HVAC Know It All Podcast

In this episode of HVAC Know It All, host Gary McCreadie talks with Jamie Chadwick, HVAC Product Manager at Testo Instruments - North America, about combustion analysis and technician safety. They discuss the 320 and 330 analyzers, sensor maintenance, digital reporting, and personal carbon monoxide monitoring. Technicians will learn how clean-air zeroing, annual service, and gas path checks support reliable testing.

Jamie teaches combustion analysis across furnaces and boilers using natural gas, propane, and oil. His classroom experience highlights practical mistakes, including zeroing near vehicle exhaust and leaving condensate-trap plugs loose. He connects those examples to equipment checks and the need to consult local codes and manufacturer specifications.

• How combustion readings provide a reference point for evaluating operation alongside local codes and manufacturer specifications.

• Why field-replaceable sensors do not eliminate the need to send an analyzer in annually to verify its operation.

• How digital reports preserve dated and timestamped readings and let technicians share test records with customers and the office.

• How a wearable CO detector with an earbud option can support personal monitoring in loud mechanical rooms.

• Why zeroing an analyzer in clean outdoor air, away from running vehicles and cigarette smoke, helps prevent distorted readings.

• How a gas path check helps identify leaks that warrant checking hose connections, filter caps, and the condensate-trap plug.

00:00 - Factory Direct Filters Ad

00:42 - Guest and Episode Introduction

02:42 – Combustion training, operating ranges, and manufacturer specifications

03:37 – Testo 320 features and guided testing for newer technicians

06:04 – Testo 330 applications and dilution-pump protection

10:31 – Wearable CO monitoring with the 317-3

13:58 – Avoiding exhaust contamination when zeroing an analyzer

16:45 – Gas path checks and common leak points

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

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Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6LCBJGw0EHG03rdWHxUMce

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 continue the conversation with 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., about the operational demands of heat pump work. The discussion covers rebate paperwork, cash flow, subcontractor partnerships, and the opportunity to combine HVAC with whole-home performance services. Eric and Ed explain how contractors can pair technical expertise with reliable processes to compete on trust rather than speed, and how design software and human-supervised AI could support that work.

Eric and Ed draw on experience with installations, whole-home electrification services, and software development at amply. Their work connects building-envelope assessment, HVAC design, electrical-load considerations, and customer recommendations. They describe a design-focused approach to software development, with tools intended to support contractors' judgment rather than replace their responsibility for the results.

-How rebate administration and delayed reimbursements can strain staffing, cash flow, and payroll.

-Why electrical and weatherization partnerships need shared standards for quality, communication, and customer service.

-How combining building-envelope improvements with HVAC design supports a whole-home approach to comfort and efficiency.

-Where design software could connect insulation, electrical-panel assessments, energy forecasts, and phased customer recommendations.

-How the trust matrix pairs strong processes with technical expertise to distinguish independent contractors from speed-focused competitors.

-How to improve pricing, quoting, and operations incrementally without sacrificing craftsmanship or customer trust.

-Why amply's approach to AI keeps humans responsible at the beginning and end of the workflow.

00:00 - Episode Introduction

00:43 - Rebate Administration, Cash Flow, and Subcontractor Coordination

02:13 - Building HVAC and Weatherization Partnerships

04:46 - The Case for Whole-Home Performance Services

06:06 - Software Gaps for Home Performance Contractors

07:08 - Design Priorities and Software Integrations

10:26 - Connecting Whole-Home Recommendations to Quotes

14:57 - Sustainable Pricing, Trust, and Incremental Improvements

20:21 - Human-Supervised AI and the Contractor Copilot

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/

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• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/HVAC-Know-It-All-2/61569643061429/

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hvacknowitall1/

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• 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 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.

• 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.

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

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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 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.

• 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.

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

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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 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.

-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.

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

• 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 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.

• 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.

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

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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/HVAC-Know-It-All-2/61569643061429/

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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 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.

• 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.

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.

• 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.

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

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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/HVAC-Know-It-All-2/61569643061429/

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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 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.

• 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.instagram.com/hvacknowitall1/

Follow the Podcast on:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HVACKnowItAll

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6LCBJGw0EHG03rdWHxUMce

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 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/

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__/