Convince Clients to Improve Their HVAC Systems

Monitoring indoor air quality and addressing issues promptly are vital for growing businesses, especially those with brick-and-mortar locations. This underscores the importance of keeping clients' heating, ventilation and air conditioning, or HVAC, system maintenance up to date.

To encourage them to keep their HVAC systems in solid working order, you can provide helpful content and personalized maintenance tips that may benefit their business for years to come. Here's how to get started.

Address maintenance needs

Recurring maintenance visits and follow-up calls are good ways to educate clients on the state of their systems and the importance of upgrades. They also may not know about potential benefits like boosting HVAC energy efficiency.

Here are some common upgrades and repairs clients can make to ensure their systems are running smoothly.

• Improve filtration. Replace older filters or upgrade to high-efficiency particulate air, or HEPA, filters to remove airborne particles and enhance air quality.
• Energy-efficient upgrades. Replacing a permanent split-capacitor fan motor with an electronically commutated motor may improve efficiency and save energy—and money.
• Fix ductwork for leaks and other damage. Secure seals and add more insulation to reduce waste.
• Expand the system. Cover new additions to the business space and improve air supply coverage.
• Add a programmable thermostat. Make it easier to control temperature and turn off the system when not in use.
• Install dehumidification capabilities. Remove moisture to improve overall comfort.

A client's system may need to be replaced entirely, which can be expensive. To help them justify this investment, discuss the long-term benefits of an HVAC upgrade.

Prioritize health and wellness

Americans spend 90% of their time indoors, where the concentrations of some pollutants are often two to five times higher than typical outdoor concentrations. HVAC systems may help keep employees and customers from getting sick because they continue to reduce the spread of airborne illnesses. This may also create lasting health benefits, which can help improve retention.

Save energy

Highlighting the potential cost savings from HVAC maintenance and upgrades can help convince clients to reassess their needs. High-quality systems use less fuel and energy, which is a welcome relief from the high price of gas and electricity. Even adding a programmable thermostat can help reduce costs during off hours instead of having a system that runs constantly.

A newer HVAC system is also less likely to break down, reducing annual maintenance costs. Outdated systems or even equipment shortages can also cost thousands of dollars and may not fully resolve the issue.

Fortunately, if your clients own their building, an HVAC upgrade could help them qualify for eco-friendly tax breaks while also increasing property value.

Improve employee retention

Poor air quality, inconsistent temperatures and a noisy HVAC system can keep employees distracted, stressed and uncomfortable to the point of considering a new job. An HVAC system upgrade can help create an environment where they're more comfortable and can focus on their work.

Little improvements like these can help businesses keep their staff happy and may improve employee retention, which is vital at a time when there's plenty of competition for talent.

The bottom line

When making the case for an HVAC system upgrade, the key is tying it to your clients' long-term profits and success. By communicating this clearly, you can more likely convince them to invest in system maintenance and upgrades.