The Beer Can Cold Podcast

Think paying an HVAC technician $25 an hour means they cost your business $25 an hour? THINK AGAIN!

In this episode of the Beer Can Cold Podcast, JG, Marty, and Will pull back the curtain on one of the most misunderstood parts of the HVAC industry: LABOR BURDEN, PRICING, AND PROFITABILITY.

We're breaking down the REAL numbers behind running an HVAC service business and why that $25-per-hour technician can actually cost a company more than $75,000 per year!

And we're not just talking theory. We're sharing real-world experiences, mistakes, lessons learned, and strategies from inside our businesses.

WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT:

The $25 Technician Myth — Why hourly wages are only the beginning of what a technician actually costs.

Where Does the Money Go? — Health insurance, paid time off, taxes, bonuses, company trucks, fuel, training, and all the expenses customers never see.

Labor Burden & Profit Margins — Understanding your true costs, billable efficiency, overhead, and how to price services without gouging customers.

Are You Losing Money Without Knowing It? — How poor scheduling, doubling up technicians, unnecessary drive time, and nonbillable hours can destroy profitability.

Why Does a $20 HVAC Part Cost $300 to Install? — The debate over service pricing, warranties, professional expertise, and the true value customers receive.

📈 The Changing HVAC Market — Why more homeowners are choosing repairs over replacements and what that means for service companies.

Investing in Your People — Why transparent numbers, hands-on technical training, and building a strong company culture make a difference.

AND OF COURSE... THE BEER!

Will is back from two weeks in Ireland, complete with a castle wedding and plenty of stories. JG brings out a homemade chocolate stout on nitro, inspired by Guinness, as the guys settle in for another round of honest conversation.

NO CORPORATE SCRIPT. NO SUGARCOATING. JUST REAL CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE TRADES, BUSINESS, AND BEER.

Whether you're an HVAC technician, service manager, business owner, or homeowner wondering why professional service costs what it does, this episode is for you.

JOIN THE CONVERSATION!

HVAC professionals: Do you know your actual labor burden?

Homeowners: Does understanding these expenses change the way you look at HVAC service pricing?

Drop your thoughts in the comments. We want to hear from you!

LIKE if you enjoyed the conversation.

SUBSCRIBE for more episodes of the Beer Can Cold Podcast.

SHARE this episode with a technician, contractor, or business owner who needs to hear it.

Grab a cold one, pull up a chair, and join us! 

#BeerCanColdPodcast #HVAC #HVACBusiness #HVACTechnician #HVACPricing #LaborBurden #HVACContractor #ServiceBusiness #SkilledTrades #SmallBusiness #BusinessOwners #HVACTraining #Profitability #Podcast

That's one of the questions we tackle on the newest Beer Can Cold Podcast.

We sat down with Brandon Jennings from Dialpad to talk phones, CSRs, customer experience, AI coaching, abandoned calls, call center performance and where AI actually belongs in a home service business.

The big takeaway?

Use AI to make your PEOPLE better — not simply to replace them.

We also discuss why your CSR may be one of the most important people in your company and how better conversations at the top of the funnel can turn into real revenue.

And then things go completely off the rails and we start talking about Bigfoot. 😂

Turns out Brandon believes in him too.

Want to talk with Brandon?

[email protected]

Grab a cold one and check out the episode!

#BeerCanColdPodcast #HVAC #HomeServices #Trades #Contractor #Dialpad #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #CustomerService #CallCenter #CSR #BusinessGrowth #Bigfoot #Sasquatch

That's one of the questions we tackle on the newest Beer Can Cold Podcast.

We sat down with Brandon Jennings from Dialpad to talk phones, CSRs, customer experience, AI coaching, abandoned calls, call center performance and where AI actually belongs in a home service business.

The big takeaway?

Use AI to make your PEOPLE better — not simply to replace them.

We also discuss why your CSR may be one of the most important people in your company and how better conversations at the top of the funnel can turn into real revenue.

And then things go completely off the rails and we start talking about Bigfoot. 

Turns out Brandon believes in him too.

Want to talk with Brandon?

[email protected]

Grab a cold one and check out the episode!

#BeerCanColdPodcast #HVAC #HomeServices #Trades #Contractor #Dialpad #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #CustomerService #CallCenter #CSR #BusinessGrowth #Bigfoot #Sasquatch

HVAC Is Changing Fast: The 2026 Slowdown, AI, Culture & the Technician Shortage

The Beer Can Cold Podcast is back. This week, JG and Will sit down with Brian and Carrie Ivester, owners of Anderson Heating & Cooling, a woman- and veteran-owned HVAC company serving the Charlotte, North Carolina area.

We dig into what HVAC contractors are actually dealing with in 2026: slowing call volume, changing consumer behavior, the technician shortage, recruiting and training young technicians, HVAC marketing during the shoulder season, maintenance agreements, customer retention, company culture, and the growing pressure from DIY repairs and big-box stores.

We also have a candid conversation about AI in the HVAC and home service industry. Can AI answering services replace CSRs? Should an HVAC company use AI to answer after-hours calls? Both Anderson Heating & Cooling and Boer Brothers have experimented with technology and outside call centers, but the conversation keeps coming back to the importance of having a real person available when a customer needs help.

Brian and Carrie share how Anderson Heating & Cooling recruits and develops technicians, including hands-on HVAC training that allows young technicians to troubleshoot real equipment and learn by doing.

Carrie also breaks down how Anderson approaches company culture, employee recognition and team events. From summer kickoffs and family events to what they call "Carrie's Stupid Fun," they've intentionally built a workplace where people can enjoy being part of the company.

We also discuss one of the biggest questions facing HVAC contractors: how do you generate revenue when the phone stops ringing?

The conversation covers outbound calling, following up on old estimates and technician recommendations, maintenance customers, cloverleafing, door knocking, customer retention and finding opportunities already sitting inside your existing database.

Then we tackle HVAC pricing and the rise of DIY repairs. If a homeowner can buy a capacitor online for $45, why does a professional HVAC repair cost more? The answer involves technician training, diagnostics, trucks, tools, insurance, warranties, overhead and having a qualified professional available when something goes wrong.

Brian and Carrie also share how Anderson Heating & Cooling gives back to the veteran community by donating complete HVAC systems to deserving veterans.

This episode is for HVAC contractors, home service business owners, technicians, service managers, comfort advisors, CSRs, dispatchers and anyone trying to build a better company in the skilled trades.

And because this is Beer Can Cold, we eventually get to the question that matters most:

Do you believe in Bigfoot?

Subscribe to Beer Can Cold for real conversations about HVAC, home services, leadership, company culture, technician training, marketing and running a contracting business.

HASHTAGS

#HVAC #HVACBusiness #HVACContractor #HomeServices #HVACTechnician #HVACTraining #HVACMarketing #SkilledTrades #ContractorLife #HomeServiceBusiness #HVACIndustry #HVACLife #HVACService #HVACSales #BeerCanCold

YOUTUBE KEYWORDS / TAGS

HVAC, HVAC business, HVAC podcast, HVAC contractor, HVAC contractors, HVAC business owner, HVAC industry, HVAC 2026, HVAC slowdown, HVAC market 2026, HVAC technician, HVAC technician shortage, HVAC recruiting, HVAC hiring, HVAC technician training, HVAC apprenticeship, HVAC training, HVAC service, HVAC sales, HVAC marketing, HVAC marketing strategies, HVAC maintenance agreements, HVAC membership program, HVAC customer service, HVAC call center, HVAC dispatch, AI in HVAC, HVAC AI, AI answering service, AI phone answering, home services AI, home service business, home service podcast, home service marketing, contractor business, contractor podcast, skilled trades, skilled trades podcast, company culture, HVAC company culture, HVAC leadership, HVAC management, HVAC pricing, HVAC capacitor, DIY HVAC, HVAC customer retention, HVAC outbound calling, HVAC lead generation, shoulder season HVAC, Anderson Heating and Cooling, Beer Can Cold Podcast

What is it really like to be an HVAC technician during one of the hottest summers on record?

In this episode of the Beer Can Cold Podcast, we sit down with Jason Harmon of Anderson Heating & Cooling for an honest conversation straight from the service van. From scorching attics and flooded crawl spaces to customer expectations and long summer days, Jason shares what life is really like on the front lines of the HVAC industry.

We also discuss:

• Working through extreme heat and high call volumes

Whether you're an HVAC technician, contractor, business owner, apprentice, or homeowner, this episode offers practical insights and real-world experiences from professionals who live it every day.

If you enjoy honest conversations about the skilled trades, subscribe to the Beer Can Cold Podcast for new episodes featuring industry leaders, technicians, and business owners who are shaping the future of HVAC. 

HVAC podcast, HVAC technician, HVAC life, HVAC service, air conditioning repair, AC repair, heating and cooling, HVAC business, HVAC training, HVAC careers, skilled trades, blue collar careers, residential HVAC, commercial HVAC, service technician, HVAC maintenance, heat wave, summer HVAC, HVAC diagnostics, customer service, HVAC industry, HVAC contractor, work ethic, technician life, Beer Can Cold Podcast, Jason Harmon, Anderson Heating & Cooling, honest HVAC, refrigerant changes, HVAC repair

#BeerCanColdPodcast

What is it really like to be an HVAC technician during one of the hottest summers on record?

In this episode of the Beer Can Cold Podcast, we sit down with Jason Harmon of Anderson Heating & Cooling for an honest conversation straight from the service van. From scorching attics and flooded crawl spaces to customer expectations and long summer days, Jason shares what life is really like on the front lines of the HVAC industry.

We also discuss:

• Working through extreme heat and high call volumes

• Why skilled trades are one of the best career opportunities today

• The importance of work ethic and company culture

• Honest repairs versus unnecessary upselling

• How homeowners can avoid costly mistakes when choosing an HVAC contractor

• Equipment reliability and today's refrigerant changes

• Why trust is the foundation of every successful service call

• What the future looks like for technicians entering the trade

Whether you're an HVAC technician, contractor, business owner, apprentice, or homeowner, this episode offers practical insights and real-world experiences from professionals who live it every day.

If you enjoy honest conversations about the skilled trades, subscribe to the Beer Can Cold Podcast for new episodes featuring industry leaders, technicians, and business owners who are shaping the future of HVAC.

Keywords

HVAC podcast, HVAC technician, HVAC life, HVAC service, air conditioning repair, AC repair, heating and cooling, HVAC business, HVAC training, HVAC careers, skilled trades, blue collar careers, residential HVAC, commercial HVAC, service technician, HVAC maintenance, heat wave, summer HVAC, HVAC diagnostics, customer service, HVAC industry, HVAC contractor, work ethic, technician life, Beer Can Cold Podcast, Jason Harmon, Anderson Heating & Cooling, honest HVAC, refrigerant changes, HVAC repair

Hashtags

#BeerCanColdPodcast

#HVAC

#HVACTechnician

#HVACLife

#HeatingAndCooling

#AirConditioning

#ACRepair

#HVACService

#SkilledTrades

#BlueCollar

#HVACBusiness

#WorkEthic

#ServiceTech

#Homeowners

#ConstructionLife

#TradesLife

#HVACTraining

#SummerHeat

#Podcast

#RealTal

Beer Can Cold Podcast – Extended Labor Warranties Part 2

Are extended labor warranties killing service department revenue… or are they one of the most powerful customer retention tools available today?

In Part 2 of our deep dive into extended labor warranties, JG Van Graan, Will Merritt, and Marty Gildemeyer sit down with Kelsey Weeks and Courtney Womack from JB Warranties to answer the questions every HVAC contractor is asking.

We discuss:

• The biggest misconceptions about extended labor warranties

One of the biggest takeaways from this episode: today's homeowners are investing $15,000–$25,000 in comfort systems and expect warranties to provide real protection. The industry is changing, and contractors must decide whether extended labor warranties are becoming a necessity rather than an option.

Whether you're an HVAC owner, service manager, comfort advisor, technician, or homeowner, this episode provides valuable insight into one of the hottest debates in the industry.

Guests:

Subscribe for more HVAC business discussions, industry trends, leadership conversations, and the occasional Bigfoot sighting.

#HVAC #JBWarranties #ExtendedWarranty #ContractorSuccess #HVACBusiness #ServiceTitan #MaintenancePlans #HVACSales #BeerCanColdPodcast

Summer is finally here and the boys are back with another episode of Beer Can Cold Podcast featuring sponsor favorite Marty from Praxis.

In this episode, we dive into HVAC industry conversations, business growth, marketing strategy, leadership, customer experience, and the real challenges facing home service companies today. Expect authentic conversations, practical insights, and a little bit of humor along the way.

Whether you’re an HVAC owner, service manager, technician, CSR, or home service entrepreneur, this episode is packed with relatable stories and actionable ideas.

Topics include:

HVAC business growth

Service management

Customer experience

Home service marketing

Leadership in the trades

HVAC industry trends

Sponsorships and partnerships

Building company culture

Subscribe for weekly HVAC business conversations from the field and the front office.

#HVAC #BeerCanColdPodcast #HomeServices #HVACLife #ServiceManagement #TradesIndustry #BusinessPodcast #HVACBusiness #CustomerService #Leadership #Praxis #Marketing #ContractorLife #HVACTechnician #SmallBusiness #HVACSales #BusinessGrowth #Podcast

Summer is finally here and the boys are back with another episode of Beer Can Cold Podcast featuring sponsor favorite Marty from Praxis.

In this episode, we dive into HVAC industry conversations, business growth, marketing strategy, leadership, customer experience, and the real challenges facing home service companies today. Expect authentic conversations, practical insights, and a little bit of humor along the way.

Whether you’re an HVAC owner, service manager, technician, CSR, or home service entrepreneur, this episode is packed with relatable stories and actionable ideas.

Topics include:

Subscribe for weekly HVAC business conversations from the field and the front office.

#HVAC #BeerCanColdPodcast #HomeServices #HVACLife #ServiceManagement #TradesIndustry #BusinessPodcast #HVACBusiness #CustomerService #Leadership #Praxis #Marketing #ContractorLife #HVACTechnician #SmallBusiness #HVACSales #BusinessGrowth #Podcast

What separates great HVAC companies from the ones that stay stuck?

This week on the Beer Can Cold Podcast, JG and Will sit down with business coach and leadership expert Kerry Webb to talk about accountability, culture, pricing, leadership, technician coaching, and what really causes HVAC and plumbing companies to plateau.

Kerry has worked with hundreds of home service companies across the country, helping owners and leadership teams improve culture, increase accountability, and build businesses that actually grow profitably.

This episode dives into:

If you own, manage, or work in an HVAC, plumbing, or home service business, this episode is packed with practical takeaways you can use immediately.

#HVAC #Leadership #HomeServices #BusinessGrowth #HVACLife #Plumbing #ServiceBusiness #Entrepreneur #BeerCanColdPodcast #HVACBusiness #Culture #Management #Accountability #ServiceTitan #HVACR

Use these in tags and description:

#HVAC #HVACLife #HomeServices #BusinessCoach #Leadership #Management #Culture #Entrepreneur #HVACBusiness #BeerCanColdPodcast #Plumbing #Trades #ServiceIndustry #SmallBusiness #ServiceTitan