Jeff Allen Owner of Allen Service, Plumbing, Heating, and Air

Allen Service, Plumbing, Heating & Air has been a part of the Northern Colorado business landscape for 59 years.

In my interview with business owner Jeff Allen, of Allen Service, he shares his decades of small business experience on:

• Operating as an ‘essential business’
• Employee safety and COVID-19
• Zero contact in-home services
• Indoor air quality
• Remote working for employees

Yep... Jeff and I covered a lot of ground…

Let's pivot to profit!

Interview | Jeff Allen, Owner of Allen Service, Plumbing, Heating, and Air

Jeff, his brother Mike, and the team at Allen Service, Plumbing, Heating, and Air, have been operating as an ‘essential business’ through the current crisis. A small business succeeding during the COVID-19 pandemic, Jeff and his team prioritize employee and customer safety while still providing quality services. 

I’ve always thought that heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems in our homes were for comfort and convenience. I learned from Jeff that our indoor air often has more contaminants than the outside air and that modern HVAC systems can clean the indoor air we breathe, making it safer. They have been able to not only operate during the current crisis but offer products that can reduce the contaminants and contagions in our homes.

As you can imagine, after nearly 60 years in business Allen Service has been through a lot, and Jeff shared his experience and practical action you can adapt to your business situation.

Contact Jeff & Allen Service

Allen Service, Plumbing, Heating, and Air

“The name you know and trust.”

970-286-0359

https://www.allenservice.com/

A Brief History of Allen Service in Northern Colorado

Jeff introduced us to Allen Service as the name you know and trust in plumbing, heating, and air in Northern Colorado, serving residential (non-commercial) customers. After nearly 60 years as a local small business, it was interesting to hear how and why they chose to move away from commercial customers.

One of the key takeaways was they have optimized their business, processes, and training to focus on and deliver the best possible service for a specific customer segment. By concentrating their efforts, they have been able to grow their business consistently while maintaining high-quality service.

Allen Service as an Essential Business

Colorado classified the plumbing, heating, and air conditioning industry as ‘essential’ during the economic shutdown. This designation allowed Jeff and his team to hone their business processes to deliver critical services during this challenging time in a way that has minimized the risk to Allen’s customers as well as their team members.

As we all spend more time in our homes to reduce our exposure to the pandemic, we become more aware of issues related to our HVAC or plumbing systems, which Jeff and his team can address safely.

Additionally, as I mentioned earlier, I learned that our indoor air quality is often lower than the air quality outside. There are modern solutions that can reduce allergens, contaminants, and even contagions from our home environment. 

Zero Contact

When the pandemic began to impact business operations in the US significantly, Jeff and his brother Mike made adjustments to their work processes to create a ‘zero contact’ service. They achieved this by adding additional personal protective equipment (PPE) such as masks to their existing practices.

Customer Safety & COVID-19

Allen technicians have a defined procedure that Jeff details during our conversation that allows them to contact the customer and perform the service in a way the eliminates contact between the technician and the customer and minimizes the technician’s impact on the home.

Employee Safety & COVID-19

While keeping zero contact between the customer and service technician is an excellent step to keeping employees safe, the management team at Allen Service has also taken steps in their offices to reduce employee interaction and possible contamination. Jeff and Mike’s extra precautions have reduced the risk of transmitting the virus among their team with excellent results.

Indoor Air Quality

I’ve known Jeff for a while, and I knew he would have a lot of great experience and expertise to share. I didn’t realize that there is technology available to us through our HVAC systems that will help remove the allergens, contaminants, and contagions from our indoor air. Jeff shared that by installing these economical add-ons to homes, their team has an immediate impact on the health and quality of life of Allen Service customers.

Managing a Remote Workforce

Many of the Allen Service team members are now working remotely to minimize the risk of exposure. While this takes some getting used to, it has provided the opportunity for Jeff and his team to experiment with operating processes that offer benefits that employees enjoy, improving the work experience for his team.

Actions & Results

Jeff and Mike Allen have demonstrated that small businesses can create ways to operate safely during a pandemic. By taking stock of the facts, they developed policies and processes that keep their customers and team safe while still delivering the quality service northern Colorado expects from Allen Service, Plumbing, Heating, and Air.

• Look at the facts, not the fear.
• Identify how your business can have a meaningful impact.
• Take care of your customers and your team.

Wrapping Up Our Interview With Jeff Allen, Owner of Allen Service

Do you have an innovative solution to a COVID19 problem or another difficult business situation? Why not email me at [email protected] to be a guest on the show share your message!

Click the link above or use your favorite podcatcher to listen to the full episode.

Thanks for watching or listening!

Up and to the Right is live weekly - check the Podcast Page for details about when we’re live and where!

You can subscribe to the Up and to the Right podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, TuneIn, and now there’s even a playlist on the Beyond 50 Percent YouTube channel!

Additional Resources

Stay Informed

• https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/introduction-indoor-air-quality
• Colorado Essential Business Information
• Ideas from Inc.com for managing your remote team!