(qlmbusinessnews.com . Fri 19th September, 2025) London, UK —
The Veteran's Verdict: A Nebraska HVAC Owner on Red Tape, a Workforce Crisis, and Why He's Cashing in His Chips
Grand Island, NE – On a long stretch of Nebraska highway, heading north for a two-and-a-half-hour drive to handle an insurance claim, Jerry Dickinson is exactly where he’s been for the better part of two decades: on the road, solving problems. At 72 years old, with 16 years at the helm of his company, 24/7 Heating & Air, LLC, Dickinson embodies the grit and relentless work ethic that defines the American skilled tradesman. But after a long and successful career, he’s preparing for his final act: selling the business he built from the ground up.
In a frank, no-nonsense interview with QLMBusinessnews.com, Dickinson delivered a powerful assessment of the state of the HVAC industry from the perspective of someone who has lived and breathed it. His insights paint a picture of an essential trade grappling with a severe workforce shortage, burdensome government regulations, and an internal crisis of integrity—all of which have solidified his decision to step away. His story is a window into the mind of a seasoned entrepreneur facing the complex realities of running a small business in today's economic climate.
The Empty Toolbox: A Generation Unwilling to Work
For many business owners, the biggest challenge is finding customers. For Jerry Dickinson, it’s finding people willing to serve them. When asked about his single greatest obstacle, his answer was immediate and emphatic: hiring.
“Probably hiring is the biggest thing because in our area there just isn't very many people that are wanting to get into this business,” Dickinson explains. “Everybody is looking for somebody.”
This isn't a new problem, but Dickinson’s experience highlights its growing severity. He recounts a recent, frustrating attempt to bring on an employee, which ended in failure. “I hired an ex-son-in-law last year. He turned out to be not a good fit,” he says. “Wasn't willing to work, forty years old and just didn't have the work ethics and other issues to go with it.”
His critique extends beyond a single bad hire to what he sees as a generational shift in attitudes toward work. It’s a sentiment echoed by countless employers in the skilled trades, who find themselves unable to attract and retain talent in a world that seems to devalue manual labor.
“The young people these days are just not interested in working, at least not in building,” he states with a tone of weary resignation. “They just want everything handed to them, they want everything to be easy. They don't want to work more than eight hours a day… they don't wanna work the weekends, they don't wanna work anything over and above, and that's just not how you run a business.”
For a company literally named 24/7, this cultural shift is an existential threat. The inability to find reliable, hardworking employees who can be trained is, for Dickinson, a clear sign that his time in the industry is drawing to a close. “Basically a good reason for me to get out of it within the next two to three years,” he concludes. His plan is already in motion: a successor is set to buy half the business next May, with a full transition planned within two years.
Pragmatism Over Promises: A Skeptic’s Approach to Growth
In an era saturated with digital marketing solutions and software promising to revolutionize small businesses, Jerry Dickinson remains a staunch pragmatist. He has tried it all—and found most of it wanting.
“I've tried numerous things,” he lists. “I've tried Facebook, I've tried regional advertising, I've tried doing ads on the… grocery store on their T.V.s, I've tried ads on the back of receipts.”
The result of these experiments? A lot of money spent for minimal return. “I have spent tens of thousands of dollars with different people and have found that it keeps me on par, it doesn't improve anything other than the referrals,” he says. He gets “at least a dozen calls a day” from salespeople pushing the next big thing, but his experience has made him immune to the hype.
Instead, he has built his business on two foundational pillars: a solid online presence and an impeccable reputation. “Other than having a web page, that's about all,” he says of his critical tools. That webpage is backed by something far more powerful than any ad campaign: 84 five-star customer recommendations, each with detailed comments supporting the rating. This reservoir of trust is the engine of his business.
This practical mindset extends to his purchasing decisions. He doesn’t invest in speculative software; he invests in tangible assets that allow him to do his job effectively. “If I have a need for the equipment and I can afford it, I buy it,” he states simply. His well-stocked operation, with an estimated $40,000 in equipment and supplies, means he can handle most emergency calls, even on a weekend when supply houses are closed. This commitment to preparedness is a direct reflection of his customer-first philosophy.
Fighting City Hall: The Frustration of Unnecessary Regulation
While the labor shortage is a slow-burning crisis, Dickinson points to another, more immediate frustration that impacts his bottom line and day-to-day operations: government regulation. He identifies the recent federally mandated change in refrigerant (freon) standards, which took effect on January 1st, as the most significant industry trend—one he views with deep disdain.
“They just changed the freon and the equipment to go with that, which was an absolute stupid thing that Congress did… absolutely unnecessary,” he asserts with the authority of a field expert.
He explains that the new regulations require costly equipment upgrades, including leak detectors in coils and brushless motors in pumps, to handle a new type of freon that he argues is barely different from what they've been using for 15 years. “They say it's flammable, but it's very barely different,” he scoffs. “Basically, they just increased the expense. The freon is now double the price per pound.”
This, from his perspective, is a classic case of out-of-touch legislators creating expensive problems without understanding the practical realities of the industry. “We just basically have to put up with what they've mandated and, like it or not, that's life,” he says. It’s another layer of complexity and cost in an already challenging business environment, and another factor pushing him toward retirement.
A Question of Honesty: The Industry's Dirty Little Secret
Perhaps Dickinson’s most startling revelation came at the end of the interview. When asked what question he should have been asked, he didn't miss a beat.
“Are most of the people, these companies in this business, honest?”
His answer was a damning indictment of his own industry. “I'd say maybe twenty percent are. The other eighty percent are not.”
This frank admission reframes his entire business philosophy. In an industry where, he believes, the vast majority of players are not trustworthy, his obsession with service, his massive inventory for emergency calls, and his collection of 84 glowing five-star reviews are not just good business practices—they are acts of rebellion. They are what separate the 20 percent from the rest.
“There are a lot of crooks in my business,” he states, “or people that try to take advantage of customers… they call somebody and whatever the guy tells them, then they believe it. They don't usually do a backup.”
Jerry Dickinson has built his legacy by being the backup, the honest opinion, the reliable professional in a sea of uncertainty. As he prepares to hand over the keys, his story serves as a powerful testament to a career built not on fleeting trends or flashy marketing, but on the timeless principles of showing up, doing the work, and telling the truth.
For honest, reliable, and expert HVAC services in the Grand Island area, trust the proven reputation of 24/7 Heating & Air, LLC. Visit their website to learn more about their services or to schedule an appointment.
Company Information:
Company Name: 24/7 Heating & Air, LLC
Business Owner: Jerry Dickinson
Address: 1410 W 3rd St, Grand Island, NE 68801, USA
Website: https://247heatingandair.com
Phone: (402) 450-1144
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