The Heat Pump Podcast

About The Heat Pump Podcast

The Heat Pump Podcast discusses all things related to heat pumps. We cover: HVAC entrepreneurship, business operations, technology innovations, building science, how policy impacts both contractors and homeowners, and more. Our goal is to ensure that the transition to heat pumps for heating and cooling is a win for everyone – homeowners, contractors, and the planet – by sharing insights, learnings, and best practices.

Publisher

Amply

Category

business · technology

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

23 May 2024

Latest episode

7 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

70 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   7 Oct 2026

   #69 More Energy Than My Car: Luke Winston-Almanzar of Reservoir on Rethinking the Heat Pump Water Heater

   Water heating is the second-largest energy use in American homes, and most water heaters still run on decades-old technology. Luke Winston-Almanzar (https://www.linkedin.com/in/lukewinston/), co-founder and CEO of Reservoir (https://www.linkedin.com/company/reservoirhome/), walks Ed (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ed-smith-5aa8716/) and Eric (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ehfitz/) through the heat pump water heater install problems contractors already know, how predictive controls make recirculation work with a heat pump, and why he thinks 80-gallon tanks are over-recommended. The surprise: Luke found he was using more energy to heat his water than to drive his electric car. Expect to Learn Why water heating is one of the largest and most overlooked energy uses in the home. What goes wrong on heat pump water heater installs, and which problems can be solved at the factory. How predictive controls make recirculation work with a heat pump water heater. Why Luke thinks 80-gallon tanks are over-recommended, and why first-hour rating matters more than tank size. How Reservoir's Party Mode works, and why Luke says it isn't the efficient setting. How Reservoir is working with HVAC and plumbing contractors. Timestamps [00:00] - Episode Preview [02:24] - Introduction to Luke Winston-Almanzar and Reservoir [04:06] - Luke's background and the personal story behind his interest in hot water [07:53] - Why Luke chose water heating as a major climate and energy opportunity [11:14] - Competing with established manufacturers and building the founding team [14:43] - Reservoir's product thesis and the role of predictive intelligence [18:39] - How Party Mode delivers more hot water from a smaller tank [22:53] - Built-in recirculation, remote control faucets, and Legionella protection [25:58] - How Reservoir simplifies installation for contractors [31:37] - Replacing larger tanks and competing with tankless gas systems [35:35] - Reliability, serviceability, testing, and product support [37:38] - Reservoir's growth, funding, team, and early market expansion [40:04] - How Reservoir decides where to focus its innovation [43:37] - Contractor partnerships and the future of Reservoir ------------------------------------------------- Heat pump contractors in Colorado: Ed and Eric are teaching a one-day heat pump training with Power Ahead Colorado on November 5 at the Edgewater Civic Center in Edgewater, CO. Check-in is at 7:30 a.m., and sessions run 8:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Attendees get a year of Amply and a new 11" iPad Pro. Registration is $4,000, paid up front and reimbursed in full by Power Ahead Colorado after you attend, as long as you're registered with the Colorado Contractor Hub. 50 seats, two per company, no refunds. Registration closes October 14. Register 👉 https://bit.ly/4jGTihR (https://bit.ly/4jGTihR) ------------------------------------------------- Follow Luke Winston-Almanzar: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lukewinston/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/lukewinston/) Website (Company): https://www.reservoirhome.com/ (https://www.reservoirhome.com/) LinkedIn (Company): https://www.linkedin.com/company/reservoirhome/ (https://www.linkedin.com/company/reservoirhome/) Instagram (Company): https://www.instagram.com/reservoir.home/ (https://www.instagram.com/reservoir.home/) Facebook (Company): https://www.facebook.com/people/Reservoir-Home/61582870833932/ (https://www.facebook.com/people/Reservoir-Home/61582870833932/) Follow the Hosts: Ed Smith: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ed-smith-5aa8716 (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ed-smith-5aa8716/) Eric Fitz: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ehfitz/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ehfitz/) Amply Energy Website: https://www.amply.energy/ (https://www.amply.energy/) Amply Energy YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@amplyenergy (https://www.youtube.com/@amplyenergy) Amply Energy Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amplyenergy (https://www.facebook.com/amplyenergy) Amply Energy Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amply_energy/ (https://www.instagram.com/amply_energy/)

2. 

   25 Sept 2026

   #68 Inside a $200 Million Heat Pump Rebate Program with Robert Spotts and Clay McCombe of Power Ahead Colorado

   What does it actually take to transform a regional HVAC market — not just by offering heat pump rebates, but by building the workforce, contractor ecosystem, policies, and consumer demand needed to make heat pumps mainstream? In this episode, hosts Ed Smith (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ed-smith-5aa8716/) and Eric Fitz (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ehfitz/) sit down with Robert Spotts (https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-spotts-b8b06776/) and Clay McCombe (https://www.linkedin.com/in/claymccombe/) of the Denver Regional Council of Governments (https://www.linkedin.com/company/denver-regional-council-of-governments/home/) (DRCOG) to unpack Power Ahead Colorado (https://www.linkedin.com/company/power-ahead-colorado/home/), an ambitious $200 million EPA-funded program focused on accelerating heat pump adoption across the Denver region. The conversation explores the realities behind market transformation: Colorado's cheap natural gas, cold winters, contractor skepticism, complicated rebate programs, permitting and licensing barriers, and the need for high-quality installations. Robert and Clay also explain how they're working directly with contractors and local governments to remove friction and build a market that can ultimately thrive without depending on rebates. Expect to Learn Why DRCOG received $200 million in federal funding and how Power Ahead Colorado is approaching heat pump market transformation. How Colorado's cold climate and inexpensive natural gas affect the economics of electrification — and where weatherization, specialized electric rates, and dual-fuel systems fit in. Why some HVAC contractors have historically resisted heat pump and rebate programs, from skepticism about cold-climate performance to administrative burdens and slow rebate payments. How Power Ahead Colorado is addressing installation quality, contractor licensing, rebate stacking, permitting, and contractor support without making participation unnecessarily difficult. Why workforce development and local building policy could prove just as important as rebates in creating a sustainable heat pump market. Timestamps [00:00] - Episode Teaser [03:02] - Meet Robert Spotts and Clay McCombe [05:42] - How a $200 Million Heat Pump Program Came Together [12:26] - What “Market Transformation” Actually Means [14:12] - Making Heat Pumps Work Economically in Colorado [18:08] - Dual-Fuel vs. All-Electric Systems [21:34] - Why Contractors Get Frustrated With Rebate Programs [24:48] - How Contractor Attitudes Toward Heat Pumps Are Changing [28:25] - Balancing Installation Quality With Contractor Friction [34:56] - Building a Better Contractor Marketplace [39:53] - What Success Looks Like by 2029 ------------------------------------------------- Denver contractors — join us November 5. Power Ahead Colorado is sponsoring a one-day Amply training at the Edgewater Civic Center in Edgewater, CO. 8:00 AM to 1:30 PM, taught by Amply co-founders Ed Smith and Eric Fitz. Ed covers how to build a full-stack marketing and sales funnel that makes you stand out as a high-performance heat pump contractor. Eric covers Manual J, Manual S, and designing a system that won't come back to haunt you — then walks the entire Amply workflow with an iPad in your hands. You'll leave with a year of Amply and a new 11" iPad Pro. $4,000 at registration, reimbursed in full by Power Ahead Colorado after you attend, as long as you're registered with the Colorado Contractor Hub. Net cost: $0. 50 seats, maximum 2 per company. Registration closes October 14. Register: https://hubs.ly/Q04yd3Bs0 (https://hubs.ly/Q04yd3Bs0) ------------------------------------------------- Follow the Guests: Robert Spotts: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-spotts-b8b06776/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-spotts-b8b06776/) Clay McCombe:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/claymccombe/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/claymccombe/) Website (Company): https://poweraheadcolorado.org/ (https://poweraheadcolorado.org/) LinkedIn (Company): https://www.linkedin.com/company/power-ahead-colorado/home/ (https://www.linkedin.com/company/power-ahead-colorado/home/) Facebook (Company): https://www.facebook.com/people/Power-Ahead-Colorado/61585441558934/ (https://www.facebook.com/people/Power-Ahead-Colorado/61585441558934/) Instagram (Company): https://www.instagram.com/poweraheadcolorado (https://www.instagram.com/poweraheadcolorado) Follow the Hosts: Ed Smith: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ed-smith-5aa8716 (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ed-smith-5aa8716/) Eric Fitz: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ehfitz/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ehfitz/) Amply Energy Website: https://www.amply.energy/ (https://www.amply.energy/) Amply Energy YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@amplyenergy (https://www.youtube.com/@amplyenergy)

3. 

   16 Sept 2026

   #67 Only 5% Make It to $5 Million. Furman Haynes on What Stops the Other 95%.

   Running a successful HVAC business takes far more than technical expertise. As companies grow, owners often find themselves buried in paperwork, invoicing, rebates, permits, warranties, and back-office operations that consume 20+ hours every week. In this episode, hosts Ed Smith (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ed-smith-5aa8716/) and Eric Fitz (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ehfitz/) sit down with Furman Haynes, Co-Founder and CEO of WorkHero, to discuss why administration — not installation — is often the biggest barrier to growth for small HVAC businesses. The conversation explores how AI, automation, and experienced office management can help contractors reclaim their time, improve customer experience, and build systems that allow their businesses to scale without sacrificing quality or family life. Furman Haynes (https://www.linkedin.com/in/furmanhaynes/) is the Co-Founder and CEO of WorkHero (https://www.linkedin.com/company/workherohvac/), an AI-powered back-office operations platform built specifically for small HVAC contractors. After spending years visiting contractors, riding along on service calls, and learning firsthand how small businesses operate, Furman and his team built WorkHero to eliminate administrative bottlenecks through a combination of experienced HVAC office managers and AI-driven automation. Expect to Learn Why administrative work is often the biggest growth bottleneck for HVAC companies. The surprising truth about how tech-savvy today's HVAC contractors really are. How AI can automate permits, rebates, warranties, invoicing, and other back-office tasks. Why strong office systems and SOPs determine whether a business scales or stalls. Furman's perspective on private equity, industry consolidation, and keeping HVAC businesses local. Timestamps [00:00] – Introduction [02:07] – Meet Furman Haynes and the mission behind WorkHero [04:02] – What Furman learned from spending years alongside HVAC contractors [08:22] – The 20-hour admin problem and why most contractors hit a growth ceiling [11:26] – Why systems, price books, and job closeout processes matter [15:37] – Common misconceptions about HVAC business owners and technology adoption [17:43] – Private equity, industry consolidation, and keeping HVAC local [21:53] – Why traditional field service software still leaves major gaps [26:45] – Inside WorkHero: combining AI with experienced HVAC office managers [37:18] – Where AI genuinely delivers value today and where the hype exceeds reality [40:33] – Advice for contractors overwhelmed by paperwork and trying to do everything themselves ------------------------------------------------- Interested in learning more about Furman’s approach to helping HVAC companies grow? Visit https://lab.workhero.pro/hvac-admin (https://lab.workhero.pro/hvac-admin) to see how their administrative support can help independent HVAC contractors overcome the operational bottlenecks that hold their businesses back. ------------------------------------------------- Follow Farman Haynes: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/furmanhaynes/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/furmanhaynes/) Website (Company): https://www.workhero.pro/ (https://www.workhero.pro/) LinkedIn (Company): https://www.linkedin.com/company/workherohvac/ (https://www.linkedin.com/company/workherohvac/) Facebook (Company): https://www.facebook.com/people/WorkHero/61562122449748/?mibextid=wwXIfr (https://www.facebook.com/people/WorkHero/61562122449748/?mibextid=wwXIfr) Instagram (Company): https://www.instagram.com/workhero__/ (https://www.instagram.com/workhero__/) YouTube (Company): https://www.youtube.com/@workheropro (https://www.youtube.com/@workheropro) Industry Pulse Report: https://www.workhero.pro/blog/report (https://www.workhero.pro/blog/report) Follow the Hosts: Ed Smith: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ed-smith-5aa8716 (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ed-smith-5aa8716/) Eric Fitz: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ehfitz/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ehfitz/) Amply Energy Website: https://www.amply.energy/ (https://www.amply.energy/) Amply Energy YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@amplyenergy (https://www.youtube.com/@amplyenergy) Amply Energy Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amplyenergy (https://www.facebook.com/amplyenergy) Amply Energy Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amply_energy/ (https://www.instagram.com/amply_energy/)

Who has been a guest on The Heat Pump Podcast

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Derek Aarstad
• Bill Spohn
• Brynn Cooksey
• Panama Bartholomy
• Jay Stahlberg

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

59,471

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.9 / 5

17 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

5 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 63 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

75

Social presence

0

YouTube

76

Engagement

51

Contact The Heat Pump Podcast

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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