Did You Know?-The ESCO HVAC Podcast
The ESCO Institute "Did you Know?" podcast provides HVACR professionals access to reliable, up-to-date, and relevant information, directly from trusted sources. The world of HVACR has been changing at an exponential rate over the last few years; new SEER ratings, flammable refrigerants, and an array of technological advances. Keeping up with all the changes in regulation, manufacturing, refrigerants and how to properly prepare students and technicians has became daunting. Many of our guests are speakers and exhibitors at the HVAC EXCELLENCE National HVACR Education Conference and represent every sector of the HVACR industry. Thanks for joining in!
Getting Hands-On With CO2 Refrigeration: Inside Heatcraft’s Training Center
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In this episode, Clifton joins Don Fort from Heatcraft for a tour of the company’s new refrigeration training center. They discuss how technicians can build on what they already know while learning the differences that come with CO2 refrigeration.
We explore:
• How classroom instruction and hands-on lab activities connect refrigeration fundamentals to equipment in the field
• What HFC and CO2 systems have in common, and where technicians need additional training
• Ho...
Closing the Commercial HVAC Skills Gap With Daikin Applied
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In this episode, we sit down with Tracy Pink from Daikin Applied to explore the skills technicians need as commercial HVAC systems become more complex. Tracy shares plans for the company’s new Solutions & Technical Institute, a 64,000-square-foot facility expected to open in 2027.
We explore:
• The need for more commercial HVAC training and greater awareness of career opportunities
• How 50 functioning HVAC units and interconnected labs will support hands-on troubleshooting
• The growing...
Training the Next Generation of Trades Instructors With Ray Boyd
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What makes a skilled tradesperson a good instructor? We sit down with Ray Boyd, director of education and training for the United Association (UA), at Washtenaw Community College during the UA’s 2026 Instructor Training Program. Drawing on his 37-year career, Ray shares how the organization is helping apprentices become educators and preparing instructors to meet the needs of their local markets.
We explore:
• How the UA’s Future Instructors program gives apprentices an early path i...
Simplifying Gas Piping Installation With TracPipe
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In this episode, we sit down with Brent Westover, national sales manager for TracPipe at OmegaFlex, to talk about the fuel supply side of HVAC. From routing gas lines through tight crawl spaces to supplying backup generators, we explore how flexible gas piping can make installation easier and why product training matters.
We explore:
• How flexible gas piping reduces connections and installation labor compared with black iron pipe
• Applications for indoor, outdoor and...
Every Ounce Counts: The State of Refrigerant Recovery
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In this candid follow-up to our impromptu conversation at the 2026 National HVACR Education Conference, we bring together technicians, trainers, reclaimers and refrigerant management experts to tackle one of the most pressing issues facing our industry. With only about 3% of refrigerant making it back to a reclaimer and the next HFC phase-down step approaching in 2029, the panel takes an honest look at where we stand and what happens if we don't change course.
We explore:
• Wh...
The Data Center Boom: What It Means for HVAC with Danfoss
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In this eye-opening and timely episode, we chat with Vic Marinich from Danfoss about the scale of data center construction and look at them from a technician's perspective. We dig into the massive cooling demands behind these facilities and the opportunities they're creating for contractors across the HVAC industry.
We explore:
• The needs of today's data centers, and why a single facility can use 140,000 tons of cooling and hundreds of chillers
• How the...
Behind the Bench: UA Apprentices on Competition, Brotherhood and the Future of the Trade
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In this energetic, on-location episode, we head to the 2026 United Association ITP Week and Apprenticeship Competition in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Clifton sits down with Ryan, last year's international competition winner turned mentor, and a table full of fourth- and fifth-year apprentices from across the U.S. and Canada. We dig into what it really takes to compete at the state, regional and international levels, and why this week is as much about brotherhood as it is about skill.<...
Plumbing Meets HVAC: Heat Pump Water Heaters and the Rise of Plumbing Service
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Live from the UA Instructor Training Program, we chat with Joe Fernandez Jr. about the trade that's increasingly overlapping with HVAC: plumbing. We dig into how heat pump water heaters are reshaping expectations for both plumbers and HVAC techs, and why education and service are driving the transition.
We explore:
• Why heat pump water heaters are already the norm overseas and gaining ground in the U.S.
• The consumer pushback around upfront cost...
Building the Next Generation of Teachers: Inside the UA's Future Instructor Program
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Join us for an inspiring conversation with Rob Vilches, training specialist with the United Association (UA), live from the 2026 UA Instructor Training Program (ITP) in Ann Arbor, Michigan. With roughly 2,200 UA instructors on campus and over 400,000 members across the U.S. and Canada, the UA quietly runs one of the largest training operations in the skilled trades.
Rob breaks down:
• How the UA trains the trainers, turning field technicians into skilled classroom instructors
...
Bridging the Generational Gap: The Future Instructors Program
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In this candid episode, we sit down with Jess Slade, a fourth-year pipefitting apprentice at UA Local 502 in Louisville, KY. She’s a participant in the UA's Future Instructors program, part of an effort to train the next generation of trade educators from within the apprenticeship pipeline.
We discuss:
• How the Future Instructors program identifies apprentices with leadership potential and develops them into educators while they're still completing their training
• Why the indust...
Building the Next Generation of HVAC Techs: Inside Delcastle Technical High School
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In this episode, recorded live at the SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference, we sit down with Aaron Wright, HVAC instructor at Delcastle Technical High School, to talk about what it takes to build a thriving vocational program.
We explore:
• How Delcastle's exploratory model lets freshmen sample HVAC alongside other career pathways before committing
• The "GAD score" system schools use to place students into high-demand programs like HVAC
• Turning classroom skills into r...
Beyond the Classroom: What SkillsUSA Reveals About the Next Generation of HVAC Technicians
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What can an HVAC competition teach us about preparing students for the realities of the field? In this episode, Clifton sits down with Jim Fultz of Copeland and White-Rodgers to recap their experience at the 2026 SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference—and share what instructors and industry professionals can learn from watching the next generation of technicians in action.
We explore:
• How SkillsUSA connects students, educators and industry professionals
• What the competition reveals about...
Tools for Tomorrow, Here Today: Inside Malco's Playbook for the Next Generation of HVAC Techs
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What does it take to build a tool that survives real life on the job site — not just a CAD drawing? In this episode, Clifton catches up with returning guest Greg Guse, Director of New Products at Malco, for a behind-the-scenes look at how Malco decides what tools get made next, and why.
We explore:
• Malco's expansion from sheet metal into duct board tools, vacuum pumps and refrigerant equipment
• How the Safe Seal h...
Only Mostly Dead: The Truth About R-410A's Slow Fade-Out
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Is R-410A really gone — or just mostly dead? In this candid episode, we sit down with Greg Guse, Director of New Products at Malco, to unpack the confusing, ever-shifting reality of the R-410A phase-down and what it means for contractors, distributors and homeowners right now.
We explore:
• Why EPA's shifting guidance has left contractors and consumers unsure which system to buy • Why the R-410A shortage may hit faster than the R-22 phase...
Water From Thin Air: How HVAC Technology Could Help Solve Water Scarcity
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What if the air around your home could become a reliable source of clean water? In this eye-opening episode, we sit down with Brian Chang, CEO and founder of Aquaria — the company building atmospheric water generators that turn humidity into clean, drinkable water.
We explore:
• How Aquaria’s systems produce water from air using principles HVAC pros already understand
• Why water scarcity is becoming a growing concern in communities across the country
• H...
Future-Proofing the Trades: Bridging Plumbing and HVAC, and the Power of Local Unions
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Big changes are coming to the plumbing and HVAC trades — and the people who train for them now will lead tomorrow. In this energetic episode, we chat with Marty Kuerzi and David McConnell from UA Local 502 about how two industries are converging and what that means for the next generation of skilled workers.
We explore:
• How plumbing and HVAC trades are blending as new technologies hit the market
• The coming shift to heat p...
Building Careers, Brotherhood and the Future Workforce
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In this special on-location episode, recorded at the Kentucky Derby Festival Bed Races in Louisville, Kentucky, we sit down with Mike Burke, Training Coordinator for UA Local 502, and apprentice Alex to explore the power of union apprenticeship programs, workforce development and the lasting impact of mentorship in the skilled trades.
We explore:
• How UA Local 502 is attracting and training the next generation of skilled trades professionals
• The benefits of earning while learning thro...
From Tutus to Tool Belts: Inspiring the Next Generation of Women in the Trades
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In this inspiring episode, we sit down with Kati Theurer, Director of HVAC Programs at Jefferson College, educator, industry leader and founder of the From Tutus to Tool Belts initiative. Fresh off being recognized as the first female Certified Master HVAC Educator and a Top 25 HVAC Instructor, Kati shares her passion for expanding opportunities and awareness for young women in the skilled trades.
We explore:
• How From Tutus to Tool Belts introduces fifth- through ei...
The Skilled Trades Awakening: Greg Crumpton on HVAC, AI & the Future Workforce
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In this inspiring and forward-thinking episode recorded live at the 2026 National HVAC Education Conference, we sit down with Greg Crumpton of Service Logic to explore the growing momentum behind skilled trades careers and why HVAC is finally getting the attention it deserves. From AI and data centers to mentorship and workforce development, Greg shares powerful insights on how the trades are evolving — and why the next generation is beginning to see them in a whole new light.
...
The Three R’s of Refrigerant Stewardship: Recovery, Recycle & Reclaim with A-Gas
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In this thought-provoking episode recorded live at the 2026 National HVAC Education Conference, we sit down with Anthony Nash from A-Gas to tackle one of the HVAC industry’s most important — and often misunderstood — topics: refrigerant recovery, recycling and reclaim. Together, we unpack the critical differences between the “Three R’s” and why proper refrigerant stewardship is essential for the future of the industry.
We explore:
• The real differences between recover, recycle and reclaim — and why they matter<...
Smarter Safety in HVAC: Protecting Technicians with Real-Time CO Detection
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In this episode recorded live at the 2026 National HVAC Education Conference, we sit down with Louise Kellar from UEi Test Instruments to explore innovations designed to keep technicians safer on the job. From personal gas detection to next-generation tools, this conversation highlights how technology is evolving to meet the real-world challenges HVAC professionals face every day.
We dive into:
• The risks technicians face when working in confined or unknown environments
• How UEi’s new...
The Refrigerant Reality Check: Why Recovery Matters More Than Ever
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In this eye-opening episode recorded live at the 2026 National HVAC Education Conference, we sit down with Adam Dykstra of FMHero to unpack one of the biggest challenges facing the HVAC industry today: refrigerant management. From shocking data on recovery rates to the very real threat of future shortages, this conversation dives into the gap between what’s required — and what’s actually happening in the field.
We explore:
• The staggering volume of refrigerant lost annually...
The Rise of Communicating HVAC Systems: Smarter Comfort, Smarter Service
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In this episode, we sit down with Ketan Namjoshi from Bosch Home Comfort to explore how communicating thermostats and fully connected HVAC systems are transforming the residential landscape. As variable-speed equipment, inverter technology and smart home integration continue to evolve, so too must the way systems are controlled, installed and serviced.
We dive into:
• What communicating thermostats are—and how they differ from traditional controls
• How real-time data and system feedback improve comfor...
To Recover...Or Not to Recover? Industry experts chime in at the National HVACR Education Conference
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Top industry professionals agree on one thing—refrigerant conservation matters.
Tune in to this powerful conversation recorded at the 2026 National HVACR Education Conference, where leading experts in refrigerant recovery, recycle, and reclaim come together to break down the law of refrigerant conservation. Learn why proper handling, compliance, and best practices are critical for the future of the HVACR industry.
Whether you're a student, technician, or educator, this discussion delivers real-world insights you can apply im...
Replay: All Trades Paige on Redefining the Skilled Trades
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We’re getting back up to speed after a great time at the National HVACR Education Conference last week — so while we catch up, we’re revisiting one of our favorite conversations from August 2025.
In this inspiring episode, we sit down with Paige Knowles, better known as “All Trades Paige,” to talk about her journey from tech school student to skilled trades advocate, author, and industry trailblazer.
We explore:
• How Paige is breaking ste...
Building a Life in the Trades: Apprenticeship & the Next Generation
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In this engaging and relatable episode, we sit down with Brooke Lang and Eric Hiatt — two UA apprentices and co-hosts of Two Bolts Short of a Flange — to explore what it’s really like to build a life and career in the skilled trades.
From finding their way into the industry to building a future together, Brooke and Eric share a unique perspective on apprenticeships, financial freedom and the realities of working in the field.
We e...
From Desk Job to Red Seal: HVAC Jess on Finding Her Calling in the Trades
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What if the career you never considered is the one that changes your life?
In this episode, we sit down with Jessica Banister — HVAC Jess — to talk about her journey from a decade in finance to becoming a Red Seal certified refrigeration mechanic and social media advocate for the skilled trades.
Jess shares how a few ride-alongs with her dad’s HVAC business sparked a passion she never expected — and how fixing something broken gave her...
The Negawatt Is Cheaper Than the Megawatt: Electrification & Infrastructure
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Electrification is accelerating across the country — from heat pumps and high-efficiency HVAC to EV fleets and solar microgrids. But one critical question remains: Is our infrastructure ready?
In this forward-thinking episode, we sit down with Jordan Lerner, Vice President of the West Region at Schneider Electric, to unpack the realities behind electrification, grid capacity and what true energy resiliency looks like in practice.
We discuss:
• Why “the negawatt is cheaper than the megawa...
Bridging the Digital and Mechanical: Smart Buildings and HVAC Innovation
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In this engaging episode recorded live at the 2026 AHR Expo, J.J. Plotz and James Burke delve into the rapidly evolving world of HVAC and building automation. Together, we explore how the intersection of digital technology and mechanical systems is reshaping the industry and creating exciting opportunities for the next generation of skilled professionals.
We discuss:
• The transformative role of advanced controls and automation in HVAC systems
• How digital natives are uniquely posi...
Surging HVAC Demand: The Future of Data Centers and Thermal Management
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In this thought-provoking episode filmed live at AHR Expo, Rob Tanner and Clifton Beck explore the transformative landscape the HVAC industry, with a special focus on the growing demands of data centers. This conversation dives into the challenges and opportunities of these unprecedented industry shifts. We discuss:
• The critical role of HVAC in managing the heat generated by data centers
• The differences between wet cooling and dry cooling systems and their applications
• How ma...
Unlocking the Power of Air Curtains: Efficiency, Innovation, and Applications
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Dive deep into the realm of air curtains with Curtis Rosol from Mars Air Systems as we explore their transformative role in energy efficiency and environmental control. From grocery stores to industrial applications, air curtains are more than just a stream of air—they’re a game-changer for building performance and safety. We discuss:
• The science behind air curtains and their role in separating environments
• How air curtains improve energy efficiency, reduce humidity and prevent...
The Heat Pump Revolution: Transforming HVAC for a Sustainable Future
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Join us for a future-focused discussion with Easwar Sankar, Senior Product Marketing Manager at Allied Air Enterprises, as we dive into the rapid evolution of heat pump technology. From market trends to groundbreaking innovations, we explore its growing influence on the HVAC industry and how key players are adapting to this transformative shift. We discuss:
• The rise of heat pumps and their growing dominance over traditional gas furnaces
• How advancements in technology, like dual fuel...
The HVAC Workforce: Insights from the Bureau of Labor Statistics
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In this compelling episode, we chat with William Lawhorn, an economist from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, to explore the evolving landscape of the HVAC industry. From workforce trends to growth projections, this episode is packed with data-driven insights and relevant takeaways for educators, employers and industry professionals.
We discuss:
• The rapid growth of the HVAC industry and the demand for 40,000 new technicians annually
• Key skills that define successful HVAC prof...
Bridging the Gap: The Future of Blue Collar Work
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In this forward-thinking episode, we sit down with Daniel Walsh, CEO of VeroSkills, to explore how technology is transforming the blue collar workforce into what he calls the "new collar." From AI-driven recruitment to upskilling opportunities, Daniel shares how innovation is empowering workers and solving the skilled labor shortage.
We discuss:
• The fusion of technology and hands-on skills in modern trades
• How AI is revolutionizing recruitment and matching candidates to opportunities
•...
How Low Can We Go? Vapor Injection & Cold Climate Heat Pumps
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In this engaging episode, we chat with Nick from Danfoss about the latest innovations in HVAC and refrigeration. Discover how vapor and liquid injection technologies are revolutionizing compressor performance and enabling heat pumps to thrive in extreme cold climates.
We cover:
• The role of vapor injection in efficiency and capacity gains
• How cold climate heat pumps are transforming heating solutions in extreme environments
• How new refrigerants and regulations are shaping the in...
The HVAC Workforce: Insights from the Bureau of Labor Statistics
In this compelling episode, we chat with William Lawhorn, an economist from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, to explore the evolving landscape of the HVAC industry. From workforce trends to growth projections, this episode is packed with data-driven insights and relevant takeaways for educators, employers and industry professionals.
We discuss:
• The rapid growth of the HVAC industry and the demand for 40,000 new technicians annually
• Key skills that define successful HVAC professionals, including problem-solving and adaptability
• Regional wage variations and the highest-paying states for HVAC mechanics
• The role of educa...
Pro-IQ™ Services Tackles Contractors' Biggest Challenges
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In this episode, David Quam and Jamie Quanrud from Resideo discuss how Pro-IQ™ Services, the platform behind every Honeywell Home ElitePRO™ Smart Thermostat, is transforming both the jobsite and the classroom. Discover how Pro-IQ helps: ✅ Reduce labor and streamline installs ✅ Drive customer loyalty and generate leads ✅ Support training for the modern HVAC workforce Plus, hear how Resideo is preparing pros and educators for the next wave of HVAC technology. Pro-IQ™ Services — Your Edge in Every Customer Call. Learn more at reside...
If we're not growing....we're dieing - Jeff Howard from Carrier
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In this episode, we sit down with Jeff Howard from Carrier to explore their new technical training center at the Indianapolis gas furnace factory. Known as My Learning Center, this state-of-the-art facility is designed to train technicians at every stage of their career — from beginners to seasoned pros.
Jeff walks us through the different learning tracks available, including:
Foundational Training for building strong core skillsAdvanced Component Training for deeper system understandingThe Symposium Series, featuring topics li...Decoding HVAC Standards: Navigating Energy Efficiency and Indoor Air Quality
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Join us as we chat with Audey Cash, CEO of GPS Air, about the evolving landscape of HVAC standards, energy efficiency and indoor air quality. Together, we break down the challenges and opportunities facing manufacturers, engineers and contractors as they work through shifting regulations and codes.
We dive into:
• The impact of ASHRAE standards like 62.1 and 90.1 on building design and efficiency • How decoupled systems and air cleaning technologies are revolutionizing energy savings
• The gr...
“How Did We Get Here?” with Jeff Bledsoe
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From crawling in attics as young technicians to influencing the future of the HVACR industry, the path to leadership is anything but straight. In this episode, we sit down with Jeff Bledsoe to unpack the real story behind the journey.
Jeff shares how small decisions, unexpected detours, and powerful mentors helped shape his career — and how those same moments can shape yours too. This is a conversation about growth, grit, and the surprising twists that take us...
