Economic Stimulus Plan

With the current economic climate on a down turn, and the recession making an impact on household expenditure, installers may be struggling to find work. The current economic climate will be forcing homeowners to look at their daily expenditure and find ways of controlling it. They will be limiting their non-essential spending and many home owners will be viewing their purchases from a short-term rather than a long-term perspective.

Unfortunately this does have an affect on the grand scheme of things and a person is less likely to spend their hard earned cash on servicing their boiler. They are most likely to go with the option of repairing it rather than replacing it completely.

However, there is hope on the horizon. Using your knowledge effectively can prove to be a very useful tool. The customer is more likely to change their mind if they are made aware of the many advantages of getting an annual service, not just one. For instance if they are told about both the economic and safety benefits, they are more likely to make an investment.

Importance of servicing

Many people automatically dismiss the idea of subscribing to an annual service for their boiler as they see it as unnecessary expenditure. However, all the professionals in the heating industry are fully aware of the necessities of keeping the boiler in good working order. They are aware that annual servicing keeps the boiler in good working order and reduces the chance of it breaking down.

However most homeowners do not understand the importance of this and the fact that, just like cars need regular maintenance, so do boilers. Other safety implications include preventing carbon monoxide poisoning which kills around 40 people every year in the UK. You should be able to explain the range of modern heating products on the market that have energy savings which could persuade the customer in upgrading.

For instance, you can try explaining to the customer that a high efficiency boiler can save the homeowner about a third of their fuel bills according to the Energy Saving Trust. The customer will further be able to save if modern controls are also fitted.

Once the customer has been fully notified about the substantial savings that could be made, they are more likely to consider making a purchase, once all the options have been laid out for them. If you wish to take an environmental stance, this could also work, as many of us are striving to become more environmentally friendly.

Considering renewable technologies

Investing in renewable technologies should also be considered as an option. Renewable technologies do come across as expensive, however once their long-term benefits are realised, they seem like quite an attractive option.

As an installer you should keep your knowledge up to date and be prepared to tactfully relay this any customer that might be considering an upgrade but just needs that extra little push.

Tal Potishman, editor of Heating Central, writes articles about boiler, central heating, plumber Watford, underfloor heating and solar thermal. He specializes in helping save money by advising on efficient heating.

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