In the past few years, the thermostat has become a cutting edge electronic. This creates new opportunities for HVAC contractors.

Thermostats are like other pieces of interactive equipment: People are thrilled by each development but move on quickly when the next feature comes along.

With a little ingenuity, HVAC contractors could come out on top in the smart homes market for years to come.

The path to temperature control through smart thermostat technology is more involved than many customers realize.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

BasX Solutions, a manufacturer of custom engineered products including HVAC solutions, announced that it has completed its acquisition of the clean room product line from Seasons 4.

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 EPA initially faced backlash from the industry regarding the sell-through mandate for certain HVAC systems. The Agency revised the provision by allowing one additional year, until January 1, 2026.

The U.S. District Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit recently turned down the city of Berkeley’s request for another hearing in the case brought by the California Restaurant Association (CRA), which had challenged the ban.

Food retailers shared their concerns and experiences with refrigeration systems that use alternative refrigerants at the Food Marketing Institute’s (FMI’s) 2023 Energy & Store Development Conference.

The transition to A2Ls will likely serve as an interim solution. Europe has already embraced propane in certain heat pump systems, and the U.S. may follow suit, albeit with a different low-GWP refrigerant.

ALDI aims to become the most sustainable grocer in the U.S., by committing to transition to natural refrigerants in all stores by 2035.

In comments to EPA’s proposed rule regarding HFC management, many HVACR stakeholders expressed concern over issues including tracking cylinders, training technicians, and reclaiming refrigerant.

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 refrigerant regulations are important, there are other rules and regulations being implemented that HVACR contractors need to understand.

In preparing for the refrigerant transition, contractors and distributors should review their inventory and become educated on the regulations.

“While the recent news is a formality, it makes the victory over these burdensome regulations official."

Not only has VRF technology been widely accepted by contractors and end users alike, virtually every major U.S. manufacturer is now offering these systems, as well.

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.

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

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

Both commercial facilities and residential domiciles are taking advantage of heating and cooling technology at accelerated rates.

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.

Most of the rest of the world has relied on ductless mini-split systems for their heating and cooling needs for decades, but that has not been the case in the U.S. That may be changing with the advent of ducted mini-split systems.

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

The EEV is often used in modern refrigeration systems, but troubleshooting its common failures may be complicated.

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.

Troubleshooting PSC fan motors is a common task for service technicians, and failures tend to be either electrical or mechanical.

Contractors need to implement a refrigerant management strategy that accommodates both legacy and A2L systems, as well as emphasizes recovery and reclamation.

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.

Soap bubbles have long been thought of as the standard method for leak detection, but times, and technology, are changing.

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.

Timely refrigeration repairs are crucial to avoid product loss; temporary fixes can sometimes keep systems running until parts arrive.

When choosing a vacuum pump, its pays to find a unit that makes oil changes convenient.

Technicians need to understand the basic electrical fundamentals and how they relate to each other in order to better troubleshoot electrical failures.

Trained to identify the varying types of asbestos used in old buildings, Matt Mountain of Mountain Duct Cleaning knows what he’s looking for.