Lennox, Carrier report double-digit drops in Q1 residential sales
Leaders of both companies were asked about the slate of recent proposed class-action lawsuits filed against seven major HVAC manufacturers
HVAC
Trump administration backs push for Supreme Court to scrap gas furnace rule
The Energy Department in 2023 finalized a rule requiring all residential gas furnaces manufactured after December 18, 2028, to have an AFUE rating of at least 95 percent
Google channels diverged on paying customers, average ticket in Q1: Analysis
Google’s primary lead generation channels, from Business Profiles to Local Services Ads, in the first quarter of this year told different stories, according to one analysis
Watsco to buy $230 million HVAC distributor Jackson Supply
Jackson Supply Company counts 25 locations across the Sunbelt, including Texas, Tennessee, Oklahoma, and Arizona
Microsoft, trade unions expand AI literacy push
The partners last week announced a slate of free AI literacy courses for the skilled trades, available on LinkedIn Learning
HVAC buying indicator edges up in Q1, remains near historic lows
In the University of Michigan’s popular consumer survey, when asked whether now is a good or bad time to buy ‘major household items,’ 32 percent of respondents in Q1 said it was a good time
Thumbtack, Claude launch contractor hiring integration
As AI adoption skyrockets, marketplaces like Thumbtack are aiming to drive searchers to contractors
HVAC manufacturers hit with two more price-fixing lawsuits
The suits, which were filed by contractors and follow an initial March lawsuit, open the door for similarly situated contractors to join the litigation
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
Google tests video in local search ads
“These video ads appear within the local pack — the map-based listings that show businesses near a user’s search”