Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors
Description
This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in installing and servicing plumbing, heating, and air-conditioning equipment. Contractors in this industry may provide both parts and labor when performing work. The work performed may include new work, additions, alterations, maintenance, and repairs. Illustrative Examples: Cooling tower installation Heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) contractors Duct work (e.g., cooling, dust collection, exhaust, heating, ventilation) installation Lawn sprinkler system installation Fire sprinkler system installation Mechanical contractors Fireplace, natural gas, installation Refrigeration system (e.g., commercial, industrial, scientific) installation Furnace installation Sewer hookup and connection, building
Hierarchy
| Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 23 | Construction 2-digit sector | The Sector as a Whole The Construction sector comprises establishments primarily engaged in the construction of buildings or engineering projects (e.g., highways and utility systems). Establishments primarily engaged in the preparation of sites for new construction and establishments primarily engaged in subdividing land for sale as building sites also are included in this sector. Construction work done may include new work, additions, alterations, or maintenance and repairs. Activities of these establishments generally are managed at a fixed place of business, but they usually perform construction activities at multiple project sites. Production responsibilities for establishments in this sector are usually specified in (1) contracts with the owners of construction projects (prime contracts) or (2) contracts with other construction establishments (subcontracts). Establishments primarily engaged in contracts that include responsibility for all aspects of individual construction projects are commonly known as general contractors, but also may be known as design-builders, construction managers, turnkey contractors, or (in cases where two or more establishments jointly secure a general contract) joint-venture contractors. Construction managers that provide oversight and scheduling only (i.e., agency) as well as construction managers that are responsible for the entire project (i.e., at risk) are included as general contractor type establishments. Establishments of the "general contractor type" frequently arrange construction of separate parts of their projects through subcontracts with other construction establishments. Establishments primarily engaged in activities to produce a specific component (e.g., masonry, painting, and electrical work) of a construction project are commonly known as specialty trade contractors. Activities of specialty trade contractors are usually subcontracted from other construction establishments, but especially in remodeling and repair construction, the work may be done directly for the owner of the property. Establishments primarily engaged in activities to construct buildings to be sold on sites that they own are known as for-sale builders, but also may be known as speculative builders or merchant builders. For-sale builders produce buildings in a manner similar to general contractors, but their production processes also include site acquisition and securing of financial backing. For-sale builders are most often associated with the construction of residential buildings. Like general contractors, they may subcontract all or part of the actual construction work on their buildings. There are substantial differences in the types of equipment, work force skills, and other inputs required by establishments in this sector. To highlight these differences and variations in the underlying production functions, this sector is divided into three subsectors. Subsector 236, Construction of Buildings, comprises establishments of the general contractor type and for-sale builders involved in the construction of buildings. Subsector 237, Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction, comprises establishments involved in the construction of engineering projects. Subsector 238, Specialty Trade Contractors, comprises establishments engaged in specialty trade activities generally needed in the construction of all types of buildings. Force account construction is construction work performed by an enterprise primarily engaged in some business other than construction for its own account, using employees of the enterprise. This activity is not included in the construction sector unless the construction work performed is the primary activity of a separate establishment of the enterprise. The installation and the ongoing repair and maintenance of telecommunications and utility networks is excluded from construction when the establishments performing the work are not independent contractors. Although a growing proportion of this work is subcontracted to independent contractors in the Construction sector, the operating units of telecommunications and utility companies performing this work are included with the telecommunications or utility activities. |
| 238 | Specialty Trade Contractors 3-digit subsector | The Specialty Trade Contractors subsector comprises establishments whose primary activity is performing specific activities (e.g., pouring concrete, site preparation, plumbing, painting, and electrical work) involved in building construction or other activities that are similar for all types of construction, but that are not responsible for the entire project. The work performed may include new work, additions, alterations, maintenance, and repairs. The production work performed by establishments in this subsector is usually subcontracted from establishments of the general contractor type or for-sale builders, but especially in remodeling and repair construction, work also may be done directly for the owner of the property. Specialty trade contractors usually perform most of their work at the construction site, although they may have shops where they perform prefabrication and other work. Establishments primarily engaged in preparing sites for new construction are also included in this subsector. There are substantial differences in types of equipment, work force skills, and other inputs required by specialty trade contractors. Establishments in this subsector are classified based on the underlying production function for the specialty trade in which they specialize. Throughout the Specialty Trade Contractors subsector, establishments commonly provide both the parts and labor required to complete work. For example, electrical contractors supply the current-carrying and noncurrent-carrying wiring devices that are required to install a circuit. Plumbing, heating, and air-conditioning contractors also supply the parts required to complete a contract. Establishments that specialize in activities primarily related to heavy and civil engineering construction that are not normally performed on buildings, such as the painting of lines on highways, are classified in Subsector 237, Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction. Establishments that are primarily engaged in selling construction materials are classified in Sector 42, Wholesale Trade, or Sector 44-45, Retail Trade, based on the characteristics of the selling unit. |
| 2382 | Building Equipment Contractors 4-digit industry group | This industry group comprises establishments primarily engaged in installing or servicing equipment that forms part of a building mechanical system (e.g., electricity, water, heating, and cooling). The work performed may include new work, additions, alterations, maintenance, and repairs. Contractors installing specialized building equipment, such as elevators, escalators, service station equipment, and central vacuum cleaning systems, are also included. |
| 23822 | Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors 5-digit NAICS industry | See industry description for 238220. |
| 238220 | Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors 6-digit U.S. detail | This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in installing and servicing plumbing, heating, and air-conditioning equipment. Contractors in this industry may provide both parts and labor when performing work. The work performed may include new work, additions, alterations, maintenance, and repairs. Illustrative Examples: Cooling tower installation Heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) contractors Duct work (e.g., cooling, dust collection, exhaust, heating, ventilation) installation Lawn sprinkler system installation Fire sprinkler system installation Mechanical contractors Fireplace, natural gas, installation Refrigeration system (e.g., commercial, industrial, scientific) installation Furnace installation Sewer hookup and connection, building |
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Classification References
- 01Installing electrical controls for HVAC systems--are classified in Industry 238210, Electrical Contractors and Other Wiring Installation Contractors;
- 02Duct cleaning--are classified in Industry 561790, Other Services to Buildings and Dwellings;
- 03Installing septic tanks and systems--are classified in Industry 238910, Site Preparation Contractors;
- 04Water well drilling (except water intake wells in oil and gas fields) and water well pump and piping system installation--are classified in Industry 237110, Water and Sewer Line and Related Structures Construction; and
- 05Repair and maintenance of commercial refrigeration equipment or fire extinguisher and waterless fire suppression systems, without installation--are classified in Industry 811310, Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment (except Automotive and Electronic) Repair and Maintenance.
Index Items
Air system balancing and testing
Air vent installation
Air-conditioning system (except window) installation
Bathroom plumbing fixture and sanitary ware installation
Blower or fan, cooling and dry heating, installation
Boiler chipping, cleaning and scaling
Boiler, heating, installation
Central air-conditioning equipment installation
Central cooling equipment and piping installation
Central heating equipment and piping installation
Chilled water system installation
Chimney liner installation
Commercial freezer installation
Commercial refrigeration system installation
Cooling tower installation
Drain, waste and vent system installation
Drinking fountain installation
Dry heating equipment installation
Duct work (e.g., cooling, dust collection, exhaust, heating, ventilation) installation
Dust collecting and bag house equipment installation
Exhaust system (e.g., kitchens, industrial work areas) installation
Fire extinguisher installation
Fire extinguisher installation and repair
Fire sprinkler system installation
Fireplace, natural gas, installation
Fuel oil burner installation
Furnace conversion (i.e., from one fuel to another)
Furnace humidifier installation
Furnace installation
Furnace, forced air, installation
Gas fitting contractor
Gas line installation, individual hookup, contractors
Heat pump installation
Heating and cooling duct work installation
Heating and ventilation system component (e.g., air registers, diffusers, filters, grilles, sound attenuators) installation
Heating boiler installation
Heating contractors
Heating equipment installation
Heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) contractors
Hot water heating system installation
Hot water tank installation
Household oil storage tank installation
HVAC (heating, ventilation and air-conditioning) contractors
Hydronic heating system installation
Industrial process piping installation
Kitchen sink and hardware installation
Lawn sprinkler system installation
Mechanical contractors
Natural gas piping installation
Oil burner installation
Pipe fitting contractors
Plumbers
Plumbing and heating contractors
Plumbing contractors
Plumbing fixture installation
Process piping installation
Pumping system, water, installation
Radiant floor heating equipment installation
Refrigeration system (e.g., commercial, industrial, scientific) installation
Sanitary ware installation
Scrubber, air purification, installation
Sewer hookup and connection, building
Sheet metal duct work installation
Snow melting system (e.g., hot water, glycol) installation
Solar heating equipment installation
Sprinkler system, building, installation
Steam fitting contractors
Sump pump installation
Ventilating contractors
Warehouse refrigeration system installation
Warm air heating system installation
Water heater installation
Water meter installation
Water softener installation
Water system balancing and testing contractors
Waterless fire suppression system installation
Waterless fire suppression system installation and repair
How Item Can Help
Transportation Management System reduces freight costs and delivery times by optimizing routing for heavy equipment like furnaces and air conditioners across various job sites.
Item.com Tools
External Resources
Census.gov NAICS Detail
Official US Census Bureau definition and scope for NAICS 238220.
National Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association
The primary trade association representing plumbing, heating, and cooling contractors across the United States.
U.S. Department of Energy - Home Energy Efficiency
A government resource providing energy efficiency guidelines and information for homeowners regarding HVAC systems.
Angi Home Services Directory
An industry directory connecting homeowners with verified local contractors for plumbing and heating services.
