Connect the Dots – Creating the Perfect HVAC Technician

Q: Observing your technicians install my new boiler, they made it look easy like solving a maze. Training or talent?

A: Both. You never know where inherent, natural talent, or a predisposition comes from, but almost without exception, any great HVAC tech probably enjoyed “connect the dots” as a kid. Early childhood education comes in many forms and its positive influence on one’s creativity and burgeoning interest cannot be overstated. Sadly, our society either fails to appreciate it or understand its importance. Kids are sponges with all their senses on full receptor mode. This amazing power can be focused with amazing life changing results, left to languish in front of a computer screen/TV, or destroyed altogether by not allowing this creative process to play out. We all were raised somewhere along the bell curve in this respect, but sometimes this varied exposure to play and exploration can create the perfect HVAC technician.

       Our weekly training meetings at AirWorks do not have us all practicing connect the dots, we literally do that every day. Take your boiler system as a good example; there is hot water out of the boiler and cooler water returning, how hard could that be? Our task is to sort out the numerous paths the water must flow and with which thermostat, and at what temperature, and at just the right flow rate. Point A to point B, and then C, D, E, F, G, etc. A well designed hydronic piping diagram is a thing of beauty and remarkably has similarities to what was being drawn way back in Mrs. Smith’s kindergarten class (everybody thought it was a squarish kind of dinosaur). It’s never to early to get those kiddos into pump curves and pressure drop calculations.

      Making these connections is certainly not limited to boilers, as the ductless heat pumps and air conditioners we do most everyday all require that “concept to completion” mindset to get most of our installs completed in a day. Ducting on the other hand makes those connections, just not so fast and clean. On our service side of the business, it wouldn’t be any fun if we couldn’t make the connections between what should be working, and what is stopping it from doing so. All HVAC systems have some sort of sequence of operation. Figuring that out and completing the circuit has us off and running, but not without connecting the dots first. Life is but a game (or was it a dream)?

       On the sales side of things, our connection with Daikin ductless products means their $450.00 rebate on any of their multi-head systems applies to our installs and can’t be beat. They also have $225.00 off any single head system. Despite it being a bit warmer out, don’t forget about the great big deal from Northwestern Energy. To replace your old boiler with a high efficiency model they write YOU a check for $750.00. They also send you a check for $450.00 to replace your old 80% or less furnace with a new high efficiency model. As with all good things, these amazing rebates end June 30th. Connect those dots by dialing (406) 630-4170 for an estimate or service call by one of our wonderful AirWorks technicians and have a wonderful memorial weekend.