Guides by trade
- AI receptionist for HVAC companiesNo-heat and no-cool triage, gas and CO safety, heat-wave and cold-snap surges, replacement leads.
- AI receptionist for plumbersBurst pipes and sewage backups, shutoff guidance, tenant and landlord authorization, freeze-day surges.
- AI receptionist for electriciansSafety-first handling of sparks and downed lines, utility-outage screening, EV charger and panel leads.
- AI receptionist for roofing companiesStorm-day surges, leak and damage triage, insurance-claim intake, inspections batched by area.
- AI receptionist for appliance repairModel and serial intake, home warranty claims, diagnostic fee questions, fewer second visits.
What changes from trade to trade
The same receptionist is configured very differently depending on the trade. The biggest differences show up in emergencies and in the first thing a caller is told to do:
| Trade | Typical emergency | First instruction | What drives surges |
|---|---|---|---|
| HVAC | No heat or cooling with a vulnerable occupant; gas smell or CO alarm | For gas or CO: get everyone outside and call for help from there | First heat wave, first hard freeze |
| Plumbing | Burst pipe, active leak, sewage backup | Shut off the main water if it’s safe; stay away from water near electrics | Freezes, holidays |
| Electrical | Sparks, smoke, burning smell, downed line, shock | Leave the area; call 911 or the utility. Never touch equipment | Storms and outages |
| Roofing | Active leak, debris through the roof | Keep people and electronics away from the leak; never go on the roof | Hail and wind storms |
| Appliance repair | Gas smell from a range or dryer; leaking washer; fridge not cooling | For gas: leave and call from outside. For leaks: turn off the appliance’s water if safe | Less weather-driven; steadier demand |
The other big difference is ownership. Plumbing calls often come from tenants who can’t authorize work; roofing calls often involve an insurance claim; electrical “power out” calls are often a utility outage that isn’t a job at all. Each guide covers how those are handled.
Wondering what unanswered calls cost your trade? Try the missed call cost calculator. Busy season coming? Read the storm call surge playbook.
What stays the same
Across every trade, a few principles don’t change:
- Every call is answered immediately, at any hour, including during surges.
- The assistant identifies itself as an AI at the start of the call.
- Urgent and unusual calls reach a person, based on the rules you set.
- Appointments are confirmed only after your booking system accepts them.
- It never troubleshoots equipment or quotes prices you haven’t approved.
See the AI receptionist overview, how setup works or our approach to safety and human handoff.
Other service businesses
Voxenara also works for other repair services and appointment-based businesses that rely on inbound calls, such as garage doors, pest control and locksmiths. The setup follows the same process: we map your call types and escalation rules, rehearse against real scenarios, and go live on your existing number (usually with conditional call forwarding). Tell us about your business.