HVAC distributors and wholesalers act as the middle man between manufacturers and the contractor, dealer or service company. As a buyer here, you have an important position in selecting the best products, as you are the middle man between the distributor and the consumer. Making your customer happy is determined in part by your making the most of HVAC distributors and wholesalers.

Qualified HVAC wholesalers are authorized to carry the manufacturer's warranty on the equipment they sell. Another benefit to ordering from an HVAC distributor is the wealth of product options available. Distributors carry equipment from many different manufacturers in order to offer you, their customer, the biggest market options for your business. Some of the HVAC products they stock are:

1. Wholesale furnace equipment

2. Building controls

3. Air conditioners

4. Wholesale furnace parts and air conditioner parts

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Do your homework on the products offered by HVAC equipment distributors

Industry periodicals and Trade Associations can supply you with the best information on quality products and the latest technology. Often, the associations represent a collection of the top manufacturers in the industry. By gleaning information from these resources, you can link to information not offered elsewhere. The manufacturer can also be helpful with product training and then referrals to a local, qualified HVAC wholesaler.

I recommend: Check the Directory of Certified Product Performance from the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute to ensure you are getting the best of the best products to offer your customers, as the items listed must possess certain criteria to be listed. Industry magazines like Contracting Business can also be a great source for HVAC dealer information. To make your searching easier, The Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration NEWS has a searchable resource guide of products and distributors.

Get face to face with HVAC distributors

Your best friends are usually the ones you spend time with on a regular basis. The same is true of your business relationships. Meeting a distributor in person can establish a special relationship and give you the upper hand on competition. Befriending a distributor can also put you in a spot to receive special HVAC prices.

I recommend: Get to know a lot of manufacturers and wholesalers and their products all in one place at the AHR Expo. Another way to get to know your HVAC distributor is to meet them individually when your company can be the complete focus of the meeting. At Yahoo Directories you can access a list of HVAC distributors to choose from.

Select HVAC wholesalers and manufacturers that offer the services you need

Some manufacturers will be better to work with than others, mostly determined by the services they offer. Be selective about the products you want to carry and partner with wholesalers who understand your needs. Other companies will be a better fit for you because of services they offer that others do not, like financing, technical assistance and training.

I recommend: HVAC Wholesalers explains some of the services they offer to you as a contractor. These services include free technical assistance, specialty equipment sales and warranty claims processing. If it is a certain product you are looking for, most wholesalers, like Gensco, supply a list of the manufacturers they carry.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  HVAC distributors and wholesalers may have restocking fees for returned items. Save on HVAC prices by ordering carefully to avoid returns.

Going into business as an HVAC dealer means finding HVAC equipment distributors, HVAC wholesalers and supplies such as wholesale furnace parts. HVAC wholesalers sell a wholesale furnace to you as a business owner, for example, cheap enough so you make a profit.

HVAC distributors and wholesalers are so competitive, they set up booths and exhibits at home shows around the country yearly. If you become an HVAC dealer for Trane, for example, you distribute Trane products to your customers by buying your equipment and supplies directly from Trane. You order a wholesale furnace, for instance, and sell it to customers for retail price. Things to keep in mind:

1. HVAC prices vary greatly from one distributor to another.

2. Look for specials on HVAC prices through your distributor. HVAC distributors and wholesalers offer year-end specials just like car dealers do. They offer wholesale furnace parts at cheaper prices than usual and generally, all HVAC system prices are greatly reduced to clear their warehouses, making room for the new year’s inventory.

3. HVAC wholesalers are companies that sell more than one brand of HVAC system.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Get competitive with your competitors

As an HVAC dealer and contractor, set prices on your goods and services and then compare your offerings to others in the business.

I recommend: Enter a ZIP code for the area you work and receive free competitive quotes from different contractors. HVAC Networx is a good place to advertise your services, compete with others in the business and drum up business for yourself.

Direct your business distributions as an HVAC dealer and get wholesale distributor prices

Compare several name brands in HVAC systems, both commercial and residential and find the best suppliers for your business-building profits.

I recommend: Fill out a form to receive information from HVAC Distributors, Inc. and choose the name brands you offer your clients.

Add parts to your furnace wholesale price shopping list

Having a good supply of and easy access to furnace parts is mandatory for efficient operation as an HVAC dealer and technician.

I recommend: Expert Appliance Company offers furnace parts for a wide variety of posted name brands. View particular furnace parts by clicking on the furnace brand name.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  An HVAC dealer or contractor often gets familiar with 1 or 2 company name-brands, develops skill and knowledge with those and then serves as a confident expert.
• •  A licensed professional HVAC technician usually knows the concept of all the basic HVAC brands and a good technician can fix almost any brand.
• •  An HVAC wholesaler usually offers seasonal deals to an HVAC dealer on all products, including electric or gas furnace wholesale packages.

HVAC distributors and wholesalers education and training can help employees understand the way central heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration units work. An HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning) system works to maintain proper air quality and a comfortable temperature in a home or commercial building setting. Larger dwellings often require more complex HVAC systems that include a furnace. The furnace includes parts, such as a chimney liner, boiler, and wholesale furnace glass.

Most HVAC systems require skilled and educated technicians for installation, repair or sales. Hiring or training employees that are knowledgeable about HVAC systems is essential. HVAC distributors and wholesalers education and training can be achieved in the following ways:

1. An Associates degree

2. HVAC certification

3. Online HVAC tutorials

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find schools that offer HVAC distributors and wholesalers education and training

HVAC education and training involves a two-year Associates degree or the completion of a HVAC certification course. HVAC wholesalers who are educated on HVAC standards and products are considered knowledgeable by prospective clients. Information regarding such education and training is widely available.

I recommend: SchoolsGalore.com is a site that offers specific information about HVAC programs and the time and financial investment each program requires. GuideToOnlineSchools.com is a premier education center that offers specific HVAC degree information.

Get HVAC certification information

Many HVAC technicians often complete a six-month certification process, and wholesalers and distributors also benefit from this type of training. By doing so, these specialists ensure that their skill levels are current.

I recommend: HVAC Excellence is the premier HVAC certification organization that offers HVAC information and many different HVAC certifications. The Certification Network is another excellent source that provides a detailed assessment of the HVAC certification process on a state-by-state basis.

Obtain HVAC distributors and wholesalers installation information

Information about wholesale furnace parts and how HVAC distributors and wholesalers install them is all over the Internet. It is essential that employees understand key terms that relate to the sale of HVAC equipment.

I recommend: ACCA provides a comprehensive overview of the HVAC installation process. HomeTech Solutions provides a detailed analysis of how HVAC systems are designed, distributed by an HVAC wholesaler and then installed.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  An employee of an HVAC distributor not only needs to be trained and certified to understand HVAC systems, but he also needs to have good customer service skills. Your business will thrive if your technicians and customer service representatives can easily convey HVAC prices and other information to your customers.