The ASHRAE Show returned to Chicago this year. You’ve probably already read reviews by the professional writers in this paper and have also seen the statistics regarding record attendance, booths, etc. That said, I don’t believe I saw a large number of HVAC contractors at the show. I can understand, to some degree. Many, if not most, of the products displayed are not those purchased directly by contractors. As a result, a contractor may have to look carefully to find products or services that may benefit his or her business. Since I suspect many of you contractors were not in attendance, I thought I would share some things I believe would be of interest to you.
In particular, two things stood out to me. The first is the amount of technology that has entered our part of the industry. Wi-Fi thermostats were everywhere. While they often specialized in different features, it’s clear that smart thermostats are the way of the future, just as smartphones have become the norm. Interestingly, we’ve found in our company that more and more customers are requesting these high-technology thermostats, while, at the same time, we are finding a much higher service-call factor to help customers understand how to use these new devices. From a contractor standpoint, I think the important thing is to educate your people on what is available, and make sure they are trained in the proper operation of the models you choose.