Indoor air quality has always been a focus of those in the HVAC industry, but now those three letters - IAQ - are becoming known by the general public as well, thanks to high-profile organizations such as the American Lung Association and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
People who live in expensive houses are usually willing to pay more for comfort. That's the perfect scenario for the Kool Fire hydronic system. It has a higher price tag, but the manufacturer states that it provides unsurpassed comfort in residential and light commercial applications.
Chas Roberts Air Conditioning Co. is always looking for ways to differentiate itself from the competition. One of its more recent innovations has been to expand the equipment upgrades and options that they offer to some of the builders in the area.
"Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" introduced viewers to the Johnsons. Stephen Johnson is a firefighter who risked his life to save a paramedic who had been shot. Midwest Heating, Cooling, and Plumbing was involved in the home makeover project.
International Comfort Products (ICP) is taking its "Victory Tour" training program across the United States and Canada to prepare dealers and contractors for the changes coming to the HVAC industry in 2006. Well over 100 individuals packed the room for the Phoenix meeting.
U.S. shipments of residential HVAC equipment were up solidly in 2004 over 2003. Shipments in the Canadian market had mixed results. Meanwhile, manufacturers are keeping their eyes on several key issues, including competition from foreign manufacturers, raw material prices, and new efficiency standards.
HVACR distributor sales are on the upswing, but distributors do have concerns, including market conditions, foreign competition, contractor business practices, tort reform, and how to handle industry price increases.
A main concern of contractors has been finding qualified workers. Rising health care costs present another huge problem. Almost every industry organization is working to tackle these problems. Perhaps, by banding together, a solution can be found for these issues and other problems.
At the 2005 Top Gun Maytag Distributor Meeting, various speakers emphasized how attending distributors could develop their skills in order to build a first-class "squadron" of Maytag Top Gun dealers in their territories.
