Tired of putting out fires all day? Trina Swenson, an operational excellence / continuous improvement coach, breaks down practical problem-solving for real businesses—how to spot the “nagging” repeat issues, use the 80/20 rule, get to root cause, and create a process that makes it easier for the next person to win. Expect simple frameworks (like Plan–Do–Check–Adjust) and a reminder you’ll want to repeat: ideal behaviors drive ideal results.

Interested in becoming a Trane dealer? Visit us at partners.trane.com to learn more about how you can partner with a leader in HVAC innovation. Explore opportunities to elevate your business and stay ahead in the market with Trane!

What's the single most important number when it comes to selling your business? Hint: It's not your net income.

In this episode of HVAC Full Blast, Mary Carter and Stephen Ross are joined by lawyer and business consultant Dan D'Alberto to demystify one of the most critical metrics in business valuation: EBITDA. Many business owners leave millions on the table simply because they don't understand this powerful concept and how it reveals the true cash-flow capability of their company.

From understanding personal add-backs (like beach houses and boats!) to seeing how smart accounting can dramatically increase your sale price, this is a masterclass in financial strategy that every business owner needs to hear.

In this episode, you will learn:

• What EBITDA stands for (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization) and what it really measures.
• The crucial difference between Net Income, EBITDA, and Adjusted EBITDA.
• A real-world example of how a business went from $900k in net income to a $2.7 million valuation by understanding its EBITDA.
• How running personal expenses through your business impacts its final sale price.
• Actionable advice on how to prepare your financials to maximize your company's value for a future transition.

Whether you plan to sell in two years or twenty, understanding EBITDA is the key to building real, transferable wealth. Don't make a multi-million dollar mistake—watch now!

Connect with our guest:

Dan | Purpose Equity

Email: dan@purposeequity.com

Have a question for the show?

Email us at: hvac_full_blast@tranetechnologies.com

Interested in becoming a Trane dealer? Visit us at partners.trane.com to learn more about how you can partner with a leader in HVAC innovation. Explore opportunities to elevate your business and stay ahead in the market with Trane!

What separates today’s top HVAC contractors from the rest of the pack?

In this episode of HVAC Full Blast, hosts Mary Carter and Stephen Ross are joined by TJ O’Connor, President of Farmington Consulting Group, to explore insights from the Contractor of the Future Study—a nationwide research project surveying HVAC contractors across all sizes and markets.

Together, they break down:

• Why consumer financing significantly improves close rates and equipment mix
• How offering more proposal options leads to higher profitability
• The real impact of marketing investment on long‑term success
• Why pricing, job costing, and technology adoption matter more than ever
• How contractors can take practical, step‑by‑step actions to improve their business

This conversation goes beyond opinions and trends, grounding HVAC best practices in real data and real contractor behavior—offering a clear look at what’s working today and where the industry is headed next.

Interested in becoming a Trane dealer? Visit us at partners.trane.com to learn more about how you can partner with a leader in HVAC innovation. Explore opportunities to elevate your business and stay ahead in the market with Trane!

Seasonal slowdowns are part of HVAC — but panic doesn’t have to be.

In this episode of HVAC Full Blast, hosts Mary Carter and Stephen Ross dig into what really happens to HVAC businesses during shoulder season and slower months — and how smart owners keep revenue moving without cutting the wrong things.

Drawing from real ownership experience and conversations with contractors across the country, they discuss:

• Why HVAC revenue is rarely linear — and why that’s normal
• Common mistakes companies make when things slow down
• Smarter ways to stabilize cash flow without eroding margins
• How to use existing customers, marketing, and staffing strategically
• Why protecting your people and your process matters most in slow periods

This episode is a practical, honest look at navigating the ups and downs of HVAC ownership — and building a business that can weather every season.

Interested in becoming a Trane dealer? Visit us at partners.trane.com to learn more about how you can partner with a leader in HVAC innovation. Explore opportunities to elevate your business and stay ahead in the market with Trane!

Repair or replace? It’s one of the most debated — and emotionally charged — decisions in HVAC today.

In this episode of HVAC Full Blast, hosts Mary Carter and Steven Ross are joined by David Holt, Director of Education and Coaching at EGIA, for a candid conversation about how contractors, technicians, and homeowners really navigate repair versus replacement decisions.

Together, they explore:

• Why repair vs. replace is more about mindset and education than pressure
• How technician emotions and homeowner psychology shape outcomes
• The role of trust, questions, and clear options in better decision‑making
• What service departments need to do to stay profitable and professional
• Why the contractors who win in the coming years think differently about service

This episode challenges the idea that there’s a “right” answer every time — and instead focuses on how better conversations lead to better outcomes for customers and businesses alike.

Interested in becoming a Trane dealer? Visit us at partners.trane.com to learn more about how you can partner with a leader in HVAC innovation. Explore opportunities to elevate your business and stay ahead in the market with Trane!

Join hosts Mary Carter and Stephen Ross as they sit down with senior loan officer Jordan Cordero from Live Oak Bank for a candid deep dive into contractor financing—what it really takes to fund growth without starving your business of cash.

From SBA 7(a) loans and why they exist, to buying a competitor, purchasing a shop, or rolling real estate into a deal to improve payment terms, Jordan breaks down the moves contractors use to scale—plus the “gotchas” that can derail a close. They unpack the real-world difference between profit and cash flow, when working capital makes sense (and when it doesn’t), and how interest rates, fixed vs. variable options, and prepayment rules show up in your monthly reality.

Whether you’re thinking about acquisition, expansion into a new service line, buying a building, or setting up a succession plan for family or a GM, this episode delivers practical cues to get “bank-ready,” protect your runway, and make financing a growth tool—not a stress multiplier.

Interested in becoming a Trane dealer? Visit us at partners.trane.com to learn more about how you can partner with a leader in HVAC innovation. Explore opportunities to elevate your business and stay ahead in the market with Trane!

Designer–contractor Anthony Carrino, known for his HGTV background and decades of real‑world building experience, breaks down what “comfort” really means inside a modern home—and why it’s far more than setting a thermostat. Learn how temperature, humidity, airflow, and ventilation work together, why tightening a home’s envelope can backfire without an ERV, and the simple design decisions that prevent those infamous “it says 70°, but it doesn’t feel like 70°” moments.

Anthony shares candid stories from the field—from retrofits gone sideways to ductwork decisions that make or break a space—and reveals the behind‑the‑scenes collaboration that happens between architects, GCs, and HVAC pros. Plus, hear why he now expects a mint on his pillow after learning the industry’s term “comfort advisor,” how zoning and variable‑speed systems changed the game, and the unexpected chaos that can live behind old walls.

If you’ve ever wondered how to make comfort truly predictable—or how to translate design choices into healthier air, quieter systems, and happier homeowners—this conversation will reshape the way you think about building performance in HVAC.

Interested in becoming a Trane dealer? Visit us at partners.trane.com to learn more about how you can partner with a leader in HVAC innovation. Explore opportunities to elevate your business and stay ahead in the market with Trane!

Virginia Zunk, finance leader at Trane and HVAC insider, dives into what it’s really like to work with family—and why it can be both a superpower and a challenge. Learn how to set boundaries without burning bridges, why emotional expectations matter more than you think, and the surprising upside of having your biggest cheerleader in the same building. Plus, hear the story behind the “dessert side vs. growing food side” argument, why CrossFit is the OG cult, and how family ties can actually strengthen customer relationships.

If you’ve ever wondered how to keep work and personal life separate—or how to turn family dynamics into a competitive advantage—this conversation will change how you think about collaboration in HVAC.

Interested in becoming a Trane dealer? Visit us at partners.trane.com to learn more about how you can partner with a leader in HVAC innovation. Explore opportunities to elevate your business and stay ahead in the market with Trane!