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Why a broken AC feels like grief
Format: Post-call
Runtime: ~8 minutes
Source: Bereavement psychology , Bowlby attachment theory; grief and executive function impairment (Parkes, 1972; Stroebe & Schut, 1999)
There are calls that stay with you not because anything went wrong but because you understand, partway through, that the call was about something larger than the system.
This was one of those.
Her name was on the account but the account went back twenty-two years. The original install, two replacements, three or four major repairs over the decades. I hadn't done all of those myself , some were before my time here , but the record was long and continuous. One house. One system. Twenty-two years.
When she opened the door she looked like she'd been managing something heavy for a while and was very carefully not showing it. She was maybe seventy, maybe a little more. Well-dressed. House immaculate. She smiled and said come in and showed me to the utility room.
I noticed the photo on the hallway wall as I passed. Him and her. Younger, but recognizably them. The kind of photo that's been there so long it's become part of the house.
The system needed a blower motor and a new thermostat. Neither was trivial, but the work was straightforward. I explained what I found and she listened carefully and when I was done she said: what do you think I should do?
Not which of these options is better. What do you think I should do.
I've heard that sentence a lot over forty-five years. Usually it means someone wants their instinct confirmed. But sometimes it means something else. Sometimes it means: I don't have the person I used to make these decisions with, and I'm not sure how to be the only person in the room.
I looked at her face and I knew which one this was.
She mentioned him before I asked. She said her husband had always handled this sort of thing and he'd passed in February. She said it the way people say things that have been said enough times to have a shape now. A shape but still weight.
February. It was June.
Give Us A Shout
Thanks for tuning in to Hartzell's Heat & Air, your trusted HVAC experts in Oklahoma and beyond. From Kingfisher to coast-to-coast consulting, we design, install, and maintain smart, efficient systems that deliver year-round comfort.
We're employee-owned, family-run, and powered by 45+ years of experience. Whether it's AI-powered thermostats, geothermal systems, or classic tune-ups, we deliver upfront pricing, expert care, and warranties that back it all up.
🛠️ Book Online:
https://book.housecallpro.com/book/Hartzells-Heat--Air/4a569038b3dc460daf2d5f6497b18351?v2=true
🌐 www.hartzellsheatair.com
📞 (405) 375-4822
🚛 Trane Comfort Specialist • Mitsubishi Diamond Dealer • ClimateMaster Elite
🛡️ VIP Comfort Club • Remote Monitoring • Extended Warranties
📲 Follow us for tips, updates, and real-world installs:
YouTube: @hartzellsheatair6003
X: https://x.com/HartzellsHVAC
Facebook: facebook.com/hartzellsheatair
LinkedIn: Dave Hartzell
Built on trust. Backed by warranty. Designed for comfort.
View all episodes
By Dave Hartzell's Heat & Air - Kingfisher,OKFormat: Post-call
Runtime: ~8 minutes
Source: Bereavement psychology , Bowlby attachment theory; grief and executive function impairment (Parkes, 1972; Stroebe & Schut, 1999)
There are calls that stay with you not because anything went wrong but because you understand, partway through, that the call was about something larger than the system.
This was one of those.
Her name was on the account but the account went back twenty-two years. The original install, two replacements, three or four major repairs over the decades. I hadn't done all of those myself , some were before my time here , but the record was long and continuous. One house. One system. Twenty-two years.
When she opened the door she looked like she'd been managing something heavy for a while and was very carefully not showing it. She was maybe seventy, maybe a little more. Well-dressed. House immaculate. She smiled and said come in and showed me to the utility room.
I noticed the photo on the hallway wall as I passed. Him and her. Younger, but recognizably them. The kind of photo that's been there so long it's become part of the house.
The system needed a blower motor and a new thermostat. Neither was trivial, but the work was straightforward. I explained what I found and she listened carefully and when I was done she said: what do you think I should do?
Not which of these options is better. What do you think I should do.
I've heard that sentence a lot over forty-five years. Usually it means someone wants their instinct confirmed. But sometimes it means something else. Sometimes it means: I don't have the person I used to make these decisions with, and I'm not sure how to be the only person in the room.
I looked at her face and I knew which one this was.
She mentioned him before I asked. She said her husband had always handled this sort of thing and he'd passed in February. She said it the way people say things that have been said enough times to have a shape now. A shape but still weight.
February. It was June.
Give Us A Shout
Thanks for tuning in to Hartzell's Heat & Air, your trusted HVAC experts in Oklahoma and beyond. From Kingfisher to coast-to-coast consulting, we design, install, and maintain smart, efficient systems that deliver year-round comfort.
We're employee-owned, family-run, and powered by 45+ years of experience. Whether it's AI-powered thermostats, geothermal systems, or classic tune-ups, we deliver upfront pricing, expert care, and warranties that back it all up.
🛠️ Book Online:
https://book.housecallpro.com/book/Hartzells-Heat--Air/4a569038b3dc460daf2d5f6497b18351?v2=true
🌐 www.hartzellsheatair.com
📞 (405) 375-4822
🚛 Trane Comfort Specialist • Mitsubishi Diamond Dealer • ClimateMaster Elite
🛡️ VIP Comfort Club • Remote Monitoring • Extended Warranties
📲 Follow us for tips, updates, and real-world installs:
YouTube: @hartzellsheatair6003
X: https://x.com/HartzellsHVAC
Facebook: facebook.com/hartzellsheatair
LinkedIn: Dave Hartzell
Built on trust. Backed by warranty. Designed for comfort.