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Faced with potentially lofty repair bills, homeowners must decide whether to repair or replace their condensing units, which is not an easy decision.

The condensing unit market is on the rise. According to a report published by MarketsandMarkets, the global condensing unit market is forecast to reach $23.31 billion by 2021, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.1 percent from 2016 to 2021. And there are a number of trends contributing to this growth.

Many companies are beginning to integrate capacitor testing into their regular diagnoses and maintenance practices, and I applaud this; however, it does lead to a debate on how to do it.

A major manufacturer recently conducted a survey of 2,000 consumers asking for their feedback on smart products. When asked about their interest in purchasing smart products, more than 60 percent of respondents said they were interested in purchasing an intelligent control for their home. Other industry data shows that actual smart home product penetration is less than 20 percent.

Manufacturers have the task of bringing advanced digital tools to market and assuring contractors and technicians that they will do everything possible to refine and enhance their products.

Currently viewed as a relatively unknown job site asset, it’s quite possible that drones may soon become commonplace for commercial HVAC technicians nationwide.

What if you, as a technician, could add any tool to your bag with no concern for price, brand, or market condition? It’s an intriguing prompt. And, when shared with HVAC contractors and technicians, the question brought forth plenty of differing opinions and responses.

Does brand loyalty translate to contractors’ and technicians’ preferences in HVAC tools? Perhaps there isn’t a clear-cut, black-and-white answer to that question, but contractors and technicians certainly do develop brand-name preferences, and it can be hard to change opinions once they’ve set in.

Unprecedented. Unconventional. Chaotic. Exhausting. Whatever adjective you use to describe them, the first 100 days of the Trump presidency were a crazy time for our nation. People across the country — and around the world — have watched and tried to understand the policy directions of this White House. What have the first 100 days meant for the HVACR industry and what do they portend for the future?

Although there may be a temptation to simply treat A2L refrigerants as equivalent to ammonia with respect to flammability hazard, ammonia really is an entity unto itself. Like an A2L, it exhibits a low-flame velocity in flammability tests, but ammonia has the unique safety advantage of a strong and unmistakable odor that is typically present long before the onset of a flammability hazard. All of the current A2L refrigerants, on the other hand, are odorless.