post responses, and share updates. They are structured around recent happenings, technological advancements, and changes in the HVAC industry.
HVAC professionals can join forums to find solutions to complex HVAC system issues and build credibility in the HVAC community. Even better, they are free and sometimes have search bars to find previous responses to your problem.
Forums are also excellent places to connect with fellow professionals, possibly leading to referrals, mergers, and acquisitions.
We’ve identified seven HVAC forums suitable for HVAC techs and contractors:
HVAC-related subreddits
HVACtalk
HVAC Pro forums
Houzz HVAC message board
Contractor talk
HVAC site
HVAC insider
Read on to learn more about these forums, their topics, and how to join them.
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2. HVAC-Talk
HVAC-Talk is a message board that serves as the go-to resource for HVAC professionals. Members ask questions, respond to polls, and share photos and answers.
With 150k active members, the site hosts discussions with detailed solutions to repairing or troubleshooting common HVAC appliances such as condensers, compressors, air conditioners, refrigeration units, and heat pumps.
This site has over 40 sub-categories, including open membership and general discussion forums, which anyone can access.
However, to use the Ask a Professional category and many others, you must be a registered member (registration is free). Additionally, some forums are only open to people recognized as HVAC professionals.
While HVAC-Talk isn’t built for do-it-yourselfers, HVAC professionals, business owners, and equipment owners benefit tremendously from the site.
3. HVAC Pro Forums
With over a million messages and 33k+ threads, HVAC Pro is one of the industry’s most-used forums.
Its members are always willing to answer questions and offer solutions to even the most complex or obscure HVAC problems.
To become a platform member, email the moderator at mbstang@gmail.com with your preferred username. Once accepted, you will receive full access to the site’s subcategories.
4. Houzz HVAC Message Board
Although Houzz is more popular as a directory for home improvement and interior design experts, it has a vibrant HVAC message board with over 18k posts.
The message board discusses tips and tricks, pricing, DIY advice, and HVAC system recommendations. Scrolling through reveals posts from DIYers, contractors, and property owners.
You don’t need to register to participate in discussions. Anyone can use the search bar to find specific discussion threads and start new ones with the submission box.
The #1 newsletter for the trades.
5. Contractor-Talk
Contractor-Talk is owned and managed by the same people in charge of Hvacsite.com, which has different topics and other trades. It has multiple message boards tailored to different trades, including HVAC.
The HVAC message board has 24k+ posts with over 16 million views. Members share before-and-after shots and troubleshooting tips, DIY tutorials, and ask questions.
6. HVAC Site
HVAC site features HVAC techs and contractors seeking answers to their work challenges and property owners looking for solutions to issues professionals have failed to fix.
Since the forum’s members are experts, answers are available to any HVAC issue, whether it’s a faulty air conditioner or air handler or advice for installing a crawl space vapor barrier.
Even better, all questions are categorized with special tags. Therefore, you can search for issues similar to yours that have been posted and answered in the past instead of creating a new thread and waiting for responses.
HVAC Site also has separate categories for commercial services, residential HVAC, tools and safety, business management, and advertising. This helps users find relevant information quickly.
Registration is required to access all the forum’s features, contribute to discussions, and create new threads.
You can opt for the free account or subscribe to the premium tier for $4.99 monthly to access exclusive forums and enjoy ad-free browsing.
7. HVAC Insider
HVAC Insider is a digital news site that tracks the latest happenings in the HVAC industry. The site covers product launches, new HVAC company appointments, acquisitions, and expert breakdowns on specific topics.
In addition to written content, the HVAC Insider occasionally hosts webinars featuring experts in the HVAC, marketing, and sales industries.
A regional job board also advertises nationwide HVAC opportunities, while a calendar tracks upcoming HVAC events.
This makes this forum suitable for every HVAC industry operator, from techs to business owners and residential to commercial HVAC experts.
Subscription is free and makes you eligible to receive the organization’s national and regional magazines in your mailbox.
As well as joining forums, follow the right YouTube channels, blogs, and podcasts to get the right information and keep in touch with the HVAC industry.
8. Bonus: ServiceTitan Masterminds Group
This is the official Facebook group for ServiceTitan customers, cutting across the trades.
One of the many benefits of being an ST customer is unrestricted access to the forum's expert-backed insights on business strategy and running a profitable service business. Members can also ask questions, share tips and tricks for maximizing ServiceTitan’s potential, and connect with like-minded professionals.
Source: Software Reviews
Once in a while, ServiceTitan hosts exclusive events and webinars that the forum’s members can attend. These events feature experts who discuss topics such as marketing, sales, recruitment, and financial management.
To prevent spam and preserve the quality of discussions, the group has a team of moderators who approve helpful content, remove anything distasteful, and ban people who violate the group’s policies.
This ensures the group stays on topic and that every post or resource shared benefits its members.
ServiceTitan’s Mastermind Facebook group is free to join. However, you must be a ServiceTitan user to gain access.
What You Must Know Before You Join an HVAC Forum
There are some specific things to look out for before joining HVAC forums so you get the best experience and avoid bans or other penalties:
The forum’s rules: Check the forum’s posting rules, such as the right categories to share specific questions, the rules for responding to queries, and the etiquette for contacting members.
The forum’s culture: What are the rules for staying on topic? What tone or level of informality is acceptable? Do people share pictures? The answers to these questions give you an idea of the forum’s culture so you can participate effectively.
The key subjects and topics: Before joining a forum, check its topics. To participate actively, join the subcategories with topics that interest you and align with your experience.
After joining a forum, the next step is asking questions about your HVAC challenge.
Can You Ask for Help in HVAC Forums?
Yes, you can ask for help in HVAC forums. However, you must know that forums are not built to replace professional HVAC expertise. At best, they provide an opportunity to discuss and get ideas that an expert must verify.
Therefore, don’t rely solely on what’s shared in forums. Do your research and contact an expert to confirm the validity of the tip shared.
How Can I Choose the Best HVAC Forums to Join?
Multiple HVAC forums exist. However, not all of them will align with your needs and have a strong community from which you can benefit. Joining them can waste time and financial resources (if it’s a paid forum).
Consequently, follow these tips to pick the best HVAC forums:
Check the caliber of the community's members. This indicates the quality of advice and connections you’ll get from joining the community.
Use the forum’s categories and discussion tags to confirm that it has niche topics that match your interests and area of expertise. For example, a commercial HVAC tech will benefit more from joining a forum with a commercial HVAC category.
Search online for the member count and number of posts to gauge the forum’s activity level. It’s advisable to join forums where members are actively contributing.
Pick forums with defined moderators who monitor discussions and enforce rules to maintain high-quality discussions.
Pro tip: If you’re joining a forum with a premium subscription, try the free option for a few weeks. This period will help you confirm whether the discussions are valuable enough and match your interests.
How to Discuss in an HVAC Forum
Well-run HVAC forums have rules and guidelines that members must follow. Take the time to read through them before engaging in discussions.
Beyond its own rules, every HVAC forum follows guidelines for creating new threads or responding to queries:
If you must disagree with what someone shares, do so respectfully. Avoid inflammatory responses.
Think deeply about any response you wish to give before pressing ‘Send.’
Only speak about topics and share tips you’ve tried. Your credibility diminishes whenever a tip you share doesn’t work or produces undesirable outcomes.
Keep responses concise and straightforward.
If you must redirect people to an article for detailed tips, give context about what they will gain from reading it.
Use simple language so people understand your query or response. Less jargon is always better.
The Bottom Line
Forums are an excellent way to connect with fellow professionals, keep up with happenings in the HVAC industry, and update your technical expertise.
There’s a forum for you, regardless of your niche, level of experience, or objectives for joining the community. Take time to figure out your goals and pick one suitable for you.
You can join the free tiers of multiple forums in the first instance and then leave those that do not provide value.
If you want to grow your business, consider investing in ServiceTitan.
ServiceTitan is a comprehensive software solution built to help service companies automate key processes and boost revenue. Our award-winning, cloud-based platform is trusted by more than 100,000 contractors across the country.
ServiceTitan Software
ServiceTitan is a comprehensive software solution built specifically to help service companies streamline their operations, boost revenue, and substantially elevate the trajectory of their business. Our comprehensive, cloud-based platform is used by thousands of electrical, HVAC, plumbing, garage door, and chimney sweep shops across the country—and has increased their revenue by an average of 25% in just their first year with us.
