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
Ferguson residential plumbing sales stay flat as broader business grows
"New residential construction activity has been weak, and repair, maintenance and improvement (‘RMI’) work remains soft," the company said Monday
AC, heat pump unit volumes split by efficiency rating: HARDI
HARDI distributors’ combined unit volumes for air conditioners, heat pumps, and furnaces fell 8.2 percent over the 12 months through May 2026, compared to the prior 12-month period. But that decline isn’t uniform
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
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”
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Economy
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Ferguson residential plumbing sales stay flat as broader business grows
"New residential construction activity has been weak, and repair, maintenance and improvement (‘RMI’) work remains soft," the company said Monday
Lennox posts 12% drop in residential unit volume, cuts full-year outlook
While the result was weaker than expected, the pace of decline eased compared to earlier this year
Carrier tops residential sales expectations, raises full-year outlook
“Fundamentally, it feels to us like we’re getting back to basics, and we’re heading back to it being a replacement market,” CEO Dave Gitlin said Tuesday
Lowe’s skilled trades investment tops $60 million
The Lowe’s Foundation on Monday announced nearly $8 million in grants to 10 community and technical colleges across the U.S.
AC, heat pump unit volumes split by efficiency rating: HARDI
HARDI distributors’ combined unit volumes for air conditioners, heat pumps, and furnaces fell 8.2 percent over the 12 months through May 2026, compared to the prior 12-month period. But that decline isn’t uniform
BlackRock, Carhartt, Ford, Google launch skilled trades alliance
“No single company or industry can prepare a country for this opportunity on its own,” executives from the four companies wrote Tuesday
Legal
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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
Bay Area proposes delaying first-of-its-kind gas water heater ban
“We heard from homeowners that the cost and logistics of switching to cleaner appliances can be real barriers, and we have responded by proposing common sense solutions,” said Philip Fine, executive officer of the Bay Area Air District
Natural gas heating could become a constitutional right in Colorado
The initiative reflects an ongoing push-pull over the banning of natural gas appliances, including HVAC equipment, in newly constructed homes across the U.S.
M&A
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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
Apex Service Partners to receive minority investment at $10 billion valuation
Founded in 2019 with backing from California-based Alpine Investors, Apex is the largest private equity-backed residential HVAC, plumbing, and electrical platform in the U.S.
USA Hometown Experts exploring sale, reports say
While the reported process is in the early stages, it follows a string of private equity-backed platform activity this year
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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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
Avoca co-founders on a $1 billion valuation, tomorrow’s CSRs, and AI’s trust dilemma
In late April, the home services-focused AI company announced that it has raised over $125 million in funding since its 2022 inception, most recently clinching a $1 billion valuation
NYC program deploys plug-in power banks for window AC units
CEO Andrew Wang told Homepros that the program launched last summer with 100 units and has expanded to roughly 1,000 this month
ChatGPT ads now open to local service businesses
Through a new self-serve Ads Manager, businesses can create and manage their own ad campaigns on a cost-per-click (CPC) basis