{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"EP262 \u201cRTFM\u201d and Real-World HVAC Confidence: Why Callbacks Drop When Training Improves With JT Stewart (February 2026)","description":"Episode Quotes: \u201cAirflow isn\u2019t good. It\u2019s measured.\u201d \u201cMost pushback isn\u2019t \u2018I won\u2019t.\u2019 It\u2019s \u2018I\u2019m afraid I\u2019ll mess it up.\u2019\u201d \u201cThis is a people industry, by people, for people.\u201d JT Stewart joins Bill Spohn and Eric Kaiser to talk about how he went from long-term care nursing to HVAC, thanks to a red Chevy Ventura van, a ladder on top, and a \u201clet\u2019s go fix some stuff\u201d invitation. Today JT is an HVAC consultant at Slipstream, working with utilities and state programs to build real-world training that goes beyond \u201cheat pumps are hot\u201d and into the building-science fundamentals that actually make systems work. JT shares what his trainings look like in the wild, from half-day sessions to multi-day workshops, and how he designs them around the human side of HVAC. Homeowners are already uncomfortable when the system breaks, and techs can feel the same pressure when equipment and software change constantly. JT\u2019s take is that most resistance isn't stubbornness; it\u2019s uncertainty and fear of getting it wrong. He argues that confidence comes from structure: give techs time to learn, reduce guesswork, and use tools and processes that help them make good decisions when support is not available. The crew also gets into handling skeptical attendees and misinformation. JT\u2019s approach is to challenge people respectfully and bring it back to the homeowner, the contractor's long-term reputation, and the reality that this is a people industry. He encourages contractors to lean on manufacturer and distributor training, and he makes a strong case that homeowners also need better education on what questions to ask so \u201cslick sales\u201d do not replace proper design and commissioning. Bottom line: HVAC is getting cooler as a career because the knowledge, community, and training ecosystem are leveling up, and JT hopes that part isn't a fad.   JT\u2019s LinkedIn: https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/j-t-stewart\/ His company: https:\/\/slipstreaminc.org\/   This episode was recorded in February 2026. ","author_name":"Building HVAC Science","author_url":"https:\/\/www.buildinghvacscience.com","html":"