HVAC

HVAC technicians or contractors are well-trained professionals who are experts in everything HVAC. They are well versed in every component inside the HVAC system. Besides, for HVAC repair or maintenance tasks, they follow the proper guidelines and handle the HVAC unit very cautiously.

But should you consider hiring an HVAC contractor or do DIY for HVAC repairs?

1.   Follows Strict Protocols During HVAC Cleaning

HVAC systems are complicated and need to be handled cautiously. When you hire a novice HVAC technician or handyman who doesn’t have enough experience handling an HVAC unit, he will likely damage the HVAC system. On the flip side, when you hire an expert HVAC contractor, he strictly follows the HVAC cleaning protocols.

For example, for cleaning the outside AC unit, an experienced HVAC contractor will first disconnect the cooling system. Then if there is debris in the cooling unit, he will clean them. After that, he will clean the AC fins and coils. When the HVAC contractor cleans the AC fins and coils, he will straighten the AC fins and level the HVAC unit. Similarly, there are protocols for cleaning the parts inside the AC unit.

When the protocols are followed strictly, there is zero risk of damaging your HVAC unit. But a person who doesn’t have experience in handling HVAC systems doesn’t know this HVAC cleaning protocol. As a result, if that person tries to clean the HVAC system, it can cause severe damage to the HVAC system. This is why for HVAC cleaning, you should never DIY. Instead, it is advised to hire an HVAC contractor to clean the unit.

2.   Fast & Reliable HVAC Service

HVAC contractors are well versed in the HVAC unit. They undergo extensive training, and most professional HVAC contractors have an HVAC license. Having an HVAC license indicates that you know the ins and out of an HVAC unit and can handle any type of issue. Besides, an HVAC contractor has all the necessary tools to repair an AC or furnace.

On the flip side, when you hire a regular repairman, they don’t have the required tool to handle the HVAC unit. As a result, at first, they will have to collect all the required tools and start working later. But this will take a lot of time and make the HVAC repair or maintenance process less efficient.

This is why if you want efficient, quick, and reliable HVAC service, you must call an HVAC contractor or technician.

3.   Helps Increase HVAC Efficiency

Over time, HVAC units start to lose their efficiency and have wear and tear. But HVAC efficiency can be increased by regular maintenance. Here, an HVAC contractor will help you out.

A professional HVAC contractor knows which type of repair to do to keep the HVAC system efficiency at an optimum level. On the other hand, a regular repairman won’t know what to do to increase efficiency. As a result, he will suggest random AC or furnace repairs. But these repairs are of no use. That is why for the correct type of HVAC service, you must hire a professional HVAC technician or contractor.

4.   Does Home Evaluation

When using an HVAC unit, you will have to factor in your home’s condition and size. Without proper home evaluation, you will have issues such as hot and cold spots, inefficient cooling, high energy bills, etc. However, you can avoid these issues by hiring an HVAC contractor.

An HVAC contractor not only looks after the HVAC system but also evaluates your home’s condition. For example, if you are planning to purchase a new air conditioning unit, you will first have to consider the size of the room. Because if you purchase an AC with less or more capacity than the actual demand, you won’t get the desired comfort.

Besides, ventilation plays a key role in keeping your house comfortable, and without proper home evaluation, correct ventilation design is not possible.

Measuring the room size, ventilation design, calculating the HVAC capacity, etc., may sound a bit complicated. But when you hire an HVAC contractor, he will do all these and provide you with the best HVAC solution.

5.   HVAC Insurance

Mistakes can happen during a repair, and if the component isn’t covered by insurance, you will have to pay from your own pocket. But when you hire an HVAC contractor, you won’t have to worry about it at all because most HVAC contractors have HVAC insurance coverage. As a result, if there is a need for additional repairs, HVAC insurance will cover those costs. But when you hire a handyman, they usually don’t have such HVAC insurance. Thus, if it requires additional repairs, you will have to pay for it.

Conclusion

For HVAC cleaning or regular maintenance, always call an HVAC contractor. Besides, when it comes to an HVAC unit, you should never rely on DIY methods. Because sometimes, DIY ways are not effective and cause more harm than good to the HVAC system.

Making your employees happy should be a top priority for any business owner. After all, they are the lifeblood of your company! If you want to keep them motivated and productive, you need to make sure that your work environment is pleasant and comfortable. In this blog post, we will discuss four additions that you can make to your business building in order to improve the working conditions for your employees.

A Comfortable Break Room

A place where employees can relax and take a break from their work is a must-have in any business building. Make sure that your break room is furnished with comfortable furniture and has enough space for everyone to enjoy. If you don’t have a dedicated break room, consider setting up an area in the office where employees can take breaks. This can be a small corner with a few chairs and a coffee machine or even just a couple of bean bags in a quiet area. Employees will appreciate having somewhere to unwind during their workday. And speaking of coffee machines, make sure that your office has one! Coffee is essential for many people’s productivity, so make it available and convenient for your employees.

Natural Light

Natural light is important for people’s health and well-being, so try to incorporate it into your office space as much as possible. If you have a window in your office, make sure that there is no obstruction blocking the light. If you don’t have any windows, consider installing some skylights or bringing in some plants that can absorb natural light. Your employees will appreciate being able to work in a bright and airy space. And studies have shown that natural light can improve productivity, so it’s a win-win for everyone!

HVAC System

A good HVAC system is crucial for a comfortable work environment. Make sure that your office building has a high-quality system that can keep the temperature and humidity at a comfortable level. This will ensure that your employees are not too hot or too cold and that they don’t have to deal with any stuffiness. Your HVAC system should be serviced regularly to ensure that it is working properly. And if you live in an area with extreme temperatures, consider investing in a backup system in case of power outages or other problems. Make sure that the HVAC services your business needs are taken care of so that your employees can be comfortable at work. Your employees will thank you for a comfortable work environment, and they will be more productive as well!

Quiet Areas

Not everyone enjoys working in a noisy environment. Some people need some peace and quiet in order to focus on their work. If you have employees who prefer to work in silence, make sure that there are some quiet areas in your office where they can go. This can be a small room with soundproof walls or just an area away from the main work area where people can go to concentrate. Employees will appreciate having somewhere to escape the noise when they need to get some work done. And if you have employees who do enjoy working in a more lively environment, make sure that there is also space for them to do so! A mix of both quiet and loud areas will accommodate everyone’s needs and preferences.

There are many things that you can do to make your office more comfortable for your employees. By taking some simple steps, you can create a working environment that is pleasant and productive. Your employees will thank you for it!

Like many others in the plumbing industry, Chase Wenger started out on the weekends helping his dad, who is co-owner (with Chase’s uncle) of C.V. Wenger Inc., Chambersburg, Pa. “When I was a kid, I hated cleaning the house so I would leap at any chance to go to work with my dad. We’d stop for gas, and he’d buy me a soda and a candy bar, and we’d ride around to jobs and spend the day together,” says Wenger. “Those are some of my fondest memories,” recalls Wenger. “I put my first boiler in with my dad when I was in elementary school, and from that point on I was hooked.”

Chase owes a lot to his dad, uncle and grandfather—who started the company in 1954—who all become mentors in some fashion. “They taught me to do the best I can no matter what, to be resourceful, and to think outside the box, while always encouraging me to learn more,” says Wenger.

In addition, Dan Holohan is a huge mentor for Wenger as well, even if he doesn’t know it. “I recall telling him one time about a steam system I put in from scratch, he shook my hand and told me, ‘Congratulations, that automatically makes you 65 years older kid, great job.’”

Wenger likes to think that that every tradesman he’s ever met/worked with was a mentor, continuously trying to learn something new from everyone he meets. Although he fondly recalls shakily holding the flashlight for his dad as a young boy’s mind wandered around almost as much as the flashlight beam, searching through the truck for the 5th time for that screwdriver he’s sure he left back there. “If you want to keep a kid indisposed for a bit, just assign them a mission they can’t complete if you have that one thing they’re searching for hidden in your toolbox. LOL,” says Wenger.

Moving on Up

Chase made his way to washing trucks and stocking shelves, eventually moving on to help with installs. Then one especially busy day, a lead guy didn’t come to work. “I was instantly upgraded to a full-fledged tech/plumber. As I learned more, I decided I needed to get my Masters Plumber License. From that point on, I started to design my own systems in addition to installing them,” says Wenger.

And while Wenger’s official title of Supervisor/Lead Field Foreman has him lead larger projects—from commercial to residential—from both installation and service work, as well as troubleshooting and tech support roles for other technicians, one of the most rewarding things to me is helping out someone in need, whether it’s replacing a broken well pump, resolving his/her water quality problems or restoring a customer’s heat in the dead of winter. “Although, making a customer’s dirty, brown-stained, sulfur-smelling water into delicious crystal clear water is especially satisfying for me,” says Wenger.

Wenger also enjoys replacing old worn-out systems—wells, water systems, drainage systems, heating/air conditioner systems, etc.—with new efficient ones while cleaning them up and generally making them better all around.

Wenger’s main specialty is well pumps, water treatment, excavation, in addition to regular service/install work with anything the company offers. Oh, and by the way, Wenger is also a licensed Master Electrician, HVAC tech, and he runs a sheet metal shop.

But with all hard work comes some play time, right? “It’s always a tricky balance, but you just need to set specific boundaries and make time to do the things you want to do.” For Wenger, kayaking, reading, spending time with my family and friends is time well spent. A bucket list item? “Definitely kayaking over more waterfalls, or trying wing-suiting in Scandinavia.

Moving the Industry Forward

Moving forward, the industry needs to continue to eliminate the stereotype of the plumber as an unclean, uneducated worker would be a good start, says Wenger. Also, “We need to showcase how rewarding/satisfying the profession/industry is, offering education/training. A lot of people dislike working on things that they don’t completely understand, and paying them what they’re worth,” says Wenger.

Social media has helped the trades’ image problem. “It’s definitely helped me meet others in the trade, well beyond my regular service area,” says Wenger. “I’ve learned a lot from seeing how others do things and talking with them. I like to think everyone can teach you something in life—even if it’s simply what not to do.”

In the end, it’s about passing the torch. “I tend to forget that I’m not the new guy anymore, even after 15 years. I certainly hope I can be a role model for others both in the trade, and those considering joining this marvelous trade, and any other trade out there. It’s a wonderful career to have,” says Wenger.

Salary guides provide detailed breakdown of earnings across the HVAC, plumbing, roofing, cleaning, electrician, handiwork, landscaping, and painting industries

Jobber, the leading provider of home service management software, today announced the launch of comprehensive salary guides to help home service entrepreneurs hire and retain the right people to grow their home service business and scale operations. Jobber’s salary guides outline salary information for the HVAC, plumbing, roofing, cleaning, electrician, handiwork, landscaping, and painting industries. Guides feature easy-to-read graphics that display average salaries organized by state, years of experience, and title.

With job openings outpacing qualified candidates in many home service industries, hiring and retaining employees have become major challenges. The fierce competition has left many home service entrepreneurs with questions about what qualifies as a fair salary for employees in today’s market. Jobber’s salary guides are designed to address these questions and provide home service leaders with the information they need to grow their teams.

“When home service companies expand their teams, they strengthen their communities by providing meaningful local job opportunities and the training and skill development needed to build lifelong careers,” said Sam Pillar, CEO & co-founder of Jobber. “Our salary guides are just one of the ways Jobber is helping to equip home service businesses with the resources and tools they need to compete with large organizations and achieve success.”

A few highlights from the salary guides include:

Average Annual Salary for Experienced Roles by Industry:

• HVAC Service Manager: $72,899
• Journeyman Plumber: $56,054
• Experienced Roofer: $50,558
• Experienced Cleaner: $35,299
• Journeyman Electrician: $58,180
• Experienced Handyman: $66,086
• Experienced Landscaper: $41,553
• Industrial Painter: $40,598

Average Hourly Rates by Industry:

• HVAC Technician: $20.29
• Plumber: $22.64
• Roofer: $17.95
• Cleaner: $12.58
• Electrician: $23.00
• Handyman: $24.30
• Landscaper: $14.62
• Painter: $17.00

Data for Jobber’s salary guides was sourced from Payscale, the world’s largest salary database made up of more than 65 million salary profiles and 15,000 job titles.

To learn more about Jobber’s salary guides, visit https://getjobber.com/resources/salary-guides/. For additional resources around hiring best practices and other management best practices, visit https://academy.getjobber.com/.