Using Seasonal Specials to Boost Your HVAC Business Year-Round

A seasonal promotional strategy can help you boost brand awareness, attract new customers, and drive sales year-round. Whether it’s pumpkin spice or pool and BBQ season, pairing timely messaging with financing options is a smart marketing approach. We’ve developed this year-round guide to help you create promotions that speak to customers’ needs throughout every season.

Why Seasonal HVAC Promotions Work

Before we explore some ideas for working seasonal promotions into your marketing plans, let’s talk about why they work.

FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) isn’t just the fear of missing out on a fun party or event. FOMO also applies to products and services. Customers are more likely to call when your offer is time-limited. After all, nobody wants to miss out on a great opportunity. Seasonal promotions tap into the concept of scarcity. Using language like “This offer is only good until the end of the month!” increases your offer's perceived value and gives you a competitive advantage.

Why focus on the season? Seasonal promotions connect with customers' feelings during different times of the year. For example, homeowners are pulling out their blankets and sweaters in the fall to feel cozy and warm. With holiday shopping around the corner, they’re also interested in saving on energy bills. This makes fall the perfect time to promote services like furnace tune-ups or insulation checks. By tying your promotions to what’s top-of-mind for customers, you show that you ‘get’ their needs, making them more likely to choose you when scheduling service.

Let’s see how you can put these principles into action. Starting with fall, here are some innovative ways to capture homeowners’ attention and keep your schedule full.

Fall HVAC Promotions

Milder weather can slow business, but it’s also the perfect time to motivate homeowners to prepare for winter weather. By encouraging customers to act now, you can generate work during quieter periods and prevent the overwhelming number of calls you receive when the first cold snap arrives.

Consider some of these options:

Free Furnace Inspection - Encourage early prep before the first freezing temperatures. No need to wait for 30-degree temps to test out the safety and functionality of that furnace!

Bundle & Save - Who doesn’t like to save money? Give a discount when homeowners schedule heating and cooling tune-ups together.

Insulation Check or Services - Winter is coming! Let homeowners know they can save on their energy bills with proper insulation.

Adding financing language to your messaging gives your customers one more reason to act.

• “Replace before the freeze—no interest ‘til spring!”
• “Furnace Ready? Budget Friendly!” Offer short-term promotions like 0% interest for 6 months.

Winter HVAC Promotions

Nobody wants to deal with a broken furnace when multiple relatives are gathered at their house trying to enjoy holiday festivities. Encourage homeowners to prepare ahead of time and avoid this kind of disruption.

Offer a Holiday Comfort Package - Dry winter air can wreak havoc on our skin and make us more vulnerable to illness. Be a hero and include a free humidifier with new installs in December.

Gift Card Promo—Tap into the gift-giving season. Customers booking winter maintenance get a $25 gift card to a local restaurant or coffee shop.

Charity Drive Tie-In: Don’t be a Scrooge. Show your commitment to your community by partnering with a local shelter and donating a certain amount for every winter service call booked.

Here is some financing messaging to consider:

• “Stay cozy now, pay monthly over time.”
• “Stay Warm for Less - Upgrade your furnace today with affordable monthly payments.”

Spring HVAC Promotions

Shoulder season doesn’t have to mean slow season. Let’s keep that business blooming with some of these promotional ideas! You get to stay busy, and customers can prepare for summer’s heat and humidity before it becomes an emergency “I might have to live with my in-laws until I get my air conditioning fixed” type of situation.

Spring Clean Your System – It’s allergy season. While people are busy sneezing and hiding from pollen, spring is the perfect time to promote duct cleaning or IAQ services.

Offer Referral Rewards - Encourage loyal customers to refer friends and family by offering gift cards or service credits as a reward. Happy customers love to sing your praises, and a small incentive keeps your business top of mind. When customers also benefit, they are more likely to follow through with a referral.

Free A/C Check-Up – Get customers ready for the summer heat. Offer complimentary system inspections to prep units for summer.

Now for some financing messaging options:

• “Get a new system for as low as $$/month and enjoy a cool, comfortable summer.”
• “Repair or Replace?” Encourage homeowners to decide whether to keep repairing or invest in a reliable system before summer hits. Compare side-by-side options with financing options baked in.

Summer HVAC Promotions

Summer means more customers and more competition, so you’ll want to stand out to make sure you get the call, not another business. Consider how you can add value, without overloading your team.

“Beat the Heat” Giveaway – Enter customers who book service into a drawing for a portable fan or smart thermostat.

Value Added Services – Offer free filter cleanings or unit inspections with each service call. These visits also provide an opportunity to add more products or services if the inspection reveals a necessary repair.

Emergency Service Discount – Offer discounts for first-time service calls.

And why not sweeten the pot even more?

• “Stay Cool, Pay Later – Beat the heat with a new AC, starting at just $$/month.”
• “Emergency? No Problem. – fix or replace today with easy financing plans.”

How to Maximize Your HVAC Promotions

Don’t rely on just one platform to promote your exciting offers. Use email, social media, and your website to reach as many customers as possible. Run campaigns consistently, not just once, so your message sticks. And always include a clear call to action, such as “Book by the end of the month,” so customers know exactly what to do and when the promotion ends.

Track promotion performance by monitoring social media engagement, website traffic, and the number of people who take advantage of your offers. This data will help you refine your messaging and fine-tune next year’s promotions for even better results.

Finally, highlighting financing will make your promotions even more effective. Flexible payment options reassure homeowners that upgrades will be affordable and stress-free, a great feeling in any season.