2026 June 1

This issue of The ACHR NEWS looks at the forecast for summer 2026, walks contractors through the latest high-tech HVACR tools, and discusses how AI-driven data center growth is creating major opportunities and what contractors need to know. Also in this issue, an update on refrigerants and business insights for contractors.

Going High Tech with HVACR Tools

Today’s easy-to-learn smart tools can tackle a variety of tasks

Matt Jachman

May 29, 2026

Battery power, wireless connectivity, and integration with smartphone apps are some of the common features of newer smart tools for HVACR professionals.

Breaking Into Data Centers: What HVACR Contractors Need to Know

AI-driven data center growth is creating major opportunities for HVACR contractors

Hannah Belloli-Oster

June 1, 2026

Data centers are quickly becoming one of the HVACR industry’s biggest growth opportunities, but contractors entering the market face far different expectations than traditional commercial work. From precision cooling and nonstop operation to evolving liquid cooling technologies and high-stakes service agreements, success requires technical depth, strong partnerships, and a long-term strategy.

2026 Summer Weather Outlook: Warmer-Than-Normal Summer Predicted for Much of U.S.

El Niño system in the Pacific will bring the heat to about three-quarters of states

Matt Jachman

May 15, 2026

HVAC contractors and technicians will likely be busy this summer, as chances for above-normal temperatures are predicted, with a few regions excepted.

Employer-Directed Skills Act Could Reimburse HVAC Contractors for New Hire Training

Proposal would shift control of workforce dollars directly to contractors

Dylan Kurt

March 30, 2026

Federal workforce dollars could soon flow directly to HVAC employers instead of training institutions

Surveys Show ‘Amazon Effect’ in HVAC Equipment Buying

Contractors can harness the trend by touting expertise, embracing ‘digital journey’

Matt Jachman

May 14, 2026

Residential customers are buying more equipment online, a trend that industry experts advise contractors to leverage.

It’s Allergy Season: Turning Irritants Into HVAC Opportunity

With this year’s pollen intensity, IAQ helps customers breathe easier

Dana Slone

May 12, 2026

For HVAC contractors, allergy season is becoming more than a seasonal maintenance cycle. It is also an opportunity to educate customers on indoor air quality and provide solutions.

How HVAC Contractors Can Solve Labor Woes in the Age of AI

HVAC offers stability to 52% of U.S. workers worried about AI’s impact

Chris Gray

May 11, 2026

HVAC may be safe from AI, but the industry’s labor challenges persist. A report from Randstad offers solutions to overcome the skilled labor gap.

FROSTlines

PFAS Rules and A2L Building Codes Continue to Evolve

Experts highlight key regulatory pressures shaping the HVACR industry

Joanna R. Turpin

June 1, 2026

HVACR industry faces growing complexity from state-level PFAS regulations and evolving A2L building codes, requiring manufacturers and contractors to stay alert and engaged.

How a Pension Crisis Sparked Congressional Action: Lessons from the Experts

SMACNA panel dissects the political scramble to save multiemployer pensions at the eleventh hour

Austin Keating

May 11, 2026

A behind-the-scenes look at how the looming collapse of union pensions, amplified by the COVID-19 crisis, forced Congress to deliver sweeping rescue legislation after years of gridlock.

Construction Cost Surge Accelerates Nationwide, Squeezing HVAC Contractors

Amid a global energy shock and metal price volatility, construction costs are surging well ahead of contractor bid prices

Austin Keating

May 15, 2026

Construction input costs are rising at the fastest pace in years – fueled by a global energy shock, metal tariffs, and escalating transportation expenses – putting contractors under pressure.

Chamber Clears Up Tariff Refunds and More at SMACNA Conference

The average effective U.S. tariff has risen fivefold in the past year

Austin Keating

May 28, 2026

Sheet metal contractors hoping for relief from the recent Supreme Court-mandated tariff refunds are likely to be disappointed: Unless you are the importer of record, you will not see a direct payout or price break.

Are Data Centers the New Marijuana Industry for HVAC?

Both create nontraditional HVAC demand, but one is clearly more than a trend

Chris Gray

April 30, 2026

Data centers and the cannabis industry may have some interesting similarities, but contractors shouldn’t write off data centers as a niche market.

Synergy Solution Group field supervisors 2026

Synergy Forum Boosts Skills of Field Supervisors

The ACHR NEWS Editorial Staff

May 18, 2026

Synergy's 2026 Field Suprervisors Forum brought together leaders from commercial HVAC and mechanical contracting companies to focus on leadership development, communication, and addressing real-world challenges.

Report Takes a Fresh Look at IAQ and ASHRAE Standards

The ACHR NEWS Editorial Staff

May 2, 2026

A new whitepaper from Fellowes reports on what the company calls a growing divide between the IAQ buildings are designed to deliver with their HVAC systems and what emerging standards require.

Acquistion Boosts Johnson Controls' Efficiency Efforts

April 27, 2026

Nantum AI will expand capabilities within the OpenBlue digital ecosytstem to optimize airflow in buildings based on occupancy.

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 will detail what HVAC material buyers and technicians need to know when selecting duct mastics, including matching mastic to substrate, alternatives to liquid mastic, and where UL 181 Listings fit into real world installations.

ACHR NEWS

Feature Articles

Going High Tech with HVACR Tools

Breaking Into Data Centers: What HVACR Contractors Need to Know

2026 Summer Weather Outlook: Warmer-Than-Normal Summer Predicted for Much of U.S.

Employer-Directed Skills Act Could Reimburse HVAC Contractors for New Hire Training

Surveys Show ‘Amazon Effect’ in HVAC Equipment Buying

It’s Allergy Season: Turning Irritants Into HVAC Opportunity

How HVAC Contractors Can Solve Labor Woes in the Age of AI

PFAS Rules and A2L Building Codes Continue to Evolve

SNIPS NEWS

How a Pension Crisis Sparked Congressional Action: Lessons from the Experts

Construction Cost Surge Accelerates Nationwide, Squeezing HVAC Contractors

Chamber Clears Up Tariff Refunds and More at SMACNA Conference

Columns

Are Data Centers the New Marijuana Industry for HVAC?

Newsline

Synergy Forum Boosts Skills of Field Supervisors

Report Takes a Fresh Look at IAQ and ASHRAE Standards

Acquistion Boosts Johnson Controls' Efficiency Efforts

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