TruTech Tools, LTD

05/21/2026

“We’re not just selling tools anymore — we’re building solutions that make the trade pro’s life easier.”

BHS 270 | Scaling with Simplicity: EOS, Growth, and the Malco Evolution With Rich Benninghoff

In this episode, Bill talks with Rich Benninghoff about Malco’s evolution into the broader The Malco Group and what it means to shift from a product company to a solutions platform.

Rich shares how his 30-year journey across different business models shaped his approach to growth, ultimately leading to the strategic alignment and acquisition by Aspen Pumps Group. The result is a multi-brand platform designed to serve HVACR professionals more holistically, built around the “back of the van” concept — delivering a full suite of tools and solutions that make technicians’ lives easier.

A major enabler of this growth has been EOS, which Rich credits with bringing clarity, accountability, and alignment across a complex, multi-brand organization.

Rich also emphasizes the importance of respecting the legacy of acquired brands while enhancing the customer experience through better access, service, and integration. Drawing inspiration from leaders like Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger, he reinforces a core principle: do a few things exceptionally well.

The episode closes with a reminder that while strategy and systems matter, success ultimately comes down to people — both inside the organization and out in the field.

Search Building HVAC Science in your podcast app for the full episode!

05/15/2026

05/15/2026

05/12/2026

BHS 269 | Collaboration Over Competition: A New Playbook for Contractors With Rhydon Atzenhoffer

“We’re missing mentorship across generations, and that gap is costing the trades more than we realize.”

In this episode, Bill Spohn sits down with Rhydon Atzenhoffer, host of the HVAC R And D Podcast, for a wide-ranging conversation that goes well beyond tools and equipment. Rhydon shares how his show evolved from casual, relationship-driven conversations during COVID into a platform focused on learning, perspective, and the advancement of the trades. At the core of it all is a simple idea: HVAC is a people business first.

The discussion digs into real points of tension in the industry, from the disconnect between engineers and field technicians to the way regulation is now driving much of the innovation cycle. Rhydon offers a candid take: great equipment is only as good as the people who install and service it, and too often those voices are underrepresented. He also highlights the growing role of AI and structured knowledge systems, not as replacements for technicians, but as tools to sharpen skills and preserve best practices.

The episode closes with a strong call to action for contractors and business owners alike. Rhydon emphasizes collaboration over competition, investing in people, and rebuilding mentorship pipelines that once defined the trades. It’s a forward-looking conversation grounded in experience, with a clear message: the future of HVAC depends on how well we develop people, not just products.

Search Building HVAC Science Podcast in your podcast app for the full episode!

05/08/2026

05/08/2026

We value our sponsors because they don't just "fund" the community—they show up. There is a massive difference between reading a manual and getting hands-on with the people who actually design the gear we use every day.

When our sponsors come around, they bring the latest tools, gadgets, and tech directly to the front lines. It gives our community the chance to ask the tough questions, test-drive new workflows, and see how modern innovation solves age-old field problems.

Thank you, sponsors for showing up to events like our yearly training symposium. We appreciate the support, the gear, and the commitment to technical excellence!

05/06/2026

Full rooms, full minds, and a table full of TTTools. Thank you to everyone who stopped by the booth to talk tools with us at the Nicor Gas Trade Ally Summit & Expo!

05/04/2026

“The stuff that’s bad inside your home doesn’t filter out, you have to move it out.”

This episode of the Building HVAC Science Podcast features Austin Riesenberger, founder of Swerv Air, a young entrepreneur tackling a surprisingly overlooked problem: how to bring fresh air into homes without sacrificing comfort, energy efficiency, or simplicity. Drawing from his background in HVAC engineering, physics, and personal struggles with asthma and poor indoor air quality, Austin set out to rethink ventilation from first principles.

Swerv’s solution is a compact, window-mounted fresh air system that filters incoming air while recovering heat and moisture through a regenerative cycling core. Unlike traditional ERVs that are bulky and contractor-installed, this unit is designed for easy, consumer-level installation with strong performance. The conversation dives into the technical trade-offs, including airflow, efficiency, noise, and form factor, as well as the importance of real-world testing over theoretical modeling in product development.

Beyond the product itself, the episode highlights Austin’s startup journey. From rapid prototyping and supply chain challenges to early beta deployments across multiple climates, the discussion offers insight into how modern hardware companies iterate quickly and build demand. It wraps with a call for beta testers and collaborators, positioning Swerv as a potential bridge between consumer IAQ needs and traditional HVAC solutions.

Search Building HVAC Science in your podcast app for the full episode!

04/29/2026

Improved airflow in minutes! https://trutechtools.com/condenser-coil-connection/

04/27/2026

“What GPS did for traffic, shared HVAC documentation could do for equipment history, refrigerant tracking, and accountability.”

BHS 267 | Why Refrigerant Compliance Is Becoming a Profit Center With Adam Dykstra

In this episode, Bill Spohn talks with Adam Dykstra of FMHero about a part of the HVAC industry that often gets overlooked until it becomes a serious problem: refrigerant compliance, documentation, and tracking.

Adam explains how FMHero was built to help technicians, contractors, equipment owners, manufacturers, and eventually wholesalers manage the growing web of regulations tied to refrigerants, including Section 608, the AIM Act, and a patchwork of state-level rules. What sounds at first like a compliance tool turns out to be something bigger: a shared documentation platform that follows equipment, cylinders, and service history across the whole ecosystem.

Adam introduces the idea of the “Heroverse,” a connected data environment where technicians can scan a unit nameplate, log service actions, track refrigerant movement, and build a portable service history over the course of their careers. Contractors gain visibility into field activity, equipment owners gain documentation they may now be legally required to have, and even manufacturers can see anonymized service history on their equipment in the field. The system is designed to fit real technician workflow rather than add paperwork, and the technician version is free to use.

Search Building HVAC Science in your podcast app for the full episode!