Whenever you need any work performed on your heating or air conditioning system, it’s essential that you choose a reputable contractor who knows and adheres to all the necessary standards. Hiring someone who doesn’t know exactly what they’re doing and doesn’t follow the industry standards is a recipe for disaster since it can negatively affect your comfort and finances. The main organization responsible for setting HVAC standards is the ACCA (Air Conditioning Contractors Association of America). This article will explain what role they have in setting HVAC standards and why following these standards is so important.
What’s the ACCA?
ACCA is a nationwide, nonprofit organization dedicated to serving professionals in the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) industry and the HVAC industry itself. More than 4,000 HVAC contractors are members of the ACCA. The organization has more than 60,000 members who work together to set standards for heating and cooling and maximize HVAC performance and efficiency.
The main role of the ACCA is to establish and write all of the standards for HVAC installation, maintenance, repairs, design, testing, and performance. These standards are then used by all HVAC manufacturers as well as many contractors and technicians in the United States to ensure that all equipment performs efficiently and all work is performed correctly.
The Importance of Following ACCA Standards
HVAC equipment is extremely complex, and every HVAC system is different. Without the standards set out by the ACCA, there would be no way for homeowners and business owners to know if their HVAC systems were designed, installed, and serviced properly. There would also be major variations from company to company and technician to technician in terms of how different HVAC systems are designed and how work is performed, which could easily lead to poor performance and many other issues.
ACCA standards were established and are regularly updated to ensure that all HVAC equipment and systems work as efficiently and perform as effectively as possible. For instance, the standards set the guidelines for how every HVAC system should be cleaned and maintained to create a healthy, safe, and comfortable indoor environment and to operate efficiently throughout their lifespan. The problem is that many HVAC contractors and technicians take different approaches to maintenance. Without the ACCA standards, this would make it impossible for consumers to compare the maintenance services offered by various contractors.
The ACCA standard sets out specific guidelines on what all is required when inspecting and maintaining any type of HVAC system so that consumers can be assured the work is done properly. If you hire an HVAC contractor that isn’t a member of the ACCA, there’s no guarantee that they follow all of the manufacturer- and industry-recommended standards. This means that you may end up paying a contractor and have them not perform all of the necessary tasks, which could lead to poor performance, high energy costs, air quality issues, and also negatively impact your comfort.
Following all of the ACCA standards also makes it easier for technicians and contractors to troubleshoot specific issues and recommend the appropriate corrective action for overcoming any problems. It allows homeowner and business owners to be completely certain that their HVAC system is properly designed and installed exactly as it should be. This is especially important as improper design and/or installation will almost always result in poor performance and the system having a much shorter lifespan.
Other Affiliations to Look for When Hiring an HVAC Contractor
Although the ACCA is the largest HVAC trade organization in the US, it isn’t the only one. When hiring an HVAC contractor, you also want to make sure that their technicians are NATE-certified. NATE (North American Technician Excellence) is a nonprofit organization that trains and certifies HVAC technicians to ensure that they understand all relevant standards and can perform all design, installation, maintenance, and repair work according to these standards. Most HVAC manufacturers require all work to be performed by a technician who has the appropriate NATE certification. If not, they’ll void the warranty on their equipment since there’s no way for them to know that the work met all the necessary standards.
The Mechanical Contractors Association of America (MCAA) is another trade organization that’s dedicated to improving the HVAC industry. The main goal of the MCAA is to promote the highest quality standards in terms of professionalism, integrity, and quality of workmanship. It does this through training and educating all types of HVAC professionals.
Cypress’ Most Trusted HVAC Contractor
AirDepot has been serving residential and commercial customers in Cypress and the surrounding areas since 1979 and is the area’s top choice for all heating and air conditioning services. We’re proud to be a member of both the ACCA and MCAA. We always follow all the established standards when performing HVAC design, installation, repair, and maintenance services. Our technicians are also NATE-certified and have years of education and experience performing all types of heating, air conditioning, and indoor air quality services. If you have any questions or need to set up a service call, give our team of experts a call today.
