5 Ways HVAC Businesses Can Help Residents Cope With Pacific Northwest Heatwaves — and Thrive at the Same Time

Did you know, more than 600 people die from extreme heat in the US every year? That never used to be a significant issue in the Pacific Northwest though, especially in Seattle, as that whole area has traditionally experienced very mild temperatures. In fact, up until this year, official weather stations had only recorded three days that had exceeded 100F. As a result, many people living in Seattle and other areas of the Pacific Northwest have always prided themselves on not needing air conditioning.

But that is beginning to change.

June 2021 saw so many days of record-breaking temperatures in Seattle and surrounding areas. There has been a growing upward trend in temperature with the average number of days rising to 90 degrees having nearing doubled in just the last few years. And experts confidently predict that the Pacific Northwest is going to continue to experience more frequent heatwaves. This presents significant dangers for residents. Not only is dangerously hot weather going to be more frequent. But people in these areas are not acclimatized to such weather, and they’re not equipped to handle hot weather.

Obviously this presents a great opportunity for HVAC businesses in the Pacific Northwest.

More people in your area are going to be enquiring about air conditioner installation. And you can boost sales even more by proactively reaching out to residents with targeted advertising. Doing so will help you grow your business, and it could help save lives.

That’s a win-win situation.

Here’s how our experts recommend you make the most of this situation.

1. Streamline your operations

If you play your cards right, your business is going to continue to grow from now into the foreseeable future. That means you need to make sure your operations are in order, so you can efficiently serve all those new customers without falling in a heap.

We strongly recommend you:

• Set up standard procedures. Having a documented procedure in place for all the things you do means less room for error, your customers get a consistent and top-notch service, your staff never miss a task, all tasks can be completed more quickly, and it’s really easy to induct new staff.
• Automate manual processes. When you get an enquiry for the installation of a new air conditioning system, you’ll save heaps of time by having a rate card and a template for your estimates. Then you can simply fill in the template with the relevant details. And when the prospect approves your quotation, you should be able to mark the estimate as approved and have it automatically turned into a scheduled job. By the same token, all your invoicing and financial reporting should be automated. When you automate as much as possible, there are far fewer opportunities for errors and you have so much more time available to serve customers. Field services management software can automate all these tasks (and more) in one tool.
• Have a plan in place for scaling. As you grow your customer base, you’re inevitably going to need more staff. Now is the time to figure out how and when you’re going to hire those additional staff. For example, maybe you’ll hire a trainee when you’re consistently at 80% capacity, so they’re fully trained by the time you surpass 100% capacity.

2. Prepare educational content

The people coming to you for their first air conditioning system aren’t going to know much about the different options available to them or how the whole process of buying and installing a new system works. That means you’re going to get a lot of questions — and a lot of them are going to be very similar.

You’ll save yourself a lot of time and might even attract new customers if you’ve got answers to those questions ready. For example, consider writing a blog post about the different types of air conditioning units and how readers can choose the one that’s right for them. Then when someone asks you about their options, you can send them that information. And by putting that information on your blog as well, people searching for help choosing an air conditioning unit may come across your article and may then contact you to install the unit they eventually choose.

Other topics you might want to produce content about include:

• The best places to install air conditioners
• What size air conditioner to choose for a given space
• Should you buy an air conditioner and then choose an installer? Or should you choose an installer and get them to buy the air conditioner unit?

3. Reach out to residents and businesses in your area early

Everyone in the Pacific Northwest has been experiencing hotter than usual weather. But not everyone has seen the research that shows they’re likely to continue to get heatwaves in future years — many people still think things will go back to ‘normal’. You can help those people prepare by sending out flyers to homes (if you’re a residential installer) or businesses (if you’re a commercial installer) with summaries of the latest research.

You could also include tips on how to cope with hot weather, such as:

• Drink plenty of water throughout the day, even if you don’t feel thirsty
• Schedule outdoor activities for early morning and late evening when the temperature is cooler
• Wear loose, lightweight, light-colored clothing, sunscreen and a wide-brimmed hat
• Take cool showers or soak in cool baths to cool down
• Check on friends and neighbors and have someone do the same for you
• Never leave children or pets in a car
• Check the local news daily for health and safety updates
• Eat salads and other foods that don’t require cooking, so you don’t have to use your oven or stove

You can also include a note that the official advice from the CDC is that air conditioning is the number one way to protect yourself from heat-related illness and death. You might suggest that they invest in their health and safety and that of their family by installing an air conditioner. And while they’re organizing that, they can spend time in air conditioned public libraries and shopping centres.

4. Consider offering a discount for the elderly and low-income earners

Elderly people and other people with low incomes are most at risk of heat related illness and death because they often can’t afford to install an air conditioner. Even if they do have an air conditioner, they often can’t afford to maintain it properly. Sometimes they can’t afford the running costs.

You can help by offering a discount on air conditioner installation and maintenance packages. You could write to residents in retirement villages with your offer and also include information for them if they need help paying for the electricity needed to run an air conditioning unit. For instance, they might be eligible for Washington’s Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).

5. Consider offering a bulk discount

Part of your fees for every job are the costs associated with going to and from the job site. So, if you can install air conditioners in several appartments or units from the same block, you’ll save on travel time and costs. Why not take advantage of that by reaching out to everyone in specific blocks of apartments and units to offer a bulk discount if several residents request installations. That will enable you to offer lower fees at no cost to you, which is great for their pocket and could be enough to win sales that might otherwise have gone to competitors.

Bonus resource

To help you with your advertising, here’s a template you can customise with your business details.

Bonus template

Dear Resident

Did you know, more than 600 people die from extreme heat in the US every year?

That never used to be a problem here in the Pacific Northwest . But the science is in and it shows that the heatwaves we’ve been experiencing over the last few years are here to stay.

Here are some easy, free things you can do to stay safe during hot weather:

• Drink plenty of water throughout the day, even if you don’t feel thirsty
• Schedule outdoor activities for early morning and late evening when the temperature is cooler
• Wear loose, lightweight, light-colored clothing, sunscreen and a wide-brimmed hat
• Take cool showers or soak in cool baths to cool down
• Check on friends and neighbors and have someone do the same for you
• Never leave children or pets in a car
• Check the local news daily for health and safety updates
• Eat salads and other foods that don’t require cooking, so you don’t have to use your over or stove

However, the CDC says the most important and most effective thing you can do to prevent you or your loved ones getting sick or dying from hot weather, is to stay in air conditioned buildings.

If you’re like most people in our area though, you don’t have an air conditioner.

You can go to a library or shopping centre during the day, but that doesn’t help you on a hot night. So, investing in a central cooling system is a really important way of safeguarding you and your family.

Here at , . Give us a call on or visit our website to organize for us to install a new cooling system in your home.

If you’re worried about how much it will cost to run central air conditioning, go to https://www.commerce.wa.gov/growing-the-economy/energy/low-income-home-energy-assistance/ to see if you’re eligible for help paying your electricity bills. We also offer a on installation and maintenance packages for low income earners.

Get in touch now, so you’re ready for the next heatwave!