insights

Purchasing a new HVAC system for your home or business certainly requires consideration of the financial aspect, but how much consideration should be given to how well the system is actually going to contribute to your comfort?  Wouldn’t you also agree that value is derived not only from saving money on the initial purchase, but equally so by achieving ideal comfort day in and day out, no matter the season?

In a previous Blog, “Getting an HVAC Quotation”, we discussed how the salesperson’s proposal and presentation should be structured to insure that you, the customer, are getting clear details with respect to the money you are being asked to spend.  Well in this article we want to educate you about how the salesperson should be working with you to understand how you utilize your space, how comfortable you are presently, and what you might want to see change for the better with your investment in a new HVAC system.

By now you may be asking, “How do the questions the salesperson asks going to make a difference to my comfort?”

Well I’m glad you asked.  Giving customers value is so much more than just making sure they get the right sized equipment installed.  It’s as much, if not more, about asking them what does and does not work to their satisfaction within their current system.  There could be any number of things that a customer could potentially share with the salesperson, if the right questions are asked.

Some examples of these questions are as follows:

– Are there areas/rooms in your home that aren’t as comfortable as other parts of the home?

– Would you say that between your basement and main floor, and between your main and second floors, that there is a noticeable difference in temperature?

– If your answer to question 2 is yes, would you say it’s worse during the heating or cooling season?

– Do you run your furnace fan all the time?

– Are you a light sleeper and any type of sound, no matter how low, might potentially bother you? In other words, how important is it to you that the system is as quiet as possible?

– Is humidity a problem in the home?

– Would you say the problem is a lack of humidity or too much, and are there different times throughout the year when the answer to this question could be yes either way?

– Do the people in the home all have similar schedules, or is there anyone in the household that works shift work and therefore may be home sleeping when everyone else is otherwise gone for the day?

– Are there any future plans to add onto the home, and if so how substantial an addition would you be considering?

– If there is one or two particular items about your current system you would like to see improved as a minimum, what would they be?

By now you should be getting the idea that the person consulting with you about how you experience comfort in your home, is really trying to understand where your pain points are.  A good salesperson is listening for the things that could impact the system options that they are planning to present to you and how these options could address the issues you’re experiencing?

Some issues are inherent to practices and poor workmanship that may have been utilized by the builder during construction, or by a previous homeowner during a renovation. Poorly sized and assembled ducting at the time of construction. Or the removal of walls during a renovation with little or no regard for the rerouting of return air chases or supply air duct runs. While some new systems have the potential to overcome some of these flaws, they are not miracle systems. However understanding and properly assessing these issues will allow the salesperson to set realistic and attainable outcomes for you to consider.

Also, a great deal of issues that occupants express as problems with their comfort, can be overcome by simply introducing some equipment that have features such as variable speed blowers and multi stage capacities (see our Blog on Multi Stage Equipment to understand this better).

Saving money on the initial purchase is a considerable factor, but what is money saved if the new system doesn’t work any better than what you had.  Or worse, it falls short of what you had and now your new system doesn’t perform as well as what you paid to have removed.  Where is the value in that?

For customers seeking a more in depth approach to insuring that they get value from their investment in new HVAC equipment, look no further than Taunton Trades Ltd.

Proudly serving communities of Durham Region (Pickering, Ajax, Whitby, Oshawa, Courtice, Bowmanville, Newcastle, Port Perry and Uxbridge) for the last decade!

We keep you cool when it’s hot, and warm when it’s not!