What Makes Shafer's Tech Training Different From The Others?

In this episode, host Jim Klauck talks with Nathan from Shafer Heating and Cooling about their unique approach to technician training that makes them stand out in the HVAC industry. Nathan emphasizes the importance of comprehensive in-house technician training on a variety of system types to ensure stellar service on actual customer equipment. Shafer invests in over 250 hours of training per year for every team member, setting them apart from many smaller companies that primarily rely on on-the-job training.

According to Nathan Shafer boasts a dedicated training lab with eight to ten operational system setups of varying ages, where technicians can practice troubleshooting, uninstallation, reinstallation, and communication with the customer. Providing the best service means not just fixing the current issue but also anticipating potential problems and making recommendations.

More comprehensive training also takes place through partnerships with elite HVAC schools in Weatherford, Texas, and Little Rock, Arkansas. Trainees undergo one to six weeks of intensive coursework after completing the in-house program. These courses include focus areas and advanced diagnostics with the benefit of virtual VRF interactive experiences.

Jim commends Shafer's systematic approach to training, arguing that it leads to more confident, skilled technicians capable of managing potentially dangerous equipment elements like gas, electric, and water. He maintains that this pre-equipped training fosters confidence and safety for homeowners.

If you want to experience the Shafer difference for your HVAC needs, check the podcast description for the company's contact information.

For more information about Shafer Heating & Cooling in Hillsboro, Ohio - log on to

www.ShaferHVAC.us.

or check them out at www.checkapro.com.

www.ShaferHVAC.us.

Visit Us At -

You Can Call Anytime:  [phone].

Episode Transcript

(00:01):
Jim Klauck, AKA Check A Pro Joe here on the radio program.
Did you know that not all heating and air conditioning technicians are the same?
A lot of guys probably don't know what they're doing, but Shafer's does.
Hey, Nathan, how are you?
Hey, Jim, how are you? I'm living the dream. Thank you so much for joining me

(00:21):
today here on the program.
I know know, you guys do something that most companies in your space don't do.
And that is training your techs on typical common equipment that people might
have, I guess, from, from like yesterday's install, maybe even up to five, 10 years ago.

(00:42):
I'm not sure about that, but you guys train in-house on actual equipment instead
of training on people's equipment at their house.
Yeah, absolutely. So great question. Definitely comes up a lot.
Definitely one of the many things that helps set us apart, right?
And so training is something that's extremely important to us and we take very seriously.

(01:05):
Every single person on our team, myself included, goes through over 250 hours
of training per year. And that's ongoing.
So whether this is year number one or year number 10, 20, 30, right?
And on our team, you're going to continue to train, continue to learn.
Now, as far as the different platforms, yes, we have a, uh, depends on your position, right?
As far as the technical side of the technicians, uh, we have a training lab

(01:28):
here at our facilities where we have over, uh, you know, about eight to 10 systems
over there of different types of systems, different ages of systems,
uh, that are all fully up and running and operational.
So we can take and bug those, troubleshoot them, uninstall them,
reinstall them, uh, practice even communication, right?
Um, you might have the best tech in your home, but if they can't communicate

(01:48):
what's wrong with your system, how does the consumer understand or know what
makes sense as far as what needs to be fixed?
Obviously, the broken item is obvious, but other thing is to prevent failure.
So we can practice and train on all kinds of different things when it comes to that training lab.
Now with that also, we've also got partnerships with some of the best schools in the country.

(02:09):
And so we're partnering with one in Weatherford, Texas and one in Little Rock, Arkansas.
And so So before a guy's out live on his own in the field, we after they go
through our in-house trainings, which we have a program for that,
we then ship them off to that school.
And those schools range from one week to six week courses.
And they go through a more extensive training there. And it's usually focused

(02:31):
on a given area or a given type of a system and further advanced diagnostics and different things.
And so, yeah, we have virtual VRF trainings where they're working on things virtually.
And so, I mean, just all kinds of different levels of training and extremely, extremely important.
We live in an ever changing world, right? The technology and the equipment's
changing every day. We've got to stay up to date.

(02:53):
I totally agree. I have been working with home service professionals for 20 years.
A lot of them, especially the smaller companies, will train on the job in the field.
Pros and cons to that. How do you feel about that?
Yeah. I mean, if we're starting there and that's our baseline,

(03:14):
that's our only place to train, that can be kind of worrisome, right?
What about when something happens, right? Just the risk and that side of it
as far as for the consumer.
Now, on the other side of it, yes, there's always going to be things,
but as long as they're with somebody or a lead on that job, there's always going
to be things. Heck, I learn something new every day. I'm sure you learn something
new every day, you know, in your profession.

(03:34):
And so there's always going to be ongoing training and some of that may or may not be on the job.
But there needs to be a program in place that gets the basis down. Right.
That where that person comes in, that technician comes into a home,
they're confident in what they're doing so that the the the client,
they can be confident in the technician that's coming into your home,
that they know what they're doing for the safety aspect. You got to think in heating, cooling.

(03:57):
We work with some of the most dangerous things in the home. We work with gas,
electric, water, exhaust.
I mean, it's a catastrophe waiting to happen if we're not well-trained and prepared and ready.
Yeah. What I like about your system, because it is a system,
everyone at Shafer knows what all the technicians know because you train them

(04:18):
in the facility and when you send them out to be trained at the other facilities.
As a homeowner, I feel good about the fact that your team has already been trained
in a systematic way, not on my equipment. So when you're coming out,
you know, you're already all trained.
And so I brought that up because there are a lot of other companies,

(04:40):
nothing against them because they really have no choice, but to train their
new technicians on someone's equipment out in the field.
And I just don't necessarily think that's the most ideal thing.
Yeah, absolutely. I agree. All right, Nathan, as always, thank you so much for
joining me today here on the program.

(05:01):
You can contact Schaefer Heating and Cooling by simply going to the description
of this podcast. All their contact information is there.
Thanks, Nathan. All right. Thank you. Have a phenomenal day.