Like other sectors, technological advances have also affected the HVAC industry. We see this in the form of indoor thermostats that help homeowners monitor and regulate indoor temperatures with ease. Ceiling fans, unlike their older counterparts that turn on and off with voice recognition and other devices that work with Alexa or Siri, are also notable advances. Additionally, diagnostics and frames have also undergone a major digital upgrade in recent years.
The coronavirus pandemic has caused an increase in demand for HVAC equipment, companies, and technicians. Along with technology, digital HVAC business is expected to become the new normal. In Could Digital HVAC Become the New Normal?, we’ll discuss the possibilities, primarily what the future holds for digital HVAC.
Nothing can replace technicians: they are irreplaceable
The coronavirus pandemic has brought a series of unemployment and misfortune for Americans. Investors are no longer sure of investment avenues as the back and forth of crashes practically makes the game unsafe. Educators have been forced to question their morals and ethics, and different companies have had to endure a lot of change in a short time.
However, numerous HVAC and refrigeration experts are working because the central government has grouped them as core workers. That is why HVAC technicians are irreplaceable no matter how technologically advanced the HVAC industry becomes in the future.
IoT and remote diagnosis
The Internet of Things (IoT) comprises billions of physical devices located around the world connected to the Internet at large. A large number of these devices can be found in smart homes, which can be essential to HVAC/R systems. HVAC goes digital here in terms of smart indoor thermostats that make raising and lowering ceiling fans pretty easy, as mentioned above. Think about it, if most HVAC equipment was remote controlled, it would be a breeze for homeowners. And residential is just one sector, the commercial possibilities of this concept are endless.
Use of digital communication
Using email and SMS can help HVAC technicians narrow down many things, such as what causes malfunctions and what are possible solutions when talking to their customers. There’s no need to call your technician about something you shouldn’t be contacted about; just ask him what to do for free, as long as you do the repairs yourself. Many employers have started to embrace this concept of texting their technician to get better word of mouth and fresher clientele.
It really is convenient, isn’t it? Have a technician answer a question via text message. Save time and money.
Use of Augmented Reality
Older people, such as those in their eighties, are at much higher risk of contracting and being affected by coronavirus disease. But our HVAC vets can save the day here, too. It’s still a bit new, but the use of augmented reality can help HVAC technicians help seniors with minor repairs. They can do it safely to be safe from the prolific virus. The use of augmented reality will also gain more attention moving forward in a post-COVID world.
Security measures
To put an end to our speculations on HVAC digitization, we will also mention the importance of security measures. Advances like IoT and augmented reality are just one answer to protecting HVAC technicians and their customers during the pandemic. But if your technician identifies a problem that you can only physically solve, you will have to visit them, no matter how advanced the technology is. In such a case, and even when trying to fix your own HVAC unit, employ safety measures.