A Day in the Life of an HVAC Tech

Hi! I’m Bill, The Owner of Ashton Heating & Cooling.

It’s 7am and I’m up early to let my dog out and check for any missed calls or messages we received in the night. I grab a coffee and head out to the shop to meet our employees as they arrive.

As home comfort specialists we are always busy- but we get even busier when extreme seasonal weather conditions arrive.  We have 6 employees in the field every day, travelling throughout the Durham Region area and beyond, working hard to keep you comfortable, and we always have one technician on call 24/7 for No Heat/No Cool Emergencies.

As our technicians arrive to the shop, everyone reviews their dispatch list for the day, stocks their trucks with any parts or tools they may need and asks any questions they need to about the jobs they are scheduled to perform that day. Then we all load up and head out.

Even though I’m the owner, I truly love solving problems and helping people, which is why I choose to spend my day on the road in my service truck, working with customers face to face. I get a lot of calls and emails during the day from people who maybe don’t realize that I don’t spend my day in the office, so sometimes it can take me a bit longer to respond to everyone.

When temperatures are at their highest or lowest it’s common for us to see 30+ Calls in a 24-hour period. During these busy times, we are often up at sunrise and home after dark. We do whatever we need to do, to make sure our customers have heat or keep cool, because that’s our job and our customer’s comfort is important to us. We often miss family events and spend holidays on call to make sure that even on days like Christmas and New Year’s, there is a helping HVAC hand around when you need it most.

During Peak season a large portion of our calls are due to breakdowns and repairs, but there are a few things you as a homeowner can do, to decrease the likelihood of a breakdown happening to you.  

We recommend checking your filter regularly and changing it often. A clogged filter can reduce air flow and can make your appliance work harder than it needs to. You can get replacement filters in our online store or by calling our office, and pick them up at our shop in Courtice. 

We also highly recommend getting annual maintenance performed on your appliance to keep it safe, clean, and running at peak efficiency. During a maintenance we check for any current or potential future issues that will need repair or review. If your appliance is new, regular maintenance is typically your responsibility to maintain the terms your warranty.

If you’re looking for a little bit of savings and maintenance that you don’t need to remember- you should definitely consider a Maintenance or Protection plan. Our Ashton Advantage Plans have varying levels of protection to suit your needs and budget and can be especially beneficial for people with older units who are more likely to encounter future problems. Customers who have regular annual maintenance performed, regardless of the age of the unit, are far less likely to have surprise breakdowns or repair bills.

We’ve been in business for over 15 years and we’ve seen it all. We understand that having a major HVAC appliance that needs replacement or repair can be stressful. We often see people who are in quite the panic, and we try our best to give them options and peace of mind.  We will always do our best to repair your appliance if possible, and if not, provide you with replacement options that fit your needs and your wallet, with a variety of flexible payment options.

When it comes to picking the right HVAC dealer for you- there is so much more to consider than price. Cheaper is definitely not always better when it comes to HVAC. Make sure you do your homework- check reviews, ensure the business is licensed, properly insured, and has experience installing the unit you want to purchase. An incorrectly installed system could affect the overall performance and operation of your unit and could reduce the level of efficiency your system is designed to obtain.

It’s now 7pm, and I’ve finally finished doing all my on-site service calls and quotes for the day, so I go home to start completing and sending quotes to customers. When I’m done, I review the dispatch board for the morning, get back to anyone who has called or emailed me throughout the day that I haven’t already spoken with, order any repair parts or appliances we need in the coming days, and then I spend a couple hours with my wife and dog before I get up to do it all over again.

Some days are crazier than others, but I’ve done what I love for 15 years and I wouldn’t change a thing! I truly value the many customers who have made my dream a reality and who continue to recommend me to their friends and family. Thanks for being part of the Ashton Heating Family!