Just a little rant on HVACR emergency service calls
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I'm just leaving the house it's Friday at 4:45 p.m. in the afternoon just got home about 4 o'clock, and then I just got an emergency service home. It kind of reminded me of something just kind of made me think about what this trade does to us. This trade can be hard on us as technicians.
This trade can be physically demanding. It can break our bones. It can emotionally drag you down, but it can also be rewarding. It can be fulfilling to be able to be the person that people want to come out and fix their equipment, whether it be residential air conditioning, refrigeration, restaurant refrigeration, anything it could be frustrating but, like I said it can also be rewarding this.
This service call that I just got just reminded me, because there was a time probably two and a half three years ago, when I was in kind of a dark place going through some anxiety and anger issues and whatnot with life in general, that a service call Like this would make me angry this service call, would stress me out, irritate me and every time, so I would get the service paw and then I'd call the manager back and say hey. So I say that you guys have a service call what's going on and then they say. Oh my walk-in freezers down, and I say: oh okay, cool, hey whoa. What what's going on? When did it start happening? When did you notice that oh well, I noticed it.
This morning about 9 o'clock - and I thought maybe it was just in defrost, so I decided to wait seven hours and then call you when you got home at the end of your day. That would frustrate the heck out of me, but guess what no matter? How frustrated I got that same service call would come every Friday, where every Thursday or every Wednesday night, with the same response, and so I stopped getting angry. I realized that my anger was my own doing, because this is the business. This is what we do.
This is life in general, come on thrilled. Oh, that sounds kind of corny, but it's life happens. You can be positive about things. You can be negative about things.
Yes, I got a service call at 4:45 in the afternoon. Yes, I just got home a half an hour ago after a long day, but guess what? If I don't answer that service call, someone else, will the next company will and guess what they won't call me again, because I didn't answer it last time. Think about that. For a minute, they won't call you again what feeds you, what puts food on your table? What fills your bank account? Your customers, you're in business, you're a technician, you're a service technician whatever you are an owner, a technician any of it you're there as a customer service representative to make sure that the customer is taken care of.
So I learned to stop getting angry. I learned to stop asking: when did it start? What time did you notice it? I mean it's one thing to ask for technical reasons to find out. You know: hey, there's a nuisance problem that you can't find, but I stopped asking when the service call comes in, because that question that I had was was fueling my anger and I just accepted and roll with it, but service calls happened. I've been doing this for a very long time and you got to stop and step back and look at the big picture and stop getting so angry, because life is too short, there's too much stuff going on to get angry, because someone called you for a stupid Service call guess what they're calling you so, let's be thankful, let's be happy, let's fix the shame, give them a big bill bottom line right, don't rip them off, don't cheat on, but let's fix it and get paid for what we do get paid for our skills. Anyways, that's it just a little right!.
So right-on when you spoke about a customer who reports trouble at night. I had one who liked to escallate trouble to our dispatch, every hour after 1:00 AM, (24 hour company), way too often. Those early wake up call-outs seemed like a personal attack, to me, (a few years back now). Especially when looking at the trouble call history comments in the system, the trouble had been in-progress with excuses during daylight hours. (Can see the trouble start time and date stamp in some systems also). (Try to get co-worker assistance after midnight). (I so much understand / relate to your rant). Thanks for posting the vid.. I shake my head at times, when I see what you go through to get a customer going again. Wow! 👍
have to admit i still struggle with stuff like this i just end up hateing people or more truthy stupid/inconsiderate people tho i have started my explanation therapy which is i tell the customer when you notice something earlier call earlier one its cheaper for you which doesnt always work if the person im talking to isnt paying the bill second is the i was home and if you called earlier i wouldnt have to leave if they dont react i ask would you like to have to come back to work for something like this 75 percent of the time it works im lucky my employer understands if i didnt get that little vent i would have probably sucked on the business end of a shotgun by now i like what i do it just people in general im getting better at it plus ive starting looking at after hours calls as a money farm i get extra cash and i dont care if im there an hour or 10 its extra cash in my pocket at the end of the day
yes that is rights sir customer is very hard to find in our field of service taking care what is there complain and fix it. if you love to be a good service tech just love your customer. thanks for the tip sir Chris
I’m a young refrigeration tech, turned 26 in June, I watch this every day before work to put me in the right mindset. I really relate to you because a few years back I was dealing with a lot of anger/depression/anxiety related issues and it bled into my work life and ended up costing me big time. Don’t wanna make this seem like a diary entry but it feels pretty cool knowing a technician I look up to has dealt with and prevailed over similar issues
Damn! I'm exactly at that point right now…thank you for showing me a different point of view. This really gave me some better understanding of our Job in general. Thanks for helping me as a newbie.
Mental exhaustion.
Dedication is fine. But one must take time to de stress. This occupation can be very difficult with relationships personally. I’ve also found the general customer base in restaurants is quite fickle, they love you one week then despise you the next. There are only a few professions that work on emergency call out basis and its life dictating in all of them. So think long and hard about being in this trade. I love it, but I’m not every person 🤣 Service area Ottawa??
Ur such a bitch Service area Nepean??
This can happen to any industry, actually. You are an inspiration to me. I’m going to share this!
Real Talk🤔~Think Positive=💵💵
When you get called back to work after your day is done does that mean you were on call that day. That has happened to me a few times and i wasn't on call that day but was told basically i have no choice and i had to go.
Preach brother
I remember getting so upset getting a call from the boss at 8pm on a sunday night in the middle of winter because a tree fell over on the power line and ripped a electrical service off someone's home. They had their electricity cut off and we had a window of opportunity to get their power back on that night. It was -2 degrees out, snow up to my knees and it took us roughly 2 hours to put it back up. The customer was so happy they didn't have to freeze that night and my boss charged them a pretty penny. I got 24 dollars for 2 hours of labor. I was pretty upset. I guess the moral to that story is you should take care of the guys that have to go out on emergency service calls a little bit more. I know some guys get paid very well doing after hour calls but some don't. Are you in Kanata ?
Refrigeration Bible : Book of Genesis
When its a major holiday, especially when it falls on the weekend, and you're the primary on-call technician, those are tough days to push through. Your phone has to stay glued to you and you never can truly get into the enjoyment of the day with your family because you know the phone can ring at any time. When it does, well, there you go out the door.
I get a lot of anxiety because I'm new to the trade…its been three years now and it's so much more for me to learn. I hate when I walk away from a piece of equipment and could not fix the problem. Watching your videos has helped me a great deal. Thanks for your insight! ✊🏾✊🏾
I'm currently in HVAC school, hearing your rant was a reminder to me that it's not always gonna be bells and whistles in the trade and there will be many trying days, as with any line of work. Still sounds like and exciting and rewarding field to work in, and greatly look forward to it. If I survived over 17 years in the nightmare grocery business, I could survive practically anything. I think of it this way: sure that last minute call at the end of a Friday might irk me, but with those few extra hours of O.T. now I can take the family to Disneyland on Sunday.
Really good video! Don’t get mad, be Greatful! God bless!
Hey man, love your videos! I have another question. My True GDM-45 requires a temperature control # 831932, they’re asking for almost $150. For the part, whereas I see all kinds of other thermostats for just $20 to $50. Do I really need the exact part or can I get something close? What says you. Thanks so very much.
Bust your arse when you're young, so you will be set when you get older. Service area Kanata??
I'm gonna make bumper stickers "Service calls happen"
Amen!
Love this video !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Are you in Ottawa ?
I'm not in the refrigeration field but have advertising and web clients in refrigeration which is what brought me to your channel. You have an inspiring point of view. I'm going to try and adopt a little more of this attitude when my clients call at times that are less than convenient. Are you in Nepean ?
Thanks for the video. I can totally relate. Just started watching your videos and I love your style, opposed to other people I've been watching. I dont do much refrigeration at my current job, but I still watch your refrigeration videos because I like to learn and I just relate what info I can to air conditioning. We do a lot of server rooms at my current job and get called out at all hours. 2am 11pm, etc. Because the rooms can easily get to 140 degrees real quick. I Still get irritated when a call comes in while I'm laying in bed! As I get older the OT is less important than my family or my sleep. But getting late night calls is never going to change, so I really need to look at the bright side of things. You're right! Thanks again for the videos. Big fan here
Been in the automotive field for 15 years or so. I went through the same thing. Granted, just recently landed (finally) at a great company. The principle is the same though. I love it man. Make money, help the customer, be the man. Life is a b*tch, get it done son.
👍👍👍👍👍👍👌👌👌on point ..thank you…every video for you i learn something knew..
Brother, your motivational speech made my day. I'm pumped up ready for my first morning call. Respect for all the "Road Warriors" in the HVAC/R Field. Greetings from So. California. Be Safe. Service area Barrhaven??
“I stopped being angry” and started charging extra! 😉
the wife's hair did anyone notice . and yes frustrating to get a call at 8pm on Sunday.
Chris I rewatched this once more and hopefully one day it clicks for me
Love your videos. It’s all hard buddy. Owning that restaurant you go to, how about roofing in July? auto mechanic, CPA, heart surgeon lol. The one thing I always say to people don’t think today is the hardest day ever. It’s not. Not even close. Don’t think it’s harder to day to find good people than last year, it’s not. Everyone needs a good history lesson. Live thru a depression when 29% of the US is out of work. Yeah. This isn’t so bad.
This job has been known to cause divorces or breakups in general it can be if you let it be very anti social the money is there to be earnt but you have to work yourself into the ground to get
It find one that has no call out rota or just a few nights here and there and so your days work go home to the wife and kids work life balance is so important
I have been called out for a walkin not working just like you said friday a little after 6 PM so I drove there it took and hr because of road construction. I was not pissed about it But then when I got there They had turned off the breaker cause it was cold inside. My Pissed meter went up so high I put a Hndl Block Device then put in a security screw till this day had not had a problem with them turning the unit off. It will still flip the breaker if needed but you cant turn the unit off . NICE Video Chris
I had a call on Saturday afternoon, 90 minutes away, no heat, "We noticed on Friday morning that it was cold in here." I went anyway.
Your video sums it up.
that are the different between employer with employee! by the way, i think i know you.
You will always be successful because you have a skill on how to deal with people. And you have excellent HVAC skills . Are you in Orleans ?
Great video. I worked in the field for a while but now I'm in-house hvac tech for school district. I was that guy just as you described in your video. For a while I was fine. Then I started getting mad the calls were always coming. Its not worth being mad. …
👏🏻exactly!!! U Da man.
Accept it or get out! It’s a lifestyle choice. I chose my family! Loved reefer work though.
I love this video because I can relate to it so much. I’ve been doing refrigeration work for about 5 years now and I want to be more positive like this. Thanks for the inspiration.
I got called in to work labor day at 7am, spent 4 hours changing and programming a drive. Not the best situation but my co-worker was in the weeds and needed help.
But if the company doesn't have a pm program set up which can help with these late calls that's on them. Every service call I've gone on I recommend pm and they all say no, but they want me to go out their on their Time fram. if I can't get out there in the time frame that they want, that's their fault not mine. We all try to accept people's negligence as an excuse but I've always been told you can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink. It's not our fault as techs. It's those whom don't want to spend a little money to save a lot. That's not our problem dude.
Well said, watch your videos all the time love them learn something new every everytime 👍🏿😁
Thank you this
True talk !!
After hours calls are typically not beneficial for an employee. Those calls should be charged at a premium and the tech should be compensated for missing time with family and or just having time away from work. We already spend more time working than doing anything else. That time working should be well compensated. After hours call piss me off because it's merely time and a half, provided I've already put in 40 hours. I'll stay at home with my kid for only time and a half.
The industry as a whole has moved towards this direction that "that's just the business" and that we should work ourselves into the ground because that's just the way things are. I strongly disagree.
Far as I'm concerned, the customer can call someone else. They'll likely not do as good of a job as me. Or maybe they will. Maybe the customer will call me again. Maybe they won't. There's enough work out here, and most definitely not enough people to do the work.
Life is too short to get angry about these calls. Life is also far too short to miss soccer games, vacations, trips to the beach, or just being home for supper.
Good stuff man
Mate! This happens over here in the UK. I used to be like that all the time. It’s only been the last 4 years I’ve took a step back. I now just get on with it.
Thank's Chris…