Why Every Property Manager Needs An HVAC Professional On Their Team

A while back, I was at a meeting in Portland, and had the chance to talk with a property manager who oversaw several buildings in the community. Like most property managers, he had a general commercial contractor on board that he relied on to service his properties on a regular basis. And for the most part, this was working out perfectly. From small maintenance items, to even basic plumbing repairs, most tasks were simple in nature and could easily be fixed in a timely manner.

However, in some cases, a generalist may not be the best person to have maintaining and repairing sophisticated technology. Complex HVAC systems have multifaceted parts; and in some cases a specialist will not only keep it running more efficiently, he can also save you from more costly repairs down the road.

HVAC professionals may be the best choice because:

HVAC Systems Are Complex

Like many different industries, HVAC is becoming more technologically driven over time. This means while the systems may have similar working parts as they did years ago, the technology behind them changes and increases all the time. Today’s savvy property managers want greener technology to not only help them save money, but to be more efficient for the environment as well. Its not as easy as replacing a part or tinkering with a wrench anymore. Instead, it takes specific procedures to keep today’s HVAC systems in good working order, and in many cases that means more training than ever before. If a general contractor hasn’t been trained in the latest advancements, they are ill-equipped to make the best recommendations to building owners and managers about the best course of action. Their recommendations may be best guesses only.

Proper Maintenance Means Early Detection

Does your general contractor understand what to watch for in your HVAC system as a signal for something wrong? In many cases, they are busy every day repairing the little things that go wrong, and spend far less time on preventative maintenance and audits to determine how to keep something running as efficiently as possible. No fault of theirs – they are simply too busy to catch the little nuances that suggest a problem is just around the corner. When a professional HVAC company is in charge of all aspects of the heating and cooling systems for your property, they stay on top of regular servicing and replace parts as needed. They also know how to identify and diagnose issues early on, avoiding the costly repairs down the road that can come from not identifying something quickly.  

Professional HVAC Companies Have The Parts You Need

Most general contractors don’t have a stock of parts waiting at their disposal. Instead, when something breaks, they order it in and wait for the part to arrive. That can work, unless the downtime seriously impacts your property. Imagine telling tenants they won’t have heat for a day; that can be devastating news. Professional HVAC companies keep an extensive inventory of parts and supplies they know they will need every day. When fall rolls in and properties all over the Portland area begin to turn on the heat for the first time, things happen and repair calls are made. In some cases, parts can be hard to find if you don’t have a supply on hand in expectation. As a professional HVAC company that supports property managers every day, we get it, and we’re prepared.

Proper Licensing

Like most commercial service industries, it requires proper HVAC certification for certain repairs and installations to be made. General contractors rarely receive these licenses, nor do the have the extensive training that goes along with it. Which means general contractors are not qualified to make certain repairs, nor should they even try. In many cases, manufacturer's warranties can be nullified if worked on by anyone other than a licensed professional.

If you are a property manager, and don’t have a service contract with a reputable, professional HVAC company who is an expert and qualified to handle all of your heating and cooling needs, we’re happy to talk with you about the benefits of bringing one on board.