What it does on an HVAC call
It opens by saying it's an AI and that the call is recorded, then asks what your dispatcher would: is the system blowing warm air or not running at all, is anyone at home at risk in the heat, is water leaking from the air handler, what's the address, and is the customer on a maintenance plan.
Real emergencies go straight to your on-call tech with a summary and the recording. Routine calls (tune-ups, quotes for a new system, thermostat questions) get booked into an open slot or queued for the morning. Every call is logged with a summary and the recording.
If you run Google Local Services Ads, there's a new reason to answer. Since October 1, 2026, Google Local Services Ads charge for missed-call leads when the caller stays on the line for more than 20 seconds, with a few exceptions (Whitespark, Q3 2026). An unanswered call can now cost you the lead and the fee. Your monthly report shows those calls.
Answering is half of it; being named is the other. See the AI visibility check for home service companies.