In this episode of the Heat Pump Podcast, co-hosts Ed Smith and Eric Fitz are joined by Mike Missimer, an HVAC industry veteran and principal owner of MGI Mechanical Services. The conversation dives into how Mike leveraged decades of experience to build a thriving heat pump-focused business during the pandemic. They explore the nuances of starting a business, designing efficient heat pump systems, and managing rapid growth—all while navigating the challenges of running a company at higher altitudes and in a rapidly changing energy landscape.

Mike Missimer is the principal owner of MGI Mechanical Services, an HVAC company specializing in heat pumps and energy-efficient systems. With a career spanning nearly three decades, Mike has been instrumental in advancing building science principles, writing green building codes, and educating the next generation of HVAC professionals. Based in Colorado, he has expanded MGI to a multi-division company with a strong focus on innovation, customer relationships, and industry leadership.

📚 Expect to Learn

⚫ The unique challenges and opportunities of launching an HVAC business during a crisis like the pandemic.

⚫ Insights into Mike’s differentiated, analytical, high-performance in-home sales and design process

⚫ Insights into heat pump design at high altitudes and how environmental factors affect system performance.

⚫ Strategies for educating and training teams to embrace building science principles.

⚫ Lessons on scaling a business sustainably while managing rapid growth and internal restructuring.

⚫ The importance of customer-centric design and communication in differentiating from competitors.

⏳ Episode Breakdown with Timestamps ⏳

[00:00:00] Introduction: Philosophy of HVAC Design

[00:01:52] Meet Mike Missimer

[00:05:15] Launching MGI During COVID-19

[00:10:12] From HVAC Technician to Business Leader

[00:18:11] Economic Realities of Differentiated Design

[00:27:01] Understanding Homeowners’ Needs

[00:38:29] Designing Heat Pumps for High Altitudes

[00:49:34] Overcoming Business Hurdles

[00:56:01] Future Goals for MGI

[01:01:43] Recommended Resources

Connect with our Guest Mike Missimer on

👉 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-missimer-22214158/

👉 MGI Mechanical Services Website: https://www.mgimechanicalservices.com/

👉 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MGIMechanicalServices/

Follow the Hosts

👉 Ed Smith: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ed-smith-5aa8716/

👉 Eric Fitz: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ehfitz/

👉 Amply Energy Website: https://www.amply.energy/

👉 Amply Energy YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@amplyenergy

👉 Amply Energy Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amplyenergy

👉 Amply Energy Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amply_energy/

Follow The Heat Pump Podcast now for the latest on heat pump sales, design, and more. 💯

We (Eric and Ed) started the Heat Pump Podcast on a whim. After two years immersed in HVAC, heat pumps, and home electrification, we had a realization: there’s a lot of great HVAC content out there, but heat pump-focused conversations? Surprisingly scarce.

This didn’t sit right with us.

• Aren’t heat pumps the best HVAC equipment on the market today?
• Aren’t their COPs practically magic?
• Aren’t heat pumps the future of HVAC?

So why was the discussion around them so… occasional?

To see if we could change that, we launched the Heat Pump Podcast as an experiment. What’s happened since has blown us away.

What We’ve Learned

After 7 months, 15 episodes, a rapid rise in listeners, and great feedback from heat pump-focused entrepreneurs, we took a moment to reflect. In this latest episode, we compare notes and share the biggest lessons we’ve learned along the way. Such as: 

1. We love it. Turns out, we’d do this even if no one listened. Every episode has been an incredible learning experience.

2. There are way more heat pump-focused entrepreneurs than we imagined!

3. Designing for heat pump systems is way harder than conventional equipment

4. You can't make up for bad design

5. Focusing on heat pumps creates a winning business

6. Heat pumps. Are. More. Comfortable. Period. 

Tune in to the episode for our top 10 lessons from the Heat Pump Podcast Season 1!

A Heartfelt Thanks

To our incredible guests: thank you for taking a chance on two heat-pump-obsessed entrepreneurs with a niche podcast idea. Your time and insights have made every episode richer.

What’s Next?

We’re just getting started. With more episodes planned for 2025, we’re excited to keep growing the conversation around heat pumps, HVAC innovation, and building science.

🎧 Tune in to this special reflection episode and join us on the journey!

What if you could do to construction what Amazon did to retail? Or what Uber did to taxis? 

Mark Kasdorf has an ambitious vision to do just that, and his journey starts with heat pumps.

Mark is the founder and CEO of Forge, a venture-backed, mission-driven startup tackling one of America’s biggest challenges: the skilled labor shortage in the trades. Forge’s secret? Recruiting great talent, training them quickly, and empowering them to lead their own crews fast. Really fast.

In just 18 months, Forge went from installing its first heat pump to running over 10 crews across New England—all through organic growth, no acquisitions That’s a pace unheard of in the HVAC space, where reaching 10+ crews can take years.

Mark describes HVAC as the “goldilocks trade”—challenging enough to require specialized training, but more scalable than electrical or plumbing, which require more licensing. Within HVAC, Forge is laser-focused on heat pumps, a decision that reflects the size of the market, profitability, and growth prospects.

In this podcast episode, Mark shares fascinating insights into:

• Forge’s rapid journey from one crew to many.

• His roadmap for scaling to $10M, $100M, and beyond.

• Why the trades can't be “gigified” and what that means for the construction industry.

• Lessons learned from other startups’ failures to disrupt the trades.

• What makes Forge both similar to and different from a traditional heat pump company.

Whether you’re curious about how venture capitalists see the HVAC industry, or you want a fresh perspective on heat pumps, this episode is a must-listen.

Listen now to hear why Mark believes HVAC is the ultimate trade and why heat pumps are at the center of it all.

Show notes:

• Mark's LinkedIn
• ForgeCo

Adam Mufich is a multi-generation HVAC entrepreneur and now trainer for the National Comfort Institute. What does Adam like to do in his free time? Talk about HVAC.

Adam first caught our attention with his HVAC School article Good COP - Bad COP. He impressed us again with his presentation at the NCI Summit "How to Properly Design with Today's Heat Pumps." We highly recommend both.

On this podcast, Adam dives into his educational journey, sharing how he finally stopped delaying his learning and dove in feet first. He started down the rabbit hole with a Manual J class by Alex Meaney and reading Nate Adams' book. As he went deeper and deeper, one of his first big realizations was: properly done load calculations can be nerve-wracking (at first) when you see how much smaller they are than expected.

What makes this episode particularly fun is Adam’s story of applying his newfound knowledge to his own home. He installed a Daikin SkyAir heat pump and then tackled infiltration by meticulously hand caulking his roof, leak by leak. As a result of his efforts, he significantly reduced his home’s load. Taking it a step further, and with advice from Roman Baugh, Adam reprogrammed his Daikin SkyAir to function as a 1.5-ton heat pump instead of its original 3-ton capacity.

The results? Even at half capacity, the system performed beautifully.

This podcast episode strikes a perfect balance between theory and practice, offering invaluable insights for contractors looking to improve heat pump performance. Whether you’re just starting your HVAC learning journey or looking for actionable tips, this episode is packed with inspiration and expertise.

Show notes

• Adam's LinkedIn
• National Comfort Institute
• Good COP - Bad COP
• Daikin SkyAir
• Alex Meaney
• Nate Adams' book

Steve Rogers, head of The Energy Conservatory (TEC), leads one of the most influential companies in HVAC. TEC’s True Flow Grid has transformed how many Amply customers approach home analysis and system design—and in this episode, Steve explains why airflow and duct analysis are crucial for building efficient, high-performance heat pump systems.

Steve is an engineer’s engineer, the kind of person who creates detailed spreadsheets—just for fun—to balance every tradeoff in heat pump selection, from comfort to cost and efficiency. In this episode, he brings that same rigor to topics every HVAC pro needs to know, including:

• Air flow and heat pumps
• Duct placement and why leakage can double the load
• Envelope vs. duct leakage and their impact on performance
• Ducted vs. ductless systems and when each is optimal
• Best-case vs. worst-case scenarios for heat pump installs (and how to avoid costly mistakes)

Listening to Steve is like taking a masterclass from a professor who makes complex concepts easy to understand. If you’re ready to elevate your expertise in heat pump design, this episode is for you. Don’t miss it!

Show notes

• Steve's LinkedIn
• The Energy Conservatory
• The TrueFlow Grid on TruTech Tools
• The National Comfort Institute
• measureQuick
• Bryan Orr's HVAC School
• Kristof Irwin's Building Science Podcast

Jim Bergmann’s journey through the HVAC industry is one for the books. From riding alongside his dad in the truck to launching industry-leading companies like TruTech Tools and measureQuick, Jim has seen it all. With a storied career as both a teacher and an entrepreneur, Jim has earned his place as one of the most respected voices in the industry.

We were thrilled to sit down with Jim for this podcast episode, not only because of his unmatched technical expertise and his standing in the HVAC world but because of his ability to tell a heck of a story. But perhaps the most interesting part? Jim used to be really skeptical about heat pumps.

As he describes it, he had a “come to Jesus moment” with heat pumps that turned him from a skeptic to a passionate advocate. Now, Jim’s in love with the heat pump in his own home, and in this episode, he shares how that transformation happened. Hearing him break down the technical barriers that once held him back, why he’s now a believer, and what needs to happen to ensure the transition to heat pumps is successful makes this a must-listen for anyone interested in the future of HVAC and the heat pump revolution.

Tune in to hear Jim’s story, his deep technical insights, and what he believes is key to the industry’s successful transition to heat pumps. You won’t want to miss this episode!

Show notes:

• Jim's LinkedIn
• measureQuick
• measureQuick on LinkedIn
• measureQuick on Instagram 
• TruTech Tools

The timing was perfect to interview David Daher because, after 20 years in HVAC, he's on the cusp of launching a brand new heat pump-focused business. With a clear vision and unwavering commitment to achieving it, David doesn’t want just any business—he wants the right one.

David began his journey in the trades in the US military. After returning to civilian life, he quickly entered the HVAC world, eventually starting his own business, and successfully selling it a few years ago. Along the way, he discovered the power of combining building science with heat pump technology. Through this approach, he found he could serve homeowners better.

David is set to launch a highly specialized contracting business focused solely on delivering heat pump solutions to the right clients. He knows exactly who he wants to serve and how his business will stand out in a crowded market. He's setting up his entire business so that he can work with a handful of the right customers each week.

Whether you’re considering launching a heat pump business or you’ve already taken the leap, David’s strategic approach will inspire you. His commitment to staying focused, making tough decisions, and working only with the right customers is a masterclass in business strategy. As he shares his thought process, you’ll discover the power of saying "no" to things that don't fit your vision. 

Show notes:

• https://ductworkpro.com/
• https://www.youtube.com/@visionairyheatingandcooling 

So far, most of our episodes have focused on HVAC companies. Today, we branch out, interviewing Fortunat Mueller, co-founder and CEO of ReVision Energy. ReVision started out as a solar company, but over time has become an "energy transition company." A major part of their business is installing heat pumps.

In this episode, we dig into what it means to be an energy transition company. Fortunat explains how and why ReVision got into HVAC, and in particular why they focus exclusively on heat pumps. He lays out why solar and heat pumps fit naturally into a single business model, and why ReVision's many offerings perfectly meet the energy transition experience that is most comfortable for homeowners. Few homeowners want to do it all in one go. Instead, they'd rather tackle it piece by piece over the course of many years. 

Fortunat shares a lot, such as:

• How ReVision evolved over time
• How companies are built, not from one big idea, but from countless smaller decisions over years that work together to create something great
• ReVision's focus on training as a competitive advantage when there is a dramatic shortage of tradespeople
• How heat pumps perform in the real world, even in climates as brutal as Maine's
• How heat pump technology has evolved and improved over time
• What an ESOP is and why it's a competitive advantage...
• ... And lots more

Whether you're a solar company thinking about getting into heat pumps -- or if you're an HVAC company wondering how your competition is evolving -- you'll get a lot out of this episode. 

Show notes:

• Revision Energy
• Fortunat Mueller
• NESEA

This week, we welcome a guest who truly needs no introduction: Alex Meaney, founder of MeanHVAC. For many in the industry, Alex has taught us much of what we know about Manuals J, S, D, Zr, and more.

In this episode, we dive straight into the intricacies of Manuals J and S, especially their application to heat pumps. Unlike traditional HVAC systems, heat pumps—capable of both heating and cooling—are far more sensitive to mistakes in system design. With Alex’s expertise, we explore why this is, and how to address these challenges.

Throughout the episode, Alex drops invaluable insights, including:

• “Manual J is the problem, Manual S is the solution, and Manual D is the execution.”
• “Cooling is where everything gets complicated.”
• A clear explanation of why higher SEER ratings mean worse moisture removal
• How and why heat pumps have exponentially increased HVAC design complexity
• An explanation of Adequate Exposure Diversity and why it matters
• How much (or little) you make working in public radio
• And lots more

If you’ve ever wanted to geek out on how heat pumps are reshaping the fundamentals of HVAC system design, this episode is a must-listen! 

Show notes

• Alex Meaney
• MeanHVAC
• Please see our website for the charts and graphs referred to in this podcast: https://info.amply.energy/blog/tag/heat-pump-podcast

Peter Troast is the founder and CEO of Energy Circle, a unique and differentiated marketing agency that exclusively works with high performance contractors. 

Early in this episode, Peter shares two important definitions: 

1. Marketing is anything you do that gets the phone to ring with high quality leads
2. High performance contractors are contractors who understand the home as a system, where HVAC is the engine

So in this episode, we focus on one thing: how heat pump contractors can drive more inbound calls. 

Peter walks us through Marketing 101, 201, and 301: 

• Marketing 101 (beginner): how to capture leads through the basics, like a good website and good processes.
• Marketing 201 (intermediate): how to spend advertising dollars to maximum impact on platforms like Google, Facebook, and even Reddit.
• Marketing 301 (advanced): how to create demand through clever content tailored to your unique area and that truly differentiates your company. 

If you're a heat pump contractor looking to get your phone to ring and then beat the competition for bigger tickets and higher margin jobs, this episode is for you. 

Show notes:

• Energy Circle
• Peter's LinkedIn