BACK

#ahri ratings

Tech Tips:

AHRI Performance Data vs. Manufacturer Expanded Performance Data (and When to Use Each)

Equipment selection may seem like a pretty straightforward process: look at the data plate, find the tonnage that’s close to your Manual J calculation’s total load, and you’re good to go, right? The problem with that approach is that a 3-ton unit won’t deliver 36,000 BTUs per hour like it says on the data tag. […]

AHRI Ratings Are Not Design Conditions

I’ve been designing a system for a home here in Dallas and noticed a couple of interesting (and disturbing!) things about the equipment’s advertised capacity vs. the actual capacity at design conditions. Equipment is rated at AHRI conditions (95 degrees outside and 80-degree dry bulb, 67-degree wet bulb inside). These conditions make equipment performance LOOK […]

Check out our most recent video

How to Evacuate an AC system, Full Vacuum Procedure

Our latest Podcast

HVAC School – For Techs, By Techs

Real training for HVAC ( Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration) Technicians. Including recorded tech training, interviews, diagnostics and general conversations about the trade.

In this powerful episode of the HVAC School podcast, Bryan sits down with Nate Agentis, third-generation plumber and author of Get Shit Done: How to Build a Strong Team, A Profitable Business, and a Lasting Legacy. Their conversation explores the intersection of personal health, business success, and meaningful leadership in the trades industry.

Nate’s journey from technician to business owner wasn’t easy. After his grandfather built the family plumbing business from nothing, only to lose it to the IRS, and his father rebuilt it from scratch, Nate found himself thrust into leadership at age 33 when his mother was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. The tragedy of losing his mother while simultaneously taking over the business created a perfect storm that eventually led to burnout and a period of deep reflection during COVID-19. This experience became the foundation for his leadership philosophy and his book.

The conversation delves into the generational divide in the trades, where older workers view younger employees as lazy while younger workers see their elders as slaves to their jobs. Nate argues that healthy leadership requires bridging this gap through understanding and practical solutions. His approach centers on five pillars: healthy owner, sticky culture, skilled technicians, efficient operations, and clear metrics. However, he emphasizes that without the foundation of personal health and self-awareness, the other pillars crumble.

Perhaps most compelling is Nate’s emphasis on humility and accountability as twin keys to success. He challenges the “self-made man” mentality prevalent in trades culture, arguing that true leadership requires vulnerability, community, and the willingness to seek help. This philosophy extends beyond business into his nonprofit work with Hope for the Trades, which provides educational resources, retreat opportunities, and humanitarian mission trips for tradespeople seeking both professional development and personal renewal.

Key Topics Covered

Generational Business Transitions – Navigating the challenges of taking over a family business during crisis and the unique pressures of third-generation ownership
The Burnout Epidemic in Trades – Understanding why skilled tradespeople burn out and how to create sustainable career paths that don’t sacrifice family and personal health
Bridging Generational Divides – Addressing the tension between older workers who prioritize work ethic and younger workers who emphasize work-life balance
The Five Pillars Framework – Healthy owner, sticky culture, skilled technicians, efficient operations, and clear metrics as the foundation for sustainable business growth
Humility and Accountability in Leadership – Why admitting weakness and seeking help are actually signs of strength and keys to long-term success
The Balance Wheel Concept – A practical tool for evaluating different areas of life (marriage, parenting, health, spirituality, etc.) and identifying areas needing attention
Community and Isolation in Trades – Addressing the epidemic of loneliness among tradespeople and the importance of genuine relationships for personal and professional growth
Metrics Without Depression – How to implement business measurement systems as tools for clarity rather than sources of shame or discouragement
Hope for the Trades Nonprofit – Educational resources, retreat programs, and humanitarian missions designed to support the whole person, not just the business owner
Legacy vs. Profit Mentality – Shifting focus from purely financial success to creating lasting positive impact on employees, families, and communities
Practical Life Planning – Applying strategic planning principles to personal life, marriage, and parenting with the same intentionality used in business planning

Sign up for Hope for the Trades at https://hopeforthetrades.com/ and get a free copy of Nate’s book. You can also order Get Shit Done on Amazon at https://a.co/d/56QyjLQ.

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.

Subscribe to our podcast on your iPhone or Android.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Check out our handy calculators here or on the HVAC School Mobile App for Apple and Android

Search Episodes

How to REALLY get S&!# Done! w/ Nate Agentis

10/09/2025

Bryan Orr

The Hidden Cost of Killing Radiant Load – Short #260

10/07/2025

Bryan Orr