Be a Service Superhero: Use Your 'POWERS' to the Utmost

April 1, 2011
Faster than a speeding dispatch call? More powerful than a 23 SEER system? Whatever your service super power might be, know that you’re a hero in the eyes of every customer — from the oldest, to the new 'orphan' who calls about no heat. Here are some articles to help you stay in super shape.

Of course, we know you're just humans, helping other humans. But even though you can't literally leap homes or tall buildings, when you receive a call from a customer in need, they're hoping you can do something similar, in more down-to-earth terms.

It's been a tough slog for the HVACR industry. But it's gratifying to find stories — literally, each and every day — of HVACR business owners who are successful and prospering.

It's because they're winners. They're action-oriented business owners who stuck their finger in the air and noticed that the wind was shifting . . . although, I know, it was pretty obvious after awhile. But, the fact remains, they didn't stand still.

They adapted, got leaner if necessary (but hopefully, will restore themselves to full employement numbers). They became smarter time managers, and squeezed every penny from a service call. They improved customer relations, and bought smarter from an inventory/vendor point of view.

We saw many of these contractors at HVAC Comfortech/HVACR Week 2010. Contractors flocked to the show in Baltimore to learn, learn, learn. They want bullets to bounce off those P&L statements. They want to continue to rank high on local service surveys. They want to be leaders in the various HVAC associations, such as ACCA or MSCA.

We expect to see more of the same from information hungry contractors at the next HVAC Comfortech/HVACR Week, in Indianapolis, Sept. 21-23; http://www.hvaccomfortech.com/. (By the way, will you be there?)

The articles assembled for this year's Focus on Service contains one of the best articles we've run recently on what goes into a super clean-and-check, by Vince DiFilippo.

Jim Parisi tells a story that highlights the importance of being a super-shopper when it comes to even the smallest system component. The Bryan Lee article on commissioning details why you must bring system commissioning to your customers. Our feature on dispatching software provides a look at some of the leading software HVAC contractors are using to get to calls faster and more efficiently, with the insight of a mind-reader regarding customer service history.

Finally, we look to the future — from the point-of-view of a very serious present day — to where the HVACR superheroes of tomorrow will be found. They won't be coming from Krypton, but from thousands of communities all across the U.S. And, it's the HVACR industry's job to find them.

We believe these articles on service will have value for you. They're not printed on super paper, so you can tear them out and share them.

We on the ContractingBusiness.com team appreciate the talent that makes the HVACR industry fly higher and faster, and we want each reader to be a service superhero, this year and beyond.

About the Author

Terry McIver | Content Director - CB

A career publishing professional, Terence 'Terry' McIver has served three diverse industry publications in varying degrees of responsibility since 1987, and worked in marketing communications for a major U.S. corporation.He joined the staff of Contracting Business magazine in April 2005.

As director of content for Contracting Business, he produces daily content and feature articles for CB's 38,000 print subscribers and many more Internet visitors. He has written hundreds, if not two or three, pieces of news, features and contractor profile articles for CB's audience of quality HVACR contractors. He can also be found covering HVACR industry events or visiting with manufacturers and contractors. He also has significant experience in trade show planning.