Sometimes we can get caught up in HVAC jargon and end up with some blank stares from customers. Inspired by Ron Smith's book, HVAC Spells Wealth, I wanted to share some common HVAC terms and their small but impactful tweaks to impart in your business culture.
Industry term: contract
What to say instead: agreement
Contracts sound more intimidating than agreements. Why get lawyers and lawsuits involved? Keeping the terms agreeable will help ease customers' hesitations when signing.
Industry term: probation period
What to say instead: training
Many places, not just in the HVAC industry, have a probationary period of 60 or 90 days. No one wants to be on probation and feel like one wrong move will get them fired. A training period gives you and your employees the feeling of getting to know each other while they are learning.
Industry term: check
What to say instead: clean, adjust, balance
What do you mean by "check?" Will you just look at these things, or will you be doing something in addition to looking? Being clear about what action you'll take is important for service agreements so there's no confusion as to the work you'll be doing.
Industry term: helper
What to say instead: technician
Leave the helpers at preschool. Either you're working as an installer or a service technician.