6 Ways to Keep Your Staff Busy During HVAC Slow Season

Staffing can be a struggle for HVAC businesses — especially during an ongoing labor shortage, when keeping skilled team members on board is critical. But as temperatures cool, so does demand for HVAC services, leaving many owners wondering how to keep their crews busy.

Instead of letting the HVAC slow season hold your business back, consider it a chance to strengthen your team, expand services, and prepare for busier months ahead. The following strategies can help you keep everyone productive while also setting the stage for lasting growth.

1. Promote Service Contracts

Service contracts can generate steady work during the HVAC slow season. If you already offer service contracts, explore fresh ways to promote them to bring in more business. Encourage customers with service contracts to renew by offering loyalty discounts or incentives like priority service for repairs. If you’re new to service contracts, begin by calling existing customers to see if they’re interested. You could even offer an incentive for those who sign up during the slow season.

You should also use this time to train your team on how to present service contracts, so they’re ready to promote them when the busy season picks up again. Encouraging your techs to discuss service contracts with customers before business cools off means more work during slower months.

2. Spend Time Hiring and Training Employees

We all know Time = Money, especially during peak season. When you’re hiring and training during your busiest months, you’re losing out on valuable revenue — and risking slower job completion as your seasoned techs are pulled in to train new employees.

Zippia found some staggering statistics on the cost of hiring and training new employees:

• The median cost to hire a new employee is $1,633
• It takes between 36 and 42 days on average to hire a new employee
• It takes approximately 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels

Hiring during the off-season ensures your new techs are field-ready when the busy season returns, maximizing your profits in the long run.

You can also use this time for continued training. If your budget allows, encourage your techs to pursue certifications, such as Indoor Air Quality certifications, which can broaden your service offerings and attract new business. If you don’t have the budget now, find a way to work it into next year’s budget. Plus, many distributors offer free training opportunities — take advantage of these resources to keep training costs low.

Consider cross-training your team, too. Techs can learn simple office tasks, like scheduling appointments, while office staff can gain experience managing your website, social media, or email. If you’re handling these things yourself, it will help keep everyone productive while freeing your schedule.

3. Invest Time in Marketing

Marketing can also keep your staff busy during the slow season. As mentioned, your office staff can focus on managing your digital marketing strategies. Meanwhile, your techs can get involved in local, hands-on marketing. Encourage them to go door-to-door after jobs and talk to homeowners about your services. If no one answers, they can leave fliers with their name on doors. Provide an incentive for these efforts by giving a bonus for each lead that becomes a customer.

If you’re dipping your toes into marketing, start small with a social media profile and a basic website. Then, build up a bigger marketing strategy by partnering with a marketing agency, taking online courses, or reaching out to your network.

4. Build Partnerships with Other Businesses

Strategic partnerships are key to growing your HVAC business and staying active during the slow season. For example, partnering with a real estate agent allows you to offer specialized home inspections, with the agent referring you to homebuyers needing HVAC assessments. In return, you can refer them to your customers who may be looking to sell or buy a home.

Additionally, partnering with a financing company can make your services more accessible to customers, encouraging upgrades or additional services they might otherwise delay. Just be sure to choose a financing partner with programs that work for your customer base. Starting this partnership during the slow season gives you time to train your techs to present financing confidently, so they’re ready to upsell when demand picks up. This approach keeps cash flowing and your business strong year-round.

Wondering how to find potential partners? We recommend attending industry conferences (many of which happen during shoulder season). Networking and attending vendor exhibits can help you meet potential partners or vendors. Nurturing these relationships after conferences can lead to long-term collaborations that help your business grow.

5. Offer Additional HVAC Services

Consider this: Are there other HVAC services could you add that would be worth the investment?

Adding more services can bring more business and keep your techs engaged, but it’s important to weigh the costs and benefits. For example, services like duct cleaning require specialized (and costly) equipment. Will the demand be high enough to justify this expense?

Some additional services you could offer include:

• Dryer vent cleaning and replacement
• Home insulation
• Home winterization
• Radon mitigation
• Humidity control
• Home performance evaluations
• Specialized real estate inspections

Before investing time and money into additional services, consider surveying your current customers to see what services would interest them. You can also get input from industry connections to see what’s worked for their businesses.

6. Expand into Other Markets

If you and your techs are licensed for other markets, consider expanding your services. Or if you’re not licensed, research the licensing requirements to see if it’s doable for your business. Consult your industry connections and partners as well; they may have some valuable insight.

Two markets worth exploring are plumbing and solar. Peak season for plumbing ramps up just as HVAC season slows down, providing work for your team year-round. Plus, tankless water heaters need annual maintenance and traditional water heaters need anode rods replaced regularly, which offers another opportunity for service contracts.

Solar and HVAC have the same peak season, but it’s still a great opportunity to expand your business. Today’s Homeowner identified spring and fall as the best seasons to install solar panels because of the moderate weather and lower wait times. Use these talking points to your advantage to get more business during the slow season.

Creating a Road Map to Success

Adjusting your business practices won’t happen overnight. But you can start by making small changes, like offering service contracts, adjusting your hiring timeframe, and investing in marketing. Over time, building partnerships can help you expand your service offerings and keep your team engaged all year. With a proactive approach, you’re not just weathering the slow season — you’re positioning your business for long-term growth and success.