HVAC distributor sales ticked up 4.5% in April

HARDI this week released its monthly Trends report, showing that sales by its distributor members rose 4.5 percent year-over-year in April. 

What they’re saying: “April is the first month of cooling season and this year began with above normal temps in more than half the country,” Brian Loftus, Senior Market Analyst at HARDI, said in a statement. “Our warmest region had sales growth near 20 percent for April while sales dipped by almost 5.5 percent in the region with below normal temps.”

Zoom out: HARDI distributors’ annualized sales — comparing the 12 months through April 2026 with the 12 months through April 2025 — were up 2.8 percent, according to the release, down slightly from March. 

• Meanwhile, Days Sales Outstanding, a measure of how quickly contractors pay their bills, was less than 38 days for the month. “End market customers appear stable,” Loftus said. “The April DSO has been steady the past couple of years.”

Yes, but: “Distributor sales growth remains subdued along with flat existing home sales, a weak job market, and higher inflation,” Loftus added. “We are rooting for a successful selling season.”