
Free Daily Podcast Summary
by Gary McCreadie - Licensed Refrigeration/HVAC Technician
The HVAC Know It All Podcast, hosted by HVAC and Refrigeration tech Gary McCreadie, is an industry leading show that focuses on education within the HVAC and Refrigeration Trade - Such as HVAC Maintenance Tips.
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In this episode of HVAC Know It All, host Gary McCreadie talks with Jamie Chadwick, HVAC Product Manager at Testo Instruments - North America, about putting safety first during heating service and maintenance. They explain testing before and after repairs, recognizing possible carbon monoxide exposure, preparing an analyzer, and selecting a sampling location. Technicians will learn how these practices support safer testing and help document their work. Jamie draws on his contracting experience and current training work to connect analyzer procedures with field conditions. His approach emphasizes checking equipment before making changes, verifying operation afterward, and recognizing when emergency services need to make a site safe. He also explains why general training cannot replace checking local codes and manufacturer requirements. Key Takeaways How testing before and after service helps document equipment condition and demonstrate the effect of maintenance. Why reported headaches, lightheadedness, or nausea warrant attention to possible carbon monoxide exposure and personal CO monitoring. Why suspected hazardous CO conditions call for evacuation and emergency assistance rather than attempts to continue troubleshooting. How zeroing an analyzer in clean outdoor air and allowing equipment operation to stabilize helps prepare for combustion testing. Why sampling location matters for flue temperature and efficiency readings, and why an outdoor termination reading may not match a reading near the appliance. Key Timestamps 00:00 - Factory Direct Filters Ad 00:42 - Guest and Episode Introduction 03:52 - Importance of the safety of the machine 07:14 - What do the training for Combustion Analysis include? 12:22 - A walk-through of the Combustion Analysis call 15:59 - Correct position to put the Combustion Analyzer Probe 19:17 - Jamie's take on shoving the probe in the termination outside This Episode is Kindly Sponsored by: Cintas: https://www.cintas.com/hvacknowitall Cool Air Products: https://www.coolairproducts.net/ Factory Direct Filters: https://www.factorydirectfilters.com/ SupplyHouse: https://www.supplyhouse.com/tm Use promo code HKIA5 to get 5% off your first order at Supplyhouse! Follow the Guest and His Company on: Jamie Chadwick - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-chadwick-b72a43148/ Testo Instruments - North America - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/testo-usa/ Testo Instruments - North America - Company Website: https://www.testo.com/en Follow the Host on: LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-mccreadie-38217a77/ LinkedIn - HVAC Know It All: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hvac-know-it-all-inc Website: https://www.hvacknowitall.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/HVAC-Know-It-All-2/61569643061429/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hvacknowitall1/ Follow the Podcast on: YouTube: h
In this episode of HVAC Know It All, host Gary McCreadie talks with Gaetano Altomare, Category Manager - Plumbing at IPEX by Aliaxis, about installing nonmetallic flue gas venting correctly. They cover pipe preparation, solvent welding, inspection, primer requirements, and combustion testing. Listeners will learn how to avoid weak connections and preserve vent integrity during installation and service. Gaetano brings firsthand knowledge of certified venting products, manufacturer installation guidelines, and the development of dedicated combustion-testing fittings. His manufacturer's perspective connects the mechanics of pipe-and-fitting fusion with practical field decisions, including cutting older pipe, verifying compatible components, and sealing test-access plugs. Key Takeaways How square cuts, beveled ends, clean pipe surfaces, and a dry-fit interference check help produce a properly fused vent connection. Why certified vent systems require components from one manufacturer and how optical brighteners help inspectors verify primer and solvent cement use. How local requirements, installation temperatures of 32°F and colder, and pipe sizes of six inches and larger determine primer use for the products discussed. How a dedicated combustion-testing fitting installed within two feet of the appliance provides probe access without drilling the vent pipe. Why the test-access plug discussed requires two full turns of Teflon tape rather than relying on plastic threads alone to seal. Key Timestamps 00:00 – Factory Direct Filters Ad 00:42 – Episode Introduction 03:14 – Cost difference between PVC and CPVC 08:18 – Glue or chemical bonding 11:21 – Primer requirements for temperature and local jurisdiction 12:33 – Combustion testing without drilling vent pipe 14:36 – Final installation lesson: sealing the test-access plug This Episode is Kindly Sponsored by: Cintas: https://www.cintas.com/hvacknowitall Cool Air Products: https://www.coolairproducts.net/ Factory Direct Filters: https://www.factorydirectfilters.com/ SupplyHouse: https://www.supplyhouse.com/tm Use promo code HKIA5 to get 5% off your first order at Supplyhouse! Follow the Guest and His Company on: Gaetano Altomare - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gaetano-altomare-85a78833 IPEX by Aliaxis - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ipexbyaliaxis/ IPEX by Aliaxis - Company Website: https://ipexna.com/ Follow the Host on: LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-mccreadie-38217a77/ LinkedIn - HVAC Know It All: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hvac-know-it-all-inc Website: https://www.hvacknowitall.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/HVAC-Know-It-All-2/61569643061429/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hvacknowitall1/ Follow the Podcast on: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HVACKnowItAll Spotify: <a href= "https://open.spotify.com/show/6LCBJGw0EHG03rdWHxUM
In this episode of the HVAC Know It All Business Edition Podcast, co-hosts Gary McCreadie and Furman Haynes from WorkHero welcome Eric Fitz, Co-founder, Co-CEO, and Chief Technology Officer at Amply Energy, Inc., and Ed Smith, Co-founder, Co-CEO, and Chief Customer Officer at Amply Energy, Inc., to discuss how contractors can adapt their sales and design processes for heat pumps. They explore why accurate load calculations matter, how visual design tools help homeowners understand recommendations, and how to make a longer assessment a clear point of difference. The discussion also covers charging for design work, setting expectations during intake, and matching sales responsibilities to the team's expertise. Eric and Ed began with whole-home electrification projects across New England, combining weatherization, HVAC, heat pump water heaters, EV charging, solar, and batteries. Eric brought modeling and HVAC design experience, while Ed's learning process helped them identify where software needed to make that expertise easier to apply. Their work alongside installation partners exposed challenges in design and business operations, leading them to shift toward software that supports HVAC contractors. Expect To Learn: -Why Amply shifted from whole-home electrification projects to supporting HVAC contractors with design software. -How Manual J defines a home's loads before equipment selection, regardless of the system being installed. -Why heat pump selection requires balancing heating, cooling, moisture removal, and airflow requirements. -How visual design information helps homeowners understand recommendations and share them with another decision-maker. -How intake staff can explain a longer assessment and prepare homeowners for a more detailed visit. -How to choose between paid diagnostics, charging for design documents, and including design in a free estimate. -How accessible design tools can help less-experienced employees take on work that otherwise falls to the owner. Timestamps: 00:00 - Episode introduction 00:57 - Guests introduction and Whole-Home Electrification Origins 04:37 - Why Amply Energy, Inc. Shifted to Supporting Contractors 05:34 - Making Design Faster, Accurate, and Visual 08:35 - Testing Software Through an Installation Business 10:04 - Preparing a Traditional HVAC Shop for Heat Pumps 11:11 - Manual J and Heat Pump Equipment Selection 13:49 - Assessment Time and Homeowner Engagement 15:36 - Setting Expectations During the Intake Call 17:16 - Options for Charging for Diagnostics and Design 18:38 - Helping Less-Experienced Staff Handle Design Follow our Guests on LinkedIn: Eric Fitz - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ehfitz/ Ed Smith - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ed-smith-5aa8716/ Follow Our Guest's Company Amply Energy, Inc.: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/amply-energy/home/ Website: https://www.amply.energy/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amply_energy/ Follow Gary McCreadie: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-mccreadie-38217a77/ Website: https://www.hvacknowitall.com <li dir="ltr" aria-level="
In this episode of HVAC Know It All, host Gary McCreadie talks with Gaetano Altomare, Category Manager - Plumbing at IPEX by Aliaxis, who describes his team's work developing certified flue gas venting products. They examine System 1738, its differences from System 636, and the risks of using generic drain, waste, and vent pipe on gas-fired appliances. Installers will learn how certification, product markings, and appliance instructions inform material selection. Gaetano explains how advances in engineered plastics helped his team develop compounds capable of meeting UL 1738 requirements. Drawing on that development experience, he connects mechanical and material testing to long-term exposure to heat and condensate, then explains the temperature limits and applications of PVC and CPVC venting. Key Takeaways Why generic drain, waste, and vent materials are not designed for flue gas exposure, including the conditions that can cause ABS to become brittle and crack. How System 636 and System 1738 serve Canadian and US certification requirements, respectively, rather than different appliance operating conditions. How UL 1738 combines mechanical performance and material testing to evaluate suitability for flue gas venting over time. How product labels and print lines identify venting material, certification, manufacturer, and maximum temperature rating. Why the appliance manufacturer's installation manual must guide material selection, including when higher-temperature applications call for CPVC. Key Timestamps 00:00 – Factory Direct Filters Ad 00:42 – Guest and Episode Introduction 01:13 – Why generic ABS and PVC are not intended for flue gas venting 07:54 – System 636 versus System 1738 and their intended markets 14:54 - PVC and CPVC Pipes 21:05 – CPVC's 194°F maximum rating and boiler applications This Episode is Kindly Sponsored by: Cintas: https://www.cintas.com/hvacknowitall Cool Air Products: https://www.coolairproducts.net/ Factory Direct Filters: https://www.factorydirectfilters.com/ SupplyHouse: https://www.supplyhouse.com/tm Use promo code HKIA5 to get 5% off your first order at Supplyhouse! Follow the Guest and His Company on: Gaetano Altomare - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gaetano-altomare-85a78833 IPEX by Aliaxis - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ipexbyaliaxis/ IPEX by Aliaxis - Company Website: https://ipexna.com/ Follow the Host on: LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-mccreadie-38217a77/ LinkedIn - HVAC Know It All: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hvac-know-it-all-inc Website: https://www.hvacknowitall.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/HVAC-Know-It-All-2/61569643061429/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hvacknowitall1/ Follow the Podcast on: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HVACKnowItAll Spotify: https://
In this episode of the HVAC Know It All Business Edition Podcast, co-hosts Gary McCreadie and Furman Haynes from WorkHero continue their conversation with Vern Crawford, founder of Flow Logic Automation, about deploying AI in HVAC businesses. Vern demonstrates how automation can move home warranty work orders from email into Housecall Pro, explains the progression from chat to connected business context to code, and outlines options for connecting AI tools to field service data. The discussion also covers debugging workflows, MCP connections, data integrity, and preparing business systems for reliable automation. Vern Crawford works with businesses to build AI-enabled automations and system connections. In this conversation, he shares an example of a Make scenario that processes plumbing work orders and describes building and using MCP connections for Housecall Pro. Expect To Learn: How a Make scenario can route incoming work orders into Housecall Pro. Why workflow branches handle different customer, address, and job outcomes. How Slack messages can help debug automation decision points. When to use no-code automation tools instead of custom coding. How AI use can progress from chat to connected business context and code. Three approaches to connecting AI tools with Housecall Pro through MCP. Why data integrity and cleanup must come before large automation projects. Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction to AI deployment in HVAC businesses 01:28 – Building a Make scenario for warranty work orders 04:23 – Using Slack messages for debugging 04:52 – Make, Zapier, and custom agent building 05:37 – Learning automation through simple workflows 06:40 – Getting implementation help as a contractor 07:48 – First impressions of Claude voice conversations 08:14 – The progression from chat to context to code 11:09 – Connecting AI to Housecall Pro data 12:40 – Using AI for direct business feedback 15:19 – Three ways to build a Housecall Pro MCP connection 19:45 – Data integrity before automation Follow our Guest Vern Crawford: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vern_crawford/ Company Website: https://www.flowlogicautomation.com/ Follow Gary McCreadie: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-mccreadie-38217a77/ Website: https://www.hvacknowitall.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/HVAC-Know-It-All-2/61569643061429/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hvacknowitall1/ Follow Furman Haynes: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/furmanhaynes/ WorkHero: https://www.linkedin.com/company/workherohvac/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/workhero__/<
In this episode of HVAC Know It All, host Gary McCreadie talks with Chris Howells, Senior Training & Development Manager at AprilAire, about designing smaller filters and cabinets while maintaining filtration performance and airflow. In Part 2 of their conversation, they discuss three-inch media, one-inch MERV 11 filters, and installation practices that affect pressure drop. HVAC technicians will learn why filter depth alone does not determine performance and how transitions help systems use the filter's full face opening. Howells describes more than four years of development work informed by contractor, distributor, and consumer feedback. He explains how AprilAire's engineering and product management teams addressed shrinking mechanical spaces through changes to media construction and cabinet design. He also shares field-testing experience that connects those design choices to airflow concerns and maintenance schedules. Key Takeaways How smaller mechanical rooms and contractor feedback are driving thinner filter cabinets and changes to their dimensions. How supporting mesh, electrostatic media, and adjustments to metal backing help three-inch filters retain surface area while limiting pressure drop. The role of increased surface area and frame design in AprilAire's one-inch MERV 11 filter offering. Why filter service intervals and field validation matter when matching filtration options to maintenance agreements. How transitions that expose the full filter face help avoid pressure increases caused by undersized return openings. Key Timestamps 00:00 – Factory Direct Filters Ad 00:42 – Episode overview and Guest introduction 02:22 – Cabinet evolution and demand for smaller dimensions 10:49 – One-inch MERV 11 filter design and surface area 15:03 – Full-face transitions, pressure drop, and replacement practices 17:24 – Closing remarks This Episode is Kindly Sponsored by: Cintas: https://www.cintas.com/hvacknowitall Cool Air Products: https://www.coolairproducts.net/ Factory Direct Filters: https://www.factorydirectfilters.com/ SupplyHouse: https://www.supplyhouse.com/tm Use promo code HKIA5 to get 5% off your first order at Supplyhouse! Follow the Guest and His Company on: Chris Howells - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-howells-5aa32b64/ AprilAire - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aprilaire/ AprilAire - Company Website: https://www.aprilaire.com/ Follow the Host on: LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-mccreadie-38217a77/ LinkedIn - HVAC Know It All: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hvac-know-it-all-inc Website: https://www.hvacknowitall.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/HVAC-Know-It-All-2/61569643061429/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hvacknowitall1/ Follow the Podcast on: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HVACKnowItAll Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6LCBJGw
In this episode of HVAC Know It All, host Gary McCreadie talks with Chris Howells, Senior Training & Development Manager at AprilAire, about applying indoor air quality solutions during shoulder seasons and making filtration part of a complete HVAC approach. They cover humidity concerns, filter selection, MERV ratings, pressure drop, airflow, and ways technicians can explain system performance to homeowners. Chris draws on his work educating contractors about filtration and indoor air quality. He explains why increasingly sealed homes and modern variable-speed equipment require technicians to assess the full system, including duct design, filter surface area, and delivered airflow, before recommending higher-efficiency filtration. Key Takeaways How to use shoulder-season humidity and comfort concerns to start an ethical indoor air quality conversation. Why indoor air quality solutions should address human health and comfort rather than focus on selling products. The relationship between filter MERV rating, pressure drop, surface area, and delivered airflow. How deeper media filters can provide more filtration surface area without equating filter depth with restriction. Why variable-speed ECM motors can be more affected by restrictive filters than older single-stage PSC motors. How static-pressure measurements and visual evidence can help homeowners understand filtration-related system issues. Key Timestamps 00:00 – Factory Direct Filters Ad 00:42 – Episode overview and Guest introduction 04:14 – Providing indoor air quality solutions during shoulder season 06:25 – Dehumidification as the first stage of cooling and its role in comfort 10:00 - AprilAire and their filtration 11:57 – One-inch filters, equipment protection, and the impact of pressure drop 13:32 – How modern variable-speed motors respond to restrictive filters 17:59 – Filter surface area, depth loading, and comparing one-inch and three-inch media 21:31 – Showing homeowners static-pressure readings and using a practitioner mindset This Episode is Kindly Sponsored by: Cintas: https://www.cintas.com/hvacknowitall Cool Air Products: https://www.coolairproducts.net/ Factory Direct Filters: https://www.factorydirectfilters.com/ SupplyHouse: https://www.supplyhouse.com/tm Use promo code HKIA5 to get 5% off your first order at Supplyhouse! Follow the Guest and His Company on: Chris Howells - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-howells-5aa32b64/ AprilAire - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aprilaire/ AprilAire - Company Website: https://www.aprilaire.com/ Follow the Host on: LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-mccreadie-38217a77/ LinkedIn - HVAC Know It All: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hvac-know-it-all-inc Website: https://www.hvacknowitall.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/HVAC-Know-It-All-2/61569643061429/ Instagram: https://www
In this episode of the HVAC Know It All Business Edition Podcast, co-hosts Gary McCreadie and Furman Haynes from WorkHero speak with Vern Crawford, founder of Flow Logic Automation, about practical uses of AI and automation in HVAC and plumbing businesses. They examine an after-hours AI phone agent for plumbing emergencies, the difference between deterministic automations and AI agents, and how APIs, webhooks, and MCPs connect business systems. The conversation also covers starting with simple workflows, using field service management data effectively, and preparing clean data before implementing AI. Vern has experience working with Housecall Pro automations and building AI-enabled workflows. He discusses creating an MCP connection for Housecall Pro, using Make.com to process plumbing work orders, and helping businesses implement these systems. Expect To Learn: How an after-hours AI phone agent can handle emergency calls and referrals. Why voice, tone, and local context matter when designing AI phone agents. The difference between deterministic automations and AI agents. How a completed-job trigger can improve office visibility in Housecall Pro. Why technician habits and workflow design affect automation success. How AI agents can help interpret technician notes and complete administrative tasks. What APIs, webhooks, and Model Context Protocols do in an AI workflow. Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction to Vern Crawford and Flow Logic Automation 01:05 – A practical AI phone agent workflow 03:57 – AI voice options, tone, and customer reactions 04:52 – Testing accents and using human reception during business hours 06:41 – Automation versus AI agents 10:14 – A starting automation for completed jobs 11:55 – Technician use of the finish button 15:19 – Managing variation in HVAC service jobs 18:03 – APIs, webhooks, and MCPs explained 19:36 – Model Context Protocols and AI system connections 21:28 – Webhooks as machine-to-machine messages Follow our Guest Vern Crawford & His Company: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vern_crawford/ Company Website: https://www.flowlogicautomation.com/ Follow Gary McCreadie: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-mccreadie-38217a77/ Website: https://www.hvacknowitall.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/HVAC-Know-It-All-2/61569643061429/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hvacknowitall1/ Follow Furman Haynes: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/furmanhaynes/ WorkHero: https://www.linkedin.com/company/workherohvac/ Instagram: <a href= "https://www.instagram.com/work
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The HVAC Know It All Podcast, hosted by HVAC and Refrigeration tech Gary McCreadie, is an industry leading show that focuses on education within the HVAC and Refrigeration Trade - Such as HVAC Maintenance Tips.
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