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The common practice of trying to get a bargain at any price causes me to wonder: In our world of auctions and reverse auctions, just how cheap is too cheap? Within the HVAC business, perhaps the most notorious of offenders in the buy-it-cheap world is a common weekly event otherwise known as commercial bid day.

Dry up houses before sealing; not the real world.

The New Horizons Foundation, an HVAC and Sheet Metal initiative, with its original funding from the Sheet Metal And Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association (SMACNA), is involved in its most comprehensive study to date. The purpose of this study, called “Identifying Alternative Futures,” is to attempt to get an idea of what the HVAC and metal industry will look like 10 years from now, in 2017.

There are many external factors that have an impact on HVAC contractors’ businesses. Are there some things, besides weather, that can’t be overlooked and need to be addressed? Or is it better to concentrate on the core business and not worry about things beyond your control? That’s a tough question.

Choose to make investments for the industry’s future; make products easy to use.

Money may attract people to the front door, but something else keeps them from going out the exit. Although many people claim they are quitting for a better paying job elsewhere, survey after survey shows that a lack of appreciation and recognition is a primary reason why people quit their jobs.

Consequences of affording to repair vs. replace; working together, not separately.

Fortunately, many of the contractors I’ve met and interviewed have been happy to share some business tips with me and NEWS’ readers because they are proud of their achievements and want other (usually noncompetitive) HVAC contractors to get some good ideas about their business. The ultimate goal of this spirit of cooperation is to raise the professionalism of the HVAC contracting trade. Everybody wins. With that in mind, The NEWS is rolling out a new promotion that will ensure several winners.

Is SEER driving HSPF down for heat pumps?

At SkillsUSA, the industry members involved are showing support for the young people coming into the industry. I would hope those young people appreciate this, and realize that such support (ongoing training and troubleshooting help) is available from manufacturers and associations for as long as they are in the industry.