Hvac Know It All Podcast

In this episode of the HVAC Know It All Podcast, host Gary McCreadie continues the mental health series with guest Adam Gordon, Director of Service and Maintenance, Mechanical Division at Orella Group Inc. In Part 1, Adam shares his life story and speaks openly about the trauma he has faced, including witnessing a close friend die in a tragic accident, losing family members, and making the difficult decision to remove life support from his father. He explains how years of grief, family struggles, and seeking attention shaped many of his actions in the past, both online and in his personal life. Adam also talks about how therapy helped him better understand himself and begin working through his trauma. Together, they discuss the importance of purpose in the trades, learning from difficult experiences, and creating space for honest conversations about mental health. This episode continues the mental health series by focusing on the struggles many people in the trades quietly carry. Adam joins Gary to share the

In this episode of the HVAC Know It All Business Edition Podcast, co-hosts Gary McCreadie and Furman Haynes from WorkHero sit down with Austin Wendel, Owner at Accounting 4 Trades. Austin shares valuable insights on managing cash flow, invoicing efficiently, and using smart marketing strategies to grow a successful trade business. From service agreements to financial systems, this episode covers key strategies that every small business owner should consider for long-term success. With extensive experience in the HVAC and trades industry, Austin shares his expertise on cash flow management, financial systems, and operational efficiency, all crucial to growing a sustainable business.   Expect to Learn: The importance of quick invoicing for maintaining healthy cash flow How to handle unpaid invoices and effectively collect payments Marketing strategies for acquiring your first customers Setting up financial systems that work for your trade business The benefits of service agreements and creating lo

In this episode of the HVAC Know It All Podcast, host Gary McCreadie talks with Christopher Rystedt, Technical Sales and Trainer at Airzone Control, about air distribution and zoning with VRF and inverter systems. In Part 2, they discuss common applications such as hotels and residential homes, and how zoning can work with multiple brands and system types. Christopher explains how modern zoning avoids bypass dampers by adjusting fan speed and system capacity based on demand. They also cover ventilation modes, zone weighting, and how airflow is balanced across different spaces. The conversation wraps up with setup tips, training options, and how zoning can help manage refrigerant limits and reduce system size and cost. Gary and Christopher discuss how modern HVAC zoning systems work with VRF and inverter equipment in both commercial and residential applications. They explain how systems can control multiple zones or units from one platform, even across different brands. Christopher describes how proper duct de

In this episode of the HVAC Know It All Podcast, host Gary McCreadie is joined by Christopher Rystedt, Technical Sales and Trainer at Airzone Control, to discuss VRF and VRV zoning and how it applies to air distribution systems. Christopher explains how zoning can be used with inverter-driven equipment to deliver precise comfort by controlling airflow to individual spaces using modulating dampers and smart controls. The conversation covers how Airzone integrates with over 200 HVAC brands through manufacturer-supported communication protocols, allowing full system functionality without losing performance. Gary and Christopher also explore system design, control strategies, and how modern zoning helps reduce equipment load while improving comfort and efficiency. In this conversation, Christopher explains how VRF and VRV zoning can be applied to ducted systems to control airflow to individual rooms based on demand. He describes how modulating dampers and smart controls adjust airflow levels instead of simply ope

In this episode of the HVAC Know It All Podcast, host Gary McCreadie welcomes Jim Bergmann, President of measureQuick and Director of New Product Development at Redfish Instruments Inc, to discuss system cleanup after moisture contamination and compressor burnouts. Jim explains why moisture in POE oil cannot be fully removed with evacuation and highlights the importance of using filter dryers and proper procedures. The conversation covers real-world scenarios such as water entering a system and the steps needed to reduce damage and extend equipment life. Gary and Jim also talk about evacuation best practices, decay testing, and how poor installation habits can lead to long-term system failure. In this conversation, Jim explains how moisture affects refrigeration systems and why it cannot be fully removed from POE oil using evacuation alone. He discusses how technicians should rely on filter dryers, oil changes, and proper cleanup methods to reduce contamination. Jim and Gary talk about real situations like wa

In this episode of the HVAC Know It All Business Edition Podcast, co-hosts Gary McCreadie and Furman Haynes from WorkHero sit down with Austin Wendel, Owner at Accounting 4 Trades, who shares valuable insights from his experience in the trades industry, guiding entrepreneurs on how to properly set themselves up financially before taking the leap into business ownership. Austin Wendel is a seasoned business owner in the trades industry, with years of experience helping others navigate the challenges of starting and growing a business. Known for his practical approach to financial planning and business growth, Austin breaks down key areas such as personal credit, savings, emotional preparation, and the importance of separating business and personal finances.   Expect to Learn - The significance of having a good credit score and how it affects your business. - How to calculate savings and ensure you have enough financial runway before starting. - The emotional preparation needed for business ownership includes f

In this episode of the HVAC Know It All Podcast, host Gary McCreadie talks with John Anderson, Senior Regional HVAC Technical Trainer at Sila Services and former Service Manager and Technician at Burns & McBride Home Comfort, about practical HVAC maintenance and system checks. In Part 2, they discuss how technicians can use observation, temperature measurements, and airflow checks to evaluate a system before connecting gauges. John explains simple ways to estimate evaporator performance using return air temperature and suction line temperature. Gary and John also cover electrical inspections, including checking contactors and testing coils for shorts. The conversation ends with a discussion about preventative maintenance ideas, such as scheduled capacitor replacement and the importance of keeping coils clean. Gary and John discuss practical HVAC maintenance checks and how technicians can assess system performance before connecting gauges. They explain how observing airflow, temperature differences, conden

In this episode of the HVAC Know It All Podcast, host Gary McCreadie is joined by John Anderson, Senior Regional HVAC Technical Trainer at Sila Services, Formerly Service Manager and Technician at Burns & McBride Home Comfort, to discuss spring HVAC maintenance and the key checks technicians should perform before the cooling season begins. John shares practical methods for inspecting systems using visual checks and technician senses such as sight, sound, smell, and touch to identify problems early. The conversation covers preventive maintenance practices, the importance of clean equipment, and how technicians should verify system operation before taking detailed measurements. Gary and John also talk about airflow diagnostics, the role of static pressure testing, and why proper system checks help technicians find real problems instead of guessing. In this conversation, John explains how technicians should approach spring maintenance by first checking that the system is clean and operating correctly. He dis

In this episode of the HVAC Know It All Business Edition Podcast, co-hosts Gary McCreadie and Furman Haynes from WorkHero sit down with financial expert Ruth King, Founder and CEO of Financially Fit Business and CEO of Business Ventures Corporation to discuss how contractors can build sustainable profitability by focusing on the right financial metrics. Rather than obsessing over traditional profit margins, Ruth explains why net profit per billable hour is the metric that truly matters and how contractors can calculate it to price their services correctly. The conversation explores pricing strategies, managing overhead while scaling, and the financial habits that help businesses grow without losing profitability. Ruth King is a well-known financial expert and business coach specializing in helping contractors understand and improve their financial performance. With nearly four decades of experience analyzing small business financial statements, Ruth has helped thousands of contractors learn how to interpret t

In this episode of the HVAC Know It All Business Edition Podcast, co-hosts Gary McCreadie and Furman Haynes from WorkHero sit down with financial expert Ruth King, Founder and CEO of Financially Fit Business and CEO of Business Ventures Corporation. They talk about the importance of understanding your finances as a contractor, especially when you're starting to scale your business. Ruth King is a seasoned business advisor who specializes in helping contractors get their finances in order. With years of experience working with contractors, Ruth has invaluable insights on how to manage cash flow, profitability, and how to structure your books for long-term success.   Expect to Learn: - The key differences between accrual and cash basis accounting, and why accrual is critical for contractors. - How to set up clean books and the importance of having the right bookkeeper. - Why it's essential to separate service and install divisions on your P&L as you scale. - How to handle deferred income from maintenance co

In this episode of the HVAC Know It All Business Edition Podcast, co-hosts Gary McCreadie and Furman Haynes from WorkHero talk with Jason Julian, Small Business Owner at Julian Heat & Air, President at J.G.Wholesale LLC and VP of Operations at Affordable Air McCallum LLC. Jason shares his incredible journey from a difficult personal period of recovery and incarceration to becoming a successful HVAC business owner. Through determination and a passion for the HVAC industry, Jason transformed his life and career. This episode dives deep into his story of overcoming challenges, growing his business, and providing valuable advice for aspiring HVAC entrepreneurs.   Expect to Learn - Jason's journey from recovery and incarceration to discovering his passion for HVAC - How thinking like a business owner, even before becoming one, led to success - The importance of taking ownership of your work and learning everything you can about the industry - The challenges Jason faced in starting his own business with limited

In this episode of the HVAC Know It All Podcast, host Gary McCreadie wraps up his chat with Ilija Martinovich, about mental health in the trades and the personal struggles he faced over the past six years. Ilija shares his experience navigating COVID, a bladder cancer diagnosis, divorce, and the pressure of supporting his children while working as an essential tradesperson. He opens up about dark moments, the stigma around men speaking up, and how therapy, exercise, better habits, and honest conversations helped him turn things around. The episode highlights the importance of asking for help, managing stress in healthy ways, finding purpose, and taking small daily steps to regain control and build a better future. Gary and Ilija discuss mental health in the trades and the real struggles many workers face but rarely talk about. Ilija shares his experience during COVID while working as an essential tradesperson, being diagnosed with bladder cancer, and going through a divorce at the same time. They talk about t

In this episode of the HVAC Know It All Podcast, host Gary McCreadie sits down with Ilija Martinovich to launch a year-long mental health series focused on the trades. Ilija shares his personal journey through the past six years, including working through COVID as an essential worker, being diagnosed with bladder cancer, going through a divorce, and raising his children during a very stressful time. He speaks openly about the dark thoughts he faced, the pressure of staying strong as a father, and the stigma around mental health in blue-collar work. Ilija explains how speaking with a therapist, leaning on trusted people, walking daily, and building simple routines helped him regain control. Together, they highlight the power of honest conversations, healthy outlets, and finding purpose as key steps toward managing stress and protecting mental health. This episode continues the focus on mental health in the trades and the challenges many workers keep to themselves. Ilija joins Gary to share his experience over

In this episode of the HVAC Know It All Podcast, host Gary McCreadie wraps up his chat with Tyler Nelson, Master HVACR, Business Development Manager, Sales Manager - Americas, Global Trainer, at Sauermann Group, about Combustion Analysis and why proper testing is critical for safe and efficient equipment operation. Tyler explains how to correctly use a Combustion Analyzer, the importance of testing at light off, steady state, and shutdown, and why commissioning should always be done. They discuss stack temperature, efficiency readings, manifold pressure adjustments, and how measured data helps technicians make better decisions and communicate clearly with customers. The episode highlights the value of understanding the why behind the readings and using data to improve performance and accountability in the field. Gary and Tyler discuss combustion analysis and why proper testing is essential for safe and efficient system operation. They talk about using a combustion analyzer the right way, including finding the

In this episode of the HVAC Know It All Business Edition Podcast, co-hosts Gary McCreadie and Furman Haynes from WorkHero talk with Jason Julian, Small Business Owner at Julian Heat & Air, President at J.G.Wholesale LLC and VP of Operations at Affordable Air McCallum LLC. Jason Julian shares his personal and professional journey from a difficult period of addiction recovery to becoming a successful HVAC business owner. His story highlights the power of perseverance, hard work, and the ability to turn adversity into opportunity. Jason Julian also offers practical advice for technicians looking to transition into business ownership and shares insights on building a positive work culture, navigating local competition, and the lessons learned from his experiences in the HVAC industry. Whether you're an aspiring business owner or just interested in the HVAC world, Jason's story is a must-listen.   Expect to Learn Jason's journey into HVAC after a period of recovery from addiction How he transitioned from a

In this episode of the HVAC Know It All Podcast, host Gary McCreadie talks with Tyler Nelson, Master HVACR, Business Development Manager, Sales Manager - Americas, Global Trainer, at Sauermann Group, about his new book, Combustion Analysis: The Essentials, and the Fundamentals of Combustion Testing. Tyler explains how technicians can better understand oxygen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, excess air, and efficiency readings, and how to use those numbers to diagnose and adjust systems properly. The conversation covers light off, steady state, and high fire conditions, fuel selection in combustion analyzers, and how proper adjustments can improve system performance and save money. Gary and Tyler also discuss why combustion testing is a thinking person's skill and how using the right data can help technicians work smarter and deliver better results for their customers. In this conversation, Tyler talks about the core basics of combustion and why understanding the numbers is key to proper diagnostics. He expla

In this episode of the HVAC Know It All Podcast, Host Gary McCreadie talks with Josh Zolin, CEO of Windy City Equipment (WCE, Inc), Founder of Blue Is The New White, and Director Board of Directors in CFESA, about leadership, accountability, and building a strong culture in the trades. They discuss the difference between being nice and being kind, and how leaders can have hard conversations while still showing care and respect, in Part 2. Josh shares his approach to handling poor behavior, setting clear expectations, and knowing when to let someone go. Gary and Josh also explore flexibility, leverage, motivation, and why increasing your value through soft skills can create more opportunities. The episode highlights how strong leadership is built on communication, honesty, and the smart use of soft skills. Gary and Josh discuss leadership in the trades and how to handle tough situations with employees. They talk about the difference between being nice and being kind, and why hard conversations should be clear,

In this episode of the HVAC Know It All Business Edition Podcast, co-hosts Gary McCreadie and Furman Haynes of WorkHero talk with Robyn Hass, Founder and Fractional CFO of Mainstreet MEP™ by HVAC Office Solutions and Trade Finance in Ten Podcast, and Fractional MEP CFO/CHRO, FP&A and Change Management Consultant of Robyn Hass Consulting. Robyn shares her insights on managing overhead, scaling efficiently in a service business, and the importance of systems and processes in supporting growth without unnecessary expansion. Whether you're a solo operator or scaling a team, Robyn provides practical advice on reducing operational inefficiencies, improving field-to-office communication, and ensuring good financial practices.   Expect to Learn: -Strategies to control overhead as a business grows - The importance of lean processes and how to cut unnecessary complexity - Best practices for ensuring technicians stay accountable and contribute to accurate data collection - How to use data to gain insights into your

In this episode of the HVAC Know It All Podcast, host Gary McCreadie is joined by Josh Zolin, CEO of Windy City Equipment (WCE, Inc), Founder of Blue Is The New White, and Director Board of Directors in CFESA, to talk about the power of soft skills in the trades. Josh explains why communication, body language, and first impressions matter more than appearance alone. The conversation explores how business owners can build strong team culture, coach technicians the right way, and create an environment where people feel useful and valued. Gary and Josh also discuss balancing compassion and honesty in leadership, giving clear feedback, and helping technicians stay motivated and connected to their work. In this conversation, Josh talks about why soft skills are the difference between good and great in the HVAC industry. He explains how first words, body language, and attitude often matter more than clothing or appearance. Josh and Gary discuss the importance of challenging personal bias, giving honest but respectf

In this episode of the HVAC Know It All Podcast, host Gary McCreadie talks with Jason Walker, National Trainer at HVAC Masters of the Hustle. They discuss entrepreneurship, content creation, and the mindset behind building a brand in the trades. Jason shares how he earned his nickname through sales success and explains the lessons he learned from outsourcing installs and taking on too many podcast sponsors. Gary and Jason also talk about the freedom of business ownership, the challenges of starting out on your own, and the power of creating consistent content to grow your name and opportunities in the HVAC industry. Gary and Jason talk about building a name in the HVAC industry through hard work, business ownership, and content creation. Jason explains how he earned the nickname J Dub Moneymaker and how it shaped his brand, even when facing criticism. They discuss the freedom and stress that come with running your own company, including lessons Jason learned from outsourcing installs and taking on too many po