HVAC and plumbing contractor AllTech Services has grown its YouTube channel to more than 1.3 million subscribers in just a year and a half. The company uses the platform for more than marketing, incorporating technician education, recruiting, customer service information, community events, and behind-the-scenes content.

Owner Abe Zarou says YouTube has become an important way for potential customers to get familiar with the company before hiring, particularly as consumers increasingly turn to digital platforms and AI to find home service providers. The company produces a mix of short-form and long-form videos, with much of the content created in-house. Click here to read more.

AI is becoming a new starting point for homeowners looking for help with repairs, maintenance, and upgrades. Anthropic’s Claude has integrated with Thumbtack, allowing users to receive recommendations for local home service contractors and hire them without leaving the AI platform.

The development reflects a broader shift in how customers discover contractors, with companies such as Thumbtack, Angi, Yelp, and TaskRabbit building connections with AI platforms. For HVAC contractors, this could make online visibility and how businesses appear in AI-powered searches increasingly important. Click here to read more.

The second 45-day comment period for the proposed Glitch/Errata updates to the 9th Edition (2026) Florida Building Code is now open. Following the August 18–21 Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) meetings, the committees’ actions and meeting reports are available for review and comment.

Comments must be submitted by midnight on October 8, 2026. Members who wish to provide feedback should submit comments directly to Mo Madani at mo.madani@myfloridalicense.com.

Click here to review the TAC actions, meeting reports, and proposed code changes.

OpenAI is expanding ChatGPT advertising with a focus on performance-based campaigns designed to generate measurable actions such as appointment bookings, purchases, and contact form submissions. The move could be especially relevant to local service businesses, including HVAC contractors, as ChatGPT becomes another way consumers discover businesses and services.

Why it matters: As more homeowners use AI tools to research services and make purchasing decisions, ChatGPT could become another channel for generating local leads. The advertising platform is still developing, but it is something contractors should keep an eye on as AI continues to change how customers find businesses. 

Click here to read more.

A new Senate bill could change how the U.S. Department of Energy develops and reviews energy-efficiency standards for HVAC equipment. The Energy Efficiency Reform Act of 2026 would eliminate the current six-year review requirement, establish new criteria for equipment product classes, and strengthen federal limits on conflicting state equipment requirements.

Why it matters: Changes to federal efficiency standards could affect HVAC contractors through equipment availability, product choices, costs, and compliance requirements. Industry groups including AHRI, HARDI, and ACCA have expressed support for modernizing the current system while raising concerns about certain provisions. The bill is still moving through Congress, so its potential impact remains to be seen. Click here to read more.

The HVAC industry continued its recovery in the second quarter of 2026, with shipments of air conditioners and heat pumps showing strong growth compared with the same period last year. Combined A/C and heat pump shipments totaled 2.78 million units, an increase of 11.3% from Q2 2025. Heat pump shipments alone increased 6.3%, while central A/C shipments were up 15.3%.

Through the first half of 2026, air conditioner shipments are up 2.4% and heat pump shipments are up 3.8% compared with the same period in 2025. Heat pumps also continue to gain market share over the long term, with June 2026 shipments 42.7% higher than June 2016.

The data points to continued recovery in the residential HVAC market, with manufacturers also reporting increased replacement activity. As equipment trends continue to evolve, staying familiar with both traditional A/C systems and heat pump technology remains important for contractors. Click here to read more.

ChatGPT has opened its self-serve advertising platform to U.S. businesses of all sizes, including local service businesses. Through Ads Manager, businesses can create and manage campaigns on a cost-per-click (CPC) basis, meaning advertisers pay when someone clicks on an ad.

Ads will appear within ChatGPT conversations but will remain separate from organic answers. For HVAC contractors, this could create a new opportunity to reach homeowners while they are actively researching services, repairs, and home improvement decisions.

As AI-powered search continues to grow, having a strong digital presence across both traditional search engines and emerging platforms like ChatGPT may become increasingly important for contractors looking to reach customers earlier in the buying process. Click here to read more.

Following our recent Inspector Panel, MACCA is sharing four helpful Analysis of Changes documents for the 9th Edition (2026) Florida Building Code. These resources provide a closer look at updates affecting Energy, Plumbing, Mechanical, and Commercial requirements.

These documents were created and provided by Manatee County, and MACCA greatly appreciates their time and effort in putting these resources together to help contractors better understand the latest code changes.

Review the Resources:

• Residential Energy – Analysis of Changes
• Plumbing – Analysis of Changes
• Mechanical – Analysis of Changes
• Commercial Energy – Analysis of Changes

Members can access these resources below and on the MACCA Members-Only page, where they will remain available for future reference.

Review the 2026 Florida Building Code changes and keep these resources handy as you navigate the new code requirements.

MACCA recently hosted a successful Inspector Panel Dinner Meeting, bringing contractors together with local building officials for an evening of valuable discussion, networking, and Q&A.

Attendees heard directly from Hank Fulmer, Deputy Building Official, and Tom Ryan, Inspections Manager, with Sarasota County PDS; Douglas Bellissimo, Building Inspector, Keith Van Ostenbridge, Plans Examiner/Inspections Officer, and James Yarnell, Case Manager (Zoning), with Manatee County; and Michelle Williamson, MEP Inspector, with the Town of Longboat Key. The panel shared valuable insight into permitting requirements, inspection expectations, common corrections, code interpretations, and other issues contractors encounter in the field.

A special thank you to Hank, Tom, Douglas, Keith, James, and Michelle for taking the time to participate and share their knowledge with our members. We also appreciate Thread Source, Inc. for sponsoring the event and supporting MACCA's efforts to provide valuable educational opportunities for the industry.

Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make the evening a great success!

Want to see even more from the 2026 MACCA Apprentice Graduation?

MACCA member and 2026 Apprentice Graduation Company Sponsor, Peter Montana of ACprosite.com, has published a wonderful recap of the evening featuring additional photos, award presentations, and highlights from this unforgettable celebration.

A special thank you to Peter for covering the event and sharing these memorable moments with our members and industry.

Click here to read the full article and view the additional graduation photos!