32 minutes with HVAC Uncensored's Gil Cavey

Intro

Gil Cavey is the General Manager of Beltway Air Conditioning & Heating (MD) and hosts one of the industry’s biggest podcasts, HVAC Uncensored.

He’s sharp, to the point, and not afraid to tell you how it is. We spent 32 minutes talking to him about his life.

How’d you get into the HVAC industry?

My dad was a contractor. When I decided that I was going to get into it, I told myself that if I was gonna do this, then I wanted to be f*cking good at it. I (eventually) got an offer from a company and rose up the ranks over twelve years to the point where I ran the company.

What were you like in the early days?

I was kind of a knucklehead, but I’d beat addiction issues and stuck my nose in the books. And I liked fixing things so it was awkward being in the office when I became a manager. 

What’s the story behind HVAC Uncensored?

I was asked to be a guest on another HVAC podcast and eventually became the co-host. It was actually a lot of fun, but it didn’t end up working out. When I left, I decided to start my own — in 2018. 

What’s one thing you want people who haven’t listened yet to know about the podcast?

The premise is, “A bunch of techs go to a bar after work.” So, we’ll cuss because they cuss on the job, and we talk about topics in the trade — tools, code changes, and things like that. 

And it’s unbiased. I’m always going to be truthful and honest, even if it’s about a sponsor. If there’s a new tool that everyone’s raving about, I’ll be honest about it. So people know that when they come [to listen], they’re not gonna get fluff.

Any good stories from the podcast?

I’ve done mental health and addiction episodes because of my past struggles. I knew they’d strike a chord, but I didn’t know how much they would.

I was podcasting live at AHR last year and a man and a woman were watching. After, the woman came up and hugged me and her husband started crying. She said, “Your story saved my husband’s life.” 

You’re also the GM of Beltway HVAC. How do you manage your schedule?

I’m working at the Beltway office every day besides the weekends. I record the podcast on Wednesday nights and stream it live on YouTube and Facebook. The audio for each episode goes out a month after I record it, but new episodes come out weekly — every Monday morning.

When you’re not working or recording episodes, what are you doing?

I have an investment firm, but to be honest, it’s not much to deal with. Other than that, I’m with my family. My wife and I have two sons and two daughters, and my mom lives with me, too. 

Even though it’s easier said than done, I used to preach to techs, “Leave work in the truck. Be present at home.” 

Is there anything that makes you nervous about the industry’s future?

Making sure that we (as an industry) appeal to the younger generation. Because, yes, you can make great money, but it’s labor intensive and Gen Z doesn’t have the same mentality as other generations.

And laws and regulations, too. I like to have guests on the show come help me understand them. I’m trying to stay ahead of all that.

If you could have dinner with anyone in history, who would it be?

Gandhi. He was just ahead of his time and I’d love to know how he thought. Like, what went through his brain? What was his thought process?

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