RSI is a Great Training Option for Everyone
Learn more about how we can prepare you to advance your career.
Temperatures in some regions of the country will be much colder this winter compared to last year, predicts the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). While it would be ideal for customers to allow technicians to perform HVAC maintenance to keep heating equipment functioning efficiently and properly, most don’t know, so techs may be very busy this winter.
HVAC Demands by Region—North, Southeast, Southwest
Depending on region, demand for HVAC services tend to be higher in the winter. 1 2
North
Winter 2017 Forecast: AccuWeather predicts people living in the northeast will experience an extended cold and snowy winter season. The Northwest and Midwest will be 17 percent colder this winter than last. The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) expects an increase in fuel costs. Demand for HVAC repairs will be especially important in these areas because units will be working harder for longer periods of time.
How to Prepare
Get Started on the Path to a New Career
Fill out our form to learn how we can help you change your life.
- Depending on the temperature, contact customers reminding them to schedule heating system maintenance to ensure their equipment keeps them warm until spring. If it already too cold, this may be a good reminder for next year.
- Keep your business well staffed with technicians to meet the demand for service.
- Check that your service vehicles are ready for driving on icy, snowy roads. The last thing you want is having to leave customers freezing because your techs can’t get to them.
Southeast
Winter 2017 Forecast: Winter could sneak up on the Southeast, according to an AccuWeather meteorologist. People will enjoy above normal temperatures until January, when the jet stream shifts and cold air spreads across the eastern states. Southeastern states will be 18 percent colder this winter compared to last. Even parts of Florida may freeze. Business for HVAC contractors could get busy around this time.
How to Prepare
- As winter may be a little warmer in the beginning, people have been putting off or even forgetting about annual winter heating maintenance. If it stays mild a little longer, you might want to consider advertising to prompt them to schedule a system checkup before the weather turns colder.
- There may be a slowdown in service requests when the weather is milder. Offering specials on preventative maintenance calls may be a good way to keep technicians busy before the winter service season gets into full swing.
- It snows in some of the northern parts of the Southeast, so make sure your service vehicles are ready for slick, sleet-covered roads. 3
Southwest
Winter 2017 Forecast: Unlike the rest of the country, it will be warmer this winter in the southwestern states. Temperatures are predicted to be 2 percent higher this winter than last. Some HVAC companies may wonder if there will be less service calls.
How to Prepare:
- If your business is in an area with mild winters, you may want to consider offering discounts or promotions on annual winter preventative maintenance to keep your staff busy until the heat hits.
- Even if customers aren’t using their furnaces much, remind them that they should still be inspected to prevent carbon monoxide leaks. 4
- Since some major cities in the Southwest are located in areas of high elevation, make sure your service vehicles are equipped to handle steeper inclines.
Meeting HVAC Service Demands
Whether your goal after HVAC training is to work for a service company or open your own HVAC business, understanding the HVAC demands of your region can help you better meet your customers’ service needs.
Additional Sources
1 – https://www.energystar.gov/ia/partners/publications/pubdocs/HeatingCoolingGuide%20FINAL_9-4-09.pdf
2 – http://www.achrnews.com/articles/133680-hvac-contractors-brace-for-a-cold-long-winter
3 – https://www.currentresults.com/Weather/US/average-snowfall-by-state.php
4 – http://www.cdc.gov/co/faqs.htm
