Distribution Trends

95% Furnace Efficiency Rule to Get New Hearing

mattjachman@achrnews.com (Matt Jachman) — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 15:00:00 -0400

HVACR industry groups are pleased with a new Supreme Court decision that requires a lower court to reconsider its decision to uphold mandates that require certain furnaces and water heaters to be at least 95% efficient.

Watsco Completes Acquisition of Jackson Supply Co.

Sat, 06 Jun 2026 11:00:00 -0400

Watsco Inc.'s acquisition of Jackon Supply Co. adds 25 locations across seven states to its HVAC distribution lineup.

Distribution Veteran Credits ‘Great Team’ for His Success

mattjachman@achrnews.com (Matt Jachman) — Tue, 26 May 2026 11:00:00 -0400

Champion of Distribution Sales Tony Cirilli has “the most accounts in the most demanding part of the world” as well as an unmatched “get-it-done attitude,” says the colleague who nominated him.

Counter Service Winner ‘Goes the Extra Mile’

mattjachman@achrnews.com (Matt Jachman) — Tue, 26 May 2026 07:00:00 -0400

The "best counter guy in New England" wins the 2026 Champion of Distribution Counter Service award.

ADH Acquires Independent Midwest Distributor

Sat, 23 May 2026 11:00:00 -0400

The acquisition of cfm Distributors expands the footprint of Advantage Distribution Holdings to 13 locations across six states throughout the Southeast and Midwest.

Trane Opens New Sales and Distribution Facility

Thu, 21 May 2026 11:00:00 -0400

The new Trane office, which will employ up to 10 people, will serve as a local hub for HVAC equipment, service, and turnkey sales.

2026’s Best Distributor Partners With Customers

mattjachman@achrnews.com (Matt Jachman) — Thu, 21 May 2026 07:00:00 -0400

The Best Distributor to Work With for this year is intentional about building a positive culture and collaborating to help its customers succeed.

HARDI, PHCC Defend EPA Rules on HFC Allocations

Thu, 14 May 2026 18:00:00 -0400

Heating, Air-conditioning & Refrigeration Distributors International (HARDI) and the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors–National Association (PHCC) are urging the U.S. Supreme Court not to take up a case challenging the Environmental Protection Agency's rules on bulk HFC allocations.

March Distribution Sales Jumped 10.4%, Survey Finds

Fri, 08 May 2026 11:00:00 -0400

"Double-digit sales growth could be a great sign for 2026 after more than a year with annual sales growth in the 2% to 4% range,” said Brian Loftus, senior market analyst at Heating, Air-conditioning & Refrigeration Distributors International (HARDI).

New York Appellate Court Halts Refrigerant Ban

Thu, 07 May 2026 16:45:00 -0400

The decision comes as New Yorkers express concern in a new survey about the affordability and operational impacts associated with the state’s refrigeration regulations.

Home Depot’s Planned Acquisition ‘a Big Deal” for HVAC

mattjachman@achrnews.com (Matt Jachman) — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 13:00:00 -0400

Home Depot’s plans to acquire Mingledorff’s, a major HVAC distributor, could mean a shakeup in traditional HVAC distribution.

New Webb Mobile App 'An Extension of the Branch'

Fri, 03 Apr 2026 13:00:00 -0400

"This is not designed to be a ‘new channel’; it’s designed to be an expansion of the F.W. Webb customer experience," said Brendan Lilly, vice president of e-commerce and digital operations at F.W. Webb.

Distributors Report 4.6% February Sales Jump

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 11:00:00 -0400

The February growth “was a welcome sight after low-single digit sales declines during December and January,” said Brian Loftus, HARDI’s macroeconomic and residential market analyst.

Winsupply to Add 1.6 Million Square Feet of Distribution Capacity

Sat, 28 Mar 2026 19:23:01 -0400

By increasing warehouse capacity and logistical efficiency, Winsupply enables local owners to focus on what matters most: serving their customers and growing their businesses.

Home Depot Subsidiary to Acquire Mingledorff's

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 17:00:00 -0400

The move is part of The Home Depot’s plans for expanding its offerings for professional trades customers.

What an HVACR Contractor Wants, What a Contractor Needs (From Distributors)

chrisgray@achrnews.com (Chris Gray) — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 17:00:00 -0400

A new industry survey sheds light on what HVAC contractors are expecting from their distributors.

HVACR’s State Political Landscape

mattjachman@achrnews.com (Matt Jachman) — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 07:00:00 -0400

HARDI’s director of state government affairs outlined a few key political issues distributors face, including PFAS and refrigerant restrictions and limits on energy choice.

Study: Rising Pressures Shaping Inventory Management

mattjachman@achrnews.com (Matt Jachman) — Thu, 12 Mar 2026 11:00:00 -0400

A study that included a survey of more than 100 professionals finds distributors are prioritizing product availability and changing the ways they manage inventory.

Know a Champion of Distribution? Tell us!

Fri, 06 Mar 2026 13:00:00 -0500

A new awards program, Champions of Distribution, highlights the people and companies making a difference in distribution.

Distributors Report Nearly 6% January Sales Drop

Fri, 06 Mar 2026 12:00:00 -0500

Sales for the 12-month period through January increased by an average of 2.3%.

Study: 31% of Contractors Expect Their Distributor to Have Same-Day Availability of Key Parts

mattjachman@achrnews.com (Matt Jachman) — Mon, 02 Mar 2026 13:00:00 -0500

Two contractors, while they generally agreed with the way priorities were ranked in a survey of their peers, had their own takes on what they want to see from distributors.

When Distributors Underperform, Contractors Move On

Sat, 28 Feb 2026 07:00:00 -0500

Trust, communication, and shared planning are the keys to good distributor-contractor relationships. Those relationships have been tested lately.

How Pro Contractors Can Stay Job-Ready All Winter

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 15:00:00 -0500

Staying “job-ready” during winter isn’t about hoarding inventory, tying up cash, or guessing what might sell. It’s about planning smart, stocking intentionally, and working with suppliers who understand their business.

Heat Pump, A/C Shipments See 20% Declines in 2025

chrisgray@achrnews.com (Chris Gray) — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 13:00:52 -0500

Nearly 2 million fewer a/c and heat pump units were shipped in 2025 compared to 2024, according to the latest data from AHRI.

Report Offers Insights on Manufacturing, Distribution

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 11:00:00 -0500

The 2026 "State of the Channel" report is based on HARDI’s proprietary data, industry surveys, and expert analysis.

How Machine Learning Is Transforming Demand Forecasting for HVAC Distributors

mattjachman@achrnews.com (Matt Jachman) — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 07:00:00 -0500

The partners in Lantern, a machine learning software firm focused on product distribution, pitched the technology to HVACR distributors during the recent HARDI conference.

HARDI Distributors Report 2.8% Sales Growth for 2025

Sun, 15 Feb 2026 18:05:00 -0500

Sales increased by 2.4% in December, and overall growth for 2025 came in at 2.8%.

Groups Join Forces to Promote Product Certification

Sun, 15 Feb 2026 17:10:00 -0500

The partnership is designed to help HARDI LATAM members better understand and communicate the competitive advantage of AHRI certification in Latin American markets, where product differentiation is critical in highly price-competitive environments.

Winsupply Opens New Location in Raleigh, N.C., Area

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 11:00:00 -0500

Brendan Recchia, an experienced Winsupply local company president, will lead Winsupply of Clayton. The company opened the 18,000-square-foot facility at the end of November and plans a grand opening for the spring.

Hajoca Acquires American Refrigeration Supplies

Mon, 02 Feb 2026 13:00:00 -0500

The acquisition represents an important step toward Hajoca’s goal of building a leading HVAC platform across North America, a press release from the company said.