Free Daily Podcast Summary
Building HVAC Science: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Bill Spohn
Exploring the science, people, and practices shaping better buildings. The Building HVAC Science Podcast dives into both the technical and human sides of heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and building performance. Hosted by industry veteran Bill Spohn, CEO and co-owner of TruTech Tools, the show reflects Bill's passion for advancing the HVAC craft through practical knowledge, curiosity, and conversation. With more than 250 episodes and counting, the podcast features discussions with contractors, distributors, manufacturers, educators, and thought leaders from across the HVAC and building science communities. Each episode blends field experience with broader industry perspective, helping professionals stay ahead of trends, sharpen their skills, and build stronger businesses. Topics include: New tools, technologies, and field practices Real-world case studies and lessons learned Building performance, comfort, and indoor air quality Industry innovation, workforce development, and the human side of the trades Whether you're a technician in the field, a business owner, a manufacturer, or simply curious about how buildings breathe and perform, Building HVAC Science connects you with the ideas and voices moving the industry forward.
Latest Episodes
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- 2 days ago22 min
EP290 From Apprentice to 55 Trucks: Building a Modern Plumbing Company With Max Hicks (August 2026)
Quotes from the episode: "Business doesn't care about your emotions. You just have to solve the problem." "The person that's best doing the plumbing is usually not the best person selling the plumbing." "The biggest thing is: know where your shutoff valve is to your home." What does a modern plumbing company look like, and what can HVAC and building-performance professionals learn from one? In this episode, Bill talks with Max Hicks, founder of Reliant Plumbing, about Max's path from entering the trades at 16 to building a plumbing service company with roughly 55 trucks across four Texas markets. Max shares lessons from more than two decades in the trade, including residential new construction, commercial work, union experience, and eventually business ownership. The conversation explores how technology has changed both plumbing and the business of running a service company. Max discusses the importance of CRM data, knowing your numbers, documenting processes, separating sales from installation when appropriate<span class
- 1 weeks ago38 min
EP289 Building Confidence: Making HVAC Design Visual With Russ & Connor King and Spencer Rosen of KwikModel (September 2026)
Quotes from the episode: "The HVAC system is just designed to match the rate at which that home is gaining or losing heat." — Spencer Rosen "It's part of their job…making sure that the piece of equipment they put in the house matches what the house needs." — Russ King "Don't split hairs when your job is to shave heads." — Connor King, quoting Russ What if better HVAC design started not with the equipment, but with a clearer picture of the house? In this episode of Building HVAC Science, Bill Spohn talks with Russ King, Connor King, and Spencer Rosen about the evolution of KwikModel, the growing connection between HVAC design and energy modeling, and why making buildings visual can make good design more accessible. Russ explains why accurate load calculations remain fundamental, especially as homes transition from furnaces to heat pumps. Replacing equipment based on what was there before can perpetuate oversizing or create entirely new prob
- 2 weeks ago28 min
EP288 Where Duct Cleaning Meets HVAC Performance with Zach Ortwine (August 2026)
Quotes from the episode: "You can't really separate good air quality from good HVAC performance." "I wouldn't recommend to someone something I wouldn't recommend to my grandma." "Once you've seen them both, they can't be separated." What does professional duct cleaning look like when you approach it through the lens of HVAC performance and building science? In this episode, Bill talks with Zach Ortwine of Southeast Clean Air, a duct-cleaning contractor who has deliberately expanded his understanding beyond cleanliness and indoor air quality into airflow, static pressure, duct leakage, system performance, and building pressure. Zach describes how his involvement with both NADCA and the National Comfort Institute (NCI) changed the way he evaluates homes. His early work focused primarily on indoor air quality concerns such as particles, odors, filtration, and ventilation. But as he learned more about HVAC performance, he realized that air quality and system performance are difficult to separate. <div class="OutlineElement
- 3 weeks ago29 min
EP287 BPI, Building Science, and the HVAC Opportunity With Amanda Hatherly (August 2026)
Quotes from the episode: "You don't know what you don't know." "That knowledge outside of energy efficiency is key for anyone working in the built environment." "If you are engaged and want to keep learning, this is a great space to be in." Eight years after her first appearance on the Building HVAC Science Podcast, Amanda Hatherly returns in a new role: CEO of the Building Performance Institute (BPI). Amanda and Bill start by clearing up a common misconception. BPI is not a training organization. It is an ANSI-accredited standards and credentialing organization that brings industry experts together to develop standards and certifications for residential energy efficiency, home performance, weatherization, and healthy housing. Amanda shares what has changed since taking the helm at BPI, including updating standards and certifications, simplifying technical language, expanding Spanish-language materials, refreshing the website, and making the organization and its staff more visible and approachable. A major theme of the conversation is the continued convergence of HVAC, building performance, healthy homes, weatherization, and electrification. Amanda argues that understanding the house as a system shouldn't be limited
- Sep 4, 202639 min
EP286 Stop Waiting for the World to Change with James Childre (August 2026)
Quotes from the episode: "The only way that change is going to occur is if I make it happen." "What makes a high-performance building? It's just good building sense." "It really is about: how do we get contractors to be confident in the assemblies?" Eight years ago, James Childre joined Building HVAC Science (Episode 29) with a somewhat resigned view of change in the construction industry: maybe better building practices would have to wait for a new generation of contractors. Today, his perspective is very different. Instead of waiting for the world to change, James is working to create that change himself. James, founder of RedPoint Montana, spends his days inspecting, testing, and diagnosing buildings. After more than two decades of seeing the same failures recur, he began looking for ways to advance building science knowledge beyond the small group of professionals already committed to high-performance construction. <p class="Paragraph SCXW1876
- Aug 28, 202641 min
EP285 You Can't Control a System That's Open - Ken Allison on HVAC and the Building Envelope (August 2026)
Quotes from the episode: "I don't need the house to breathe. I need the people to." "You can't control a system that's open." "I would just go make them comfortable. And let them know the added benefit is that they're going to spend less on energy." What happens when an HVAC contractor fixes the equipment, but the customer still isn't comfortable? In this episode of Building HVAC Science, Bill Spohn talks with Ken Allsion of Insulation Distributors (IDI) about why HVAC contractors are uniquely positioned to recognize—and potentially solve - problems with the building envelope. Ken argues that comfort complaints often blamed on heating and cooling equipment actually begin with uncontrolled air leakage, poorly installed insulation, and mechanical systems operating outside the thermal envelope. <span class= "EOP Selected SCXW143917804 BCX0" data-ccp-props= "{
- Aug 21, 202632 min
EP284 What I Learned Building My Own Net-Zero Home With Bill Spohn (August 2026)
Quotes from the episode: "Net zero wasn't the goal—it was the outcome of making hundreds of good building science decisions." "One tiny installation mistake destroyed an entire refrigerant system. Details matter." "The biggest lesson isn't that net zero works. It's that building science works." Bill Spohn turns the microphone on himself for a candid look at what he learned by designing, building, and living in his own all-electric, net-zero home. Rather than advocating for Passive House, electrification, or solar as ends in themselves, Bill explains how those decisions emerged from a much simpler goal: creating a comfortable, healthy, quiet home that would serve his family well for decades. Drawing on years of experience in HVAC instrumentation and building science, Bill shares the real-world successes, surprises, and setbacks that came with the project. He discusses why modular construction became the right fit, how careful modeling justified a surprisingly small two-ton cold-climate heat pump for a 4,000-square-foot conditioned home, and why airtightness, continuous insulation, and thoughtful solar orientation mattered more than oversized equipment. The episode also explores the challenges that <span class= "NormalTe
- Aug 14, 202653 min
EP283 AI in HVAC: Beyond the Hype With Tyler Nelson and Billy Spohn (August 2026)
Quotes from the episode: "This is no longer a push-pull industry. This is a thinking person's game now." "The better context you give AI, the better partner it becomes." "Ask AI to teach you how to use AI in your particular situation." Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming one of the most practical tools available to HVAC professionals—but only if it's used as a thinking partner rather than a shortcut. In this episode, Bill Spohn is joined by Tyler Nelson, a nationally recognized HVAC educator and combustion expert, and Billy Spohn, who leads AI initiatives at TruTech Tools, for an honest discussion about where AI is already delivering real value. Tyler explains how his background in combustion analysis naturally led him to AI, with both disciplines relying on measurements, analytics, and informed decision-making. He shares real-world examples of technicians using AI to troubleshoot equipment, communicate more effectively with customers, create personalized learning programs, and even build their own "AI universities" that accelerate technical growth. The result isn't replacing skilled technicians—it's helping them become better diagnosticians and better communicators. Billy offers the business perspective, describing how AI is transforming workflows by connecting systems that have traditionally operated independently. From generating better reports to automating repetitive tasks and acting as an always-available business advisor, he explains why providing AI with pro
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About Building HVAC Science
Exploring the science, people, and practices shaping better buildings. The Building HVAC Science Podcast dives into both the technical and human sides of heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and building performance. Hosted by industry veteran Bill Spohn, CEO and co-owner of TruTech Tools, the show reflects Bill's passion for advancing the HVAC craft through practical knowledge, curiosity, and conversation. With more than 250 episodes and counting, the podcast features discussions with contractors, distributors, manufacturers, educators, and thought leaders from across the HVAC and building science communities. Each episode blends field experience with broader industry perspective, helping professionals stay ahead of trends, sharpen their skills, and build stronger businesses. Topics include: New tools, technologies, and field practices Real-world case studies and lessons learned Building performance, comfort, and indoor air quality Industry innovation, workforce development, and the human side of the trades Whether you're a technician in the field, a business owner, a manufacturer, or simply curious about how buildings breathe and perform, Building HVAC Science connects you with the ideas and voices moving the industry forward.
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