The short version
- Finish your Google Business Profile first, with the closest category such as HVAC contractor, every service you sell, and a service area instead of a home address.
- Plan around the seasons, because searches for "ac repair" rose from 165,000 in December to 673,000 in July, and "furnace repair near me" peaked at 135,000 in January.
- Text every customer a Google review link after each visit, with no reward attached and without picking only happy customers, because Google bans both.
- Remove any promise of the federal heat pump or AC tax credit from your site, because the IRS says the 25C credit is not allowed for equipment placed in service after December 31, 2025.
- of consumers used ChatGPT or other AI tools for local business recommendations in 2026, up from 6% the year before.
- 45%
- BrightLocal
Build your SEO plan for HVAC companies
Choose what to tackle first. Your business details fill the templates, and completed checklist tasks leave your next-task list.
Your next tasks
1
Fix your Google Business Profile
The map results for "ac repair near me" and "furnace repair near me" come from Google Business Profiles. A complete and accurate profile is the fastest way to show up there.
Start here: Sign in to Google, search your business name, and select Edit profile. Estimated time: 45 min.
2
List every heating and cooling job you sell
Google matches your profile to specific searches like "heat pump installation", which gets 22,200 searches a month. The services list tells Google which jobs you do.
Start here: Open your Business Profile and select Edit services. Estimated time: 30 min.
3
Set up a review request text
Nearly half of consumers will not use a business with fewer than 20 reviews. Busy season is the best time to get them, because you see the most customers.
Start here: Search your business on Google, open your profile, and select Ask for reviews. Copy the link. Estimated time: 20 min.
Your personalized template
Business Profile, Edit profile, business description (max 750 characters) Fill the bracketed details with your own facts.
Google Business Profile description
Your Business is a licensed heating and air conditioning company serving Your City and nearby towns. We repair, replace and maintain central air conditioners, furnaces, heat pumps and ductless mini splits. We take no-cool and no-heat calls, run seasonal tune-ups, and install new systems sized for your home. Our technicians hold EPA Section 608 certification for refrigerant work, arrive in marked trucks, and give you repair and replacement options in writing before any work starts. We install [brands] equipment and register every warranty. HVAC license #[license number].
576 characters
Take the plan with you
Download your profession's tasks and templates. Your choices stay in this browser.
What the search data tells HVAC companies
Aranx compared this page's 14 selected searches. Use the counts to compare customer needs, then choose a topic that fits what you offer. National counts do not tell you how many customers you can reach in your own service area.
Compare searches from people ready to act
- ac repair
- 368,000
- ac repair near me
- 201,000
- hvac near me
- 165,000
These are the largest reported action searches in this sample, measured as average monthly US searches. A larger count does not mean a page is easier to rank. Match the page to the customer's actual question and your ability to help.
Use seasonality to decide when to prepare
For "ac repair", July 2026 had 673,000 searches. December 2025 had 165,000. The peak was 4.1 times the low. Compare this pattern with your own season and customer history before scheduling content.
Sources, method and limits
Prepared by Aranx. Search source: Google Ads search volume via DataForSEO, United States, August 2026. We rechecked all 416 distinct customer queries across the 30 playbooks on October 13, 2026. Location: United States. Language: English. Search partners are excluded.
This is an editorial sample, not a complete list or a survey of businesses. Google Ads counts are approximate and can group similar phrases. Ad prices vary by place, time and advertiser. They do not measure organic ranking difficulty or expected revenue.
The seasonal comparison divides the highest monthly count by the lowest in the series. The action-search comparison sorts the reported average monthly counts for searches labeled ready to act. These are Aranx calculations, not customer results.
Download the source data for all playbooks or read the source metric definitions.
Cite this analysis: Aranx, "SEO for HVAC companies: search demand analysis", October 13, 2026. Permanent link.
Measure booked jobs over 90 days
Download the results worksheet from the planner. Record your baseline before changing anything. Track website search clicks, inquiries and booked jobs in separate columns.
Use Search Console for website search clicks. Record the source people report and the outcome you can confirm. A click count alone does not show whether more people chose your business.
Note changes to pages, ads, pricing, availability and seasonality. Review the pattern after 90 days and choose your next task. Keep customer names and contact details out of the worksheet.
What your customers type into Google
These are real searches people make when they need HVAC companies. The last column is what businesses pay Google for one ad click. When your page ranks on its own, you get that click for free.
| What they type | What they want | Searches a month | Ad price per click |
|---|---|---|---|
ac repair Ready to hire | Ready to hire | 368,000 | $46.46 |
ac repair near me Ready to hire | Ready to hire | 201,000 | $46.82 |
hvac near me Ready to hire | Ready to hire | 165,000 | $28.69 |
hvac company near me Ready to hire | Ready to hire | 110,000 | $29.68 |
furnace repair near me Ready to hire | Ready to hire | 74,000 | $25.47 |
hvac repair near me Ready to hire | Ready to hire | 49,500 | $38.54 |
heat pump installation Ready to hire | Ready to hire | 22,200 | $24.21 |
furnace replacement cost Comparing options | Comparing options | 14,800 | $11.76 |
ac not blowing cold air Looking for answers | Looking for answers | 14,800 | $19.61 |
ac tune up Ready to hire | Ready to hire | 12,100 | $53.10 |
ac unit replacement cost Comparing options | Comparing options | 9,900 | $14.25 |
heat pump vs furnace Comparing options | Comparing options | 6,600 | $6.50 |
furnace not turning on Looking for answers | Looking for answers | 3,600 | $15.85 |
how long does an hvac system last Looking for answers | Looking for answers | 2,400 | $4.11 |
Google Ads search volume via DataForSEO, United States, August 2026.
When people search for “ac repair”
"AC repair" searches climbed from 165,000 in December to 673,000 in July, while "furnace repair near me" peaked at 135,000 in January, so finish your AC pages by March and your furnace pages by September.
Busiest month: July 2026 with 673,000 searches.
Your first week: five tasks
Start here. None of these needs a developer. Tick each task when it is done. Your progress stays in this browser.
0 of 5 done
Fix your Google Business Profile
45 min
The map results for "ac repair near me" and "furnace repair near me" come from Google Business Profiles. A complete and accurate profile is the fastest way to show up there.
- Sign in to Google, search your business name, and select Edit profile.
- Pick the main category that matches most of your work, such as HVAC contractor. Check the exact name in Google's category list before you save.
- Write your business name exactly as it appears on your trucks and license. Remove extra words like "AC Repair 24/7" from the name.
- If customers do not come to your shop, remove the address. Then select Location, select Edit next to Service area, and add up to 20 cities or ZIP codes.
- Set hours to the times a real person answers the phone, and use a local number that rings your office, not a call center.
List every heating and cooling job you sell
30 min
Google matches your profile to specific searches like "heat pump installation", which gets 22,200 searches a month. The services list tells Google which jobs you do.
- Open your Business Profile and select Edit services.
- Select every suggested service you offer, such as AC repair, furnace repair and heat pump installation.
- Select Add custom service for jobs that are missing, such as ductless mini split installation or AC tune-up.
- Write one or two sentences for your top five services that name the equipment you work on and the towns you cover.
- Select Save.
Set up a review request text
20 min
Nearly half of consumers will not use a business with fewer than 20 reviews. Busy season is the best time to get them, because you see the most customers.
- Search your business on Google, open your profile, and select Ask for reviews. Copy the link.
- Paste the link into the review text template below and give it to every tech as a text shortcut.
- Send it to every customer after every visit. Google bans asking only the customers you think will be happy.
- Never offer a free filter, tune-up discount or gift card for a review. Google bans any reward for a review.
- Do not ask customers to name a tech or your town in the review. Google prohibits asking for specific content.
Remove expired tax credit claims and show your credentials
40 min
The IRS says the federal 25C credit is not allowed for heat pumps or AC equipment placed in service after December 31, 2025. Old pages that still promise it mislead customers, and AI tools can repeat the old claim.
- Search your website, Google posts, Facebook posts and ads for "tax credit", "25C" and "$2,000".
- Delete the federal credit claim, or rewrite it to say the credit ended for equipment installed after December 31, 2025.
- Add the utility or state rebates that apply today, with a link to each program page.
- Add your state HVAC license number and your techs' EPA Section 608 certification to your About page and footer. EPA requires this certification for anyone who adds or removes refrigerant.
- List the equipment brands you install, so customers who search for a brand can find you.
Upload 10 real job photos
30 min
A new system costs thousands of dollars. Photos of clean installs, your trucks and your crew show a homeowner the work they are paying for.
- Take photos of your trucks, your team in uniform, and five recent jobs, such as a new condenser pad, a clean furnace install or a mini split head.
- Leave out house numbers, street signs and customers' faces. Ask before you take photos inside a home.
- Upload the photos to your Business Profile.
- Have each tech send you one photo a week from a real job.
Your 90-day SEO plan for HVAC companies
After the first week, work through one phase at a time. Most businesses see their Google Business Profile move first and their website pages later.
Weeks 1 to 2
Get found on the map
Your Google profile, reviews and phones are ready for no-heat calls this winter.
- Finish the five first-week tasks above.
- Answer or return every call within 15 minutes, including nights. Forward after-hours calls to an on-call tech or an answering service.
- Write your business name, address and phone number the same way on your website footer, Google, Yelp, Angi and Facebook.
- Claim Bing Places and Apple Business Connect and copy your Google details into them.
- If you are a dealer for a brand like Carrier, Trane or Lennox, check your listing in that brand's dealer locator.
Weeks 3 to 4
Build pages for the jobs you want
Each job you want more of has its own page that answers price, timing and area questions.
- Build separate pages for AC repair, furnace repair, heat pump installation, AC replacement and your maintenance plan.
- Use the AC replacement outline below for install pages. Give a typical installed price range or explain what changes the price.
- Explain efficiency ratings in plain words, such as what a higher SEER2 rating means for the electric bill.
- Put a tap-to-call button at the top of every page on phones.
- Test your homepage with PageSpeed Insights. If the mobile score is red, send the report to whoever built your site.
Month 2
Win heating season
Your furnace content and profile are ready for the January peak in heating searches.
- Publish a "furnace not turning on" post. Searches for it reached 8,100 a month in December and January.
- Add a Google post every week with a real job photo and one heating tip.
- If you want paid leads, apply for Google Local Services Ads now. Google says screening takes 3 to 4 weeks on average.
- Join ACCA or check your listing if you are a member, so homeowners can find you in its contractor directory.
- Ask your supply house, chamber of commerce or a team you sponsor to link to your website.
Month 3
Measure and get ready for spring
You know which searches bring calls, and your AC pages are live before cooling searches climb.
- Open Google Search Console and check the Performance report. Write pages for searches where your site shows up but gets few clicks.
- Check the calls and website clicks your Business Profile sent you each month.
- Publish AC posts by March. "AC not blowing cold air" went from 1,900 searches in January to 40,500 in July.
- Use the spring tune-up post template below to fill your schedule before the first heat wave.
- Have the office ask "How did you find us?" on every new booking and write down the answer.
Copy-paste templates
Edit the parts in brackets, then paste. Each template follows the platform's rules and character limits.
Fill in your details once. Every template updates.
Google Business Profile description
Business Profile, Edit profile, business description (max 750 characters)
Your Business is a licensed heating and air conditioning company serving Your City and nearby towns. We repair, replace and maintain central air conditioners, furnaces, heat pumps and ductless mini splits. We take no-cool and no-heat calls, run seasonal tune-ups, and install new systems sized for your home. Our technicians hold EPA Section 608 certification for refrigerant work, arrive in marked trucks, and give you repair and replacement options in writing before any work starts. We install [brands] equipment and register every warranty. HVAC license #[license number].
576 characters
Review request text message
Text to every customer after every visit
Hi [first name], this is [your name] from Your Business. Thanks for having us out to work on your [AC or furnace] today. Would you leave a quick Google review about how it went? It helps people in Your City. [review link]
221 characters
Reply to a negative review
Public reply to a 1 or 2 star Google review
Hi [reviewer name], thank you for telling us about this. I am sorry the visit did not go the way you expected. We do not discuss job details in public, so please call me directly at [phone] or email [email]. If your system is still not working, we will get a technician back out. [Your name], owner, Your Business
314 characters
Service page outline: AC replacement
A new page on your website, one per service
Page title: AC Replacement in Your City | Your Business Headline: AC replacement in Your City 1. One sentence on what you install and how fast you can give a quote. 2. Repair or replace: the age, repair cost and comfort problems that make you recommend a new system. 3. How you size a system: what you measure in the home. 4. Price: a typical installed range for your area and what changes it. 5. Efficiency in plain words: what a higher SEER2 rating means for the electric bill. 6. Rebates: the utility and state programs that apply today. Do not promise the federal 25C credit, which ended for equipment installed after December 31, 2025. 7. Brands you install and the warranty you register. 8. Towns you cover around Your City. 9. Three recent customer reviews about installs. 10. Call button and a short quote form.
820 characters
Spring tune-up Google post
Google post on your Business Profile in March or April
Hot days are coming to Your City. Before you need your AC every day, change the air filter, clear leaves and grass from around the outdoor unit, and test the system on a mild afternoon. If it blows warm air or makes a new noise, call Your Business before the first heat wave. Book a tune-up at [phone].
302 characters
12 blog posts your customers are searching for
Each post answers a question people ask Google before they choose a business. One helpful post a week adds up to a site that ranks for hundreds of searches.
AC unit replacement cost: what drives the price
Search: “ac unit replacement cost”Comparing options
Furnace replacement cost, and when a repair still makes sense
Search: “furnace replacement cost”Comparing options
Heat pump vs furnace: which is cheaper to run where you live?
Search: “heat pump vs furnace”Comparing options
AC not blowing cold air? Seven things to check before you call
Search: “ac not blowing cold air”Looking for answers
Furnace not turning on? Six things to check first
Search: “furnace not turning on”Looking for answers
How long does an HVAC system last?
Search: “how long does an hvac system last”Looking for answers
How often should you change your air filter?
Search: “how often should you change your air filter”Looking for answers
Why is my AC freezing up?
Search: “why is my ac freezing up”Looking for answers
What an AC tune-up includes, and whether it is worth it
Search: “ac tune up”Ready to hire
Ductless mini split installation: cost, sizing and where it fits
Search: “ductless mini split installation”Ready to hire
Heat pump cost in 2026, now that the federal tax credit has ended
Search: “heat pump cost”Comparing options
R-410A vs R-454B: what homeowners should know before buying a new AC
Search: “r410a vs r454b”Looking for answers
No time to write them?
Aranx finds the searches your customers make, writes posts like these in your voice with images and links, and publishes them to your WordPress or Shopify blog on a schedule you set.
See how Aranx worksHow to show up in ChatGPT and Google AI answers
Homeowners now ask ChatGPT, Gemini and Google's AI Overviews questions like "should I repair or replace my AC" or "heat pump vs furnace" before they call anyone. In BrightLocal's 2026 survey, 45% of consumers said they used ChatGPT or other AI tools for local business recommendations, up from 6% the year before. These tools answer from what they can read about you on the web: your website, your Google profile, your reviews and your listings.
A new system is a large purchase, so people ask detailed questions. Pages that state your price ranges, the brands you install, how you size a system and the rebates that apply today give an AI tool facts it can quote. Keep those facts current. If your heat pump page still promises the federal 25C credit, which ended for equipment installed after December 31, 2025, an AI tool can repeat that wrong promise to your next customer.
Reviews feed these answers too. BrightLocal found that 82% of consumers read AI-generated review summaries, and those summaries come from what your customers wrote. Ask every customer after every visit, so the summary draws on recent work from both seasons.
Listings and directories to consider
Customers find you on these sites, and Google checks them to confirm your business details. Use the same name, address and phone number on every one.
ACCA contractor directory(opens in a new tab)
Homeowners search ACCA member contractors by ZIP code here. Members can also be filtered by Quality Installation verification.
Carrier dealer locator(opens in a new tab)
If you sell Carrier, check that your dealer listing has your current phone, website and service area.
Trane dealer locator(opens in a new tab)
If you are a Trane dealer, homeowners who start on Trane's site find you here. Keep the details current.
Lennox dealer locator(opens in a new tab)
If you install Lennox, confirm your listing and contact details match your Google profile.
Homeowners compare HVAC companies on Angi. A claimed profile with your license and photos adds one more place where your details match.
Neighbors ask each other for HVAC recommendations on Nextdoor. A business page lets them tag you in their answer.
Yelp can list your business before you ever sign up. Claim the page so you can fix your hours and reply to reviews.
Bing Places(opens in a new tab)
Bing Maps shows this listing. You can import your Google profile instead of typing it again.
5 SEO mistakes HVAC companies make
Still promising the federal tax credit
The IRS says the 25C credit is not allowed for equipment placed in service after December 31, 2025. Remove the claim from your site, posts and ads, and list the rebates that apply today.
Going quiet in the off season
"AC repair" searches jumped from 201,000 in February to 301,000 in March. Publish and update AC pages in winter and furnace pages in late summer, before demand arrives.
Service words in your Google business name
Google bans service and location words in the name and can suspend the profile. Use the name on your trucks and license, and put services in the services list.
Trading a free filter or discount for reviews
Google bans any reward for a review, and the FTC rule bans rewards tied to positive reviews. Send the same plain text to every customer instead.
City pages with only the town name swapped
Copied pages give customers nothing new. Write each town page around real jobs there, the housing you see and how fast you can get there.
Questions HVAC companies ask about SEO
How long does SEO take for an HVAC company?
Changes to your Google Business Profile, like categories, services and hours, can show up within days. New website pages often take three to six months to rank. That timing matters in HVAC, because a page you publish in June may not rank until the cooling season is over. Publish AC pages in winter and furnace pages in late summer, so they are ready when calls spike.
Should I use Google Local Services Ads?
Many HVAC companies run them next to SEO. Local Services Ads charge for leads, not clicks, and show a Google Verified badge. Google treats HVAC as an urgent category, so it runs background checks on the business, the owner and its service professionals. It also requires general and professional liability insurance and state licenses. Screening takes 3 to 4 weeks on average, so apply before your busy season.
Do I need separate pages for AC and heating?
Yes. People who search "ac repair near me" and people who search "furnace repair near me" want different things, and the searches peak in different months. A page about AC repair can answer AC questions, show AC photos and list the brands you service. One page that covers both says less about each, and gives a customer in a hurry more to read before they find the answer.
Should my website still mention the heat pump tax credit?
Not the federal one. The IRS says the 25C energy efficient home improvement credit is not allowed for property placed in service after December 31, 2025. If your pages still promise up to $2,000 back, rewrite them. Check whether your utility or state runs its own rebate program, and list only the ones that apply in your area today, with a link to each program page.
Can I give a free filter or tune-up discount for a Google review?
No. Google bans offering payment, discounts, or free goods or services in exchange for a review. The FTC rule on fake reviews, announced in 2024, also bans rewards tied to a positive or negative review, and the FTC can seek civil penalties. Thank customers with good service, then send the same review text to everyone.
How far can my service area reach?
Google lets you list up to 20 cities or ZIP codes, and says the whole area should not reach much farther than about two hours of driving from where you are based. If you run separate branches with their own staff, each branch can have its own profile. Do not use a virtual office or mailbox to get a second address, because Google says those are not eligible.
Do I need a blog?
Service pages come first. A blog helps after that, because homeowners search their problem before they search for a company. "AC not blowing cold air" reached 40,500 searches in July. A short post that lists safe checks a homeowner can do, then says when to call a technician, can bring in people who are one step away from booking a repair.
Sources
- Google Business Profile Help: Guidelines for representing your business on Google
- Google Local Services Help: Business screening and verification requirements
- Google Maps User Generated Content Policy Help: Prohibited & restricted content
- Internal Revenue Service: FAQs for modification of sections 25C, 25D, 25E, 30C, 30D, 45L, 45W, and 179D under the One, Big, Beautiful Bill
- US Environmental Protection Agency: Section 608 Technician Certification Requirements
- Federal Trade Commission: Federal Trade Commission Announces Final Rule Banning Fake Reviews and Testimonials
- BrightLocal: Local Consumer Review Survey 2026
- BrightLocal: Customers decide on a business in a matter of minutes
Search data: Google Ads search volume via DataForSEO, United States, August 2026. Facts checked on .