Our most-read stories of January
A new administration, an OEM acquisition, and a couple technology developments
Image: Homepros
One month down. Here’s a look at our five most-read stories from January:
What to watch as Trump returns to office
“The new President and Republican-controlled Congress have called for sweeping changes that will likely affect many industries, including HVAC. From federal incentives to taxes and tariffs, here are four developments for HVAC contractors to watch under the new administration.”
ChatGPT’s parent company eyes home services
“OpenAI, the parent company of wildly popular ChatGPT, rolled out a feature that can hire HVAC contractors through Thumbtack on consumers’ behalf… The move highlights AI’s growing impact on every industry, including home services.”
Rheem parent to buy Fujitsu’s HVAC business for $1.6 billion
“Rheem owner Paloma will acquire Fujitsu’s HVAC subsidiary, Fujitsu General, for up to $1.6 billion, according to a statement… The deal marks the third major OEM acquisition announced in the past six months.”
Google launches ‘Energy Skilled’ badges: What to know
“Google will now display an Energy Skilled badge on contractors’ Business Profiles if at least one technician has earned a credential ‘recognized as Energy Skilled’ by the Department of Energy.”
New PIN rule hits HVAC tax credit: What to know
“The IRS is requiring homeowners to include a product identification number, or PIN, for each piece of qualifying equipment installed starting this year to claim the credit on future tax returns… [However], these PINs don’t yet exist.”
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Goldman Sachs’ private equity arm to acquire Sila Services
The deal values the company at about $1.7 billion, or ~17x its 12-month EBITDA of just under $100 million, according to a few people familiar with the matter
HVAC wholesale prices held steady in February
Compared to February 2025, an HVAC-specific ‘producer price index’ (PPI) is up 4.4 percent, according to the latest data
7 takeaways: ‘Contractor of the Future’ report
A quick look at a recent survey of over 1,000 HVAC contractors nationwide, which included a focus on profitability and operations