Tom Storrer's journey into HVAC didn't start with a business plan or a five-year vision. At age 12, he was dragged away from the swimming pool to crawl under people's houses as his father built the foundation of what would become Don's Heating and Air. "This is all I've ever done," Tom says simply. The day after high school graduation, he went full-time-no gap year, no soul searching. Just straight into the trade.
For decades, Tom lived in the shadow of his father's operation, managing the business side while navigating the complicated dynamics of a generational handoff. The stereotype of nepotism followed him early on, but as he puts it, more was actually expected of him because his dad owned the company. The real tension emerged not from family loyalty, but from fundamental disagreement about how to run a modern service business. His father, shaped by Depression-era thinking, meticulously tracked every penny by hand and resisted computerization. Tom wanted to adopt scheduling software, digital dispatching, and QuickBooks-tools that are now essential for any local service business trying to scale and maintain efficiency.
The transition came to a head during a family vacation. His father called to criticize how Tom had ordered materials for a job. That was it. Tom decided he was done. He flew back ready to quit, only to discover his father had already made the decision to shut the company down. Within days, they pivoted: Tom would take over the operation, rent the location, and continue the legacy on his own terms.
What strikes Tom most in hindsight is the lack of planning. "Planning a plan transition before the combustion would have been better," he reflects. For service business owners managing generational transitions, Tom's core advice is simple: talk about it early, find common ground, and avoid waiting until frustration forces the issue.
Beyond the family drama, Tom has learned that success in HVAC depends on three pillars: hard work, solid relationships, and knowing what you don't know. "The most dangerous person in any situation is someone who doesn't know what they don't know," he emphasizes. He's also intentional about who he does business with. When sourcing parts and supplies, he prioritizes vendors who've been loyal to his company, viewing these relationships as foundational to long-term stability.
Modern service business owners have advantages Tom didn't have-access to information, networking opportunities, software platforms, and digital tools that streamline operations. Taking advantage of those resources, rather than clinging to outdated methods, is non-negotiable in today's market.
Tom's 42 years in HVAC come with scars, literally. He's found possums wound up in blower wheels, snakes electrocuted on circuit boards, and he's been blown backward by a furnace explosion that singed off his eyebrows, eyelashes, and left second-degree burns across his face. He drove back to town still smoking, dunked his face in the low water bridge to manage the pain, and nearly convinced a concerned neighbor he was fine. That's the reality of hands-on service work.
Yet Tom approaches it all with the pragmatism of someone who's built something that lasts. Work hard. Build relationships. Stay humble. Know what you don't know. And take full advantage of every tool and opportunity available to grow your local business in ways that previous generations simply couldn't.
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