HVAC
Above-normal temperatures are likely in the West and Florida, according to the agency
‘Keep HVAC Local’ hats now support youth trades camps
A burgeoning coalition aims to support independent contractors across the country
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
Home service contractors are getting sued over their websites
Plaintiffs say cookies, chatbots, and tracking tools violate decades-old wiretapping and privacy laws
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
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
September’s most popular stories
Layoffs, a looming sale, Google lawsuits, and more
NWS issues final October temperature outlook
Above-normal temperatures are likely in the West and Florida, according to the agency
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
AI concerns push Gen Z toward the trades: Report
Of 1,000 surveyed young adults aged 16-30, nearly half are learning or seriously considering a skilled trade
Legal
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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
Home service contractors are getting sued over their websites
Plaintiffs say cookies, chatbots, and tracking tools violate decades-old wiretapping and privacy laws
New California law will have utilities fund home electrification
The bill would require utilities to offer residential customers a voluntary monetary incentive to electrify their homes when their gas service lines are scheduled for replacement
Trade groups appeal after code panel rejects GFCI extension for outdoor HVAC equipment
ACCA and AHRI have raised several concerns over the National Fire Protection Association’s decision not to extend a GFCI exemption
Massachusetts HVAC contractor accused of nearly $8 million rebate fraud
Four of the five utility companies that sponsor Mass Save on Monday sued MWD Heating & Air Conditioning and its owner, Mark Dyszczyk
United Comfort Group’s Comfort First to lay off 67 employees
The move comes within a week of sister brand United Air Temp filing notices to lay off 135 employees
M&A
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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
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
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
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.
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
Meet the guy behind ‘WhoOwnsYourHVAC’
The site identifies HVAC contractors as locally owned, PE-backed, or franchise-affiliated
UA leaders laud growth, shrug off tariffs at major convention
The United Association’s General Convention happens once every five years
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