Building HVAC Science

EP265 Why Heat Pumps Fail: It's Not the Equipment, It's the House With Larry Waters and Alex Sloan (February 2026)

EPISODE QUOTES "Anyone can install a heat pump, but if you don't understand how houses work, you're gambling with comfort."   "Our intake process is a pre-screen. We want customers who already want the heat pump." "Electrify everything is cute. Electrify efficiently is the job."   In this episode of the Building HVAC Science Podcast, Bill Spohn and Eric Kaiser talk with Larry Waters and Alex Sloan of Electrify My Home, a Bay Area contractor focused on efficient home electrification. Larry walks through his 43-year path in the trade, from early technical training and commercial HVAC work to residential, where he kept running into the same puzzle: systems that "worked" but didn't deliver comfort. A turning point came through BPI training and the building-science lens, which shifted his work from fixing equipment to fixing houses, and eventually led him to launch an electrification-only company when retirement plans and COVID reshuffled the deck.   Alex shares his own route, coming from incentive programs and building-science work, then meeting Larry as a homeowner customer, and later joining to help build business development and operations. Together, they describe an accidental but very real "visionary and integrator" pairing (EOS style), and how that partnership shaped a business model that prescreens customers: detailed online intake, a virtual assessment first, and an onsite visit only after budget alignment. Their goal is to spend time with people who already want the solution, not those who need convincing.   They dig into what "electrify efficiently" means in practice: load calculations on every job, job-type checklists, and designing around modulation, not just peak capacity. They also get candid about challenges, especially California utility pricing, old, leaky homes, and tricky heat pump water heater installations with space and wiring constraints. A standout concept is the "Watt diet," which plans electrification so homeowners can often avoid panel upgrades by using smarter equipment choices, circuit sharing, and load management. The episode closes with a clear takeaway from both guests: installing heat pumps without understanding houses, envelopes, and electrical realities is a recipe for disappointment. They also tease a future follow-up episode focused entirely on the history of electrification in the U.S. Regarding the National Home Performance Conference: New Contractor Discount - $825 - HVACSCIENCE Unique URL for your Show: http://nhpc26.org/building-hvac-sci Alex's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexjsloan/ Larry's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/larry-waters-31677b19/ Their company website: https://electrifymyhome.com/ Electrify Academy course calendar:https://emhlearn.com/calendar/?mcat=4# Electrify My Home YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/@electrifymyhome      This episode was recorded in February 2026.

EP264 The Unsung Heroes of HVAC Education, Mentors Who Built the Trade With Howard Weiss and Renee Tomlinson (February 2026)

"There are people who teach for income, and people who teach for outcome." "You want to grow an industry, you can't ignore half America." "Become an unsung hero, mentor someone, and give back to the industry you love." In this episode of Building HVAC Science, Bill and Eric are joined by Renee Tomlinson and Howard Weiss from ESCO Institute (and HVAC Excellence) to talk about a theme that does not get nearly enough airtime: the "quiet" people in HVAC who shape careers and raise standards without chasing attention. Howard explains ESCO's role in the industry, from accrediting HVAC educational programs and credentialing instructors to administering a huge number of certifications and developing curriculum, all aimed at improving HVAC education overall. Renee adds the bigger why behind the work, pointing to education as the lever that improves lives, strengthens communities, and leaves the trade better than we found it. The conversation turns into a celebration of "unsung heroes" such as instructors, trainers, mentors, and program leaders who quietly change the trajectory of students, apprentices, and working techs. Howard and Renee share examples of people who built exceptional programs through sheer effort and care, and they frame recognition as something deeper than popularity. It is about honoring outcomes, the ripple effects of mentorship, and the real human impact that happens behind the scenes. They also highlight how the industry is getting younger, how newer instructors blend legacy fundamentals with modern tools, and how podcasts and social platforms can be powerful teaching aids at scale. The episode closes with a challenge to listeners: become one of the unsung heroes. Thank the people who trained you. Mentor someone coming up behind you. Join an advisory board. Give back because you "get to," not because you have to. Renee also recognizes the behind-the-scenes ESCO team whose daily work keeps training, testing, and education moving forward, and Bill wraps with a promise to share links in the show notes so listeners can connect and learn more. Regarding the National Home Performance Conference: New Contractor Discount - $825 - HVACSCIENCE Unique URL for your Show: http://nhpc26.org/building-hvac-sci Renee's LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/reneemtomlinson/ Howard's LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/howardsweiss/ ESCO Institute: https://www.escogroup.org/ The National HVAC Educators Conference: https://site.pheedloop.com/event/EVEPCOXJHXNUZ/home/ The 2025 List of Most Influential Instructors: https://www.achrnews.com/articles/163726-25-for-25-most-influential-instructors-named This episode was recorded in February 2026  

EP263 Surviving and Thriving in HVACR: Lessons from the Field With Rick Dirmeyer (February 2026)

"The more you know, the more you're worth and the harder you are to replace." "Just because you're a great technician doesn't mean you're ready to run a business." "You can't buy the satisfaction of helping someone you may never meet." Bill sits down with Rick Diermeyer, better known to many in the trade as the face behind the HVACR Survival YouTube channel. Rick shares the origin story of his channel, which now boasts tens of thousands of subscribers and hundreds of field-based videos. What began as a simple way to document and share service technician experiences evolved into a platform focused on helping others "survive" and succeed in the HVACR trade through practical, experience-driven education. Rick walks through his professional journey, from early service roles to leadership positions and eventually into highly diversified technical work spanning refrigeration, geothermal, chillers, generators, and more. He reflects on the culture of the company he works for, emphasizing how strong leadership, training, and employee investment create long-term loyalty and performance. The conversation also highlights the realities of business operations, reminding listeners that technical skill alone does not automatically translate into business success. The discussion expands into content creation, covering how Rick chooses video topics, balances liability concerns, and adapts content based on audience engagement. He also shares how his background as a mobile DJ shaped his communication style, marketing instincts, and comfort with public speaking. The episode closes with advice for both technicians and employers: invest in your skills, build relationships, create value, and recognize that personal growth and trade mastery go hand in hand. Rick's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickdirmeyer/ His Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hvacrsurvival His YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HVACRSurvival Regarding the National Home Performance Conference: New Contractor Discount - $825 - HVACSCIENCE Unique URL for your Show: http://nhpc26.org/building-hvac-sci This episode was recorded in February 2026 .  

EP262 "RTFM" and Real-World HVAC Confidence: Why Callbacks Drop When Training Improves With JT Stewart (February 2026)

Episode Quotes: "Airflow isn't good. It's measured." "Most pushback isn't 'I won't.' It's 'I'm afraid I'll mess it up.'" "This is a people industry, by people, for people." JT Stewart joins Bill Spohn and Eric Kaiser to talk about how he went from long-term care nursing to HVAC, thanks to a red Chevy Ventura van, a ladder on top, and a "let's go fix some stuff" invitation. Today JT is an HVAC consultant at Slipstream, working with utilities and state programs to build real-world training that goes beyond "heat pumps are hot" and into the building-science fundamentals that actually make systems work. JT shares what his trainings look like in the wild, from half-day sessions to multi-day workshops, and how he designs them around the human side of HVAC. Homeowners are already uncomfortable when the system breaks, and techs can feel the same pressure when equipment and software change constantly. JT's take is that most resistance isn't stubbornness; it's uncertainty and fear of getting it wrong. He argues that confidence comes from structure: give techs time to learn, reduce guesswork, and use tools and processes that help them make good decisions when support is not available. The crew also gets into handling skeptical attendees and misinformation. JT's approach is to challenge people respectfully and bring it back to the homeowner, the contractor's long-term reputation, and the reality that this is a people industry. He encourages contractors to lean on manufacturer and distributor training, and he makes a strong case that homeowners also need better education on what questions to ask so "slick sales" do not replace proper design and commissioning. Bottom line: HVAC is getting cooler as a career because the knowledge, community, and training ecosystem are leveling up, and JT hopes that part isn't a fad.   JT's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/j-t-stewart/ His company: https://slipstreaminc.org/   This episode was recorded in February 2026.

EP261 From Journeyman to Trainer: What Actually Works and Why With Don Gillis (February 2026)

"Listen first, talk last." "Integrity costs something, you've got to be willing to pay it." "If I'm going to fail, I'm going to go down fighting." In this episode of the Building HVAC Science Podcast, Bill and Eric sit down with Don Gillis, a longtime industry pro with a career spanning roles as an installer and service tech, service manager, outside sales, corporate training, and now building technical training within a smaller nonprofit environment. Don shares the real story behind the resume: high-volume service management, the stress and health toll of living in "two phones to your ears" mode, and the hard decision to finally step away, even when loyalty and integrity made it feel impossible. A big theme is the power of soft skills, especially listening. Don talks about how learning to listen changed everything: calmer customers, stronger trust, better long-term relationships, and even better outcomes inside a distributor sales role where he turned around a struggling territory by showing up as himself. He digs into what "genuine" actually looks like in the field, why people can smell a script or hidden agenda, and how trust can become so strong that customers insist on "their" technician. The second major theme is growth through discomfort. Don repeatedly stepped into roles where he felt over his head, then compensated by obsessively preparing: reading, practicing, recording himself, and learning from people with deeper experience. The episode closes with a simple message that ties it all together: integrity and passion cost something, but they are also the multipliers that make careers durable and meaningful.   Don's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dongilliscom/ Don's company: https://hardinet.org/   This episode was recorded in February 2026 .