The Home Services Industry: More Than Just a Job, It’s a Vital Piece of American Life
And Why Wickstrom is Leading the Way in Doing It Right
When most people think about the home services industry, they picture someone fixing a leaky faucet, repairing a furnace, or unclogging a stubborn drain. But behind these everyday repairs is a massive, complex, and essential part of our economy and our way of life. From HVAC technicians to plumbers, electricians to customer service teams, the home services industry keeps homes safe, comfortable, and running the way they should.
At Wickstrom Plumbing, Heating, and Cooling, we see this industry for what it truly is. It is not just a series of trades, but a calling that combines technical skill, trust, and meaningful human connection. If you have ever wondered what it is really like to work in this field, why it matters so much, or what kind of future it offers, here is a closer look and a glimpse of how we do it differently.
An industry built on trust, skill, and people
At its core, the home services industry is about people helping people. It is about showing up when someone’s water heater fails the night before a holiday gathering, when a furnace quits during the first freeze of winter, or when a family is counting on you to keep their home safe. That kind of trust is not something most businesses get. Being invited into someone’s home means they are depending on you to protect their most personal spaces and solve some of their biggest headaches.
This is why at Wickstrom, we put so much emphasis on mindset and communication. We do not just hire people who can turn a wrench or test circuits. What sets our team apart is how we show care. Whether it is greeting customers with a smile, taking time to explain a complex repair in plain language, or putting on shoe covers before stepping inside, we want every customer to feel respected and understood. That is how we live out our promise of “Idahoan Service with a Purpose,” which is honest, personal, dedicated employees creating lasting bonds in our community.
A critical, stable part of American life
The scale of the home services industry is bigger than most people realize:
Plumbing alone is worth over $130 billion annually in the U.S.
HVAC services add another $120 billion.
Add in electrical, water treatment, appliance repair, and other specialized trades, and you have an industry that touches nearly every household in America every year.
Why This Matters for Employees
This industry offers stability that few others can match:
People will always need heat, clean water, and functioning systems.
Pipes freeze, AC units fail, drains clog—these problems ensure consistent demand.
That demand creates job security that isn’t easily found elsewhere.
Wickstrom’s Perspective
At Wickstrom, we’ve seen firsthand the value of this stability:
It’s not just about surviving tough economies or rising costs.
It’s about creating careers where employees can:
Buy homes
Raise families
Build something they’re proud of
All while knowing the need for skilled, caring professionals will always remain strong.
More than emergency repairs
A lot of homeowners only think to call when something breaks. But the home services industry is evolving quickly. Today, companies like Wickstrom spend just as much time on preventative maintenance, smart home integrations, and efficiency upgrades as we do on emergency repairs.
Our technicians are not just learning how to fix broken systems. They are trained to perform energy audits, install smart thermostats, and educate customers on long-term solutions that save money and extend equipment life. This means more chances to solve problems before they become emergencies, fewer panicked calls in the middle of the night, and stronger relationships with customers who trust us for the long haul.
It also means our team members are constantly learning. Whether it is new HVAC technologies, advanced water filtration, or modern customer management software, working at Wickstrom means always building your skill set and staying ahead of the curve.
Why customer experience matters so much
Authors like Ron Kaufman (Uplifting Service) and Joseph Pine & James Gilmore (The Experience Economy) show that customers across every industry (including home services) make decisions based on how businesses make them feel.
Homeowners notice the little things:
Whether you put on boot covers or track mud across their floors
If you take time to walk them through a quote or rush them off the phone
How you back out of their driveway carefully versus speeding away
These small actions shape trust and lasting impressions.
How Wickstrom Approaches It
At Wickstrom, we train for customer experience on purpose.
Our onboarding program, Wickstrom Way – Employee Onboarding, teaches:
Mindset
Communication
Ownership
Technical skills
By the time a new hire gets their van keys, they’ve already spent weeks learning how to care for customers—not just how to do the work.
This approach transforms one-time transactions into long-term relationships.
A changing workforce and new opportunities
For years, schools pushed college as the only respectable option. Meanwhile, the skilled trades quietly built some of the most reliable, well-paying careers in the country. Now groups like Mike Rowe Works are helping flip that narrative. Through ideas like the S.W.E.A.T. Pledge, which stands for Skill and Work Ethic Aren’t Taboo, more people are discovering the pride that comes from working with your hands, solving real problems, and building something tangible.
Wickstrom has been ahead of this curve. We actively create pathways for people from all backgrounds to step into the trades. Our three-week onboarding program mixes personal development, ride-alongs across different departments, and focused technical training. Even someone with little experience can start building a meaningful career here. We believe if you show up willing to learn and take ownership, we can teach you the rest.
Innovation is shaping the future of home services
The industry is also changing in ways that keep it exciting. Smart home systems, ultra-efficient HVAC units, advanced plumbing solutions, and predictive maintenance tools are turning what was once a purely reactive business into something proactive and technology driven.
At Wickstrom, this means constant opportunities for our technicians and office team to grow. From learning to install the latest smart systems to using advanced scheduling and CRM tools that keep homeowners informed, our team is always gaining new skills. This keeps the job interesting and helps us continue leading the market in how we serve our customers.
What separates a good company from a great one?
With thousands of home service companies out there, the difference isn’t just price or response time, it’s culture.
The Wickstrom Difference
At Wickstrom, we live by principles that guide how we work and how we serve:
Extreme Ownership – Everyone, from the office to the field, takes responsibility for outcomes.
Mindset & Humility – We teach pride in doing things the right way, not just the easy way.
Thorough Onboarding – New hires learn how their role connects to the larger company mission.
Ongoing Growth – We invest in leadership training, cross-department learning, and recognition well beyond day one.
Why It Matters
This commitment creates a team that takes better care of customers and builds a reputation that can’t be bought with ads or discounts.
Why it matters to employees, customers, and the community
Home services may not always seem glamorous, but it is absolutely essential. Without skilled, dedicated tradespeople, families would lose heating on the coldest nights, suffer water damage from burst pipes, or live with unsafe systems that put their homes at risk.
At Wickstrom, we take pride in knowing we are often the reason a family can gather for dinner in a warm living room or the reason a customer can finally sleep easy knowing their plumbing will hold through the night. That is real, meaningful work. The kind you can go home and feel genuinely good about.
The home services industry is bigger, more dynamic, and more critical than most people realize. It offers stable, well-paying careers for anyone willing to show up with the right attitude and put in the work. It blends technical problem-solving with personal trust and human connection. It is growing with technology in ways that keep it fresh year after year.
Most importantly, it is a field where you see the results of your work immediately. When you finish a repair, install a new system, or help a customer understand how to protect their home, you know you made a real difference.
Ready to be part of something bigger than just a job? At Wickstrom, we’re building careers, investing in our community, and proving there’s a better way to serve Idaho homeowners. Join us and discover how the Wickstrom Way can help you thrive.