Did You Know?-The ESCO HVAC Podcast

What makes a skilled tradesperson a good instructor? We sit down with Ray Boyd, director of education and training for the United Association (UA), at Washtenaw Community College during the UA’s 2026 Instructor Training Program. Drawing on his 37-year career, Ray shares how the organization is helping apprentices become educators and preparing instructors to meet the needs of their local markets.We explore:• How the UA’s Future Instructors program gives apprentices an early path into teaching• Why communication and compassion matter in the classroom and on the job• How instructor feedback shapes training for local work opportunities and emerging technologies • The role of hands-on learning and regional classes in supporting instructors year-round• Why listening to students is essential to supporting different learning needs and recognizing mental health concernsRay also reflects on the mentors who shaped his career and shares a personal story behind his commitment to student well-being. For instructors, training leaders and apprentices considering teaching, this conversation offers a closer look at how the UA develops educators and helps them build confidence in the classroom.#HVAC #SkilledTrades #Apprenticeship #InstructorTraining #UnitedAssociation #ESCO #ESCOInstitute--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------🎥 This Week’s Video is Brought to You By Our Amazing Sponsors!A huge THANK YOU to this week’s sponsors for supporting education and excellence in the HVACR industry! 👇💨 Daikin Comfort — https://daikincomfort.com / @DaikinComfort — Delivering comfort, efficiency and innovation through advanced HVAC technology.🧰 Service Logic — https://www.servicelogic.com / @ServiceLogic-CommercialHVAC — The nation’s largest privately held HVAC service company — keeping facilities efficient and reliable.🌎 Hudson Technologies — https://www.hudsontech.com / @HudsonTechnologies — Leading the charge in sustainable refrigerant management and recovery solutions.📚 iConnect Training — https://iconnecttraining.com / @iconnecttraining — Providing world-class hands-on HVACR education and training resources for future technicians.🔧 The United Association (UA) — https://ua.org / @UAPipeTrades — Building America’s skilled workforce through premier training for plumbers, fitters, welders and HVACR professionals.👏 We’re grateful for their continued support in helping advance the HVACR industry through training, innovation and opportunity!#HVAC #HVACTechnician #HVACTraining #DaikinComfort #ServiceLogic #HudsonTechnologies #iConnectTraining #UnitedAssociation #HVACCommunity #TradeEducation #HVACR #Refrigeration #Technology #FutureOfHVACR #EcoFriendly #ContinuousEducation #StayCurrent

In this candid follow-up to our impromptu conversation at the 2026 National HVACR Education Conference, we bring together technicians, trainers, reclaimers and refrigerant management experts to tackle one of the most pressing issues facing our industry. With only about 3% of refrigerant making it back to a reclaimer and the next HFC phase-down step approaching in 2029, the panel takes an honest look at where we stand and what happens if we don't change course.We explore:• Why recovery rates need to double or triple to keep service gas available for existing equipment• The differences between recover, recycle and reclaim, and why field-cleaned refrigerant isn't the same as certified reclaimed gas• How small charges add up, from bar coolers to ice machines• Why drop-off fees at the distributor level work against the entire supply chain• The culture shift underway as technicians hold themselves and each other accountable• How record keeping and tracking software support complianceThe panel shares straight talk and practical perspective for technicians, contractors, distributors and instructors who want to protect the future of the trade. Whether you work on thousand-pound chillers or 12-ounce self-contained units, this episode is a reminder that the refrigerant in today's equipment is tomorrow's supply.Take the anonymous refrigerant recovery survey and tell us what would move the needle: https://form.jotform.com/261955475258066. #HVACR #Refrigerant #Reclaim #Trades #ESCO #ESCOInstitute--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------🎥 This Week’s Video is Brought to You By Our Amazing Sponsors!A huge THANK YOU to this week’s sponsors for supporting education and excellence in the HVACR industry! 👇💨 Daikin Comfort — https://daikincomfort.com / @DaikinComfort — Delivering comfort, efficiency and innovation through advanced HVAC technology.🏫 Lincoln Tech — https://www.lincolntech.edu / @LincolnTech — Training the next generation of skilled HVACR professionals through hands-on career education.🧰 NAVAC — https://navacglobal.com / @NAVAC — Revolutionizing the HVACR service industry with smart, efficient and reliable tools for technicians.⚙️ Amatrol — https://amatrol.com / @Amatrol — Providing world-class technical training systems that empower students and instructors in the skilled trades.🌎 A-Gas — https://www.agas.com / @a-gas8684 — Leading the way in sustainable refrigerant lifecycle management and environmental responsibility.👏 Thank you to all our sponsors for supporting education, innovation and growth in the HVACR industry!#HVAC #HVACTechnician #HVACTraining #LincolnTech #NAVAC #Amatrol #AGas #HVACCommunity #TradeEducation #HVACInnovation #HVACR #Refrigeration #Technology #FutureOfHVACR #EcoFriendly #ContinuousEducation #StayCurrent

In this energetic, on-location episode, we head to the 2026 United Association ITP Week and Apprenticeship Competition in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Clifton sits down with Ryan, last year's international competition winner turned mentor, and a table full of fourth- and fifth-year apprentices from across the U.S. and Canada. We dig into what it really takes to compete at the state, regional and international levels, and why this week is as much about brotherhood as it is about skill.We explore:• What the UA apprenticeship competition looks like from the state level all the way to internationals• Why so many technicians make the leap from residential to union commercial and industrial work• The variety and depth HVAC/R offers, from rooftops to grocery to institutional refrigeration• How mentorship and continual training keep technicians from hitting a career plateau• Why AI-driven data centers are becoming the next big opportunity for skilled UA contractorsRyan and the competitors share candid stories about how they found the trade, what keeps them motivated and the advice they'd give anyone feeling stuck or unsure of their next step. Whether you're an apprentice, a contractor or an educator, this episode offers a firsthand look at the passion and community driving the next generation of the trade.#HVAC #UA #Apprenticeship #ESCO #ESCOInstitute #SkilledTrades--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------🎥 This Week’s Video is Brought to You By Our Amazing Sponsors!A huge THANK YOU to this week’s sponsors for supporting education and excellence in the HVACR industry! 👇💨 Daikin Comfort — https://daikincomfort.com / @DaikinComfort — Delivering comfort, efficiency and innovation through advanced HVAC technology.🧰 Service Logic — https://www.servicelogic.com / @ServiceLogic-CommercialHVAC — The nation’s largest privately held HVAC service company — keeping facilities efficient and reliable.🌎 Hudson Technologies — https://www.hudsontech.com / @HudsonTechnologies — Leading the charge in sustainable refrigerant management and recovery solutions.📚 iConnect Training — https://iconnecttraining.com / @iconnecttraining — Providing world-class hands-on HVACR education and training resources for future technicians.🔧 The United Association (UA) — https://ua.org / @UAPipeTrades — Building America’s skilled workforce through premier training for plumbers, fitters, welders and HVACR professionals.👏 We’re grateful for their continued support in helping advance the HVACR industry through training, innovation and opportunity!#HVAC #HVACTechnician #HVACTraining #DaikinComfort #ServiceLogic #HudsonTechnologies #iConnectTraining #UnitedAssociation #HVACCommunity #TradeEducation #HVACR #Refrigeration #Technology #FutureOfHVACR #EcoFriendly #ContinuousEducation #StayCurrent