Apple enters the smart thermostat market
The biggest consumer-tech story of the week was Apple's announcement of two smart thermostats developed in partnership with LG Electronics and Schneider Electric. Both thermostats are priced at $199.95 and will be available starting December 2026. The headline feature is "Adaptive Temperature," which uses on-device iPhone intelligence to automatically adjust heating and cooling based on whether the home is occupied, the user is winding down for the night, or away — no manual scheduling required. Both are Matter compatible, work with a broad range of 24V HVAC systems, and feature on-device wire detection for DIY-friendly installation. A "Clean Energy Guidance" feature can shift HVAC operation to periods when electricity is cleaner and less expensive. Room sensors are available separately at $39.95 (ACHR News, Apple).
For HVAC contractors, this matters because Apple's entry brings smart thermostat adoption to a massive installed base of iPhone users who may have never considered a connected thermostat. The DIY-install positioning and one-tap NFC setup reduce the friction that has slowed smart thermostat adoption. However, compatibility with "a broad range of HVAC systems" still requires verification on multi-stage, heat pump, and dual-fuel configurations — the kind of assessment a licensed contractor provides.
AHRI: cooling equipment shipments grow for seventh straight month
The Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) reported that combined U.S. central air conditioner and air-source heat pump shipments reached 756,739 units in August 2026, an 11.4% increase over August 2025 — marking seven consecutive months of year-over-year growth. Central AC units led at 418,323 units (up 17.2%), while heat pumps reached 338,416 units (up 5%). Heat pumps accounted for 44.7% of combined shipments, the second-highest August percentage on record. Year-to-date combined shipments total 6.39 million units, up 6.2% (ACHR News).
The decade trend is striking: from August 2016 to August 2026, heat pump shipments increased 57.6% while central AC units declined 12.4%. Heat pumps have grown from 31% of combined cooling shipments in 2016 to 44.7% today — a structural shift in how Americans cool and heat their homes. However, ACHR News also notes a residential sales slowdown that appears to be a longer-term shift from replacements toward repairs, driven by rising equipment costs and regulatory changes (ACHR News).
October HVAC price increases: 2.5% to 15%
Nearly a dozen manufacturers announced price increases effective in October 2026, ranging from 2.5% to 15%. The most significant: Aeris Metals raised lineset prices by an average of 12.9% (effective Oct 5), and Robertshaw announced increases of up to 15% on affected products (effective Oct 12), though most Robertshaw items remain unchanged and some will decrease. Other increases: Regal Rexnord motors 2.5%, Western Enterprises 3%, Panasonic 3.7-4.0%, Heat Controller geothermal products up to 5%, Nailor Industries 5%, and tekmar approximately 6% (ACHR News).
Lineset and component price increases flow directly into installed system costs. For contractors, these increases compound with refrigerant transition costs (A2L compatibility) and regulatory compliance — all factors driving the residential shift from replacement toward repair that AHRI's data is starting to show.
Linesets up 12.9%. Aeris Metals' average 12.9% increase on linesets (effective Oct 5) is one of the steepest component price hikes of the year. Linesets are a consumable on every install — a cost that contractors must either absorb or pass through. If your pricing hasn't been updated since September, now is the time to re-quote (ACHR News).
Trane cold-climate heat pumps deliver full capacity at 5°F
Trane announced new cold-climate heat pumps that deliver full heating capacity at 5°F, surpassing the performance requirements of the DOE Residential Cold Climate Heat Pump Technology Challenge. The DOE challenge is an industry-wide initiative to accelerate development of heat pumps capable of reliable performance in the coldest U.S. climates. This milestone is significant because traditional heat pumps lose significant heating capacity as outdoor temperatures drop, often requiring backup electric resistance heat that drives up operating costs (ACHR News).
R-22: 13 million homes still in the long goodbye
ACHR News reports that an estimated 13 million U.S. homes may still rely on R-22, the refrigerant that was phased out for new equipment but continues to circulate in legacy systems. Production of R-22 ended in 2020, but reclaimed and stockpiled supplies keep aging systems running. As supplies dwindle and prices rise, homeowners with R-22 systems face a choice: continue paying escalating service costs for a phased-out refrigerant, or upgrade to a modern system using R-410A or A2L refrigerants (ACHR News).
HARDI flags potentially illegal HVAC products
The Heating, Air-conditioning & Refrigeration Distributors International (HARDI) warned HVACR distributors to watch for products that may not comply with federal regulations, including uncertified equipment and non-compliant refrigerants. HARDI is offering resources to help distributors verify compliance and report potential violations. This comes as the industry navigates the transition from high-GWP HFCs to lower-GWP alternatives like R-32 and R-454B, creating opportunities for non-compliant products to enter the supply chain (ACHR News).
A2L refrigerant market projected to reach $5.92 billion by 2031
A MarketsandMarkets report projects the A2L refrigerant market will grow from $4.02 billion in 2026 to $5.92 billion by 2031, driven by the global phase-down of high-GWP HFCs and the transition to lower-GWP alternatives in residential and commercial HVAC systems. The growth reflects both regulatory mandates and manufacturer re-engineering of equipment for A2L compatibility (PRNewswire).
UL Solutions opens expanded HVACR testing center
UL Solutions opened an expanded HVACR Center of Excellence in Plano, Texas, to address growing demand for product testing including energy-efficient refrigerants and AI data center cooling technology. The expanded facility brings safety, performance, certification, and R&D testing under one roof. Separately, LG Electronics signed a supply agreement with AIR Control Concepts to advance AI data center cooling in North America, underscoring the surging demand for specialized HVAC in data center applications (BusinessWire).
What this means for contractors and homeowners
| Trend | For Homeowners | For Contractors |
|---|---|---|
| Apple smart thermostats | New DIY option, $199.95, Dec 2026 | Verify HVAC compatibility on installs; offer professional setup |
| 7-month shipment growth | More equipment availability, better selection | Recovery from slow 2026 start; plan for demand |
| Price increases | Higher installed costs; repair may make more sense | Update pricing; communicate cost changes proactively |
| Cold-climate heat pumps | Full heat at 5°F reduces backup heat costs | New cold-climate sizing options for northern markets |
| R-22 phaseout | 13M homes face rising R-22 service costs | Opportunity for system replacement consultations |
| HARDI compliance warning | Protection from uncertified products | Verify supply chain compliance; check certifications |
Naming a product or manufacturer in this article is for identification purposes only and does not constitute an endorsement by HVAC Zone Inc. We are a multi-brand dealer and remain neutral on brand preference.
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