Ecmweb 17849 Service Secrets Talbot Pr
Ecmweb 17849 Service Secrets Talbot Pr
Ecmweb 17849 Service Secrets Talbot Pr
Ecmweb 17849 Service Secrets Talbot Pr
Ecmweb 17849 Service Secrets Talbot Pr

Helping Your Clients Avoid Cold Weather Woes

Nov. 18, 2019
Tips for ensuring your customers are prepared for the coming winter months

As temperatures drop, we begin to think about turning the heater on in our homes and remember the kind of electric and gas bills we racked up last year. The fall and winter months can be a struggle for everyone, including electrical residential service businesses — work may slow down, and wallets can be stretched a little thin. Cold weather also means that space heaters, heating blankets, water heaters, and heated floors may sometimes be working overtime — even if only for a few hours or days. The electrical systems inside your clients’ homes will be pushed to the max, and this is the time when any weak component will be revealed. This, in turn, will typically result in them making a call to book for your service.

What are some of the areas you can help them with? As experts, knowing the answer to that question is imperative. Consider the following list of possible areas where you can be prepared to offer the type of service your clients want and deserve:

1. When inspecting the electrical system, make sure you inspect every outlet to ensure that connections are mechanically sound. Remember, when the system is under load, any weak areas that could be in the outlets, tap boxes, or terminals will be exposed. Furthermore, any loose connection could produce some unwanted heat and present a hazard/threat to the residence.

2. Assess the system to determine if space heaters, heating blankets, or other heat elements are being used. If so, be sure to offer dedicated circuits to provide safe operation of the plug-in heating.

3. Inform the client of the need for arc-fault protection and correct breaker size to provide the right protection for the wiring in the home.

4. During the colder months, your client may be interested in energy-savings tips like using LED bulbs, energy-saving appliances, and energy-monitoring devices. Make sure your techs are aware of and educated on the latest ways to save energy.

5. It is important to teach your clients about their peak hours of use. This information is located on the electrical bill provided by the clients’ power company.

6. Check all smoke detectors in your clients’ residence to see if they’re up to date and to ensure that they will sound off in the event of a fire or smoldering smoke, which can be produced by furniture cushions and other household items. Suggest installing ionization-photoelectric smoke detectors to make sure all types of smoke are being detected.

7. If space heaters are being used, make sure to inspect the cords and verify all safety features are working correctly. Also, inform your client to keep all flammable items away from the heater during use. You may want to suggest to the client to install permanent wall heaters with dedicated circuits providing 220V instead of plug in 120V to save on energy.

Keeping your clients and their homes safe is a full-time job. Sharpen your skills and put your best foot forward during this upcoming heating season. Remember: Clients look to you for answers on how to keep their homes warm and safe. Don’t let them down.    

Talbot is a licensed, master electrician in Georgia, where he was born and raised. He has been in the industry for 18 years and is currently the operations manager for Mister Sparky Atlanta, where he manages a team of technicians. In his spare time, he plays with his kids, volunteers, and enjoys flipping houses. He can be reached at [email protected].

About the Author

Gerald Talbot | Operations Manager

Gerald is a licensed, master electrician in Georgia, where he was born and raised. He has been in the industry for 17 years and is currently the operations manager for Mister Sparky Atlanta, where he manages a team of technicians.

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