January 5 2026 Issue

This issue of The ACHR NEWS examines the cautious confidence HVAC contractors have going into 2026, moonlighting — company risks, technician’s needs, celebrating 100 years of ACHR NEWS in print, manufacturers bracing for a slow start in 2026, with growth on the horizon, troubleshooting the heat pump defrost cycle, looking back at 2025, evolving refrigerant rules creating challenges for food retail, why ignoring 50% of the workforce is a bad idea, a look at new products, and the latest from SNIPS NEWS.

Check back throughout the week for additional content.

State of the Industry

Cautious Confidence: Contractors Staring Down Price Pressures, Workforce Shortages, and AI Escalation in 2026

For many owners, the next phase is less about surviving transition and more about tightening systems, strengthening teams, and building durable competitive advantages

Dylan Kurt

December 23, 2025

After a year dominated by refrigerant chaos and shifting codes, contractors say 2026 finally feels familiar. But beneath the surface, price pressure, labor shortages, and AI are reshaping how they sell, staff, and serve their markets.

Moonlighting in HVAC: Balancing Technician Needs and Company Risk

Why do techs moonlight?

Hannah Belloli-Oster

November 19, 2025

As the demand for skilled laborers continues, moonlighting is something contractors are trying to get ahead of — and they’re thinking outside of the box. Rather than relying solely on strict rules, many are finding creative ways to address the underlying reasons technicians take side work in the first place — from compensation and career growth to supporting personal connections in a safe, company-backed way.

100 Years of HVACR: Covering Indoor Comfort Since 1926

Kyle Gargaro

January 1, 2026

From iceboxes to intelligent systems, ACHR NEWS marks 100 years of documenting the people and technologies that shaped HVACR.

State of the Industry

Manufacturers Brace for a Slow Start — but See HVACR Growth Ahead in 2026

Promising growth projected ahead

Hannah Belloli-Oster

December 22, 2025

Despite tariffs, shifting regulations, and a cooling residential market, leading OEMs say 2026 will bring modest growth driven by commercial demand, electrification, and higher-efficiency technologies.

Troubleshooting the Heat Pump Defrost Cycle: A Step-By-Step Guide

What every HVAC technician needs to know to avoid repeat no-heat calls

ACCA (Air Conditioning Contractors of America)

January 8, 2026

If defrost isn’t working, something in the chain is broken. This step-by-step approach shows you exactly where to look and what to test.

From A2L to Tariffs, HVACR Had a Year

Industry leaders look back at 2025 and offer suggestions for success in 2026

Matt Jachman

December 3, 2025

The R-454B crisis dominated HVACR news this year, but other issues impacted the industry as well. They all set the stage for the year ahead.

FROSTlines

Evolving Refrigerant Rules Create Challenges for Grocers

An array of federal and state regulations means rethinking compliance strategies

Joanna R. Turpin

January 6, 2026

Food retailers face growing confusion as evolving EPA AIM Act mandates and differing state rules make refrigerant compliance increasingly complex.

Guest Column

Ignoring 50% of the Workforce Is Bad Business

Data from ACCA, WHVACR shows recruiting women can improve retention, safety, customer satisfaction.

Julian Scadden

December 27, 2025

The mental image of a 45-year-old male tradesperson is costing you talent.

Copper Rockets to New Highs, Again

Frequently cited in price increase announcements from manufacturers, copper reaches new all time high

Austin Keating

December 24, 2025

A perfect storm of South American mine disruptions, domestic hoarding, explosive demand from electrification and data centers, and new U.S. tariffs have driven copper inventories to historic lows, igniting an end-of-year price surge.

How Cloud and AI Are Rewiring Building Efficiency

Cloud computing and BACnet protocols have unlocked real-time building automation, transforming HVAC from manual systems into smart, grid-interactive assets

Austin Keating

November 28, 2025

Explore how advances in cloud-based automation, open protocols, and AI-driven controls are redefining HVAC operations and demand response participation, offering contractors new ways to deliver value in an evolving energy landscape.

How Contractors Can Lead Air Quality Improvement in Schools

How new science, real-time monitoring, and smarter engineering are reshaping school air quality – and what it means for kids’ health and absenteeism

Austin Keating

December 11, 2025

A wave of groundbreaking research in Colorado is revealing how targeted measurement and interventions can transform air quality in schools, reduce illness, and help every child breathe easier.

Stratus CEO Charts a New Era for Sheet Metal Fabrication

Stratus is revolutionizing the MEP industry by unifying digital workflows for plumbing, piping, and sheet metal, delivering new efficiencies for contractors nationwide

Austin Keating

December 11, 2025

With fresh investment and a renewed focus on HVAC sheet metal, Jake Olsen shares how Stratus is helping contractors run modern, data-driven fab shops – while staying true to the roots of the trade.

One Year Review: Lori Chavez-DeRemer’s Trade Surge

Labor Secretary’s apprenticeship push brings money, urgency, and hope to skilled trades

Austin Keating

December 26, 2025

U.S. Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer recapped her first year leading efforts to expand skilled trades apprenticeships and more.

Murder of Young Welder at Minnesota Workplace Sparks Union, Industry Outcry

The murder of 20-year-old welder Amber Czech by a coworker in Minnesota has sent shockwaves through the construction trades

Austin Keating

December 11, 2025

SMART Women's Committee calls on the sheet metal industry to "confront the culture that allowed this to happen."

A Skeptical EPA Weighs the Future of Energy Star

The program is also at issue in the federal budget for the next fiscal year

Matt Jachman

November 12, 2025

The arrival of the second Trump administration in Washington, D.C., this year brought talk of canceling the Energy Star program, though the HVAC industry and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have expressed support for it.

Danfoss Inaugurates Expansion of Monterrey, Mexico Factory

The ACHR NEWS Editorial Staff

November 11, 2025

The new production area will add about 300 new full-time positions, strengthening Danfoss’ commitment to Mexico as a key manufacturing hub.

Canadian Firm Acquires HVAC Manufacturer

The ACHR NEWS Editorial Staff

November 21, 2025

“We welcome the Whalen team as they join VAST and appreciate the opportunity to work with them to continue the great tradition of The Whalen Company as a manufacturer of superior products and flexible designs for the high-rise HVAC market in North America,” said Mark Heisz, CEO of VAST.

FYI: News Briefs in HVAC - January 5, 2026

January 5, 2026

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.

Copeland Transcritical CO2 Scroll Compressor

Copeland Launches Transcritical CO2 Scroll Compressor

The ACHR NEWS Editorial Staff

December 16, 2025

The Copeland transcritical CO2 scroll compressor is the latest addition to a comprehensive CO2 compression portfolio, which includes transcritical and subcritical semi-hermetics, subcritical scrolls, advanced controls and monitoring, variable frequency drives and system components to support a fully integrated CO2 booster system.

LG Launches Climate Control Solution for Commercial Building Applications

The ACHR NEWS Editorial Staff

December 23, 2025

Powered by the proprietary LG Neural Engine, Multi V i uses onboard controls to monitor environmental conditions and operational data.

Carrier Launches i-Vu Pro v10

The ACHR NEWS Editorial Staff

December 23, 2025

Designed for integration with Carrier HVAC equipment, i-Vu Pro v10 provides facility managers and technicians with powerful tools to support smarter building performance and more connected stakeholder engagement.

Airedale by Modine Announces Stainless Steel Extension of TurboChill DCS

December 16, 2025

Suitable for global application, the stainless steel variant of the Turbocor compressor chiller meets Seismic Design Category D.

Fujitsu's AIRSTAGE Cloud BMS with v3.1.4

December 19, 2025

The key benefit of the new AIRSTAGE Cloud release is simplification of service and increased uptime.

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.

In this webinar, we'll outline how top contractors are turning every conversation into predictable revenue by coaching every comfort advisor visit, not just the ones a manager rides along on.

ACHR NEWS

2026 January 5

Cover Story

Cautious Confidence: Contractors Staring Down Price Pressures, Workforce Shortages, and AI Escalation in 2026

Moonlighting in HVAC: Balancing Technician Needs and Company Risk

Feature Articles

100 Years of HVACR: Covering Indoor Comfort Since 1926

Manufacturers Brace for a Slow Start — but See HVACR Growth Ahead in 2026

Troubleshooting the Heat Pump Defrost Cycle: A Step-By-Step Guide

From A2L to Tariffs, HVACR Had a Year

Evolving Refrigerant Rules Create Challenges for Grocers

Ignoring 50% of the Workforce Is Bad Business

SNIPS NEWS

Copper Rockets to New Highs, Again

How Cloud and AI Are Rewiring Building Efficiency

How Contractors Can Lead Air Quality Improvement in Schools

Stratus CEO Charts a New Era for Sheet Metal Fabrication

One Year Review: Lori Chavez-DeRemer’s Trade Surge

Murder of Young Welder at Minnesota Workplace Sparks Union, Industry Outcry

Newsline

A Skeptical EPA Weighs the Future of Energy Star

Danfoss Inaugurates Expansion of Monterrey, Mexico Factory

Canadian Firm Acquires HVAC Manufacturer

FYI

FYI: News Briefs in HVAC - January 5, 2026

New HVAC Products

Copeland Launches Transcritical CO2 Scroll Compressor

LG Launches Climate Control Solution for Commercial Building Applications

Carrier Launches i-Vu Pro v10

Airedale by Modine Announces Stainless Steel Extension of TurboChill DCS

Fujitsu's AIRSTAGE Cloud BMS with v3.1.4

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