When homeowners purchase a Nest product, Google will connect the customers to a qualified installer, a “Nest Pro.”

The smart thermostat market continues to get crowded.

As people spend more time at home due to the lingering effects of the pandemic, the buzzwords that come to mind are comfort and convenience. The influx of smart controls and thermostats can help fulfill these desires.

Smart thermostats offer preventive maintenance options and rebates for customers, but contractors should be sure to get educated — and educate homeowners — on utility rebates like demand-response programs.

Programmable thermostats that can be accessed through an internet device are old hat. Here are just a few of the residential HVAC controls products featured at the Georgia World Congress Center, the host venue for this year’s Expo.

Through the new integration, ecobee thermostat owners who also own Generac home standby generators can easily see the status of the generator and remedy potential issues.

Lennox received a 2023 Green Builder Sustainable Product of the Year recognition.

When considering the multitude of HVAC thermostat options available on the market, who better to decipher the best from the rest than those responsible for their installation and operation?

Since HVAC contractors are usually the ones installing the systems, not to mention performing maintenance, when necessary, their opinions on comfort controls are not to be taken lightly

The honor complements the Energy Star Partner of the Year Sustained Excellence award, which was announced earlier this year in the U.S.

When the Woosh air quality monitor and smart air filter are paired with a Sensi smart thermostat, users can transform an HVAC system into an air purifier for the entire home.

Smart HVAC systems optimize energy usage without sacrificing comfort by using data analytics and machine learning to regulate the indoor environment.

While government incentives, savings in utility bills, word-of-mouth, and increasing popularity have led to homeowner’s increased awareness of smart thermostats, there is still a lot of room in the market for growth.

Thermostat manufacturers say they have the studies to show that the use of their smart, connected thermostats can help homeowners save on their HVAC-related energy costs.

The NEWS’ annual Cooling Showcase has traditionally introduced the latest air conditioning units available for the upcoming summer season. The intent is to help contractors prepare for this busy period by doing the research that will help them to distinguish between brands. In this issue, we focus on the commercial side of the air conditioning industry.

Winners of the The NEWS’ eighth annual Dealer Design Awards’ HVAC Commercial Equipment category have brought new ideas to the commercial market that should help contractors meet the commercial challenges they face.

Heat-only, direct-fired, and indirect-fired makeup air units have been added to the company’s product line. 

The NEWS was very busy at the AHR Expo in New York City, visiting as many booths as possible in search of new products. Below is a comprehensive list of all the HVAC commercial equipment we found on the show floor.

It’s time again for the Commercial Cooling Showcase. The NEWS’ annual issue has traditionally introduced the latest air conditioning units available for the upcoming summer season. The intent is to help contractors prepare for this busy period by doing the research that will help them distinguish between brands.

The NEWS honors the 2014 Dealer Design Award winners in the HVAC Commercial Equipment category.

Across the country, school administrators are realizing the importance of good IAQ and a comfortable indoor environment, which both contribute significantly to student success. 

HVAC manufacturers share their latest heating products — including photos, specifications, warranty info, and more — in this detailed showcase.

The Magnitude^® magnetic bearing centrifugal chillers from Daikin Applied not only reduce maintenance requirements and offer increased efficiencies, according to one Dealer Design Awards judge, but they also feature nearly nonexistent compressor vibration and top-tier customer support. 

The unit includes a standard neoprene, vibration-isolated blower and motor for quiet operation.

A lot of refrigerant reclaimers aren’t charging for mixed refrigerants anymore, which may in turn, mean an opportunity for HVAC contractors to make more money.

The U.S. Department of Commerce is investigating whether Chinese HFCs are circumventing the 2016 antidumping duty order on HFC blends.

The HVACR industry was initially surprised by a date-of-install requirement, mandating installation of certain equipment by January 1, 2025, but EPA extended sell-through period to January 1, 2026.

ABC argues the rule could end up hurting legitimate contractors in the building trades, who are already strapped for workers.

AHRI launched an interactive US map showing state codes for A2L refrigerants, alongside a video series on low-GWP refrigerant transition.

New A2L-related code requirements will impact HVAC system installation and include warning labels, ventilation, leak detection, and limits on refrigerant amounts for comfort air conditioning.

While ductless HVAC is not without its flaws, the technology has evolved exponentially to now provide customers with numerous configurations at affordable prices appropriate for nearly every application, which is music to the ears of entrepreneurial contractors.

Once only found in mild climates, the technology now stretches across the U.S., thanks to advances in inverter technology and zone controls. On the other hand, the level of sophistication in these systems sometimes makes them difficult to troubleshoot when something goes wrong.

In collaboration with Tropic Supply, Cooper&Hunter has gifted Daytona State College with six complete HVAC systems, considering the donation as a useful investment in the next generation. The on-campus working stations, which include units from Cooper&Hunter’s modern “Sophia Mini-Split Single Zone Series,” will give students hands-on learning opportunities with technology that is becoming increasingly popular in the U.S.

Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church’s community center in the Tempe, Arizona suburb of Guadalupe now has state-of-the-art HVAC thanks to variable refrigerant flow equipment, accessories, and installation labor donations from RectorSeal, Panasonic Air Conditioning Group (a division of Panasonic Corp. of North America), and Woody’s Heating and Air Conditioning.

The equipment in this month’s troubleshooting situation is a split system that has only been in service for two years, but there is a lot of history — several service calls since the equipment was installed, and an on-going complaint that the system just doesn’t keep the ranch-style home comfortable.

Access Inc. will be the new manufacturers' representative for Hitachi VRF systems and SmartFlex™ systems in eastern Michigan and Northwest Ohio

The 25 SEER model is a wall mount unit with Wi-Fi capabilities, a silver ion filter, a cold catalyst filter, and a GoldFin anti-corrosive coating.

With over 1,000 Sunday service attendees and many church activities throughout the week, energy efficiency for the sake of cost savings was critical.

As HVACR technology advances, contractors often find themselves navigating new learning curves on a regular basis. VRF is no exception.

The two-story lake house totals 4,600 square feet above ground and 2,000 finished square feet in the daylight basement.

The equipment in this month’s troubleshooting situation is a split system that has only been in service for two years, but there is a lot of history.

Across seven product categories, LG’s HVAC solutions again pass AHRI's comprehensive performance certification program.

Cleaning coils is a fairly simple task, but one that plays an important role in keeping a unit running strong.

In today's economy, cost-conscious end users want to extend their HVAC equipment lifespan as long as possible. Regular maintenance on condensing units can help maximize their longevity and performance.

Over time, dirt, dust, pet dander, debris, and more accumulate in air ducts. And since the HVAC system works basically as a whole-home vacuum, all of that is recirculated through homes when the HVAC system runs, unless the ducts are cleaned out.

The proposed new approach to chilled water HVAC systems promises to provide significant capital cost savings, energy cost savings, and a path to eliminate CO₂ emissions.

Just because an HVAC technician installs a system according to current codes and standards, it doesn’t always mean it’s safe.

Cleaning evaporator coils in a walk-in cooler can be challenging, but it needs to be done in order to keep the system operating efficiently.  

HVAC contractors should be prepared to sell geothermal to new customers regardless of any incentives.

Geothermal heat pumps tap into a renewable source of energy to provide comfort for a home, and HVAC contractors can tap into this market for increased sales.