Will Big-Box Ownership Change HVAC Distribution? Contractors Weigh In

Home Depot's distribution arm, SRS Distribution, has bought Mingledorff's, a major HVAC (heating and cooling) equipment distributor with more than 40 locations across the South, and has announced plans to buy Lohmiller & Co., which has four locations in Colorado. Both companies will keep their names and current leadership for now. Home Depot has been expanding into supplying equipment for trade professionals since it bought SRS in 2024, and rival Lowe's has been making similar moves.

Contractors interviewed have mixed feelings. Some think big-box ownership could mean lower prices, better availability, and more standardized pricing across the industry. Others worry that the technical support, training, and personal relationships that traditional distributors offer contractors could disappear under corporate ownership, especially since some distributors have already scaled that support back.

A bigger concern raised is the possibility that big-box-owned distributors could eventually sell HVAC equipment directly to homeowners, the way some retailers already sell water heaters. Contractors point to problems in plumbing, where amateur installation of store-bought water heaters has led to safety and performance issues. They argue that professional installation matters for complex, technical equipment like modern HVAC systems, and that a lower price on equipment alone doesn't guarantee a system works well or lasts. For now, none of this changes how homeowners buy or install equipment, but it's a trend worth watching as more distributors change hands.