HVAC contractors are dealing with a problem that has nothing to do with refrigerant or airflow.
Crime.
Recent cases involving copper theft from outdoor HVAC equipment have caused significant damage to residential systems, while separate incidents involving technicians and armed individuals are renewing calls for better field-safety procedures.
A Few Dollars of Copper Can Destroy Thousands in Equipment
Outdoor condensers contain valuable copper tubing, wiring and coils.
That makes them attractive targets.
The problem is the mismatch between scrap value and replacement cost.
Thieves may obtain relatively little money from the material while leaving behind thousands of dollars in equipment damage.
Refrigerant circuits are cut.
Electrical wiring is destroyed.
Coils are removed.
Entire systems can become uneconomical to repair.
Technicians Face a Different Risk
HVAC technicians routinely enter unfamiliar properties.
They work alone.
They visit customers during stressful events.
Sometimes those situations escalate.
Recent industry coverage has highlighted encounters involving armed customers or coworkers and has emphasized the value of de-escalation training.
Safety Training Needs to Go Beyond the Toolbox
Contractors already train technicians around:
- Electrical hazards
- Refrigerants
- Ladders
- Confined spaces
- Heat
- Tools
Personal safety may need more formal attention.
Companies can establish procedures around suspicious locations, threatening behavior and situations where a technician should simply leave.
No repair is worth forcing an employee to remain in an unsafe environment.
Equipment Security May Become Part of the Installation Conversation
For vulnerable properties, contractors may also increasingly discuss:
- Condenser cages
- Security lighting
- Cameras
- Fencing
- Equipment alarms
HVAC equipment has become too expensive to treat security as someone else's issue.
For contractors, the latest incidents are a reminder:
Protecting the system matters. Protecting the technician matters considerably more.
