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PODCAST

Did You Know?-The ESCO HVAC Podcast

The ESCO Institute "Did you Know?" podcast provides HVACR professionals access to reliable, up-to-date, and relevant information, directly from trusted sources. The world of HVACR has been changing at an exponential rate over the last few years; new SEER ratings, flammable refrigerants, and an array of technological advances. Keeping up with all the changes in regulation, manufacturing, refrigerants and how to properly prepare students and technicians has became daunting. Many of our guests are

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All Episodes

30:29

The Data Center Boom: What It Means for HVAC with...

Did You Know?-The ESCO HVAC Podcast ·

2026/10/02

In this eye-opening and timely episode, we chat with Vic Marinich from Danfoss about the scale of data center construction and look at them from a technician's perspective. We dig into the massive cooling demands behind these facilities and the opportunities they're creating for contractors across the HVAC industry.We explore:• The needs of today's data centers, and why a single facility can use 140,000 tons of cooling and hundreds of chillers• How the industry is tackling community concerns around

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20:22

Behind the Bench: UA Apprentices on Competition,...

Did You Know?-The ESCO HVAC Podcast ·

2026/09/16

In this energetic, on-location episode, we head to the 2026 United Association ITP Week and Apprenticeship Competition in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Clifton sits down with Ryan, last year's international competition winner turned mentor, and a table full of fourth- and fifth-year apprentices from across the U.S. and Canada. We dig into what it really takes to compete at the state, regional and international levels, and why this week is as much about brotherhood as it is about skill.We explore:• What the

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21:18

Plumbing Meets HVAC: Heat Pump Water Heaters and the...

Did You Know?-The ESCO HVAC Podcast ·

2026/09/09

Live from the UA Instructor Training Program, we chat with Joe Fernandez Jr. about the trade that's increasingly overlapping with HVAC: plumbing. We dig into how heat pump water heaters are reshaping expectations for both plumbers and HVAC techs, and why education and service are driving the transition.We explore:• Why heat pump water heaters are already the norm overseas and gaining ground in the U.S.• The consumer pushback around upfront cost, and how technicians can educate customers• How

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34:07

Building the Next Generation of Teachers: Inside the...

Did You Know?-The ESCO HVAC Podcast ·

2026/09/03

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Rob Vilches, training specialist with the United Association (UA), live from the 2026 UA Instructor Training Program (ITP) in Ann Arbor, Michigan. With roughly 2,200 UA instructors on campus and over 400,000 members across the U.S. and Canada, the UA quietly runs one of the largest training operations in the skilled trades.Rob breaks down:• How the UA trains the trainers, turning field technicians into skilled classroom instructors• How the Future

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34:15

Bridging the Generational Gap: The Future Instructors...

Did You Know?-The ESCO HVAC Podcast ·

2026/08/24

In this candid episode, we sit down with Jess Slade, a fourth-year pipefitting apprentice at UA Local 502 in Louisville, KY. She’s a participant in the UA's Future Instructors program, part of an effort to train the next generation of trade educators from within the apprenticeship pipeline.We discuss:• How the Future Instructors program identifies apprentices with leadership potential and develops them into educators while they're still completing their training• Why the industry's instructor

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30:15

Building the Next Generation of HVAC Techs: Inside...

Did You Know?-The ESCO HVAC Podcast ·

2026/07/31

In this episode, recorded live at the SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference, we sit down with Aaron Wright, HVAC instructor at Delcastle Technical High School, to talk about what it takes to build a thriving vocational program.We explore:• How Delcastle's exploratory model lets freshmen sample HVAC alongside other career pathways before committing• The "GAD score" system schools use to place students into high-demand programs like HVAC• Turning classroom skills into real jobs through

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25:54

Beyond the Classroom: What SkillsUSA Reveals About...

Did You Know?-The ESCO HVAC Podcast ·

2026/07/24

What can an HVAC competition teach us about preparing students for the realities of the field? In this episode, Clifton sits down with Jim Fultz of Copeland and White-Rodgers to recap their experience at the 2026 SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference—and share what instructors and industry professionals can learn from watching the next generation of technicians in action. We explore: • How SkillsUSA connects students, educators and industry professionals • What the competition

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16:39

Tools for Tomorrow, Here Today: Inside Malco's...

Did You Know?-The ESCO HVAC Podcast ·

2026/07/17

What does it take to build a tool that survives real life on the job site — not just a CAD drawing? In this episode, Clifton catches up with returning guest Greg Guse, Director of New Products at Malco, for a behind-the-scenes look at how Malco decides what tools get made next, and why.We explore:• Malco's expansion from sheet metal into duct board tools, vacuum pumps and refrigerant equipment• How the Safe Seal hose eliminates frostbite risk and Schrader valve leaks• Why closed systems like R-290

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24:24

Only Mostly Dead: The Truth About R-410A's Slow Fade-Out

Did You Know?-The ESCO HVAC Podcast ·

2026/07/10

Is R-410A really gone — or just mostly dead? In this candid episode, we sit down with Greg Guse, Director of New Products at Malco, to unpack the confusing, ever-shifting reality of the R-410A phase-down and what it means for contractors, distributors and homeowners right now. We explore: • Why EPA's shifting guidance has left contractors and consumers unsure which system to buy • Why the R-410A shortage may hit faster than the R-22 phase-out did • The push toward A2Ls and natural refrigerants — and

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26:58

Water From Thin Air: How HVAC Technology Could Help...

Did You Know?-The ESCO HVAC Podcast ·

2026/06/19

What if the air around your home could become a reliable source of clean water? In this eye-opening episode, we sit down with Brian Chang, CEO and founder of Aquaria — the company building atmospheric water generators that turn humidity into clean, drinkable water.We explore:• How Aquaria’s systems produce water from air using principles HVAC pros already understand• Why water scarcity is becoming a growing concern in communities across the country• How mechanical contractors could play a key role

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15:42

Future-Proofing the Trades: Bridging Plumbing and...

Did You Know?-The ESCO HVAC Podcast ·

2026/06/12

Big changes are coming to the plumbing and HVAC trades — and the people who train for them now will lead tomorrow. In this energetic episode, we chat with Marty Kuerzi and David McConnell from UA Local 502 about how two industries are converging and what that means for the next generation of skilled workers.We explore:• How plumbing and HVAC trades are blending as new technologies hit the market• The coming shift to heat pump water heaters and air-to-water monobloc systems• Why apprenticeships,

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20:39

Building Careers, Brotherhood and the Future Workforce

Did You Know?-The ESCO HVAC Podcast ·

2026/06/05

In this special on-location episode, recorded at the Kentucky Derby Festival Bed Races in Louisville, Kentucky, we sit down with Mike Burke, Training Coordinator for UA Local 502, and apprentice Alex to explore the power of union apprenticeship programs, workforce development and the lasting impact of mentorship in the skilled trades.We explore:• How UA Local 502 is attracting and training the next generation of skilled trades professionals• The benefits of earning while learning through a debt-free

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18:10

From Tutus to Tool Belts: Inspiring the Next...

Did You Know?-The ESCO HVAC Podcast ·

2026/05/29

In this inspiring episode, we sit down with Kati Theurer, Director of HVAC Programs at Jefferson College, educator, industry leader and founder of the From Tutus to Tool Belts initiative. Fresh off being recognized as the first female Certified Master HVAC Educator and a Top 25 HVAC Instructor, Kati shares her passion for expanding opportunities and awareness for young women in the skilled trades.We explore:• How From Tutus to Tool Belts introduces fifth- through eighth-grade girls to hands-on trade

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25:56

The Skilled Trades Awakening: Greg Crumpton on HVAC,...

Did You Know?-The ESCO HVAC Podcast ·

2026/05/22

In this inspiring and forward-thinking episode recorded live at the 2026 National HVAC Education Conference, we sit down with Greg Crumpton of Service Logic to explore the growing momentum behind skilled trades careers and why HVAC is finally getting the attention it deserves. From AI and data centers to mentorship and workforce development, Greg shares powerful insights on how the trades are evolving — and why the next generation is beginning to see them in a whole new light.We explore:• Why the

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23:22

The Three R’s of Refrigerant Stewardship: Recovery,...

Did You Know?-The ESCO HVAC Podcast ·

2026/05/15

In this thought-provoking episode recorded live at the 2026 National HVAC Education Conference, we sit down with Anthony Nash from A-Gas to tackle one of the HVAC industry’s most important — and often misunderstood — topics: refrigerant recovery, recycling and reclaim. Together, we unpack the critical differences between the “Three R’s” and why proper refrigerant stewardship is essential for the future of the industry.We explore:• The real differences between recover, recycle and reclaim — and why

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10:56

Smarter Safety in HVAC: Protecting Technicians with...

Did You Know?-The ESCO HVAC Podcast ·

2026/05/08

In this episode recorded live at the 2026 National HVAC Education Conference, we sit down with Louise Kellar from UEi Test Instruments to explore innovations designed to keep technicians safer on the job. From personal gas detection to next-generation tools, this conversation highlights how technology is evolving to meet the real-world challenges HVAC professionals face every day.We dive into:• The risks technicians face when working in confined or unknown environments• How UEi’s new “set it and

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25:30

The Refrigerant Reality Check: Why Recovery Matters...

Did You Know?-The ESCO HVAC Podcast ·

2026/05/01

In this eye-opening episode recorded live at the 2026 National HVAC Education Conference, we sit down with Adam Dykstra of FMHero to unpack one of the biggest challenges facing the HVAC industry today: refrigerant management. From shocking data on recovery rates to the very real threat of future shortages, this conversation dives into the gap between what’s required — and what’s actually happening in the field.We explore:• The staggering volume of refrigerant lost annually — and where it’s really

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19:29

The Rise of Communicating HVAC Systems: Smarter...

Did You Know?-The ESCO HVAC Podcast ·

2026/04/17

In this episode, we sit down with Ketan Namjoshi from Bosch Home Comfort to explore how communicating thermostats and fully connected HVAC systems are transforming the residential landscape. As variable-speed equipment, inverter technology and smart home integration continue to evolve, so too must the way systems are controlled, installed and serviced.We dive into:• What communicating thermostats are—and how they differ from traditional controls• How real-time data and system feedback improve

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42:56

To Recover...Or Not to Recovery? Industry experts...

Did You Know?-The ESCO HVAC Podcast ·

2026/04/10

op industry professionals agree on one thing—refrigerant conservation matters.Tune in to this powerful conversation recorded at the 2026 National HVACR Education Conference, where leading experts in refrigerant recovery, recycle, and reclaim come together to break down the law of refrigerant conservation. Learn why proper handling, compliance, and best practices are critical for the future of the HVACR industry.Whether you're a student, technician, or educator, this discussion delivers real-world

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20:31

Replay: All Trades Paige on Redefining the Skilled...

Did You Know?-The ESCO HVAC Podcast ·

2026/04/03

We’re getting back up to speed after a great time at the National HVACR Education Conference last week — so while we catch up, we’re revisiting one of our favorite conversations from August 2025.In this inspiring episode, we sit down with Paige Knowles, better known as “All Trades Paige,” to talk about her journey from tech school student to skilled trades advocate, author, and industry trailblazer.We explore:• How Paige is breaking stereotypes and proving there’s no gender to a job• Why introducing

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