It’s been a wild ride this year, hasn’t it? In the past week or two, we’ve seen how much a virus can change our ways of doing business -- even our ways of just living our lives. 

Each March, the U.S. recognizes Women’s History Month. Here at JB Warranties, we want to make a point to support women in the industries we serve. We’re proud to work with female HVAC and Plumbing contractors, and we appreciate your business.

The HVAC industry is experiencing a time of unprecedented growth. Both residential and commercial customers are upgrading their systems to take advantage of advances in comfort, efficiency, and technology. At the same time, many HVAC business owners are facing a new challenge: a growing skills gap. A record number of skilled, experienced technicians are reaching retirement age. At the same time, the advanced technology driving these systems require a new level of training both for experienced techs and new recruits.

Can you believe it’s almost March? Where does the time go? Spring is just around the corner, and that can mean a slowdown in HVAC sales for many of us. Depending on where you operate, you may start to notice fewer calls as soon as mid-March with the biggest lull coming in April.

Imagine networking with thousands of professionals in the HVAC industry, all without having to go to a networking event. Luckily for HVAC contractors and plumbing professionals, the internet is a place that provides tips, tricks, and trusted insight from some of the most seasoned specialists in the trade — often free of charge and available at your convenience.

After its introduction in 1982, VRF (variable refrigerant flow) HVAC technology became popular in Japan through the 1980s. Also known as VRV (variant refrigerant volume), VRF promises greater efficiency and energy savings. VRF arrived in the U.S. in the early 2000s and initially experienced some skepticism from engineers, who largely saw it as an oversized ductless mini-split system. Since then, however, the technology has earned its share of followers in North America and beyond.

Well, January 1st has come and gone, and it’s now official. R-22 may no longer be manufactured in or imported to the United States. As usual, a few news outlets have capitalized on the news with headlines like:

Ductless vs. traditional HVAC systems: which one is the best?

You probably didn't get into HVAC or plumbing because you are excited about IP addresses and wireless routers. But thanks to the Internet of Things (IoT) and smart home technology, you may need to familiarize yourself with these topics and more.