Commercial HVAC's Skilled Labor Shortage: What You Can Do About It

Colby Maun • September 23, 2026

A recent survey done by ServiceTitan found that of 1,000 construction leaders, labor shortages and rising overhead costs are among the top profitability concerns for 2026. Additionally, an estimate by JLL cites that 2.1 million skilled-trade positions, including HVAC technicians, could go unfilled in the U.S. by 2030. The commercial HVAC industry has a looming challenge of a skilled labor shortage, which may change the way that commercial HVAC projects are planned, executed, and maintained in the future. Below is everything you need to know about the effect of this problem on the commercial HVAC industry, and some measures you can take to get ahead of the curve.

The skilled labor shortage arises from a few different factors all operating at the same time. The first being that there are a large number of experienced workers beginning to retire. It is incredibly hard to find a person to replace, at times, 20+ years of knowledge and experience right away, which is what many companies and practices are having to do. On top of this, fewer people in the younger generation are entering into trades, which creates a job pipeline issue for the future. Adequate training for specialized labor does not happen overnight, and for projects that require very specialized knowledge and experience, fewer people are going to have the background that it takes to complete them effectively. The last factor that affects the shortage is that the commercial HVAC industry as a whole is becoming much more complex due to advanced technology and higher sophistication within projects. It now takes even longer to completely understand the trade, which only slows the process in the labor force.

This trend is going to impact the commercial HVAC industry from many different angles. The most prominent angle will be the longer project timelines that are already starting to be witnessed in the industry. Less labor combined with higher demand due to data centers and refrigerant transitions will serve to slow the process down significantly. Another impact will be higher labor costs, which will make projects more expensive on top of extended downtime. These issues will put more pressure on existing technicians since they will be overloaded.

Facility managers can prepare for this industry change primarily by planning replacement projects earlier. Because industry focus has shifted towards maintaining existing buildings, it is important to understand when your system is going to need maintenance and repair so that you can be on top of the timing. Something that will assist you with planning is making sure to keep a good equipment record. Keeping a good equipment record will help you estimate when parts of your system may need repair and have accurate knowledge of your system that will speed up the repair process. Another way that both mechanical contractors and facility managers can adapt to this change is by starting to work with specialized suppliers such as HeatEX Technologies. Specialized suppliers like HeatEX can assist you with engineering, reviewing specifications, and customizing replacement parts directly to your system. Often, this can speed up the process in a replacement project if you work with the right company.

If you are already experiencing some of these issues that come with the skilled labor shortage in the commercial HVAC business, HeatEX Technologies is here to help. At HeatEX Technologies, we provide custom commercial HVAC coils and heat exchangers that come with speedy lead times and excellent customer service so that while lead times skyrocket, your project can remain on track. The next time you have a replacement project, give HeatEX Technologies a call, and we will take care of you and your team.

Works Cited

Gray, Chris. “35% of Commercial Contractors Cite Labor Concerns as Top Risk in 2026.” ACHR News, 2026, www.achrnews.com.

Steele, Kimberly. “Critical Skilled Trades Shortage Threatens $1T in Economic Losses.” JLL, 21 Apr. 2026, www.jll.com.

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By Colby Maun • September 16, 2026

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By Colby Maun • September 8, 2026

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By Colby Maun • August 31, 2026

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By Colby Maun • August 24, 2026

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By Colby Maun • August 17, 2026

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By Colby Maun • July 20, 2026

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Trane CGAM070 Microchannel Conversion Case Study

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After multiple refrigerant leaks sprang from a Trane CGAM070 air-cooled chiller in West Palm Beach, FL, our customer faced a difficult challenge. They had to decide whether to replace the failed microchannel condenser coils with new OEM microchannel coils or pivot and invest in a different, longer-term solution. After much evaluation, our customer decided to convert the chiller from aluminum microchannel coils to copper tube aluminum fin condenser coils.

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By Colby Maun • July 6, 2026

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By Colby Maun • June 29, 2026

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