Know it All's, CAN Know it All; How to be an Expert Installer

What manufacturer or warranty center has not heard this, "I have been doing this for (insert number) years, I know what I'm doing?" This common refrain is usually followed by a very expensive repair or replacement of a brand new piece of equipment which' you guessed it, was installed incorrectly. Whether a surgeon, pilot, mechanic or pool and spa technician, procedures change.

 

Imagine what has changed in our field over the last 20 years. Such things like Virginia Graeme Baker Act, Energy requirements and combustion efficiencies, codes and standards to name few have transformed manufacturing, products, installation requirements and forced massive investments from all spectrum's of our industry in training. If we resist acceptance of the new, opting instead for the way we've always done it, we sell ourselves short. The result of our unwillingness to adapt, keep current, or read up on manuals or relevant books for our profession are at the least, easily avoidable mistakes. Our mistakes then reflect poorly on us, our profession and industry.  

 

Many of us pride ourselves as being experts in our trade and when we don't stay current, we set ourselves up for failure. Our facade of knowing it all can damage equipment or worse and more tragic, injure or kill someone. Such events are detrimental for our industry and prevents us from policing ourselves when government steps in to make corrections we should have made ourselves. We also impose more cost when our mistakes force manufactures to spend more money trying to support us, damage customer confidence in the pool & spa industry products and services and exposes us to liabilities that can cripple our businesses through higher insurance cost, legislation and higher prices for products. Its amazing how ten minutes to read a manual, 2 hours to attend a class or one day to get hands on training can have such an impact when we negate our willingness to do things right. 

 

It seems futile to ask highly skilled, seasoned professionals to read the manual before installing equipment, but we must.

 

Complacency is a disease that permeates all industries and must be acknowledged, countered and avoided. Here are a few tips to keep up to date on installation procedures, avoid unnecessary repairs and ensuring products are installed it is designed to operate, run efficiently, properly and safely:  

1. Always review and have new equipment installation manuals with us during installations. 
2. We must understand Manufacturers improve products, procedures and processes regularly and we need to know what changes have been made. 
3. Always refer to the installation manual when installing new equipment.
4. Use a checklist for installations and make sure we use it. This assures nothing is overlooked. Even the simplest of step can have dire effects on the efficiency and safe operation of the equipment. 
5. If we don't have a checklist, refer to the installation manual and extrapolate information to formulate a checklist to use for every installation performed. Keep it current.
6. Use tools, resources and other experts in our field to answer questions we have related to the equipment installation, use and maintenance. 
7. If we can't answer the question WHY, you don't know how.
8. Err on the side of caution when performing installations and do not assume what we are doing it the right way, know it. 
9. Just because it fits, doesn't make it right. 
10. Verify, check and double check our work, all the steps on the checklist are complete and all the specifications required are met before operating the new equipment.

Being a highly efficient, well trained, seasoned installer does not mean we know it all and even if we did, what we know often changes. We should keep current, review manuals and follow instructions as they are written or risk our credibility, customer confidence in products and keep egg off our face. Let's avoid mistakes with a little preparation before an equipment installation.

 

With the manual in hand, rather than us proclaiming how many years we've been doing what we do, we can say, "I did it by the book." This is the new and only way to be a true know it all. 

 

 

 

Carl Stiggins, Dale's Gas, Pool, Spa & Backyard Leisure Sales Manager, carl@dalesgas.com