Most HVAC contractors can install and repair your system. And most contractors talk up their “quality” work. But until recently, it was difficult for a homeowner to separate the walkers from the talkers—to identify the contractors who minimize your long term costs by performing technically and ethically superior service and installation practices.

So in January 2016, the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) released the latest version of it’s Quality Installation Specification. Recognized by the American National Standards Institute, this standard establishes the minimum requirements for quality installations (roughly 24 requirements and 37 additional elements). A contractor’s adherence to these requirements during both service and installation work will reduce equipment costs (by reducing replacement frequency), service costs (by reducing repair frequency and repair costs), and energy costs (by exploiting the full capacity of your equipment).

Now homeowners are empowered to make better contractor decisions. Ask your prospective contractor:

To which parts of ACCA’s Quality Installation Specification do you adhere and not adhere?

You should think seriously about a contractor’s ability and desire to minimize your costs if you receive any of the following responses:

I’m not familiar with ACCA’s Quality Installation Specification, or

Quality Standard, we don’t need no stinkin Quality Standard, or

I’m not sure to which requirements we adhere and don’t adhere, or

We adhere to all the requirements. (It’s possible, but the costs of 100% adherence can be prohibitive.)