The latest shipment report from AHRI shows a sluggish start to 2026, with everything from electrification pushes to refrigerant transitions set to affect the coming year.
The Hot-Kold was the result of a partnership between the refrigeration company Frigidaire and General Iron Works, which made furnaces. Unaffordable for most people during the Great Depression, it didn’t last long.
Daikin says with inverter adoption expanding, heat pumps gaining share, and data center cooling expected to triple by 2030, the shifts could reshape how contractors plan for future installs and training.
The 2026 AHR Expo returned to Las Vegas with momentum that could not be denied, bringing together more than 53,000 HVACR professionals for one of the industry’s most important annual gatherings.
Indoor air quality isn’t just about UV bulbs. It’s about humidity, airflow, filtration, and how well a home’s systems work together. For contractors, that’s shifting how they approach IAQ: no longer as a one-stop shop but rather a whole-home strategy that starts with fundamentals.
With standing-room-only sessions, nearly 2,000 exhibitors, and a strong focus on workforce development, this year’s Expo proved the industry’s momentum is real — and growing — as over 53,000 HVACR professionals gathered to connect, learn, and shape what’s next.