Winter Furnace & Heat Pump Checking Tips

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Winter Furnace & Heat Pump Checking Tips

By Bert Testerman

September 7, 2025

Is your winter maintenance checklist missing crucial steps? In this practical training, Bert shares essential Winter Furnace & Heat Pump Checking Tips as the cold season approaches. Learn the smart way to test heating systems that will save you callbacks and keep customers happy.

Bert covers:

Why checking heat FIRST in your service process prevents costly mistakes
How to properly test heat at the thermostat (the way customers will use it)
Preventing those embarrassing “smoke alarm” calls from dusty heat strips
The RIGHT way to check refrigerant charge on cold days (manufacturer charging charts)
Tips for adding refrigerant in colder temperatures

Whether you’re servicing new installations or maintenance calls, these practical steps will help you avoid common winter service pitfalls. Perfect for new techs experiencing their first heating season and veterans looking to refine their process.

#charging #heat strips #heating #hvac #maintenance #refrigerant charging

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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.

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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.

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