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Adding Plumbing To Your HVAC Business – Short #282

By Roman Baugh Nate Agentis

Looking to Add Plumbing To Your HVAC Business? Learn the critical pitfalls to avoid before you make the leap! In this livestream from the 7th Annual HVAC/R Training Symposium, service plumber and third-generation tradesman Nate Agentis breaks down why adding plumbing to your HVAC business isn't as simple as hiring a plumber and stocking PVC on your trucks.

What You'll Learn:

Why most HVAC companies fail when adding plumbing services
The hidden costs beyond just hiring plumbers
Marketing challenges specific to emergency plumbing
How to structure your plumbing division for success
The importance of leadership and proper business planning
Insurance, branding, and culture considerations
Smart entry points like maintenance plans and water heater services

Nate shares real-world insights on avoiding the cash flow drains, cultural toxicity, and structural mistakes that plague HVAC companies trying to diversify. Whether you're considering adding plumbing or already struggling with your plumbing division, this conversation provides actionable strategies for sustainable growth.

Have a question that you want us to answer on the podcast? Submit your questions at https://www.speakpipe.com/hvacschool.

Purchase your tickets or learn more about the 7th Annual HVACR Training Symposium at https://hvacrschool.com/symposium.

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#business #hvac business #plumbing

Author:

Roman Baugh

Company: Kalos Services

Position: Director of Commercial HVAC

Nate Agentis

Company: Plumbing CEO

Position: Founder

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Topics Covered

The current state of the HVAC industry based on a DOE meta-analysis of 44 studies
Why equipment oversizing is the number one contributor to airflow problems and how to address it
How a 50 percent oversized AC system can increase energy consumption by up to 91 percent (per the ASME Journal of Sustainable Buildings)
Tools for proper load calculations, including Ample Energy and Conduit apps
Why most systems are not moving enough airflow and what the consequences are (heat exchanger failures, compressor failures, comfort complaints)
Duct leakage to the outside and its effects on comfort, indoor air quality, and building pressurization
The four pillars of NCI’s approach: safe, healthy, comfortable, and efficient systems
The Air Upgrade approach: targeted repairs near the equipment to reduce static pressure and increase fan airflow
The Duct Optimization approach: full duct system renovation with balanced airflow to every room
Static pressure profiling: taking four measurements (before/after filter and before/after coil) to pinpoint restrictions
Static pressure budgets and how to use them to identify which part of a system is the biggest problem
Fan Law 2 as a planning tool to predict system performance before making changes
The TrueFlow Grid and its forecasting feature for planning equipment changes
Filter sizing and its massive impact on total external static pressure
Duct fitting equivalent lengths and how to reduce resistance near the equipment
Sealing duct joints and why it adds static pressure that must be planned for
The importance of rechecking and adjusting refrigerant charge after any airflow improvement
Air balancing with a flow hood to verify delivered CFM at every register
Measuring delivered BTUs using tools like MeasureQuick, JobLink, and NCI’s ComfortMax workflow
Overcoming obstacles: technician buy-in, access to ducts in walls, attic space limitations, and homeowner hesitation
Building relationships with drywall contractors to offer turnkey duct repair solutions
Why airflow is invisible and why measuring it is non-negotiable