How to Get More 5-Star Reviews for Your Heating Business

If you're running a heating business in the UK, your Google reviews might be the difference between a full diary and a quiet phone.

It's not complicated. When someone's boiler breaks down at 7am in January, they search "heating engineer near me" and call one of the top three businesses they see. Almost always, they pick the one with the most reviews and the best rating.

The good news? Getting more 5-star reviews isn't about luck. It's about having a simple system that makes it easy for happy customers to share their experience.

Why Google Reviews Matter for HVAC Businesses

Let's look at the numbers:

• 82% of homeowners consider Google reviews essential when selecting a contractor
• 87% of potential clients will skip right past you if your rating is below 4 stars
• Google receives 6x more reviews than its three nearest competitors combined
• 80%+ of HVAC website clicks come from local searches in the Google Map Pack

Reviews aren't just nice to have. They directly affect whether you show up in searches at all. Google uses review quantity, quality, and recency as key ranking factors for local SEO.

How Reviews Affect Your Google Rankings

Google looks at five main things when deciding which businesses to show in the Map Pack:

HVAC contractors with 200+ mostly 5-star reviews almost always outrank competitors who have just 10 old reviews. It's not even close.

The Simple System for Getting More Reviews

Here's what actually works:

1. Ask at the Right Moment

The best time to ask for a review is immediately after completing a job, when the customer is happy and the experience is fresh. Don't wait days or weeks.

Your engineer should ask before leaving: "Would you mind leaving us a quick Google review? It really helps other customers find us."

2. Make It Ridiculously Easy

Most people won't leave a review if it takes more than 30 seconds. Remove all friction:

• Create a short link to your Google review page
• Print it on business cards or leave-behind cards
• Send it via text message right after the job
• Include it in your invoice or completion email

You can get your direct review link from your Google Business Profile under "Ask for reviews". Google provides step-by-step instructions in their official help documentation.

3. Automate Follow-ups

Set up automated text messages or emails that go out within 24 hours of completing a job. Keep the message simple and personal:

4. Respond to Every Single Review

This is where most heating businesses drop the ball. Responding to reviews does two things:

• It improves your Google rankings (seriously)
• It shows potential customers you actually care

The data backs this up: 100% review response rate leads to a 16.4% increase in conversions.

Keep responses genuine and brief. Thank them for their business, mention something specific from the job if you can.

Handling Negative Reviews

Negative reviews happen to everyone. What matters is how you handle them.

Most negative reviews for HVAC businesses fall into four categories:

• Delays or timing issues
• Poor communication
• Unexpected pricing
• Responsiveness problems

When you get a negative review:

1. Respond quickly, within 24 hours if possible
2. Acknowledge their frustration, don't get defensive
3. Offer to make it right, take the conversation offline
4. Keep it professional, future customers will read your response

A well-handled negative review can actually build trust. Potential customers know everyone gets the occasional complaint. They're looking to see if you deal with problems professionally.

The Impact of Reviews on Your Bottom Line

Here's what the data shows:

For a heating business doing 10 jobs a week, even a 2.8% improvement in conversions could mean an extra job or two every month. Over a year, that adds up to thousands of pounds.

Beyond Google: Other Review Platforms

While Google is the priority, having reviews across multiple platforms builds broader authority:

• Google Business Profile, your #1 priority, handles most local search traffic
• Checkatrade, trusted by UK homeowners, good for credibility
• Facebook, useful for local reach and social proof
• Trustpilot, less relevant for local services but still builds trust

Focus your energy on Google first. Once you've got a solid review profile there, branch out to others.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Buying fake reviews, Google detects this and will penalise or suspend your profile
• Reviewing yourself, same problem, and it's obvious to customers
• Ignoring reviews, especially negative ones, makes you look like you don't care
• Waiting too long to ask, the longer you wait, the less likely they'll bother
• Making it complicated, every extra step loses potential reviews

Frequently Asked Questions

Getting Started Today

You don't need complicated software or expensive tools. Start with these three steps:

1. Get your review link from Google Business Profile
2. Tell your team to ask every happy customer for a review before leaving
3. Set a reminder to respond to all new reviews weekly

That's it. Do those three things consistently, and you'll see more reviews coming in within weeks.

Reviews are free marketing. Every 5-star review is a testimonial that works for you 24/7.