Manufacturer Reports

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December will be another month of increasing cost pressures. Most changes fall in the 2-8% range, though some brands issued “various” adjustments across product groups. Activity was steady throughout December, with no price reductions reported. 

The 2026 AHR Expo Trend Report shows contractors juggling refrigerant shortages, expiring tax credits, rising heat pump demand, AI tools, and a shrinking workforce. 

In response to the shift toward low-GWP refrigerants, several manufacturers have introduced convertible coils that are designed to operate with multiple refrigerants.  

Pricing across the HVAC/R supply chain continued to drift upward in November

Nearly 1.1 million fewer air-source heat pumps and central a/c units were shipped in the U.S. this year, through September, than were shipped during the first nine months of 2024.

Manufacturers say the “next wave” of growth will be retrofit-friendly systems that drop into existing homes with minimal electrical work.

The new technology is expected to cut consumer energy bills, and contractors would only see a modest upskilling to install the next-gen platform.

New Jersey-based Triangle Tube closed abruptly on November 3, but the company website says the voluntary recall of approximately 67,500 boilers will not be affected.

Commercial demand for HVAC equipment grew in Q3, while residential sales fell, due to consumer uncertainty, cooler weather, and the lingering effects of the refrigerant transition. 

RectorSeal closes its acquisition of MARS Parts, adding motors, capacitors, relays, and contactors to its HVAC lineup.