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Pricing & Costs Multiple HVAC manufacturers implemented price increases during September 2026, with adjustments ranging from 5% to 15%. Bard raised service parts prices effective September 1. OmegaFlex increased TracPipe products by 6% on September 1. Jones Stephens raised prices 5% to 15% on September 3. M&M Manufacturing
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CATEGORY Workforce BODY The Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association reported in April 2026 that 90% of its member contractors are facing labor shortages. SMACNA noted the workforce pipeline is not keeping pace with demand. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects steady need for HVAC and sheet
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U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman ruled on September 22, 2026, that the Texas Department of Criminal Justice must install air conditioning in all 104 state prison facilities by December 31, 2029. The judge determined that current conditions without cooling systems violate the Eighth Amendment's ban on cruel
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Five major HVAC suppliers raised prices between September 1 and September 21, with increases ranging from 5% to 15%. Bard increased service parts pricing. OmegaFlex raised TracPipe prices by 6%. Jones Stephens implemented increases of 5-15%. Both M&M Manufacturing and Snappy increased prices up to 6%. These
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Phocas Software released its State of Sales in Distribution 2026 Report on September 22. The report surveyed more than 100 wholesale distributors across multiple sectors. It found that 49% of distributors now use AI for selling activities. However, significant gaps remain in basic sales tracking. 39% don't monitor
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CATEGORY Business Ops BODY Wakeman, a product of Fabricate LLC, launched an AI answering service on September 28 built specifically for plumbing, HVAC, electrical, roofing and restoration contractors. The service answers calls when your team can't pick up. It responds using your business name and texts job details
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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency published a final rule on May 26. It allows contractors to continue installing HVAC units that use R-410A refrigerant as long as those units were manufactured or imported before January 1, 2025. The rule became effective July 27. Contractors can now work through
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Heating, Air-conditioning & Refrigeration Distributors International released its monthly TRENDS report in September. The report shows member distributor sales rose 6.7% in July 2026 compared to the same month last year. Year-to-date growth through July sits at 2.7%. Days Sales Outstanding held steady below 37
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The Air-Conditioning, Heating, & Refrigeration Institute reported in July 2026 that heat pump shipments grew for the sixth consecutive month. Nearly every category in AHRI's Equipment Shipment Data report showed increases compared to July 2025. Growth ranged from 2% to 36% across product lines. Heat pump shipments
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Supply Chain Heating, Air-conditioning & Refrigeration Distributors International reported in April 2026 that all three unitary product lines are experiencing drastic shipment declines. Air conditioners and heat pumps show the steepest drops. The decline follows a purchasing surge in late 2024 and early 2025. Distributors stocked up ahead of
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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced on May 21 final compliance deadline revisions to the 2023 Technology Transitions Rule. The agency also proposed changes to the 2024 Emissions Reduction and Reclamation rule. The combined actions are projected to deliver over $2.4 billion in savings for the industry. The
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Senator Mike Lee introduced the Energy Efficiency Reform Act on August 6. The bill aims to overhaul the Department of Energy's Appliance Standards Program. The program currently sets energy conservation standards for roughly 60 household and commercial products. These include furnaces, water heaters, and air conditioners. Lee chairs