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!