HVAC Commercial Market

RSS

Supply shortages. Labor issues. Distrust in the channel. Sound familiar? A 1946 article sparks a conversation on how much has really changed.

Lennox weighs in on price-fixing allegations as Q1 results reveal a 10% residential drop, with pricing and commercial growth resulting in overall growth. 

Data centers and the cannabis industry may have some interesting similarities, but contractors shouldn’t write off data centers as a niche market. 

Labor costs, workforce shortages, and material prices continue to pressure HVAC contractors in 2026 — but many are still planning for growth. A new report shows how firms are balancing risk, adopting AI, and adjusting operations to protect margins. 

Autonomous buildings powered by AI could reduce emergency service calls by predicting and addressing issues before they happen. But rather than replacing HVAC contractors, the shift is expected to change how they work. 

In 1942, an editorial in The Electric Refrigeration News warned that leaving refrigeration off the essential list could threaten the war effort. Nearly 80 years later, during COVID-19, HVACR technicians were recognized without question. The shift reveals how the industry moved from overlooked to indispensable.

At the MCAA convention, industry leaders unpacked four trends reshaping commercial mechanical contracting — from megaprojects to workforce challenges — and what they mean for the industry’s future. 

Rising fuel costs and global instability are pushing HVAC pricing back into uncertain territory, creating new challenges for contractors. 

A new project will explore the potential for geothermal power in the U.S., which could change the landscape for the HVAC industry.