Warm Air Heating and Air-Conditioning Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers
Description
This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in the merchant wholesale distribution of warm air heating and air-conditioning equipment and supplies. Illustrative Examples: Air pollution control equipment and supplies merchant wholesalers Nonportable electric baseboard heaters merchant wholesalers Air-conditioning equipment (except room units) merchant wholesalers Warm air central heating equipment merchant wholesalers Automotive air-conditioners merchant wholesalers Ductless heating and air-conditioning system equipment merchant wholesalers
Hierarchy
| Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 42 | Wholesale Trade 2-digit sector | The Sector as a Whole The Wholesale Trade sector comprises establishments engaged in wholesaling merchandise, generally without transformation, and rendering services incidental to the sale of merchandise. The merchandise described in this sector includes the outputs of agriculture, mining, manufacturing, and certain information industries, such as publishing. The wholesaling process is an intermediate step in the distribution of merchandise. Wholesalers are organized to sell or arrange the purchase or sale of (a) goods for resale (i.e., goods sold to other wholesalers or retailers), (b) capital or durable nonconsumer goods, and (c) raw and intermediate materials and supplies used in production. Wholesalers sell merchandise to other businesses and normally operate from a warehouse or office. These warehouses and offices are characterized by having little or no display of merchandise. In addition, neither the design nor the location of the premises is intended to solicit walk-in traffic. Wholesalers do not normally use advertising directed to the general public. Customers are generally reached initially via telephone, in-person marketing, or by specialized advertising that may include Internet and other electronic means. Follow-up orders are either vendor-initiated or client-initiated, generally based on previous sales, and typically exhibit strong ties between sellers and buyers. In fact, transactions are often conducted between wholesalers and clients that have long-standing business relationships. This sector comprises two main types of wholesalers: merchant wholesalers that sell goods on their own account and agents and brokers that arrange sales and purchases for others generally for a commission or fee. (1) Establishments that sell goods on their own account are known as wholesale merchants, distributors, jobbers, drop shippers, and import/export merchants. Also included as wholesale merchants are sales offices and sales branches (but not retail stores) maintained by manufacturing, refining, or mining enterprises apart from their plants or mines for the purpose of marketing their products, and group purchasing organizations primarily purchasing and selling goods on their own account. Merchant wholesale establishments typically maintain their own warehouse, where they receive and handle goods for their customers. Goods are generally sold without transformation, but may include integral functions, such as sorting, packaging, labeling, and other marketing services. (2) Establishments arranging for the purchase or sale of goods owned by others or purchasing goods, generally on a commission basis are known as business-to-business electronic markets, agents and brokers, commission merchants, import/export agents and brokers, auction companies, group purchasing organizations (acting as agents), and manufacturers' representatives. These establishments operate from offices and generally do not own or handle the goods they sell. Some wholesale establishments may be connected with a single manufacturer and promote and sell the particular manufacturer's products to a wide range of other wholesalers or retailers. Other wholesalers may be connected to a retail chain, or limited number of retail chains, and only provide a variety of products needed by that particular retail operation(s). These wholesalers may obtain the products from a wide range of manufacturers. Still other wholesalers may not take title to the goods, but act as agents and brokers for a commission. Although, in general, wholesaling normally denotes sales in large volumes, durable nonconsumer goods may be sold in single units. Sales of capital or durable nonconsumer goods used in the production of goods and services, such as farm machinery, medium- and heavy-duty trucks, and industrial machinery, are always included in wholesale trade. |
| 423 | Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods 3-digit subsector | Industries in the Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods subsector sell capital or durable goods to other businesses. Merchant wholesalers generally take title to the goods that they sell; in other words, they buy and sell goods on their own account. Durable goods are new or used items generally with a normal life expectancy of three years or more. Durable goods merchant wholesale trade establishments are engaged in wholesaling products, such as motor vehicles, furniture, construction materials, machinery and equipment (including household-type appliances), metals and minerals (except petroleum), sporting goods, toys and hobby goods, recyclable materials, and parts. Agents and brokers primarily engaged in wholesaling durable goods, generally on a commission or fee basis, are classified in Subsector 425, Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers. |
| 4237 | Hardware, and Plumbing and Heating Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers 4-digit industry group | This industry group comprises establishments primarily engaged in the merchant wholesale distribution of hardware; plumbing and heating equipment and supplies (hydronics); warm air heating and air-conditioning equipment and supplies; and refrigeration equipment and supplies. |
| 42373 | Warm Air Heating and Air-Conditioning Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers 5-digit NAICS industry | See industry description for 423730. |
| 423730 | Warm Air Heating and Air-Conditioning Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers 6-digit U.S. detail | This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in the merchant wholesale distribution of warm air heating and air-conditioning equipment and supplies. Illustrative Examples: Air pollution control equipment and supplies merchant wholesalers Nonportable electric baseboard heaters merchant wholesalers Air-conditioning equipment (except room units) merchant wholesalers Warm air central heating equipment merchant wholesalers Automotive air-conditioners merchant wholesalers Ductless heating and air-conditioning system equipment merchant wholesalers |
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Classification References
- 01Merchant wholesale distribution of household-type gas and electric appliances (except water heaters and heating stoves (i.e., noncooking)) and room air-conditioners--are classified in Industry 423620, Household Appliances, Electric Housewares, and Consumer Electronics Merchant Wholesalers;
- 02Merchant wholesale distribution of hydronic heating equipment--are classified in Industry 423720, Plumbing and Heating Equipment and Supplies (Hydronics) Merchant Wholesalers;
- 03Merchant wholesale distribution of commercial-type refrigeration equipment--are classified in Industry 423740, Refrigeration Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers;
- 04Merchant wholesale distribution of refrigerants--are classified in Industry 424690, Other Chemical and Allied Products Merchant Wholesalers; and
- 05Selling and installing warm air heating and air-conditioning equipment--are classified in Industry 238220, Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors.
Index Items
Air pollution control equipment and supplies merchant wholesalers
Air-conditioning equipment (except room units) merchant wholesalers
Automotive air-conditioners merchant wholesalers
Baseboard heaters, electric, nonportable, merchant wholesalers
Central heating equipment, warm air, merchant wholesalers
Compressors, air-conditioning, merchant wholesalers
Condensing units, air-conditioning, merchant wholesalers
Cooling equipment and supplies merchant wholesalers
Ductless heating and air-conditioning system equipment merchant wholesalers
Dust collection equipment merchant wholesalers
Furnaces, warm air (i.e., forced air), merchant wholesalers
Heat pumps merchant wholesalers
Heating equipment, warm air (i.e. forced air), merchant wholesalers
Humidifiers and dehumidifiers (except portable) merchant wholesalers
HVAC equipment merchant wholesalers
Pollution control equipment, air, merchant wholesalers
Sheet metal duct work (heating and air-conditioning) merchant wholesalers
Ventilating equipment and supplies (except household-type fans) merchant wholesalers
Warm air heating equipment merchant wholesalers
How Item Can Help
The Warehouse Management System optimizes inventory flow for large, bulky HVAC equipment by automating picking routes and tracking serial numbers, reducing shipping damage and delays.
The Order Management System consolidates orders from multiple channels to streamline fulfillment for high-volume merchants, ensuring faster processing times during peak seasons.
Advanced analytics predict demand fluctuations for specific heating and air-conditioning supplies, enabling retailers to restock critical parts just before seasonal peaks.
External Resources
Census.gov NAICS Detail
Official US Census Bureau definition and scope for NAICS 423730.
National Association of the Wholesalers in Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Equipment
Trade association providing industry news, standards, and resources for HVAC equipment wholesalers.
Wholesale.com
Industry directory and e-commerce platform featuring suppliers and retailers of HVAC heating and cooling equipment.
U.S. Department of Commerce - Bureau of the Census
Official government portal providing detailed data and reports on the NAICS 423730 sector.
