For a veteran A/C service technician, storing your HVAC van is second nature. He knows where everything is stored, each item has its own place, and when that place is empty, something fundamental to his work is missing. The experienced air conditioner repair person also figured out the best settings to make your HVAC van storage help you be as efficient and safe as possible.
If a novice service technician were your apprentice, here are a few things they could learn during a normal conversation about proper truck setup for the air conditioning industry.
Q. Why is it important to plan where all the small parts are stored in the truck?
A. Quickly locating parts, tools, and equipment leads to faster completion of service calls, satisfied customers, and increased revenue for the business. Imagine the time it would take you to dig through a large box in your truck that’s full of relays, switches, connectors, thermostat housings, pipe pieces, and everything else you need, all mixed up. If you were looking for a small part in that big box, you would be wasting a lot of time.
Customizing your HVAC van storage with smaller drawers and bins makes it easy to locate and retrieve the parts you need. It also makes it quicker to identify when you’re missing parts and when you need to refuel your van before the next service call.
Q. What is the best way to transport refrigerant tanks in a service van?
A. There are a couple of different options, and it’s a matter of preference, and how many tanks you tend to carry at the same time. Some HVAC van storage designs have tank mounts that sit on the floor of the van, securing a tank in an upright position.
Another tank storage option is a tank rack that is welded with sloped cradles, making it easy to load and unload tanks. Heavy steel tank racks can usually hold 3-4 tanks in about the same space as a vertical tank rack. As an additional storage solution, a welded tank tray rack can be installed on top of the racking system, providing another storage rack for equipment.
Both options use a strap or bungee cord to secure the tank to the storage accessory, and can often be located wherever is best for you in the truck. Most technicians place them near the doors, for easy access without having to crawl into the truck.
Q. How do I optimize the best layout for my HVAC van storage?
A. There are many customization options available. These range from bundled home solutions to pre-engineered packages already configured as a solution for the HVAC industry. The solid steel modular components can also be snapped together for an effective storage solution.
The benefit of pre-engineered commercial packs as a storage solution is that careful spacing, design and planning have incorporated all the needs of an industry specialist. An air conditioning service technician carries specific tools, parts, and equipment; and pre-engineered packages incorporate business-specific elements such as tank racks, vise holders, divided shelves, drawers and hooks into the HVAC van storage design.
Knowing how to organize the repair service van can save time and effort and ultimately money for the business. Take the time to think about the flow of parts and equipment needed for a job, and organize your HVAC van storage in a way that allows you to operate more efficiently.
