Extreme temperatures create urgency, and that translates into more sales; either from an actual failure or from the fear that an older system may fail under the added strain.

As technology advances and major players like Apple and Google step into this market, more consumers are going to start demanding products that can integrate and function in a smart home system. And as consumers start to expect more from their HVAC equipment, they’ll also expect more from their contractor.

The numbers jumped 8 percent from where they stood a year ago as 79 percent of respondents believed the economy in 2014 would be better than 2013. 

The SmartChip is an aftermarket product that intelligently controls both the fan and compressor runtimes to maximize HVAC system efficiency and, ultimately, save on utility costs.

Contractors from all around the country recently traveled to Charlotte, North Carolina, for the third annual Building Performance Forum, presented by ACCA and The NEWS.

All correct answers will be entered into a drawing. The winner will receive a Fieldpiece LT-17A digital multimeter. The answer to this riddle, and the next HVACR Service Ticket column, is scheduled to appear in a June 2015 issue of The NEWS.

For the heating/cooling trades, it takes a little more creativity than it does for those decorating storefronts with scenes from Santa’s workshop. But, the goal is the same: stand out from your competition and connect with customers.

Many contracting companies consider background checks a requirement as their employees spend a significant amount of time in customers’ homes, but conducting those blanket background checks could land employers in legal hot water.