The change to the company’s Local Services Ads policy is set to take effect in October, according to an email
ServiceTitan scrapped its Podium partnership. Each company frames it differently.
The move affects nearly 1,000 contractors using the companies’ integration. They have roughly a month to make a change
Education Secretary’s elementary-school trades comments stir up controversy
Linda McMahon has suggested that educators get students into pathways toward the skilled trades, "starting even in elementary, middle schools, high schools"
Mapped: The economic impact of the U.S. plumbing industry
New research highlights the total economic impact of residential and commercial plumbers by state
Yelp’s ChatGPT deal turns attention to how it displays reviews
With ChatGPT poised to lean more on Yelp as a source, a contractor’s Yelp presence could carry more weight than before
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Economy
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Education Secretary’s elementary-school trades comments stir up controversy
Linda McMahon has suggested that educators get students into pathways toward the skilled trades, "starting even in elementary, middle schools, high schools"
Mapped: The economic impact of the U.S. plumbing industry
New research highlights the total economic impact of residential and commercial plumbers by state
Meet Josh Cecil, who’s throwing a music festival to celebrate the trades
His upcoming TradeUp Fest will highlight the industry with music and storytelling
Most of U.S. set for above-normal temps in September: Outlook
Roughly two-thirds of the United States is predicted to face above-normal temperatures to kick off the fall
Lowe’s earnings reaffirm ‘cautious’ consumer trend
The company’s CEO says the homeowner “remains under pressure” in an uncertain economy
Homeowners remain ‘hesitant’ on big-ticket projects: Home Depot
They're "worried about inflation, about fuel costs, and about general uncertainty," CFO Richard McPhail said Tuesday
Legal
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Industry groups say changes to Bay Area’s gas water heater ban don’t go far enough
The Bay Area Air District (BAAD) is considering amendments to its first-of-its-kind rule. Some groups say it still isn’t enough to address affordability and practicality concerns.
AHRI’s bid to delay GFCI rule for outdoor HVAC equipment heads to public comment
“If this date is not extended, many homeowners and tenants will be impacted by nuisance tripping incidents,” Tom Deary, AHRI’s senior director of codes, tells Homepros
New bill would cement DOE appliance standard overhaul
Utah Senator Mike Lee has introduced a bill that would overhaul how the Department of Energy sets energy efficiency standards for home appliances, including ACs and water heaters
Former HVAC school named in report of $300 million trade school fraud
Retail Ready Career Center in Garland, Texas, charged around $20,000 for a six-week “boot camp” that trained veterans to become HVAC technicians
Senators urge DOE to withdraw proposed appliance standards rule
The proposal would update the agency’s “Process Rule” used to establish energy conservation standards for household appliances and equipment, including air conditioners and water heaters
U.S. states sue EPA over refrigerant rule change
As the AIM Act phases down total HFC supply, some argue a late-May EPA rule will “artificially” inflate demand, putting upward pressure on refrigerant prices, including in residential HVAC
M&A
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SharkBite parent enters exclusive acquisition talks after $2.9 billion bid
The offer from Brookfield, also the parent company of Service Experts, follows three bids from earlier this year
Home Depot’s SRS to acquire Colorado HVAC distributor
The move marks SRS’s second HVAC deal, following its acquisition of Mingledorff’s, the Southeast’s largest Carrier and Bryant distributor
Owens Corning hit with unsolicited acquisition offers, WSJ says
Carlisle — which owns several roofing material brands, including Versico and WeatherBond — has made the offers in recent months
Lennox to buy Comfort-Aire, Century parent
The deal comes less than a year after Lennox paid $550 million for the HVAC division of NSI Industries, home to several parts and accessories brands
Q&A: The roofing M&A landscape
In conversation with Aaron Toomey, Managing Director at home services-focused investment bank Anchor Peabody
May’s most popular stories
Some big-money action, an EPA rule change, and ChatGPT's local business ads
Management
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Roto-Rooter residential revenue edges up — but lead costs bite
The company’s adjusted EBITDA margin declined slightly in the second quarter, driven by “increased internet marketing costs”
NWS issues final August temperature outlook
The final outlook widened the zone forecast to experience above-normal temperatures during the month to much of the lower 48 states
Meet the Contractor: Amber DeLong, DeLong & Sons HVAC
"When I grew up, my dad ran a local dealership, and I worked there for years. I think that background really prepared me as a business owner in this world"
Texas roofing operator cites storm chasers, rising material costs as market pressure points
In conversation with Matt Werling, owner of Cedar Park-based Regenesis Roofing
Former NFL quarterback joins Florida roofing company
The former Jaguars star is joining NEXGEN Roofing in an open-ended role that will be chronicled in a six-part video series
No debt, no shortcuts: How a veteran-owned roofing company is doing business with purpose
In conversation with Georgia-based Bravo Roofing owner Wes McClure
Technology
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Google to charge for some missed LSA calls
The change to the company’s Local Services Ads policy is set to take effect in October, according to an email
Yelp’s ChatGPT deal turns attention to how it displays reviews
With ChatGPT poised to lean more on Yelp as a source, a contractor’s Yelp presence could carry more weight than before
ServiceTitan scrapped its Podium partnership. Each company frames it differently.
The move affects nearly 1,000 contractors using the companies’ integration. They have roughly a month to make a change
Apple shuts home service contractors out of upcoming Maps ads
The decision “sets Apple apart from Google, where Local Services Ads are one of the company’s largest local advertising categories”
Nest adds compressor alerts
As part of Nest’s six-year-old System Health Monitor feature, thermostats can now detect potential issues with compressors, in particular
ChatGPT ads to go performance-based
Advertisers would reportedly pay only when certain actions are taken, including appointment bookings