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Women in HVAC (Live Rebroadcast)

By Matthew Bruner Jennifer Manzo Shelby Breger Salli Cobb Jessica Eagan

This podcast brought together several women working in the HVAC industry to discuss their experiences and offer advice. The conversation focused on the positives of working in HVAC as a woman, the importance of community, and the resources available.

The women talked extensively about how welcoming and supportive the HVAC community, and particularly HVAC men, have been towards them. Several got into the industry because of their husbands' work. They agreed the perception that it's difficult for women to break into HVAC does not match their largely positive realities. The biggest challenges they identified related more to things like clothing and bathroom options rather than discrimination or harassment.

Advice offered for companies looking to hire more women focused not on targeting women specifically, which could cause resentment, but on ensuring good benefits, upholding anti-discrimination standards, and facilitating connections with other women in the industry. Several mentioned the value of groups like Women in HVAC and the Society of Women Engineers for networking and support. Attending conferences to connect with the HVAC community was also repeatedly recommended.

Overall, the positive tone revealed that with the right connections, women can thrive in HVAC careers. All expressed passion for their work and eagerness to encourage more women to explore the industry.

Topics covered:

Getting into HVAC
Challenges for women in HVAC
Advice for attracting/supporting women
Importance of community
Groups like Women in HVAC
Conferences/events

Learn more about the 5th Annual HVACR Training Symposium at https://hvacrschool.com/Symposium24.

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Author:

Matthew Bruner

Company: Hearthstone Heating & Air

Position: Owner

Jennifer Manzo

Company: Valeriani Air

Position: HVAC Engineer

Shelby Breger

Company: Conduit Tech

Position: Co-Founder

Salli Cobb

Company: Daikin Comfort Technologies

Position: Senior Product Manager, Split Systems

Jessica Eagan

Company: Kalos Services

Position: Heating Air Conditioning Technician

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HVAC School – For Techs, By Techs

Real training for HVAC ( Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration) Technicians. Including recorded tech training, interviews, diagnostics and general conversations about the trade.

In this engaging episode of the HVAC School podcast, host Bryan Orr sits down with Leo and Paul Sharkey, a father-son duo of mechanical engineers who made the leap into the HVAC business. Leo and Paul share their remarkable journey of purchasing an HVAC company in September 2020 and quadrupling its revenue within five years. Their engineering backgrounds bring a refreshing, data-driven perspective to an industry that often relies on rules of thumb and outdated practices.

The Sharkeys operate in the challenging Northeast market, where homes can date back to the 1600s and 1700s. They discuss the eye-opening discovery that traditional HVAC sizing methods—like the simplistic “one ton per 400 square feet” rule—fail dramatically in older housing stock. Their commitment to running thousands of Manual J calculations has transformed their approach, often resulting in smaller, more efficient systems than competitors propose. The conversation dives deep into the unique challenges of working with centuries-old New England homes, including extreme infiltration rates, non-linear heat loss curves during harsh winters, and the complications of mixing modern additions with ancient construction.

Beyond sizing, Leo and Paul tackle the practical realities of heat pump installations in cold climates. They explain why turndown ratio is critical, how they handle homes with heat loads that triple their cooling loads, and when backup heating systems are truly necessary. Their consultative approach rejects the “one-size-fits-all” mentality that has flooded the market with incentive-chasing installations. They candidly discuss the problems created by Massachusetts’ generous rebate programs, which have attracted fly-by-night operators who prioritize rebate qualifications over proper design and long-term performance.

The episode also explores the balance between ductless and ducted systems, revealing when each approach makes economic and technical sense. The Sharkeys share fascinating case studies, from a 1748 house with the equivalent of a full-size door’s worth of air leakage to underground concrete dome homes requiring specialized dehumidification. Their willingness to take on complex projects that other contractors avoid demonstrates how engineering thinking, combined with trade expertise, can solve challenging HVAC problems. This conversation is essential listening for anyone serious about understanding cold climate HVAC design, building science principles, and what it takes to deliver quality comfort solutions in real-world conditions.

Topics Covered

Engineering background transition to HVAC – How mechanical engineering experience in semiconductors and manufacturing informed their HVAC business approach
Manual J calculations and proper sizing – Running 7,000-9,000 Manual J calculations over five years and why they typically specify smaller systems than competitors
Old New England housing challenges – Working with homes from the 1600s-1700s, extreme infiltration rates, and heat loss characteristics of ancient construction
Heat load vs. cooling load imbalances – Managing homes where heat loads can be triple the cooling loads and how this affects system design
Heat pump turndown ratios – Why equipment turndown capability is critical for shoulder seasons and preventing short cycling in cold climates
Cold weather performance and derating – Equipment capacity loss at low ambient temperatures and the importance of proper backup heat sizing
Ductless vs. ducted system economics – When to choose multi-zone ductless over ducted systems based on home layout, infrastructure, and cost
Retrofit complications in mixed construction – Dealing with homes that combine 200-year-old sections with modern additions on the same heating system
Massachusetts incentive programs – How Mass Save rebates (up to $25,000 financing + $10,000 rebates) have impacted market quality and contractor behavior
Installation challenges at low temperatures – Field issues including undersized ductwork, poor equipment placement, defrost cycle complications, and electric backup heat requirements
Building science fundamentals – Blower door testing, weatherization impacts, infiltration effects on heat load, and wind loading considerations
Consultative sales approach – Rejecting one-size-fits-all solutions and customizing system recommendations based on home characteristics and homeowner needs
Backup heating strategies – When and why fuel-based backup systems are necessary, including power outage considerations and client comfort levels
Complex project examples – Case studies including underground concrete dome homes, storage closet air handler installations, and severely under-designed retrofit corrections

Learn more about Leo and Paul’s business, Jay Moody HVAC, at https://jaymoodyhvac.com/.

Have a question that you want us to answer on the podcast? Submit your questions at https://www.speakpipe.com/hvacschool.

Purchase your tickets or learn more about the 7th Annual HVACR Training Symposium at https://hvacrschool.com/symposium.

Subscribe to our podcast on your iPhone or Android.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Check out our handy calculators here or on the HVAC School Mobile App for Apple and Android.

Search Episodes

HVAC In the Northeast w/ Leo & Paul Sharkey

01/15/2026

Bryan Orr

Superheat in Heat Mode: Why Heat Pumps Get Weird – Short #274

01/13/2026