In this episode of "HVAC Chats," host Nicole Krawcke, head of content at Contracting Business, speaks with Jay Villegas, vice president of Frontier Air Conditioning, about leveraging technology to drive business growth. Villegas shares how his team transitioned to a CRM-based operational system to improve efficiency, streamline workflows, and enhance the customer experience. The conversation explores how automation, consistent communication, and branding help contractors compete in a crowded HVAC market, including against private equity-backed firms. Contractors will gain practical insights into scaling operations, improving retention, and building a repeatable, professional customer journey.

In this episode of HVAC Chats, host Nicole Krawcke, head of content for Contracting Business, sits down with Colleen Keyworth, director of sales and marketing at Online-Access, to unpack how AI-driven search is transforming digital marketing for HVAC contractors. The conversation explores how tools like Google's AI Overview and large language models are shifting consumer behavior, what that means for local search visibility, and why foundational SEO remains critical even as the landscape evolves. Keyworth offers contractors practical guidance on auditing their online presence, managing third-party directory listings, creating quality content, and building the community trust that no algorithm can manufacture.

In this episode of HVAC Chats, Nicole Krawcke speaks with Danielle Putnam, CEO of The New Flat Rate, about pricing strategy, mindset, and profitability for HVAC contractors. Putnam shares insights on resetting pricing through accurate billable hour calculations, overcoming technician discounting habits, and using menu pricing systems to reduce objections. The conversation also explores how branding, scripting, and structured customer journeys support confident price presentation. Together, they outline practical steps contractors can take to price for profit, protect margins, and build sustainable HVAC businesses in 2026.