EP283 AI in HVAC: Beyond the Hype With Tyler Nelson and Billy Spohn (August 2026)

Quotes from the episode: 

"This is no longer a push-pull industry. This is a thinking person's game now."  

"The better context you give AI, the better partner it becomes." 

"Ask AI to teach you how to use AI in your particular situation."  

 

Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming one of the most practical tools available to HVAC professionals—but only if it's used as a thinking partner rather than a shortcut. In this episode, Bill Spohn is joined by Tyler Nelson, a nationally recognized HVAC educator and combustion expert, and Billy Spohn, who leads AI initiatives at TruTech Tools, for an honest discussion about where AI is already delivering real value. 

 

Tyler explains how his background in combustion analysis naturally led him to AI, with both disciplines relying on measurements, analytics, and informed decision-making. He shares real-world examples of technicians using AI to troubleshoot equipment, communicate more effectively with customers, create personalized learning programs, and even build their own "AI universities" that accelerate technical growth. The result isn't replacing skilled technicians—it's helping them become better diagnosticians and better communicators.