HOUSTON — SmartAC introduced its Gen2 Sensor and a new residential HVAC intelligence model. The system uses data from a single sensor to help contractors monitor equipment performance and identify emerging problems.

The Gen2 Sensor requires no Wi-Fi or wiring and is designed for simple installation. SmartAC lists the service at $5 per month. The company says the lower cost and simpler setup can help contractors monitor homes beyond their existing maintenance and membership programs.

SmartAC’s model draws on more than three years of performance data from over 75,000 connected homes. Each sensor captures approximately 10,000 data points daily. The company says its proprietary model uses those records to assess HVAC system behavior and identify developing issues.

The model combines sensor readings with information about climate, home characteristics, and the performance of comparable nearby systems. SmartAC says this approach allows the model to characterize system performance from a single sensor, despite differences in equipment, installation, age, and climate.

The goal is to identify problems before they lead to emergency service calls. Technicians can use the resulting information to understand how a system has been operating and where to begin investigating when they arrive at a home.

A SmartAC survey of 998 homeowners, conducted in August 2026, found that 78.8% were not enrolled in a maintenance or membership program. The company positions Gen2 as a way for contractors to maintain visibility into those homes while continuing to offer existing membership programs.

Earlier awareness of declining system performance could help contractors identify repair needs, plan replacements, and discuss maintenance memberships before a homeowner contacts another service provider. SmartAC says contractors using its existing systems have reported nearly 20% higher revenue per home, as reported in Contracting Business’ September 2026 cover story.

Existing Gen1 systems will also use the new intelligence model and receive its improvements, according to SmartAC. Gen2 provides current partners with another option for expanding the number of homes they monitor.

“Characterizing how an entire HVAC system is performing from a single sensor is something new,” said Matt Robillard, SmartAC’s chief technology officer. He said the system can give technicians information about equipment behavior and performance before they arrive, while leaving the diagnosis to the technician.

The sensor is now available to SmartAC contractor partners.