Mary Jean Anderson really likes pink. As the owner of El Cajon, Calif.-based Anderson Plumbing, Heating & Air, she applies the bright hue to her company’s website, her technicians’ vans, and even the disposable shoe covers her technicians wear when they enter customers’ homes.

According to Rob Shortt, vice president, Cold Air Products, Norfolk, Va., the portable heating and cooling sector is widely driven by inclement weather and the impending need for comfort.

Even though portable HVAC equipment is often selected as a temporary answer, the units are commonly being cemented as permanent solutions.

Last fall, MARS hired an investment banker and began discussing potential growth options. The company started communicating with potential targets and shortly thereafter had reached an agreement with Heat Controller. 

Air.Water.Energy. names new general manager.

With installed costs starting at around $7,000, these are luxury items that not every homeowner can afford; however, contractors are reporting a surge in sales that they expect to continue for the foreseeable future.

Customers looking to invest in more expensive heating and cooling systems have numerous options from which to choose, and most will result in better comfort and efficiency. But for that rare homeowner for whom money is no object, contractors may want to suggest manufacturer-recommended “dream” systems, all of which offer exceptional comfort, whisper-quiet operation, and super high efficiency.

Annual shipments of remote access and control thermostats that allow consumers to adjust temperature in homes via a smartphone or tablet will quadruple by 2017, as consumers aim for increased comfort in their residences, according to a report from IMS Research, now part of IHS.