Service Business Mastery for Skilled Trades: HVAC, Plumbing & Electrical Home Service

Electrification is accelerating across North America. Rebates are expanding. Regulations are tightening. And HVAC contractors are being asked to deliver higher efficiency, lower emissions, and better comfort all at the same time.
So where does dual fuel fit in?
In this episode of Service Business Mastery, recorded live at AHR Expo, Tersh Blissett sits down with Matt Schlegel and Charles Hurd to break down how dual fuel heat pumps are becoming a powerful solution for commercial and residential contractors.
If you're trying to navigate electrification, cold climate performance, rebate programs, and evolving control requirements, this episode gives you clarity and strategy.
What You Will Learn in This Episode
• What dual fuel heat pumps are and how they operate
• The difference between single heat operation and simultaneous heating
• Why electrification incentives are driving commercial demand
• How dual fuel helps avoid expensive electrical upgrades
• Why gas can outperform electric strip heat in extreme cold
• How adjustable changeover temperatures impact comfort and cost
• How to calculate annual operating costs and emissions impact
• How Controls Verification Protocol affects inverter systems
• The growing push toward communicating equipment
• What AHRI 1380 demand response compliance means for contractors
• How manufacturers are using AI to improve troubleshooting and service
Timestamps
00:00 Adjustable changeover temperature explained
05:23 What dual fuel solves in commercial applications
08:12 Gas vs electric strip heat in extreme cold
12:24 Utility cost and emissions comparison tool
16:02 How thermostats and changeover logic work
23:39 Brand loyalty after COVID shortages
28:24 Refrigerant transition challenges
33:01 CVP and communicating systems
35:31 Future of proprietary thermostats
40:49 AI in HVAC troubleshooting
44:09 Automation vs AI hype
48:15 How to become a dealer

How to become a YORK dealer 
https://www.york.com/dealers/become-a-contractor 

Follow the Host and Guest
Tersh Blissett: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tershblissett/
Josh Crouch: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-crouch/
Matt Schlegel: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-schlegel/
Charles Hurd: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlesrhurd/ 
Bosch: https://www.linkedin.com/company/boschhomecomfortgroup/

Connect with Us
• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/service-business-mastery
• TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@servicebusinessmastery
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Most HVAC contractors focus on equipment upgrades, but one of the biggest opportunities for better installs and higher profit is hiding in the ductwork.

In this episode of Service Business Mastery, recorded live at AHR 2026 in Las Vegas, Tersh Blissett sits down with Jarrod Scott from Aeroseal to explain how duct sealing from the inside works, why it is different from traditional mastic and tape, and how contractors can use it to improve comfort, increase system efficiency, reduce callbacks, and create a real competitive advantage.

They also discuss commercial and multifamily applications, how to think about static pressure, and why tighter buildings must still breathe through controlled mechanical ventilation.
What You Will Learn in This Episode
• How internal duct sealing works using physics and pressure
• The difference between duct sealing and duct encapsulation
• How precise sealing improves airflow and energy efficiency
• How much leakage the system can realistically seal
• Whether sealing ducts raises static pressure
• Why responsible contractors think holistically before sealing
• How tight buildings must be paired with mechanical ventilation
• The ROI case for apartment complexes and commercial buildings
• How duct sealing reduces callbacks and boosts customer satisfaction
• How to turn efficiency upgrades into a competitive advantage
Timestamps
00:00 How sealing ducts from the inside works
01:14 The physics behind internal duct sealing
04:22 How large of a leak can be sealed
06:08 Static pressure concerns and responsible installation
08:47 Why buildings must breathe mechanically
10:05 ROI for sealing apartment and commercial HVAC
12:28 Cure time and odor concerns
13:58 Water-based sealant and fire safety
16:03 Reducing callbacks and increasing customer satisfaction
17:29 Turning duct sealing into a competitive advantage

Follow the Host and Guest
Tersh Blissett: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tershblissett/
Josh Crouch: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-crouch/
Jarrod Scott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jarrod-scott-06573835/
Aeroseal: https://www.aeroseal.com

Connect with Us
• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/service-business-mastery
• TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@servicebusinessmastery
• Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/servicebusinessmasterypodcast
• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/servicebusinessmasterypodcast

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This episode is kindly powered by:

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MarketStorm: https://marketstorm.ai/
CallRail: https://www.callrail.com/
CompanyCam: https://companycam.com/

AI is moving faster than most service businesses can keep up with.
Voice agents. Text automation. Follow-up systems. AI sales emails. Predictive messaging.
But here's the real question:
How do you use AI to convert more leads without losing the human touch?
In this episode of Service Business Mastery, Tersh Blissett and Joshua Crouch sit down with Ryan Fenn, CEO at CHIIRP, to break down what's actually working in AI-driven lead conversion right now.
They dive into:
Why speed to lead still wins (and why seconds matter)

How one word in your follow-up could be killing 90 percent of your conversions

Why most contractors misuse AI for sales emails

How to "download your brain" into systems using AI

Why tools are becoming commodities and experience is becoming king

How AI agents are replacing static drip campaigns

If you're a service business owner trying to figure out how to adopt AI without sounding robotic, this episode will give you clarity, strategy, and practical application.
What You Will Learn in This Episode
• Why speed to lead still dramatically impacts booking rates
• The difference between static drip campaigns and dynamic AI follow-up
• How AI can analyze hundreds of millions of messages to improve conversion
• Why empathy in messaging increases response rates
• How to use AI as an editor instead of a ghostwriter
• How to turn 20 years of experience into systems and training using AI
• Why the future of software is outcome-based, not tool-based
• How to evaluate tech partners based on deployment experience, not features
• Why humans will still matter even if AI becomes indistinguishable
Timestamps
00:00 The AI arms race and what's changed
03:00 Why speed to lead still dominates
08:00 The future of AI in sales and follow-up
12:20 Why humans will still matter in the age of AI
21:20 Download your brain using AI
22:11 How to use AI to write better sales emails
27:24 Why experience matters more than software features
33:02 The single word that could be killing your sales
36:00 Is there such thing as responding too fast?
40:57 AI agents replacing static drip campaigns
49:00 What contractors should stop doing immediately
Follow the Host and Guest
Tersh Blissett: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tershblissett/
Josh Crouch: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-crouch/
Ryan Fenn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-fenn-76568b165/
CHIIRP: https://www.linkedin.com/company/chiirp/ 
Connect with Us
• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/service-business-mastery
• TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@servicebusinessmastery
• Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/servicebusinessmasterypodcast
• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/servicebusinessmasterypodcast
 
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👉 Visit: https://www.callrail.com/sbmpod

This episode is kindly powered by:

UpFrog: upfrog.com
MarketStorm: https://marketstorm.ai/
CallRail: https://www.callrail.com/
CompanyCam: https://companycam.com/

Scaling a home service business is not just about running more ads or getting more leads. It is about building a real company with the right marketing strategy, the right people, and a presence that customers trust.
In this episode of Service Business Mastery, Tersh Blissett sits down with Jen McKee, founder of Kee Hart Marketing, to break down what it really takes to grow and scale in today's market.
Jen shares why video is now one of the most overlooked opportunities in home services, how Google is indexing videos across platforms, and why contractors must stop treating social media like an afterthought.
They also dive into what makes a business scalable long-term, including profitability, building an asset (not a job), and why the right rooms and relationships are often the fastest path to growth.
If you are serious about scaling your business, this episode will give you both the mindset and the marketing strategy you need.
What You Will Learn in This Episode
• Why video is one of the biggest marketing advantages in home services right now
• How Google is indexing videos from Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube
• The simple checklist that helps your videos show up in search
• Why your social media bio must clearly say what you do and where you do it
• How to scale with profits, not just revenue
• Why every owner should be building a business asset, not just a job
• The real value of conferences, networking, and being vulnerable in the right rooms
• Why you should seek advice from contractors who have actually done the thing
• How to build your presence as a leader, brand, and business in your market
Timestamps
00:00 Google is indexing all your videos now
03:10 Who Jen McKee is and what Kee Hart Marketing does
04:03 The Growth Experience conference (profits, people, presence)
10:55 Why great conferences avoid sales pitches
15:53 Why contractors should learn marketing from contractors
24:05 The mindset of continuous growth and not settling
25:17 Build an asset, not a job
26:34 The real value of conferences is your network
30:36 Stop having imposter syndrome (everyone has value)
36:16 Should contractors use AI for content?
43:18 How to get your videos indexed by Google right now
48:22 The Growth Experience details and how to get tickets
Follow the Host and Guest
Tersh Blissett: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tershblissett/
Josh Crouch: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-crouch/
Jen McKee: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jen-mckee-72114824/
Kee Hart Marketing: https://keehartmarketing.com/
Kee to Growth Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@KeetoGrowthPodcast 
Connect with Us
• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/service-business-mastery
• TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@servicebusinessmastery
• Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/servicebusinessmasterypodcast
• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/servicebusinessmasterypodcast
👉 Enroll Today - https://bit.ly/3CZTDte
🚀 Get Your 14-Day Free Trial with CallRail!
👉 Visit: https://www.callrail.com/sbmpod
This episode is kindly powered by:
UpFrog: upfrog.com
MarketStorm: https://marketstorm.ai/
CallRail: https://www.callrail.com/
CompanyCam: https://companycam.com/

AI is transforming home services. It is changing dispatching, marketing, scheduling, follow-ups, and even customer communication.
But there is one thing AI still cannot do.
Build a real team.
In this episode of Service Business Mastery, Tersh Blissett and Joshua Crouch sit down with Scott Stolze, from GrwX Labs, to break down the human side of leadership and communication. These are the skills that separate average service businesses from elite ones.
You'll learn why authenticity is becoming the new competitive advantage, why leaders must create psychological safety, why quiet technicians need "energetic permission" to speak up, and why asking better questions builds trust faster than any script or automation.
If you are using AI in your business, this conversation will help you use it the right way, without losing the human connection that actually builds culture.
What You Will Learn in This Episode
• Why communication is becoming more important as AI grows
• What AI still can't replicate in leadership and team culture
• How to get quiet techs and staff to speak up in meetings
• The leadership framework Scott calls "energetic permission"
• How better questions improve trust, learning, and likability
• Why people crave authenticity in a world of AI-generated content
• How prompting AI correctly makes you a better communicator (and delegator)
• What GrowX Labs does and how they help businesses solve bottlenecks

Timestamps
00:00 Communication that AI can't replace
03:33 Why authenticity matters more than ever
08:39 The "3 wins" of asking better questions
11:14 Better questions that build real connection
13:38 Why people stay silent in groups (and how to fix it)
16:26 How asking "stupid questions" accelerates learning
19:58 Energetic permission: the leadership skill that builds teams
25:38 AI is training you to be a better communicator
32:00 What GrowX Labs is and who it helps
37:03 How to connect with Scott
38:45 Final lesson: help people succeed through connection
Follow the Host and Guest
Tersh Blissett: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tershblissett/
Josh Crouch: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-crouch/
Scott Stolze: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-stolze/ 
Connect with Us
• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/service-business-mastery
• TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@servicebusinessmastery
• Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/servicebusinessmasterypodcast
• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/servicebusinessmasterypodcast
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