This article looks at some examples of what distributors are doing to be the supplier of choice to their valued HVAC contractor customers, including communication, inventory management, and the ordering process.

It’s hot and getting hotter. The last thing contractors need during heated times is lack of communication with their suppliers, or even worse, a lack of repair or replacement parts. That’s why it is vital for contractors and suppliers to remain in touch, even if it means a 24/7 relationship.

To no one’s surprise, the way to successfully navigate the HVAC distribution channel is to have parts that are readily available for immediate shipment. It’s that simple. Or is it?

Small businesses come and go, that’s a given. All sectors of the business community, including the HVAC contracting trade, are affected. That creates a lot of turmoil — or opportunity — for small business owners who see a chance to grab a bigger share of the market as competitors fold their tents.

Condensing units were historically described as boxy and boring. But what was once a plain-looking metal box with louvers (and often made too much noise) has been replaced by sleek designs. Does this mean condensing units have come of age?

Bigger is not always better, and one recent example is the new MicroGroove technology, which was introduced in 2010. This technology is defined by smaller diameter copper tubing with enhanced inner surfaces for the purpose of reducing refrigerant charge, minimizing material content and improving heat transfer.

It isn’t just the small business owners and homeowners who are looking to increase the energy efficiency of their buildings and homes — it’s the big utility companies as well. What did one utility company recently do upgrade its overall efficiency?

According to contractors, consumers have been deluged with marketing messages touting the benefits of single-room space heaters as a way to cost-effectively heat a space using electricity instead of gas, propane, or fuel oil as the heating source.

HVAC contractors — both residential and commercial — place a great deal of emphasis on system maintenance and how it directly relates to lower operating and service costs. Here some HVAC contractors weigh in with tips that will prevent a lot of unnecessary chiller service or replacement.

If you ask any successful HVAC contractor what the keys to business success are, one of the answers would certainly include a well-trained staff.