A survey published by ACHR News on October 20, 2026, found that 37% of homeowners would use AI tools like ChatGPT to research HVAC contractor reviews, ahead of Facebook at 35% and close to Yelp at 38%. Google Business Profiles still led at 54%. The survey was fielded in spring 2026 among 782 homeowners and 205 contractors.

Homeowners are already asking ChatGPT about your company. The question is what it's telling them.

Where homeowners look up contractors now

The survey, run by myCLEARopinion Insights Hub for BNP Media, ACHR News's parent company, polled 782 homeowners and 205 contractors between April 24 and May 19, 2026. Google Business Profiles remain the top research channel at 54%, followed by contractor websites at 45%. But AI tools like ChatGPT now sit at 37%, ahead of Facebook at 35% and nearly on par with Yelp at 38%.

What homeowners are fine letting AI handle

Homeowners reported real comfort with AI in specific areas: 41% for equipment recommendations, 40% for an initial price estimate before a technician visits, 39% for efficiency recommendations, 36% for scheduling and basic questions, and 34% each for follow-up reminders and pre-visit diagnosis.

Where they want a human

That comfort has a ceiling. The top concern homeowners cited was losing human judgment and expertise, at 36%, followed by accuracy at 21% and data privacy at 14%. People are willing to let AI handle the logistics around a job. They don't want it making the actual diagnosis or the repair-or-replace call.

Half of contractors aren't using AI yet

Of the 205 contractors surveyed, half don't use AI at all. Among the 102 who do, 36% reported improved efficiency and speed, 31% reported a better customer experience, and 23% saw no noticeable impact.

What this means for your business

AI tools don't generate opinions about your company out of nowhere. They pull from whatever's already public: your reviews, your Google profile, and your website. If a homeowner asks ChatGPT about your company right now, the answer it gives is only as good as what you've put out there for it to find. A thin profile or a handful of stale reviews doesn't just look weak to a human browsing Google. It becomes the entire basis for what an AI tool tells a prospective customer about you.

That's not a quick fix you do once and forget. It's an ongoing reputation and profile management problem, which is exactly what we handle for home service companies, and it matters even more for HVAC contractors given how closely this survey tracked the trade. Get your free Growth Audit and we'll show you what AI tools and search are actually finding when someone looks you up.

Matt's take

The gap in this survey that matters most isn't the 37% checking AI tools. It's the 36% who said their biggest worry is losing a real expert. Homeowners aren't asking AI to replace the person who tells them whether their HVAC system needs a $400 repair or a $9,000 replacement, and they're right not to.

That's the balance every home service business needs to strike right now: let AI and search do the fast stuff, reviews, scheduling, basic answers, and keep a real person on anything that's actually a decision. The shops that get that split right are the ones that show up well no matter where a homeowner looks.

FAQ

Do homeowners really use ChatGPT to find contractors?
According to an ACHR News survey published October 20, 2026, and fielded in spring 2026, 37% of homeowners said they would use AI tools like ChatGPT to research HVAC contractor reviews, ahead of Facebook at 35%.
What AI tasks are homeowners comfortable with?
The survey found the highest comfort with equipment recommendations (41%), initial price estimates (40%), and efficiency recommendations (39%), with lower but notable comfort for scheduling, reminders, and pre-visit diagnosis.
Will AI replace human HVAC technicians?
The survey suggests homeowners don't want that. Their top concern, cited by 36%, was losing human judgment and expertise, meaning AI is more likely to handle logistics while people keep the final diagnosis and repair-or-replace decisions.
How do I know what AI tools say about my company?
AI tools draw from your public reviews, Google Business Profile, and website, so what they say reflects what's already out there. Getting a clear, current picture of that is part of what a professional profile and reputation review covers.

Sources

Find out what's costing you leads

Your reviews, your profile, and your website are what every AI tool and every homeowner sees first. Get your free Growth Audit and find out what they're actually finding.