The NEWS 2026 Homeowner Study — Understanding the Homeowner HVAC Purchase Journey
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New for 2026
What do homeowners expect when it comes time to repair or replace their HVAC equipment — and what shapes their decisions along the way?
The NEWS partnered with myCLEARopinion Insights Hub to explore homeowners' perspectives and expectations surrounding the HVAC equipment purchasing process. The research provides an in-depth look at the homeowner experience, from the circumstances that lead to equipment replacement through contractor selection, pricing and financing considerations, equipment choices and the services homeowners value.
Research designed for the HVAC industry
Understanding what happens on the homeowner side of an HVAC purchase can help contractors, manufacturers and other industry stakeholders better understand the customers they serve.
The 2026 Homeowner Study was designed to provide that perspective directly from homeowners. The research examines the HVAC purchase process and the expectations, considerations and decisions that arise throughout the homeowner journey.
The study was developed specifically to help HVAC contractors better understand homeowners, including the attributes important to their purchase decisions, their expectations surrounding pricing and financing, and the overall purchase process.
What you'll gain from the report
The report provides a deeper understanding of how homeowners approach HVAC repair and replacement decisions and what they expect throughout the process. Use the research to better understand the homeowner perspective surrounding contractor selection, equipment decisions, pricing and financing, services and warranties, and the overall purchase experience.
Apply it to
Customer communications
Additional context for how you talk to homeowners at each stage of the decision.
Apply it to
Sales strategies
The homeowner perspective on contractor selection and what shapes the decision.
Apply it to
Product & service offerings
What homeowners expect around equipment choices, services and warranties.
Apply it to
The homeowner experience
Pricing and financing expectations, and the overall purchase experience.
Go beyond assumptions about what homeowners want
Direct research from the homeowners making and influencing these decisions.
Explore what's inside
The full report provides in-depth research and analysis of the homeowner HVAC purchase journey, important purchase decision factors, equipment considerations and more.
39 pages · table of contents
Study Overview
3–4
Respondent Profile
5–6
Purchase Journey
7–20
Important Purchase Decision Factors
21–28
Equipment
29–36
Appendix — demographics
37–38
Contact Us
39
About the research
782
U.S. respondents
Involved in decisions surrounding HVAC equipment at their residence or a home they help manage.
Online
Method
Conducted online, exploring homeowners' perspectives and expectations regarding the HVAC equipment purchasing process.
39-page
Research report
Detailed charts, data and analysis across every topic shown in the table of contents.
Individual question sample sizes may vary throughout the report based on respondent experience, applicable survey routing and other qualifications.
Who should use this report?
The 2026 Homeowner Study is designed for organizations that need a better understanding of the homeowner perspective within the residential HVAC market.
HVAC contractorsEquipment manufacturersDistributorsSuppliersService providersOthers serving the industry
Whether you are evaluating sales and marketing strategies, customer communications, financing or service offerings, or simply looking to better understand today's HVAC customer, the report provides direct research from the homeowners making and influencing these decisions.
39 pages · 782 U.S. respondents · 2026
Get the full 2026 Homeowner Study
Gain access to the complete research examining the HVAC equipment purchase experience from the homeowner perspective.
Get the complete report, including detailed charts, findings and analysis.