Is artificial intelligence being used in the HVAC and plumbing industries? You bet. Now, it’s no longer about if AI will be an important factor in businesses large and small. It already is a factor. It’s about companies finding ways to use this technology to the fullest. The key is to find the best ways AI can help people streamline operations, become more efficient and do the job more effectively.
Here are five ways we’re seeing AI being used in HVAC and plumbing.
Predictive maintenance. Whether you’re in HVAC or plumbing, you know that finding a problem before it becomes a catastrophic mess is a lifesaver. It saves countless headaches, emergency service calls and potentially enormous expenses for customers. In the past, plumbers and HVAC pros haven’t always been able to predict when a pipe might fail, or a compressor might be wearing out, or any number of other situations that result in a middle-of-the-night call for emergency service. Now, AI algorithms analyze data transmitted from sensors in pipes and HVAC systems, and they can spot potential situations before they become emergencies.
Service call optimization. It’s a delicate balance out there in the field — providing excellent service to customers while also optimizing the tech’s time. Customers are demanding fast, efficient, top-of-the-line service. But anyone who has ever been on a service call knows it’s hard to deliver all three. How is AI helping solve this problem? With diagnostic tools that include real-time visual support. They can analyze a situation quickly, even providing step-by-step instructions for fixes. This will never replace hands-on experience and good, old-fashioned know-how. But it reduces human trial and error — you’re not guessing what you think is wrong — allows for fast repair, and helps techs deliver superior service in less time.
Scheduling field service. Imagine if there was a tool that could take a birds-eye view of your service area, analyze where technicians are at any given point in time, how long it will take them to get to the next call, take into account any traffic snarls and delays in real-time, and help you schedule service calls in the most efficient manner possible. That’s what AI-powered scheduling tools can do. It’s about getting the right people to the right place at the right time, for maximum efficiency.
Optimized building design. HVAC pros know the complicated equations necessary to calculate heating and cooling load requirements. AI slashes the time this important task takes and reduces errors in planning, ensuring that the right size equipment is installed for optimal heating and cooling.
Customer service. We’re all familiar with chat-bots. HVAC and plumbing businesses can use these tools to provide 24-hour information and service. Most smaller shops just can’t afford to have people handling calls 24/7. Chat bots can help with this by answering basic questions and even alerting you about emergency situations. During the day, bots can stay on the job answering those basic questions. It frees up your team for more complex customer questions that need a human touch. Another plus? If you have a multi-lingual customer base, AI can provide answers to questions instantly in the language your customers best understand.
As a society, we are just getting used to, and even comfortable with, AI’s potential to help us all do our jobs better. But, the bots will never replace experienced techs out there in the field. There’s no substitute for that!
