Salaam everyone! Mohammad Nabeel here. You know what’s funny? We technicians think we know everything about ACs because we fix them everyday. But sometimes, customers teach us lessons that no training course ever could. Let me tell you about one particular day that completely changed how I look at my work.
The Uncle Who Asked Too Many Questions
It was regular Thursday morning, around 10 AM. I got call from one uncle in Dhahrat Laban area. His AC was working but cooling was weak. Simple job, I thought. Probably just needs cleaning and gas top-up. I reached his apartment within 25 minutes.
But this uncle was different from other customers. He didn’t just say “fix it and tell me cost.” Instead, he pulled a chair, sat next to where I was working, and started asking questions. Lots of questions!
“Beta, why you opening this panel first?” “What is this white powder on the coils?” “How you know if gas is full or not?” “Why outdoor unit making this sound?”
Honestly, first I felt little annoyed. I’m trying to work and he’s asking hundred questions! But then something clicked in my mind. This uncle genuinely wants to understand his AC. He’s not doubting my work – he’s interested in learning!
So I changed my approach. Instead of rushing through the job, I started explaining everything step by step. I showed him the dirty filter, explained how dust blocks airflow. I showed him the aluminum coils inside and explained how they transfer heat. I took him to balcony and showed him the outdoor unit, explained what compressor does.
That “simple 45-minute job” took me 2 hours! But you know what happened? That uncle became my most loyal customer. Not just him – he recommended me to 8 other families in his building. Why? Because I took time to educate him instead of just taking money and leaving.
That day taught me something important. When you help customer understand their AC, they value your service more. They don’t question your pricing. They call you first when problem happens. They trust your advice.
Why Most Technicians Don’t Explain Things
After that experience, I started wondering – why don’t more technicians explain things to customers? I asked some of my colleagues and got interesting answers:
Some said “If customer knows too much, they will question everything and bargain on price.”
Others said “Explaining takes time, and time is money.”
Few even said “If customers learn to do basic things themselves, they won’t call us for small jobs!”
All wrong thinking, in my opinion! When you educate customers, you’re not losing business – you’re building trust. And trust brings more business than any advertisement can!
Now when I visit anyone’s home for air conditioner maintenance in Dhahrat Laban or anywhere else, I always take few extra minutes to explain what I’m doing and why.
What I Started Teaching My Customers
Based on that uncle’s questions and my experience over years, I realized there are some basic things every AC owner should know. Not technical complicated stuff – just simple understanding that helps them take better care of their AC.
Understanding the Thermostat:
Many peoples think if they set AC to 16 degrees, room will cool faster than setting it to 24 degrees. Wrong! AC cooling speed is fixed. Lower temperature setting just means AC will run longer to reach that temperature.
I explain to customers – your AC is like car going from Riyadh to Jeddah. Whether you set navigation to show arrival time or not, car speed is same! Similarly, whether you set 16 or 24 degrees, AC cools at same speed. But at 16 degrees, it will keep running and running, wasting electricity trying to reach impossible coldness!
Set it at 24 degrees, room will cool comfortably and AC will rest after some time. Your electricity bill will thank you!
The Filter Story:
I tell customers – imagine you’re breathing through your nose. Now imagine someone puts cloth on your nose. You can still breathe, but with difficulty, right? That’s exactly what happens when AC filter gets dirty!
Clean filter means easy airflow, good cooling, less electricity use. Dirty filter means AC struggling, poor cooling, high electricity bill. Simple! And best part? Filter cleaning is so easy that anyone can do it themselves! Remove front panel, slide out filter, wash with water and soap, dry it completely, put back. Takes 10 minutes, costs nothing!
When I teach customers this, they don’t need to call me every month for basic filter cleaning. They call me only when they need real professional service. This saves their money and gives me time to handle more complex jobs. Win-win!
Why Gas Doesn’t “Finish”:
This is biggest misconception I see everywhere! Peoples think AC gas is like car petrol – you use it, it finishes, you need to refill. No!
AC gas works in closed loop. It changes from liquid to gas and back to liquid, over and over, thousands of times. It doesn’t get “used up” or “consumed.” If gas level is low, it means there is leak somewhere. Simple physics!
When I explain this to customers, they understand why I insist on finding and fixing leak instead of just filling gas and leaving. They realize that paying 550 SAR once for proper leak fix is better than paying 300 SAR every 3 months for temporary gas refill.
How Teaching Changed My Business
You know what’s interesting? After I started spending time educating customers, my income actually increased! Sounds opposite to logic, right? Let me explain why this happened.
Less Price Bargaining:
When customer understands what work involves – opening unit, chemical cleaning, checking pressures, testing performance – they appreciate the effort. They don’t say “Why you charging 200 SAR for just cleaning?” They understand it’s not “just” cleaning, it’s complete health checkup of their AC!
More Referrals:
Educated customers are happy customers. Happy customers recommend you to others. I get at least 3-4 new customers every month just from word-of-mouth because existing customers are satisfied with my approach.
Better Relationship:
When you teach someone, you’re not just service provider anymore. You become their trusted advisor. They call you first for any AC question. They ask your opinion before buying new AC. They trust your recommendations.
This is especially true for areas like Dhahrat Laban where community is tight-knit. Once few families trust you, word spreads fast! My approach to ac maintenance dhahrat laban riyadh is always education first, service second.
The Questions I Encourage Customers to Ask
Now whenever I visit customer’s home, I actually encourage them to ask questions! Here are some questions I think every AC owner should ask their technician:
“What exactly is the problem with my AC?” “Can you show me the damaged part?” “How long will this repair last?” “What maintenance I can do myself?” “When should I call you for next service?”
If technician cannot answer these simple questions clearly, maybe he’s not the right technician for you!
Good technician should be able to explain everything in simple language that even child can understand. No complicated technical words, no confusing terms. Just honest, simple explanation.
What That Uncle Taught Me About Respect
Going back to that uncle who asked so many questions – you know what he told me at the end? He said “Beta, I’m retired electrical engineer. I actually understand most of what you’re doing. But I was testing if you’re honest technician who takes pride in his work, or just another person trying to make quick money.”
That shocked me! But then he smiled and said “You passed the test. From today, you’re my AC guy. And I will recommend you to everyone I know.”
That day I learned something more important than any technical skill. Customers are not stupid. They might not know technical details, but they can sense honesty. They can feel when someone genuinely cares versus when someone just wants to collect money and leave.
My Promise to Every Customer
After all these years and experiences, I made myself a promise. Every customer I serve, whether they pay me 100 SAR or 1000 SAR, deserves my full attention and honest explanation. No shortcuts, no rushed work, no hiding information.
If you want someone who will not just fix your AC but also help you understand it better, give me a call at 0542528346. I might take little longer than other technicians, but you’ll get complete service and peace of mind!
Stay cool and stay curious about how things work!
Mohammad Nabeel Your Friendly Neighborhood AC Technician
