The HVAC Price-Fixing Lawsuits Keep Piling Up: 5 Filings in 6 Weeks
If you have been following the HVAC price-fixing story, the pace is picking up. Five federal lawsuits have now been filed in just six weeks against the biggest air conditioning manufacturers in the country, and the latest was brought by a Florida contracting company.
Reliable AC Services filed its complaint on April 30, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. The allegations are the same ones we covered in our original breakdown of the HVAC price-fixing lawsuit: that the seven largest HVAC manufacturers coordinated price increases going back to at least January 2020, in violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act.
Whether you are a homeowner in Fort Lauderdale, a condo board member in Aventura, or a property manager in Pembroke Pines, this story matters because it directly affects what you are paying for AC equipment right now.
What Is the Latest Lawsuit About?
The Reliable AC Services complaint names the same group of manufacturers that appeared in the original March 2026 filing: Trane Technologies, Carrier Global Corp., Lennox International, Rheem Manufacturing, Daikin Comfort Technologies North America, Robert Bosch, and Aaon Inc. It also names Mitsubishi Electric Trane HVAC US (METUS) and Johnson Controls-Hitachi Air Conditioning North America.
According to the complaint, these companies control more than 90% of the HVAC equipment market in the United States. The lawsuit alleges they used each other’s proprietary pricing data, shared through the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI), to coordinate price increases. AHRI itself is not a defendant.
The suit claims HVAC equipment prices have gone up more than 50% since 2020, far outpacing both general inflation and the price increases seen in comparable household goods. Reliable AC Services is seeking class-action status on behalf of all contractors and businesses that directly purchased equipment from these manufacturers since January 2020.
How Many Lawsuits Have Been Filed So Far?
There are now five confirmed federal lawsuits making essentially the same allegations, filed across four states in just six weeks. All were filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. Here is the full timeline:
- March 20, 2026 – Berg v. Robert Bosch, LLC. Filed by consumer Alyssa Berg on behalf of end users (homeowners and businesses) who purchased HVAC equipment since 2020. This was the original case, backed by Hagens Berman, one of the largest antitrust law firms in the country.
- April 20, 2026 – Isom v. Trane Technologies. Filed by Richard Isom of Air Tech Services in Manatee County, Florida. This was the first case filed on behalf of direct purchasers, meaning contractors and distributors.
- April 21, 2026 – Precision Plumbing, Electric, Heating & Cooling, Inc. v. Robert Bosch LLC. Filed by the West Fargo, North Dakota-based contractor, also on behalf of direct purchasers.
- April 22, 2026 – Safford’s Heating, Cooling and Refrigeration v. Robert Bosch, LLC. Filed by the Findlay Lake, New York-based contractor, also on behalf of direct purchasers.
- April 30, 2026 – Reliable AC Services. A Florida contractor filing on behalf of direct purchasers. This complaint also names Mitsubishi Electric Trane HVAC US (METUS) and Johnson Controls-Hitachi Air Conditioning North America, which were not named in all earlier filings.
Five lawsuits filed across four states in six weeks, all landing in the same federal court in Michigan. The fact that multiple law firms are investing independently in these cases signals they believe the evidence is strong enough to justify the cost of litigation. These cases are expensive to bring, and firms only take them on contingency when they see real potential for recovery.
Why Are Contractors Filing Separately from Consumers?
The original March lawsuit (Berg v. Bosch) was filed on behalf of end users, meaning the people who ultimately paid for the equipment in their homes or buildings. The April lawsuits are filed on behalf of direct purchasers, meaning the contractors and distributors who bought the equipment from the manufacturers before installing or reselling it.
Under federal antitrust law, direct purchasers generally have stronger standing to recover damages. That is why you are seeing HVAC contractors step forward with their own cases rather than simply joining the consumer lawsuit. Both groups are alleging the same underlying conspiracy, but they represent different classes of people who were affected.
What Does This AC Price-Fixing Lawsuit Mean for You?
If the allegations in these lawsuits are proven, it means the price increases homeowners and associations have absorbed when purchasing equipment from these brands since 2020 were not entirely driven by market forces. It means there may have been coordination behind the numbers, and that the explanations given at the time (COVID, supply chains, tariffs, new refrigerant standards) did not tell the full story.
For anyone who has replaced an AC system in Hollywood, Miami, Boca Raton, Coral Springs, Plantation, Weston, Davie, Sunrise, or anywhere else in Broward, Miami-Dade, or Palm Beach County over the last six years, this is worth paying attention to. If the cases succeed, there may eventually be recoveries available to people and businesses who overpaid.
None of the allegations have been proven in court yet. These cases are in their very early stages. But the pace at which new lawsuits are being filed suggests this story is far from over.
What Can You Do Right Now?
There is no action required from homeowners or property managers at this point. No claims process has opened, and the cases have not been certified as class actions yet. But here are a few things worth doing:
- Keep your receipts and invoices. If you purchased or replaced HVAC equipment since January 2020, hold onto the documentation. If a class action is certified and a settlement or judgment occurs, you may need proof of purchase to file a claim.
- Stay informed. We will continue covering this story as it develops. You can read our original breakdown here for the full background.
- Work with a contractor you trust. Regardless of what happens in the courts, the best thing you can do right now is make sure you are working with a company that is transparent about pricing and not padding margins on top of already inflated equipment costs.
At Total, we have always been upfront about what equipment costs and why. We are a third-generation, family-owned company in South Florida. We do not use subcontractors. We do not mark up equipment beyond what is fair and necessary. And we have been watching this story closely because it affects our customers and our industry.
If you have questions about your AC system, an upcoming replacement, or what any of this means for your building or property, give us a call at (or text!) 954-900-6767
Frequently Asked Questions
How many HVAC price-fixing lawsuits have been filed?
Five confirmed federal lawsuits have been filed in just six weeks as of May 2026. The first was brought by a consumer in Minnesota in March. Four more have been filed by HVAC contractors in Florida, North Dakota, and New York, all alleging the same coordinated price increases by seven major manufacturers since 2020.
Which HVAC manufacturers are named in the lawsuits?
The defendants include Trane Technologies, Carrier Global Corp., Lennox International, Rheem Manufacturing, Daikin Comfort Technologies North America, Robert Bosch, and Aaon Inc. The most recent filing also names Mitsubishi Electric Trane HVAC US and Johnson Controls-Hitachi Air Conditioning North America.
Can I file a claim or get money back from the HVAC lawsuit?
Not yet. The lawsuits are in their early stages and no class has been certified. No claims process exists at this time. If you purchased HVAC equipment since January 2020, keep your receipts and invoices in case a claims process opens in the future.
Why are HVAC contractors filing their own lawsuits?
Under federal antitrust law, direct purchasers (contractors and distributors who buy from manufacturers) have stronger legal standing to recover damages than end users. That is why contractors are filing separately from the original consumer lawsuit rather than joining it.
How much did HVAC equipment prices increase since 2020?
According to the lawsuits, HVAC equipment prices rose more than 50% from January 2020 to the present. During the same period, general consumer prices rose about 29.7% and major household appliances rose about 30.8%, meaning HVAC equipment increased at nearly twice the rate of comparable goods.