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.

• 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.

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/

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In this episode of HVAC Know It All, host Gary McCreadie speaks with Matt Showers, a commercial-industrial HVAC professional and the host of Trade Therapy Podcast, about the effects of compulsive screen time, gaming, and other obsessive behaviors on family life. They discuss recognizing a problem, confronting the consequences of addiction, setting boundaries, and taking the first step toward getting help.

Matt shares how gaming became an ongoing problem during his marriage and why an ultimatum from his wife became his turning point. Drawing on his experience of rebuilding trust and changing his habits, he explains how honesty, visible boundaries, and a long-term focus on the kind of parent and partner he wants to be have shaped his approach.

• How recognizing the impact of compulsive behavior on family life can become the first step toward change.

• Why knowledge and sound measurement practices matter more than owning expensive tools.

• The importance of creating boundaries that reduce easy access to habits that can become compulsive.

• How honesty about setbacks can help rebuild trust and keep recovery efforts accountable.

• Why obsessive behavior can become harmful when it displaces sleep, food, work, or family responsibilities.

• How reaching out to a trusted person can start the process of finding appropriate support.

00:00 – Cintas Ad

02:45 – Community, social media, and calling out poor HVAC practices

05:21 – Matt's breaking point with compulsive gaming and screen time

08:23 – How addiction can take many forms, including work and learning

11:16 – The effects of obsessive behavior on basic needs and family responsibilities

17:05 – Why bottling up emotions can lead to a breaking point

20:04 – Matt's advice to reach out to a trusted person for help

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!

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In this episode of HVAC Know It All, host Gary McCreadie speaks with Matt Showers, a commercial-industrial HVAC professional and the host of Trade Therapy Podcast. They discuss putting real stories behind the topic, recognizing when peer support is not enough, managing screen and gaming habits, and responding to online negativity without feeding it.

Matt draws from his experience creating the Trade Therapy podcast and seeking therapy for his own screen addiction. He explains how professional support and future-focused exercises helped him reset priorities, set limits around gaming, and spend more intentional time with his family.

• How sharing personal stories can make mental health conversations in the trades more concrete and relatable.

• Why professional help may be necessary when a mental health challenge is beyond what a friend can help resolve.

• How phone games and immersive video games can become a distraction from family and other priorities.

• The value of setting a timer and stepping away from screens before they consume more time than intended.

• Why asking questions and seeking context is more constructive than attacking people online.

00:00 – Cintas Ad

04:03 – Matt explains why he started the Trade Therapy podcast

09:44 – Matt describes the pull of phone games and video games

12:02 – Therapy, future-focused exercises, and resetting priorities

21:35 – Why online attacks can be driven by attention and engagement

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!

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In this episode of the HVAC Know It All Business Edition Podcast, co-hosts Gary McCreadie and Furman Haynes from WorkHero speak with Jim Bergmann, President of measureQuick, and Director of New Product Development at Redfish Instruments Inc. about residential HVAC commissioning, reducing callbacks, and verified equipment operation.

Jim explains how airflow, static pressure, charging, and manufacturer installation requirements affect system longevity. He also discusses AI guardrails, diagnostic tools, repair options, and why HVAC businesses may benefit from more specialized roles.

• Why commissioning helps reduce callbacks and protect equipment.

• How airflow and static pressure affect system operation.

• What verified equipment operation includes for residential installs.

• Why technicians should follow manufacturer installation requirements.

• Where AI can support HVAC diagnostics and where human judgment remains necessary.

• How repair options can serve customers in a repair economy.

• Why specialized roles can strengthen installation and commissioning quality.

00:00 – Introduction to part two with Jim Bergmann

00:48 – Callbacks and commissioning for business owners

02:02 – Verified equipment operation for residential systems

07:19 – AI and the future of HVAC diagnostics

07:48 – AI as a tool for refining thinking

09:11 – AI guardrails and Measure Quick's use of measured data

13:16 – Repair options in a repair economy

17:24 – Specialized commissioning and technical efficiency roles

23:14 – Closing conversation on AI and HVAC

Follow our Guest Jim Bergmann:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jim-bergmann-2968178/

• Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/measurequick-application/

• Company Website: https://measurequick.com/

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• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-mccreadie-38217a77/

• Website: https://www.hvacknowitall.com

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• 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 speaks with HVACR Educator Don Gillis of Gillis Coach about helping technicians adapt to digital tools and evolving equipment. They cover the shift from analog instruments to Bluetooth-enabled technology, the value of understanding mechanical fundamentals, and how to assess training resources before relying on them.

Don draws on experience in field service, service management, manufacturer work, and training to explain why technicians and counter staff need a stronger grasp of refrigeration fundamentals. His perspective connects real-world testing, tool calibration, and ongoing training to the changes technicians face with modern controls, EEVs, and new refrigerants.

• How to combine digital diagnostic tools with an understanding of the mechanical principles behind the readings.

• Why technicians teaching others need to stay current with the tools and technology used in the field.

• The importance of learning the refrigeration cycle so counter staff can have more useful technical conversations.

• How to evaluate online HVAC training by choosing sources that demonstrate sound knowledge and real-world mistakes.

• Why new components such as EEVs and variable-speed equipment require technicians to move beyond familiar routines.

• The difference between laboratory testing and field testing when manufacturers introduce new products.

[00:00] - Sponsor Ad: Factory Direct Filters

[00:42] - Introduction to Don Gillis & the Focus of the Episode

[02:25] – Don's early adoption of digital tools and Bluetooth technology

[06:46] – Why new technicians should train with current digital equipment

[08:44] – The decline of refrigeration knowledge at the supply counter

[11:50] – How refrigeration technology reaches residential HVAC systems

[12:53] – Accepting change and choosing reliable online training sources

[16:16] – Laboratory testing, field testing, and product release pressure

[19:10] – Closing discussion on scroll-compressor check valves

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/
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Use promo code HKIA5 to get 5% off your first order at Supplyhouse!

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Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gillis-coach/
Company Website: https://gilliscoach.com/

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Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hvac-know-it-all-podcast/id1359253455

In this episode of HVAC Know It All, host Gary McCreadie speaks with HVACR Educator Don Gillis of Gillis Coach about how HVAC training has changed from the field-based approaches of decades past. They examine apprenticeship experiences, knowledge gaps, digital learning tools, and how senior technicians can build confidence by involving apprentices in real troubleshooting.

Drawing on more than 30 years in HVAC, including roles with Emerson, Chemours, and as a service manager, Don shares how he developed his training approach. His experience teaching refrigerants, building science, weatherization, and technicians in the field informs his focus on practical learning, curiosity, and helping people advance in their careers.

• How involving apprentices in setup and troubleshooting can build confidence instead of treating them only as helpers.

• Why a senior technician should ask an apprentice for input when a diagnostic process stalls.

• The value of teaching a repeatable troubleshooting methodology so apprentices can identify missed steps.

• How digital resources can help apprentices find answers when the technician beside them does not know the answer.

• Why withholding knowledge can weaken training and limit a team's ability to solve problems.

• The importance of creating a respectful truck environment where apprentices can learn without unnecessary frustration.
  
  

[00:00] - Sponsor Ad: Factory Direct Filters

[00:43] – Gary introduces Don Gillis and the discussion on HVAC training

[02:31] – Don's path from Emerson and Chemours to coaching and curriculum development

[07:10] – How committing to an independent business changes fear into planning and excitement

[08:42] – Don's early field training experience and the value of learning alongside apprentices

[12:42] – How past training environments could be toxic or unsupported

[15:13] – Brand-focused training, broken school equipment, and learning from manuals

[20:41] – Using an apprentice's perspective to catch missed troubleshooting steps

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:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dongilliscom/
Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gillis-coach/
Company Website: https://gilliscoach.com/

Follow the Host on:
LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-mccreadie-38217a77/
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Website: https://www.hvacknowitall.com
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Follow the Podcast on:
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Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hvac-know-it-all-podcast/id1359253455

In this episode of the HVAC Know It All Business Edition Podcast, co-hosts Gary McCreadie and Furman Haynes from WorkHero speak with Jim Bergmann, president of measureQuick, and Director of New Product Development at Redfish Instruments Inc. about commissioning as a business process. They cover preventive component replacement, technician tools, accurate measurements, callback costs, and creating consistent field procedures.

Jim explains how missing or inconsistent tools can lead technicians to guess at system performance. He also discusses using standardized truck layouts, tool allowances, and commissioning processes to improve diagnosis and reduce callbacks.

• How proactive capacitor and contactor replacement can reduce callbacks.

• Why higher-quality replacement components may support preventive maintenance.

• Which commissioning issues commonly affect duct leakage, airflow, and refrigerant charge.

• How to verify that technicians have accurate, appropriate diagnostic tools.

• Why standardized tools and measurement methods improve field consistency.

• How callback costs extend beyond technician wages and truck expenses.

• Why tracking callbacks and building repeatable processes supports business growth.

00:00 – Introduction to Jim Bergmann

00:58 – Preventing callbacks through maintenance

02:47 – Capacitor quality, heat, and failure patterns

04:25 – Scheduled capacitor and contactor replacement

06:02 – Commissioning from a business owner perspective

11:15 – Calculating the financial cost of a callback

11:38 – Why airflow measurement matters before charging

15:21 – Tool allowances and technician accountability

15:57 – Building consistency with a tool co-op

19:11 – Why small businesses should track callbacks

20:00 – The reputation and labor costs of poor-quality work

Follow our Guest Jim Bergmann:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jim-bergmann-2968178/

• Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/measurequick-application/

• Company Website: https://measurequick.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__/