Hardware Retailing The Industry's Source for Insights and Information
Installing or repairing an air conditioning unit is best left to the professionals, but your homeowner and DIY customers can still take steps to keep their equipment in working order. Here are some of the products you can sell in your HVAC department and tips you can share with customers to encourage regular maintenance.
Filters. One size does not fit all when it comes to filters, so encourage your customers to write down their filter size or bring in the old one. If you keep a database of customer information, you could include their filter size in that data, so you can easily look it up each time they come in to buy a replacement. Remind customers that a clean filter can make a big difference in the efficiency of their unit and save them money in the long run.
“By far the most sought after items in our HVAC department would be furnace filters,” says Evan White, mechanical department supervisor for PaulB Hardware. “We are known to stock plenty of filters so that you can either buy them one at a time or by the case if you are servicing an entire building.”
Cleaning products. Several manufacturers sell cleaning solutions specifically made to clean outdoor air conditioner coils. A simple solution of warm water and dish soap also works well, so consider merchandising dish soap with spray bottles near your HVAC products to remind customers of this important task.
Yard tools. While you might not think of adding yard tools to your HVAC offerings, rakes and gloves can be an essential part of air conditioner maintenance. Educate homeowners on keeping the area around their outside condenser unit free from debris like leaves and dirt to assure it can work properly.
