A Dirty Air Filter Can Teach You About Life and Maintenance

I was surprised at the response from customers to the last edition of the newsletter. The feedback came in faster than I expected! My trip to the Capitol turned out to be something clients asked me about … and cracked some jokes about. They even asked questions as if I were suddenly running for office. That part made me laugh because it couldn’t be further from reality. Sitting through long meetings, especially school board or education board sessions, sounds absolutely draining. I’d rather be in a dental chair trying to fall asleep than sit through hours of that kind of discussion.

Teaching is something I don’t talk about enough, but it’s one of the parts of my work I really enjoy. I thrive on those moments when someone finally gets it, the shift when something clicks. It shows up in all kinds of people. Sometimes, it’s a high school student, or other times, it’s an adult looking for a career change. Sometimes, it’s someone who is just tired of working in food service and wants something more stable requiring real skills.

I especially enjoy open house events and student tours. There’s something meaningful about watching parents and students walk through together, trying to figure out what direction makes sense for their future. It feels like a turning point for a lot of them, even if it doesn’t fully register in the moment.

I tend to keep things simple when I’m teaching, so I use examples people can relate to instantly. One of my favorites is asking who brushed their teeth that morning. Most people laugh and raise their hands, even the ones who might be stretching the truth a little.

That’s where I build the connection. People brush their teeth to care for their teeth and keep them healthier longer. Then I compare that to something like an air filter in a furnace. I’ll hold up a dirty filter so people can see it for themselves. The reaction is always the same … nobody wants to breathe through something like that.

Maintenance is something people tend to overlook until something breaks. I’ve had customers tell me they don’t think a brand new system needs to be checked. I usually compare it to taking a baby to a pediatrician … just because everything looks fine doesn’t mean everything is peachy.

New HVAC systems and equipment still need regular care, and ignoring it is like assuming it will always run perfectly on its own. It won’t. Systems wear down, and small issues turn into bigger ones when you ignore them.

I also don’t believe in pushing the most expensive systems just because they exist. Higher efficiency can sound appealing, but it doesn’t always translate into real value for the customer. I’d rather recommend something practical that performs well without creating unnecessary costs or frustration later!

One thing I notice during tours is how much people want clear answers. They crave for things to be either right or wrong, simple or fixed. Real-world systems don’t always work that way, and sometimes the answer depends on context, which is what throws people off.

Part of what I try to teach is that uncertainty isn’t a problem to avoid; it’s something to understand. Learning doesn’t stop when the tour ends or when the conversation shifts. It keeps going long after that.

Your response to the last newsletter reminded me that people are open to these kinds of ideas when they’re presented in a real, relatable way. That’s what makes sharing them worth it.