← Back to Blogindustry-specific-guides# HVAC Company Marketing: Show Up When Customers Need You
Nobody searches for an HVAC company on a pleasant 72-degree day. They search when their AC dies in July or their furnace stops in January. That search happens on a phone, it happens fast, and it happens with urgency.
The HVAC company that shows up first on Google with strong reviews and a clickable phone number gets the call. The one on page two gets nothing.
HVAC marketing online is about being visible at the exact moment a homeowner needs you. This guide shows you how.
## How Homeowners Find HVAC Companies
Understanding the customer journey shapes your entire marketing approach.
**Emergency searches are your bread and butter.** "AC not working," "furnace stopped working," "HVAC repair near me." These searches happen when something breaks. The homeowner is stressed, uncomfortable, and ready to hire the first company that looks trustworthy.
**Planned maintenance searches happen seasonally.** "AC tune-up," "furnace maintenance," "HVAC inspection." These searches spike before summer and winter. Homeowners are less urgent but still looking for a reliable company.
**Replacement searches are high-value.** "New AC unit cost," "furnace replacement," "HVAC installation." These customers are researching a major purchase. They compare multiple companies, read reviews extensively, and check websites thoroughly.
Your online presence needs to capture all three types of searches.
## Google Business Profile: Your Emergency Lifeline
When someone searches "HVAC repair near me" on their phone, Google shows the map pack first. Three businesses with ratings, reviews, and distance. Your Google Business Profile determines whether you appear here.
**Profile setup for HVAC companies:**
- Primary category: "HVAC Contractor"
- Secondary categories: "Air Conditioning Repair Service," "Heating Contractor," "Furnace Repair Service," "Air Duct Cleaning Service"
- Service area: list every city and zip code you serve
- Hours: include emergency/after-hours availability if you offer it
- Phone number: your main dispatch line
- Website link
**Optimize for emergency visibility:**
- **Highlight 24/7 availability.** If you offer emergency service, mention it in your business description, in a Google Post, and in your profile attributes. Homeowners with a broken furnace at 11 PM filter for businesses open now.
- **List every service you provide.** Use the Services section: AC repair, furnace repair, heat pump installation, ductwork, indoor air quality, thermostat installation, maintenance plans. Each listed service helps you match specific searches.
- **Upload photos regularly.** Your trucks, your technicians in uniform, before-and-after installations, equipment photos. 30+ photos minimum, adding new ones weekly.
- **Post seasonal content.** Before summer: "Time for an AC tune-up." Before winter: "Is your furnace ready?" During extreme weather: "Emergency service available 24/7." These posts appear on your profile and catch homeowners at the right moment.
## Reviews: The Trust Shortcut
HVAC work is expensive and invisible to most homeowners. They do not understand refrigerant levels or heat exchangers. They choose based on trust. Reviews are how they decide who to trust.
**Why review volume matters for HVAC:**
A homeowner comparing two HVAC companies sees one with 35 reviews at 4.6 stars and another with 180 reviews at 4.7 stars. The company with 180 reviews feels established, proven, and safer. Volume signals reliability.
**Build reviews into your process:**
- After every completed service call, your technician hands the customer a card: "Thanks for choosing [Company]. A quick Google review helps other homeowners find us." Include a QR code.
- 2 hours after the service call, send an automated text: "How was your service today? If you were happy, a Google review means a lot to us: [link]"
- After major installations (new AC, new furnace), follow up with a personal call from the owner. Then ask for the review. Big jobs produce detailed, glowing reviews.
**Respond to every review.** Mention the specific service: "Glad we got your AC running again before the weekend heat, Sarah." This shows future readers you handle their exact problem.
[How does your HVAC company look online? Get a free grade at GradeMyBiz](https://grademybiz.vercel.app).
## Your HVAC Website: Built for Conversions
Your website serves one primary purpose: convert visitors into phone calls or form submissions. Everything else is secondary.
**Essential elements:**
- **Phone number huge and clickable at the top of every page.** HVAC is an emergency business. A homeowner with no heat in January does not want to fill out a form. They want to call now.
- **"Emergency Service" or "Same-Day Service" prominently displayed.** If you offer it, say it loud. This is a major differentiator.
- **Service pages for every offering.** Dedicated pages for AC repair, furnace repair, installation, maintenance, ductwork, and indoor air quality. Each page targets different searches and explains what the service includes.
- **Service area page.** List every city, town, and neighborhood you serve. This helps Google match you with local searches.
- **Pricing transparency.** Offer starting prices or ranges for common services. "AC tune-up starting at $89" or "Diagnostic fee: $69 (waived with repair)." Homeowners appreciate knowing what to expect.
- **Financing options.** For major installations, display financing information. A new HVAC system costs thousands. Showing financing options keeps price-sensitive customers from leaving your site.
**Speed and mobile performance are non-negotiable.** Someone searching for emergency HVAC repair on a phone will not wait 5 seconds for your site to load. Compress images, minimize code, and test your mobile speed regularly. Under 3 seconds is the target.
**Add trust signals throughout:**
- Licenses and certifications (EPA, NATE, manufacturer certifications)
- Insurance and bonding information
- Years in business
- Number of customers served
- Manufacturer partnerships (Carrier, Trane, Lennox, etc.)
- BBB rating
- Warranties on parts and labor
## Seasonal Content Strategy
HVAC is inherently seasonal. Your content calendar should follow the seasons.
**Spring (March-May):**
- "Is Your AC Ready for Summer? A Pre-Season Checklist"
- Promote AC tune-up specials
- Google Posts about scheduling maintenance before the rush
**Summer (June-August):**
- "AC Not Cooling? Common Causes and Quick Fixes"
- Emergency service availability posts
- Tips for reducing energy bills during heat waves
**Fall (September-November):**
- "Furnace Maintenance Checklist Before Winter"
- Promote heating system tune-ups
- Content about preparing homes for cold weather
**Winter (December-February):**
- "Furnace Not Working? What to Check Before You Call"
- Emergency heating service posts
- Content about heat pumps and energy efficiency
Publish these pages on your website and share them on Google Posts and social media. They capture seasonal search traffic and position your company as the knowledgeable local option.
## Local SEO for HVAC Companies
Local SEO determines whether your company appears for "near me" and city-specific searches.
**NAP consistency:** Your company name, address, and phone number must match exactly across every online listing. Check Google, Yelp, Facebook, BBB, Angi, HomeAdvisor, and your website. Fix any inconsistencies.
**Get listed on these directories:**
- Google Business Profile
- Yelp
- Angi
- HomeAdvisor
- BBB
- Facebook Business Page
- Nextdoor Business
- Thumbtack
- Your local Chamber of Commerce
- Manufacturer dealer locators (if applicable)
**Create city-specific pages.** If you serve multiple cities, build a page for each: "HVAC Services in [City]." Include the city name in the title, describe the area briefly, and list your services available there. This helps you rank for "HVAC [city name]" searches.
**Earn local backlinks.** Sponsor local sports teams, participate in community events, partner with home builders or real estate agents. Each link from a local website strengthens your local search rankings.
## Google Local Services Ads
For HVAC companies, Google Local Services Ads (LSAs) deliver some of the highest-quality leads available online.
**Why LSAs work for HVAC:**
- They appear at the very top of Google, above all other results
- You pay per lead, not per click
- The "Google Guaranteed" badge builds instant trust
- Leads are phone calls and messages from people who need service now
HVAC leads through LSAs typically cost $25-$75 each. A single AC installation job covers months of LSA spend.
To qualify, you need to pass Google's background check and license verification. The process takes 2-4 weeks but the results are worth the wait.
## Social Media for HVAC Companies
Social media is secondary to Google and reviews for HVAC companies. Nobody scrolls Instagram looking for a furnace technician. But a basic social presence supports your overall visibility.
**Facebook is the platform that matters.** Post 2-3 times per week: seasonal tips, before-and-after installation photos, team spotlights, community involvement, and special offers. Facebook is where homeowners share recommendations with neighbors.
**Nextdoor drives real referrals.** Homeowners frequently ask for HVAC recommendations on Nextdoor. Claim your business page and encourage satisfied customers to recommend you there.
**Skip Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter.** Unless you genuinely enjoy creating content for those platforms, your time is better spent improving your Google presence and getting more reviews.
## Maintenance Plans: The Retention Tool
Maintenance plans are not directly a marketing channel, but they are a retention tool that feeds your online marketing.
Customers on maintenance plans visit twice per year. Each visit is an opportunity to:
- Ask for a review
- Get referrals
- Upsell needed repairs before they become emergencies
- Build the kind of long-term relationship that generates word-of-mouth
Promote your maintenance plan on your website and in post-service follow-ups. "Join our Comfort Club for priority scheduling, discounts on repairs, and two tune-ups per year."
## Track Your Marketing Performance
Monitor these numbers monthly:
- Google Business Profile views, calls, and direction requests
- New reviews added and average rating
- Website traffic from organic search
- Phone call volume (total and from new customers)
- Cost per lead from paid advertising
- Revenue by lead source
Most HVAC companies see Google Business Profile as their top lead source. If your GBP performance is flat, focus on getting more reviews and posting more frequently.
## Your HVAC Marketing Online Checklist
- Google Business Profile complete with all categories and services
- Emergency/24-7 availability highlighted on GBP
- 30+ photos on Google, adding weekly
- Weekly Google Posts (seasonal tips, service reminders)
- Review request system (technician cards, automated texts)
- Respond to all reviews within 48 hours
- Fast, mobile-friendly website with prominent phone number
- Service pages for each offering
- City-specific service area pages
- Trust signals displayed (licenses, certifications, warranties)
- Listed on 10+ directories with consistent NAP
- Seasonal content published and promoted
- Google Local Services Ads running (when budget allows)
- Facebook page active with 2-3 posts per week
- Maintenance plan promoted on website and in follow-ups
- Monthly tracking of GBP insights, reviews, and call volume
##
For more on this topic, read [Social Media for Small Business: Which Platforms Matter](/blog/social-media-small-business-guide).
For more on this topic, read [Is Your Website Mobile-Friendly? Here's How to Check](/blog/is-your-website-mobile-friendly).Grade Your HVAC Company
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