April’s most popular stories

The five stories that got people clickin’ the most

Homepros

Image: Homepros

We strive to give our audience juicy scoops, entertaining asides, and practical info. Here are the five stories that got people clickin’ the most in April. Thanks for reading, and as always, please feel free to send us story ideas! 

HVAC manufacturers hit with two more price-fixing lawsuits. “Each of the three lawsuits contends that since 2020, manufacturers have coordinated price hikes — and monitored and communicated them through AHRI, ACHR News, and public statements.” (Full story

7 HVAC and plumbing contractor videos that went viral. “Taking a detour from our traditional reporting, we stumbled down a deep and rather funny Instagram and TikTok rabbit hole to round up seven clips, posted by HVAC and plumbing contractors, that have each garnered over a million views.” (Full story

Thumbtack, Claude launch contractor hiring integration. “Home services marketplace Thumbtack [recently] announced a new integration with Claude, enabling users to receive tailored recommendations for local contractors following inquiries about home maintenance, repairs, or upgrades.” (Full story

HVAC equipment prices set to jump under new tariff rules. “In early April, President Trump announced changes to ‘Section 232’ tariffs on steel, aluminum, and copper… which stand to ‘significantly drive up equipment costs for contractors and their customers.’” (Full story)

Fake HVAC sites behind Orlando contractor’s lost business. “Google searches for HVAC services in Orlando are now returning dozens of generic, seemingly AI-generated websites, pushing reputable contractors far down the results.” (Full story

Keep reading

NWS: April to run warmer than normal

NWS: April to run warmer than normal

Most of the country has a 40 to 50 percent chance of experiencing above-normal temperatures during the month, per the agency

August HVAC shipments up 11% year-over-year

August HVAC shipments up 11% year-over-year

Combined shipments of central ACs and heat pumps topped 975,000 in August

HARDI distributor revenues up 2% in September

HARDI distributor revenues up 2% in September

September was the sixth consecutive month that the rate at which its distributors' sales grew was positive, following a stagnant four months from December 2023 to March