Should You Tip Your Ice Dam Removal Tech?

I’ve gotten that question more times than you might think, so in case you also want to know, I figured a quick word is in order.

The short answer is it’s NOT expected that you tip an ice dam removal company.

Of course, people often do tip our guys.  Nice customers + nice and professional guys + a job well done = some tips.  We don’t expect it, but we always appreciate it.

Lest you wonder, never will an ice dam guy get in one of our trucks and grumble about not getting a tip. (At least our technicians never do that.)  Anyone who’s good enough for you to consider tipping is paid fairly by the ice dam removal company.

Personally, I most enjoy tipping people who don’t expect it.  Perhaps you’re the same way.

Did their level of service blow you away?

None of my guys even wants to get tips for the sake of just getting tips. They want to get tips only when they’ve exceeded expectations.

If you don’t feel they went above and beyond for you, you should not tip them.

You’ll know if and when they excel. Those are the people who put your mind at ease.  They didn’t rush the job, but didn’t drag their knuckles.  They informed you, they educated you, and they were respectful and kind.  Maybe it was -20 degrees that day.  Maybe it was Christmas Eve.

If you feel an extraordinary level of service deserves a tip, your technician sure will appreciate it.

But just for showing up and melting your ice? Nah.

Sometimes the gesture matters more than the money does.

Don’t have any extra money to devote to a tip, but feel you should reward your ice dam removal pro somehow?

Everyone loves fresh-baked cookies or a cup of hot cocoa. I can’t speak for other companies, but all of our guys have been invited in for dinner with a customer’s family. How can we say no to that?

You can take a different approach. 

We’ve also had people tip our guys before they started the job.

Now you’re saying, “Wait a minute, Joe. You just said not to tip your guys unless they did a great job. How will I know that at the start of the job?”

Well, our guys might well ask the same thing. “How do you know what kind of service I’ll provide?’

You can just smile and say, “I bet it will be better now that I’ve just given you $100.”  That’s not a Tony Soprano move.  It’s just knowing human nature.

No matter what, we’re thankful. 

We’re simply glad you called us.  Ice dam removal may sound miserable (it can be rough at times), but we love what we do, and enjoy helping people with a problem we can solve.  We never expect tips, and we don’t think anyone in this business should, but tips (when earned) certainly make our day!

When you tip someone who doesn’t expect it, that genuine smile, glow, and an overwhelming sense of appreciation is priceless.