It is always nice to know a bit about the people you work with. I am Jeff.

Been in the HVAC industry since I left college many, many years ago. Grew up in Vahuan and went to school in Richmond Hill. Have lived along the Niagara peninsula for most of my adult life.

Started out in the roofing world in Niagara, doing estimations, quotes, ordering and site management. I learned quickly that working with great people who you like and like you is a wonderful experience. After six months, the owner left for Florida, handed me the keys and said take care of my business. I learned a lot about relationship selling while in the roofing industry.

Switched over to the oil-fired heating space. I struggled a bit, then I met Dave. Dave was a sales manager for one of the wholesalers I partnered with. He was an architect by trade and he understood having a vision. He could answer just about everything I wondered about in the world of hydronics. He pointed me to books, classes, and others. I was hooked. I went to the School of Dave. It left a mark on me and I try to share information like Dave did with me.

I learned a lot about boilers, their application, and did a lot of troubleshooting.

Eventually switched to gas-fired heat, but by that time hydronics had become my specialty. I loved working with people on challenging projects and especially staying in touch to see how things worked long term. I learned how to represent manufactures to their and my client’s benefit. People started asking me to come a run a class on hydronics for their techs. I won a few industry awards. Has been a fun journey.

I’ve seen and heard a lot and had the good fortune to be involved in many different types of projects. I enjoy helping and learning, still.

Here is today’s thought.

In the HVAC space, most projects can be fit into one of these costing buckets.

• I need an inexpensive (but quality) solution that minimizes upfront cost but will have greater ongoing operating costs. Cheap today: pay more tomorrow. And if someone wants cheap and crap quality, well, they can work with someone else.
• I need a solution today that will let me get me going but is designed to let me invest in better architecture over time. This is someone who will invest more today in a system that will lend itself to ongoing improvement, leading towards lower operating costs.
• I have the time and money to do this right, now. I’m not looking for a showpiece, however, I want a one-time disruption then a very low, and predictable operating cost.

A side issue when you are dealing with heating solutions is to gauge the heating quality of the system. The above points hold true, however how comfortable is the space being heated? Are there areas that still don’t heat well? Some that get too hot? Noise? Slow to heat? I call that the Heat Experience. It isn’t about the equipment – its about the desired heating outcome. Give that some thought.

Jeff