With the R-454B refrigerant shortage impacting contractors nationwide, every ounce of refrigerant counts. In this environment, installation quality is not just about doing a great job—it’s about protecting scarce resources by preventing leaks that waste refrigerant and increase costs.
Leaks start with installation mistakes
Most refrigerant leaks don’t just happen. They’re built into the job from day one and can be traced back to install issues like:
- Improper brazing, flare joints, or compression fittings of refrigerant lines
- Failing to pressure and vacuum decay tests
- Incorrect refrigerant charge causing undue stress on seals and components
When systems are undercharged or improperly commissioned, compressors and other parts work harder and vibrate more, accelerating wear on seals and joints. Over time, this could create small leaks that allow refrigerant to escape, wasting a resource that’s currently both costly and hard to source.
How ACCA QI certificates help you use refrigerant more efficiently
Issuing an ACCA Quality Installation (QI) certificate means you’re committing to a proven, data-driven quality process that helps you catch and fix installation problems that can cause leaks before leaving the job site.
The result? Fewer charge-related problems, fewer callbacks, and less refrigerant wasted over the lifetime of the system.
Beyond refrigerant: delivering lasting quality and customer trust
While conserving refrigerant is critical now, the benefits of high-quality installation go far beyond helping the industry during this shortage. QI certificates help contractors like you:
- Set your business apart with third-party proof
- Help your team install consistently, without cutting corners
- Give homeowners proof that your quality isn’t just talk
- Save money! (Callbacks can easily cost you $1,000 a pop)
Now more than ever, quality is a smart business strategy
With refrigerant in short supply and customers watching every dollar, sloppy installs are more than just sloppy—they’re expensive. They eat into your margins, damage your reputation, and burn through refrigerant you might not be able to replace next week.
ACCA’s QI certificate program gives you a way to fight back—with proof, precision, and performance.
Start issuing QI certificates today at acca.org/qa/prove-it and stop letting leaks drain your business.
The post R-454B is in short supply—don’t let bad installs make it worse appeared first on ACCA HVAC Blog.