Today’s consumers seek innovative heating and air solutions that provide better options for control and efficiency in air quality, heating, and cooling. And many clients are willing to pay a bit more upfront for environmentally friendly options, knowing their choices save more money and use less energy in the long run.
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Meet the demands of your tech-savvy residential and commercial clients by staying up to date on HVAC industry and smart home trends, including:
Smart heating and air conditioning systems
Geothermal heat pumps
HVAC business apps
And more!
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1. Smart HVAC Systems
Smart heating and cooling systems offer convenience through smart thermostats, allowing users to remotely control the temperature in their homes or businesses.
Users also can set a schedule to automatically adjust temperatures when occupants are away or asleep.
If occupants don’t follow a set schedule or frequently come and go,geofencing offers another option. Through this digital boundary, users connect a smart thermostat with a smartphone to know whether occupants are inside.
Through sensors, smart HVAC systems can alert residential and commercial clients when air filters need replacing, when it’s time for routine maintenance, or when an HVAC part needs to be repaired.
2. Zoned HVAC Systems
Zoned HVAC systems provide innovative options for clients seeking an efficient way to heat and cool their homes or businesses.
Multi-zone HVAC systems “zone” different areas of a home or building with separate thermostats, allowing occupants to separately control the temperature of each area.
The system features dampers inside the ducts that open and close, depending on the set temperature.
A zoned system results in less energy usage and lower energy bills because clients direct the amount of heating and cooling to specified areas, meaning lesser-used rooms don’t need to be set at the same temperature as frequently occupied rooms.
3. Geothermal Heat Pumps
While geothermal isn’t necessarily new technology, it’s rising in popularity as an eco-friendly solution for warming and cooling homes. This HVAC technology doesn’t burn fuel or use refrigerants harmful to the environment.
Geothermal heat pumps can cut energy use by up to 50% by using the ground—instead of outside air—to provide heat, cool air, or hot water.
Now that Congress has reinstated a federal tax credit, homeowners can claim a percentage of their cost to purchase and install a geothermal heat pump system on their federal income taxes.
While installation of a geothermal system initially costs more than a traditional HVAC unit, experts say homeowners gain money back in just a few years from resulting energy savings.
Maintenance is more cost effective, too, as the inside components last an estimated 24 years, and outdoor parts more than 50 years, according to the Department of Energy.
4. HVAC Cleaning Technologies
The pandemic prompted many homeowners and businesses to invest in air purifying systems for their residences and commercial buildings, and today technology has advanced to create smarter options.
HVAC innovations in air purification mean consumers don’t need to wait for an allergen, or other issue, to trigger health symptoms before becoming aware of a problem. Indoor air quality monitors or sensors can alert customers to dust, allergens, mold, radon, volatile organic compounds, carbon monoxide, humidity, or other issues affecting the air quality of their homes or businesses.
If the air quality monitor is tied into a smart system, it performs double duty by automatically turning on an air purifier to rectify the issue.
Smart air purifiers, which typically include an air quality monitor, can be controlled through voice-activated features, or remotely through a smartphone app. This allows users to easily turn the device on or off, change airflow fan speeds, or set timers. Smart air purifiers also provide measurable statistics on indoor air quality.
5. Solar-Powered Air Conditioning
Experts report advances in new air conditioning technology in the past few years, making solar-powered air conditioners a viable option.
Solar power works when the sun shines on solar panels, called photovoltaic (PV) modules, which are connected to the electrical grid.
One challenge of solar-powered A/C is battery storage—since solar panels generate energy during daylight hours, it may be difficult to run an A/C unit all night, unless the system contains enough storage.
Another option in innovative air conditioning involves a hybrid unit that operates on a variable rate of electricity, depending on available solar energy.
Federal tax credits are available for those who purchase a solar energy system, and as advances continue to be made in new air conditioning technologies, the popularity of solar-powered air conditioning likely will increase.
6. Radiant Heating Systems
New technology in radiant floor heating makes it easier for consumers to keep a home consistently warm, while saving energy.
Radiant heating begins in the home’s flooring, in contrast with traditional forced-air heating, which loses energy through ductwork.
A radiant floor heating system uses either electrical wires or active solar heating.
Radiant floor heating through a solar-powered system works when liquid flows through pipes embedded in a thin concrete-slab floor. The floor is typically finished with tile for better thermal conduction and even heat distribution.
Consumers now have the option of using regular or WiFi-controlled thermostats to achieve the most efficient settings.
Another advantage of new home-heating technology is improved air quality, as heated air—which could be polluted with allergens—isn’t blowing through the home’s ductwork.
7. Ductless and VRF Systems
For consumers looking for flexibility and convenience, ductless mini-split and variable refrigerant flow (VRF) systems may be the way to go.
These systems offer many homeowners a clear energy-efficiency advantage, because they don’t need large ductwork required by a traditional HVAC system.
In space conditioning, duct losses account for more than 30% of energy consumption, according to the Department of Energy.
Ductless mini-split systems are small, wall-mounted units connected to an outdoor compressor.
Mini-splits allow users to efficiently control the temperature settings in each room. The setup of many models allows up to four air handling units connected to one outdoor unit.
Mini-splits cost more, but the convenience and efficiency for many homeowners outweighs the initial cost.
VRF systems provide an efficient way to control heating and cooling of multiple zones, and their popularity is growing, experts say. VRF technology uses pipes that circulate refrigerants from an outdoor unit to multiple indoor zones.
8. Smart Humidifiers and Dehumidifiers
Humidifiers and dehumidifiers can vastly improve indoor air quality, by adding moisture to dry air or removing excess humidity. Thanks to high-tech HVAC technologies, these units function smarter and more efficiently.
Smart technology enables WiFi-connected humidifiers to sense humidity and uses ultraviolet light to rid bacteria in the air. With some models, you can activate voice-command features or set customized schedules.
Smart dehumidifiers track humidity levels and can send alerts when the water tank nears capacity. They also feature remote capabilities, allowing users to change speed settings or turn the device on or off.
9. Apps to Empower HVAC Businesses
Embrace HVAC apps to boost the productivity of your business.
Get your entire team on the same page with ServiceTitan’s Mobile App, giving them access to the comprehensive mobile HVAC platform through their tablets.
Chat features save time, decrease miscommunication, and leave a time-stamped record when questions arise. Plus, customers appreciate being in the loop to confirm their jobs or receive notifications when techs are on the way.
Within the app, HVAC technicians can quickly build multi-tiered estimates, complete with product images, explainer videos, detailed product information, and upgrade recommendations to maximize ticket sizes. Then, techs simply launch Presentation Mode and hand the tablet to their customers to view and approve those estimates on the spot.
Backed by automation, the cloud-based system ensures the company pricebook remains up to date, so technicians present the latest stock availability and pricing information. Techs can even accept customer payments or offer financing options from the field.
10. Virtual Reality Training
Imagine your HVAC techs practicing a skill until they’re 100% proficient. With Virtual Reality (VR) training, that’s a real possibility.
VR training can be performed with a VR headset, but some simulations work on a computer, too.
This type of training provides techs a different type of hands-on experience that helps train them virtually on new equipment or concepts, allowing them to become familiar with new HVAC technology.
Recently, the HVAC certification organization North American Technician Excellence (NATE) teamed up with Interplay Learning’s virtual technical training to provide a new online training platform for HVAC techs.
11. Mobile-Friendly HVAC Technology
Purpose-built software solutions offer a range of tools to streamline or automate daily tasks, such as scheduling jobs, managing customer data, estimating project costs, tracking inventory, and communicating with customers.
With the ability to access these tools from anywhere, anytime, on any device, mobile-friendly HVAC technology, like ServiceTitan HVAC software, enables technicians to stay connected and productive, whether they're on the job site or in the office.
The software allows techs to quickly estimate HVAC jobs and invoice customers from a mobile tablet. Crew leaders can track jobs and team performance in real-time.
By using ServiceTitan reporting software, you can see what’s working and what isn’t, and have the data you need to improve your HVAC sales and grow your business.
ServiceTitan also fuels HVAC company growth with innovative artificial intelligence-powered technologies, including:
Benchmark Report: Shows how a company’s business performance compares to similar businesses.
Price Insights: Allows contractors to view average pricing for jobs and materials in their region, enabling them to competitively price services.
Smart Dispatch: Automatically assigns jobs to the closest technician with the right skills for maximum efficiency and profitability.
Marketing Pro - Ads: Optimizes and automates digital ad spend to maximize ROI.
Built-in payroll, accounting, and inventory management features enable accurate bookkeeping and purchasing.
Now Over to You
Today’s customers expect HVAC service professionals to be up to date on the latest technology trends, especially when it comes to HVAC equipment and services that save them energy and money.
In addition to the trends listed in this article, ServiceTitan provides HVAC trends, tips, and tricks in our blog articles, podcast episodes, and webinars. By being able to confidently address client questions and offering the latest HVAC tech solutions, HVAC service providers can better serve their customers, resulting in rave reviews and repeat business.
ServiceTitan is a comprehensive business software solution built to help HVAC companies streamline their operations, boost revenue, and achieve growth. Our award-winning, cloud-based platform is trusted by more than 100,000+ contractors across the country
ServiceTitan HVAC Software
ServiceTitan is a comprehensive HVAC business software solution built specifically to help service companies streamline their operations, boost revenue, and achieve growth. Our award-winning, cloud-based platform is trusted by more than 100,000+ contractors across the country.
