{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"460 Building Boiler Talent: Fundamentals, Online Training, and Better Partnerships with Eric Johnson","description":" Boilers can feel intimidating the first time you step into a boiler room\u2014the heat, the noise, the pressure gauge, and the weight of knowing that mistakes can be costly. Trace Blackmore opens with a reminder that boilers deserve respect, not fear\u2014and that learning fundamentals is how you replace mystique with clarity.  The talent gap behind the boiler room door Eric Johnson, Founder and CEO of Boilearn, explains why boiler expertise is becoming harder to replace. He points to the shrinking pipeline of boiler-trained technicians\u2014historically strengthened by Navy steam training\u2014and why companies can\u2019t rely on \u201ctribal knowledge\u201d and informal shadowing alone to develop the next generation.  Training that scales past the 2\u20133 day class  Eric shares what pushed him to build Boilearn: technicians and operators need structured, repeatable competency systems\u2014not just scattered classes and a \u201cshotgun approach\u201d to on-the-job training. He lays out why fundamentals can be taught effectively online when it\u2019s done well, and why travel-heavy training models often spend a large share of the budget on logistics instead of learning.  Troubleshooting that starts with fundamentals  Troubleshooting is where boiler work can feel like a mystery\u2014until you understand fundamentals and sequence of operations. Eric explains how technicians can isolate problems faster by knowing what should be moving (or not moving), testing one theory at a time, and using electrical diagrams as a practical roadmap when formal sequence documentation isn\u2019t available.  Better partnerships between boiler techs and water treaters  The conversation closes with practical steps that reduce friction and finger-pointing: take photos during inspections, package observations clearly in service reports, communicate directly when possible, and over-communicate inspection schedules so the water treater can prepare the program before the boiler is opened.  Listen to the full conversation above. Stay engaged, keep learning, and continue scaling up your knowledge!    Timestamps  02:20 - Trace Blackmore sets the stage on boiler fear vs. Respect, learning boilers from a Navy-Trained mentor  09:20 - Words of Water with James  10:50 - Upcoming Events for Water Treatment Professionals   14:20 - Interview with Eric Johnson of Boilearn  16:30 \u2013 Eric's Path: HVAC school \u2013 Boiler Service Tech \u2013 Founder   19:10 \u2013 What Boilearn Does  22:10 \u2013 The lost \u201clifeline\u201d problem  33:20 \u2013 Electrical Troubleshooting  44:20 \u2013 Coordinating Boiler Openings and Inspections    Quotes  \u201cI\u2019ve learned that boilers are something you definitely need to respect, but definitely not fear.\u201d  \u201cThere\u2019s a career behind boilers. There\u2019s a career behind water treatment and not enough people talk about it.\u201d    Connect with Eric Johnson Email: eric.johnson@boilearn.com  Website: Boilearn I The Foundation of Boiler Training  LinkedIn: https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/ericjohnson2020\/   Boilearn: Overview | LinkedIn     Guest Resources Mentioned   Boilearn Boilearn mission and origins  Boiler operator roles and skills  Common steam\u2011boiler problems   Safe boiler operation guide  Boiler start\u2011up and maintenance  Safer operation manual    Scaling UP! H2O Resources Mentioned  AWT (Association of Water Technologies)  AWT Technical Training Seminars   Scaling UP! H2O Academy video courses  Submit a Show Idea    Words of Water with James McDonald Today's definition is water lost from a cooling tower as liquid droplets are entrained in the exhaust air.     2026 Events for Water Professionals  Check out our Scaling UP! H2O Events Calendar where we\u2019ve listed every event Water Treaters should be aware of by clicking HERE.      ","author_name":"Scaling UP! H2O","author_url":"http:\/\/scalinguph2o.com","html":"