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Ignite Your Sales with Stories

Posted: January 21, 2026

Fixing a furnace might be a one-time job. Connecting with your customer? That’s what generates business for years to come.

There’s no doubt: technical skill gets you in the door, but storytelling sets you apart.

In a crowded market, customers don’t always remember who had the lowest price. They remember who made them feel confident in their decision. And that’s where storytelling comes in.

Service providers who can tell a good story are far more likely to be remembered when a customer is deciding who to call. Why? Because people retain up to 22 times more information when it’s delivered as a story instead of a list of facts.

That matters in HVAC.

Technicians are used to explaining equipment, efficiency ratings, parts and procedures.

The problem is that customers don’t think like technicians. They think emotionally. Storytelling — especially when it includes emotion — connects with the left side of the brain and helps drive purchasing deci

Heat Pump Troubleshooting 101: Your Winter Survival Guide

Posted: December 30, 2025

When the temps tank and customers start calling because their house just turned into a walk-in freezer, heat pump season officially begins.
And if you’re in the HVAC trenches, you know heat pumps love to act up at the absolute worst time: early morning, late night or right when you’ve finally sat down with a plate of something warm. So here’s a winter survival guide, packed with the must-check steps that’ll help you troubleshoot heat pump issues fast and keep the callbacks to a minimum.

Start with the Simple Stuff (Seriously)

Look, even pros get burned by the basics. So before you dive elbows-deep into a system:

Is the thermostat set correctly?
Are the breakers on?
Are the filters clear?
Was the outdoor unit buried under six inches of last night’s snow?

A clogged filter or iced-over condenser can make a perfectly fine heat pump look like it’s ready for hospice care. So kn

When Discussing Efficiency Upgrades, the HERS Index Helps

Posted: December 03, 2019

How low can your HVAC work go?

Quality home performance contracting and HVAC work involve plenty of measurement and verification.

So what’s one more metric?

In this case, the HERS Index is more for the general public’s consumption, as opposed to, say, a static pressure reading. Homeowners, and perhaps especially home shoppers, can use a HERS rating to compare current conditions and get a sense for likely energy costs or possible upgrade priorities.

The HERS Index scale is a little different than most. A score of 100 means a home is dead-on average in its energy efficiency. (“Average” reflects the performance of a RESNET reference home, a “designed-model home of the same size and shape” as the home in question. RESNET is the industry body that oversees the HERS Index in the U.S. Its longer-term goal is a net-zero residential sector by 2040.)

So a home can score over 100, but not in a good way. A

Four Ways HVAC Professionals Can Own Heating Season

Posted: October 16, 2019

Tags: heating

Heating season is a critical time for homeowners when it comes to achieving ideal indoor temps. It also presents a unique opportunity for your business to strategically get ahead of customers’ comfort needs.

A recent Trane survey found that most homeowners aren’t taking the appropriate steps to prevent an HVAC breakdown, like scheduling bi-annual professional service checks, nor are they familiar with the average lifespan of their unit. And with so many systems out there, knowing the “right” solution can be a daunting decision.

As a seasoned HVAC professional, you can leverage your industry expertise to help homeowners determine the best heating plan and help them stay warm and toasty while ensuring long term cost- and energy-savings.

Residential Heating Showcase 2018: New Residential Heating Equipment for the Most Discerning Homeowners Numerous options available to keep warm this winter

Posted: November 07, 2018

Tags: heating

Numerous options available to keep warm this winter

Every year, The NEWS introduces the latest heating equipment that is available for the upcoming winter season. The intent is to help contractors prepare for this busy period by doing the research that will help them to distinguish between brands.

Like last year, this year’s Heating Showcase is split into two parts — residential and commercial. The residential/light commercial information is published in this issue, and the commercial products will be featured in the Oct. 1 issue. Included in the coverage is feature-specific information about each individual product that was submitted by the manufacturers.

OWN THE HOME with Smart Home Products and Services

Posted: October 15, 2018

Tags: thermostats

Consumers nowadays can't turn on the TV without seeing commercials for smart home products like Google Home or Amazon Echo. In turn, these trending voice-controlled digital assistants have helped raise consumer awareness of other home automation products, such as smart, connected thermostats. In fact, the global smart home automation market is expected to reach $130 billion by 2025, according to a report by Grand View Research Inc.

A More Energy Efficient Hot Water System

Posted: May 09, 2018

Tags: hot water heaters

Who really wants to think about a hot water heater?! It’s best out of sight and out of mind. That is, until the hot water runs out.

When it’s time to replace a water heater, consider a product that is environmentally friendly and offers lower energy costs. An indirect water heater is one of the most energy-efficient, low-cost water heaters on the market.

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Cleanliness Protection for the Drain Pan

Posted: February 12, 2018

Tags: cooling

ADP Indoor Cooling Products

Protection ADP manufactures the only indoor cooling equipment featuring Microban® antimicrobial product protection. Microban protection is a unique feature that inhibits the growth of mold and mildew on the drain pan within your evaporator coil. Why does it matter? Just like air filters provide protection against dust, pollen and allergens in your home, Microban technology provides added protection against the build-up of mold and mildew within your system. ADP is a system upgrade to help you breathe easy.<!

Is Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) more important in the winter?

Posted: November 08, 2017

Tags: indoor air quality

Homes are designed to keep heat inside during the winter. In addition, most people make an extra effort to seal out the cold by adding extra insulation and filling any cracks that may cause drafts. By doing this, they are also sealing out fresh air. This lack of fresh air increases the concentration of both allergens and pollutants in the home and lowers the indoor air quality. According to the EPA, poor winter indoor air quality can contribute to respiratory conditions such as asthma.