November 3 2025 Issue

Our first issue of November looks ahead to a new generation of HVACR leaders, technologies, and expectations reshaping the trade. We explore how airtight building design is rewriting the HVAC playbook, why loyalty to brands and suppliers is waning, and how contractors can turn the off season into opportunity. From AI-ready infrastructure to next-gen ownership transitions, this issue reiterates something that recent times have made clear about the HVACR industry — adaptation isn’t optional. Also in this issue, the latest from SNIPS NEWS.

Check back throughout the week for additional content.

Building Envelope courtesy of Colin Thompson / iStock / Getty Images Plus

Airtight: How New Building Design is Reshaping the HVAC Playbook

High-performance envelopes are changing demand curve and installation guidelines

Dylan Kurt

November 3, 2025

Rules of thumb don’t cut it in airtight homes. Here’s how to size, ventilate, and commission for real comfort.

Empire Heating & Air Conditioning Family Legacy

Passing the Torch: How Next-Gen Leaders Are Modernizing Family HVACR Companies

Fresh ideas and technology meet decades of hard-earned trust

Hannah Belloli-Oster

October 26, 2025

Younger owners and managers are stepping into leadership roles — often after growing up in the family shop or working summers in the field — and they’re bringing fresh ideas to operations, technology, and culture. Their challenge isn’t starting from scratch; it’s modernizing what already works while honoring the legacy built by previous generations.

Troubleshooting Without Manual J, S, and D? You’re Flying Blind

Comfort complaints, short cycling, and airflow issues often trace back to mistakes only these measurements can expose

Matthew Akins

September 25, 2025

When a homeowner complains their house feels “hot and sticky” even at 68°F, the problem often isn’t the part you’re about to replace — it’s a missing Manual J calculation.

HARDI on R-454B: “The Crisis Is Over”

R-454B cylinders are finally easier to find. Customers ready to buy new systems? Not so much.

Maria Taylor

October 13, 2025

The refrigerant shortage is over. Its aftershocks are still rippling through the industry.

HVAC Operations Playbook: From Software Sprawl to Measurable ROI

Practical steps to move beyond basic adoption and turn features into outcomes

Dylan Kurt

October 24, 2025

Prices are up and tech is evolving fast. Powerhouse Consulting’s Jenny Benbrook outlines where ROI is left on the table, how to phase improvements, and why “the way it’s always been done” is dragging margins.

Today’s Trends in Humidification

Today’s residential humidifiers save energy, save water, and help clean the air

Matt Jachman

November 3, 2025

Manufacturers say the latest trends in residential humidification products are here to stay.

Heatcraft Refrigeration Technician 1170x658

Comparing CO₂ Refrigeration Architectures

The pros and cons of cascade, booster, and secondary loop systems

Don Fort

November 4, 2025

CO₂ refrigeration is growing fast, but there are pros and cons for cascade, booster, and secondary loop systems. Discover which system works best in different climates and for different applications.

Job Security, AI, and the Trades: Why Gen Z Still Defaults to College, and How To Change That

New survey data from Jobber shows appetite for AI-resilient work, but there’s still a trades stigma

Dylan Kurt

October 9, 2025

It’s time for HVAC pros to fire up their TikTok accounts if they want to save the trades

Shoulder Season via Schlosser & Associates

How the Off Season Can Raise Your Company’s Value

Three strategic ways to turn downtime into long-term growth and higher valuation

Patrick Lange

October 29, 2025

The slower pace of shoulder season makes it a good time to prepare your business for the next year.

Nexstar Network Walks Away from 50% of Its Revenue to Stay True to Its Mission

An HVAC Minute Video Update: October 13, 2025

Hannah Belloli-Oster

October 13, 2025

After private-equity-backed companies grew from 10% to nearly a third of Nexstar’s membership, CEO Julian Scadden made a choice most leaders wouldn’t dare: cut ties with every single one.

MCA Announces 2025 Design Awards Winners: 5 Standout Projects

From cloud-like museums to sculptural theaters, the MCA’s 2025 Design Awards spotlight the teams using metal to redefine what’s possible in sheet metal construction

Austin Keating

October 9, 2025

These awards from the Metal Construction Association (MCA) highlight buildings where technical complexity, creative problem-solving, and innovative applications of metal truly stand out.

California Contractors Get Long-Awaited Change Order Relief as Newsom Signs Landmark Reform Bill

Law reduces the leverage owners have to drag out negotiations or contest legitimate claims

Austin Keating

October 14, 2025

If you’re a sheet metal contractor working in California, change order payment just got a whole lot fairer (and faster).

DOE Cuts Clean Energy Spending, Impacting Sheet Metal Jobs Tied to Megaprojects

SMART General President responds to stark cuts to federally supported large-scale projects in western states

Austin Keating

October 9, 2025

A report on how recent federal funding cuts to hydrogen hubs and other clean energy megaprojects are putting sheet metal jobs at risk, with union leaders and state officials warning of job losses and calling for urgent policy action.

Inside M&D Mechanical’s Marathon Retrofit at Marshall Space Flight Center

A 24/7 NASA lab retrofit with zero downtime allowed made prefabrication a must

Austin Keating

October 23, 2025

This year, M&D Mechanical’s work at Marshall Space Flight Center earned national recognition at Associated Builders and Contractors’ Excellence in Construction Awards in Las Vegas – a nod to both the technical challenges and the teamwork required to keep a 24/7 NASA lab running.

Data Center Spending Set to Surpass Office Projects

AI’s appetite for power and space is reshaping construction priorities and keeping contractors busy

Austin Keating

October 23, 2025

Spending on data centers is set to eclipse new office construction for the first time, fueling a building frenzy that’s sending ripples through the U.S. economy, reshaping job sites, and driving power bills sharply higher from New Hampshire to Illinois.

Guest Column

HVAC’s Next Generation Is Choosing Their Employers — Will They Choose You?

Competitive pay is only the start: today’s workforce values growth, recognition, and purpose

Chris Koch

September 13, 2025

To become the employer of choice, HVAC contractors must think beyond paychecks.

Carrier Launches TechAdvantage Ignite

The ACHR NEWS Editorial Staff

September 23, 2025

TechVantage Ignite combines classroom training and self-paced online learning with mentorship and on-the-job training.

Nidec Expands in Mena, Arkansas, with $19 Million Investment

The ACHR NEWS Editorial Staff

October 9, 2025

The company is planning a 61,000-square-foot expansion to support growth over the coming five years.

FYI: News Briefs in HVAC - November 3, 2025

November 2, 2025

For your information news briefs from a wide variety of categories within the HVAC industry. Price increases, mergers and acquisitions, award winners, and more are highlighted here each issue.

On Demand As AI workloads and high-density computing push traditional cooling methods to their limits, the data center industry is accelerating the adoption of next-generation HVAC technologies.

ACHR NEWS

2025 November 3

Cover Story

Airtight: How New Building Design is Reshaping the HVAC Playbook

Passing the Torch: How Next-Gen Leaders Are Modernizing Family HVACR Companies

Feature Articles

Troubleshooting Without Manual J, S, and D? You’re Flying Blind

HARDI on R-454B: “The Crisis Is Over”

HVAC Operations Playbook: From Software Sprawl to Measurable ROI

Today’s Trends in Humidification

Comparing CO₂ Refrigeration Architectures

Job Security, AI, and the Trades: Why Gen Z Still Defaults to College, and How To Change That

How the Off Season Can Raise Your Company’s Value

Nexstar Network Walks Away from 50% of Its Revenue to Stay True to Its Mission

SNIPS NEWS

MCA Announces 2025 Design Awards Winners: 5 Standout Projects

California Contractors Get Long-Awaited Change Order Relief as Newsom Signs Landmark Reform Bill

DOE Cuts Clean Energy Spending, Impacting Sheet Metal Jobs Tied to Megaprojects

Inside M&D Mechanical’s Marathon Retrofit at Marshall Space Flight Center

Data Center Spending Set to Surpass Office Projects

Columns

HVAC’s Next Generation Is Choosing Their Employers — Will They Choose You?

Newsline

Carrier Launches TechAdvantage Ignite

Nidec Expands in Mena, Arkansas, with $19 Million Investment

FYI

FYI: News Briefs in HVAC - November 3, 2025

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