Plaintiffs say cookies, chatbots, and tracking tools violate decades-old wiretapping and privacy laws
Plumbing apprentice wins medal at “Olympics of skilled trades”
20-year-old Charles Goede just competed in the 2026 WorldSkills competition in Shanghai, China
New skilled trades report sizes up the HVAC workforce
Employment of HVAC technicians and installers grew nearly 20 percent between 2019 and 2025, per the Alliance for America’s Skilled Trades
NRCA, ABC Supply owner lead roofing industry’s midterm spending
The NRCA’s Political Action Committee (PAC) has contributed over $300,000 since 2025, according to public filings
New bill would give blue-collar workers full Social Security benefits early
People in “physically demanding” occupations could get full benefits at age 60 instead of 67
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Economy
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New skilled trades report sizes up the HVAC workforce
Employment of HVAC technicians and installers grew nearly 20 percent between 2019 and 2025, per the Alliance for America’s Skilled Trades
NWS issues final October temperature outlook
Above-normal temperatures are likely in the West and Florida, according to the agency
Plumbing apprentice wins medal at “Olympics of skilled trades”
20-year-old Charles Goede just competed in the 2026 WorldSkills competition in Shanghai, China
SBA lending to specialty trade contractors sinks this year
Approvals of the agency’s flagship 7(a) loans for specialty trade contractors fell 22 percent year over year in the first half of 2026
HVAC buying indicator falls in August
An indicator of HVAC purchasing intent is down nine percentage points from a year ago
Legal
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Additional documents released in homeowners’ roofing-claim fight against State Farm
Company executives claim that the percentage of approved roof replacements was cut in half after a new program was implemented
New bill would give blue-collar workers full Social Security benefits early
People in “physically demanding” occupations could get full benefits at age 60 instead of 67
Bradford White employees enter fourth week of strike
The strike began after more than two months of failed negotiations between the water heater manufacturer and United Auto Workers Local 1002
NRCA, ABC Supply owner lead roofing industry’s midterm spending
The NRCA’s Political Action Committee (PAC) has contributed over $300,000 since 2025, according to public filings
Home service contractors are getting sued over their websites
Plaintiffs say cookies, chatbots, and tracking tools violate decades-old wiretapping and privacy laws
Florida AG sues roofing company, alleges ‘hijacked’ insurance payments
Complaints beginning in 2023 allege that Evolve Construction & Restoration collected over $1 million from consumers for work it didn’t fulfill
M&A
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Roto-Rooter buys its largest franchise for $60 million
The deal marks the company’s sixth franchise acquisition of this year
Watsco buys $500 million Northeast distributor with 82 locations
The deal marks the latest step in its buy-and-build strategy
Flint Group launches sale process
The residential HVAC, plumbing, and electrical platform has tapped William Blair to run the process
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
Management
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‘Keep HVAC Local’ hats now support youth trades camps
A burgeoning coalition aims to support independent contractors across the country
Meet the Contractor: Mike Townsend, Veteran Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electric
A look inside his ultra-lean, AI-driven operation
Carrier, Watsco execs talk industry at California conference
Leaders of both companies sounded optimistic about the near term
Meet the Contractor: Owen Krebs Grimsich, 1-888-Heat-Pumps
The former teacher is riding the electrification boom in Silicon Valley
International Roofing partners with customers to support immigrants
The Minnesota-based contractor proudly advertises and supports its immigrant crews
Meet the guy behind ‘WhoOwnsYourHVAC’
The site identifies HVAC contractors as locally owned, PE-backed, or franchise-affiliated
Technology
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Rheem expands hydronics portfolio
The move scales up the company’s existing FT Series Boiler platform
Meet Price Foulger, who wants to gamify his roofing business with a Sims-like CRM
A look at one founder’s story from rock bottom to building California-based Rally Roofing
Bradford White rolls out new tankless water heaters
The announcement expands the company’s array of residential tankless water heaters from four to six
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