every truck, so they can easily see who’s in your neighborhood and get the closest truck to you in a hurry.
7. More tech = lower costs for you.
You might think that using all this technology is expensive, and will result in higher charges for you. In fact, the opposite is true. When you choose a tech-savvy HVAC service company, you’ll often pay less due to the efficiencies these tools provide. They save the service provider money, so they save you money as well.
Choosing a new HVAC service provider doesn’t have to be a daunting task. To learn more about the vetting process and get tips about transitioning from your current provider, grab a copy of our free guide, Contract Confidence: Transitioning to a New HVAC Service Provider.
