Arkansas HVACR NewsMagazine September 2025

HVACR NewsMagazine September 2025

State National Chapter News

applaud Nate for saying so. It is good to see younger aggressive contractors strive for better installations, however some of the information in the article presents current challenges as new problems. It took many years to understand the basics of mechanical law. We sometime view a problem we are challenged with as new simply because it is new to us. We often think all challenges are of new concern. History has a way to repeat itself. The HVAC industry has been through all this before. The recent uptick in scrutiny is related to the number of platforms available today. These platforms educate homeowners just enough to say something isn’t right and there is a need for corrective measures. Video platforms run the gamut, with mechanics peeling the automotive onion, so called auditors setting up law enforcement for technical challenges, and law firms chasing them all. Seems as though all businesses are fair game for being critiqued more often. Whether a doctor, or a plumber, a teacher or a carpenter, we are all subject to more opinions, more cameras, and more misunderstandings. To single out the HVAC industry as an example, I believe would be a mistake. But consumers must be cautious about calling another company to make those HVAC repairs. States have differing views on repairs. In the state of Texas, if a consumer hires another company to make repairs, any existing liability from the previous company can only be

Lawsuits

How We Got Here Tom Turner, Air Evangelist

Back in May of this year an issue of “The HVAC News” contained an article titled, “How Improper HVAC Installations Is Fueling a Wave of Lawsuits”. Hanna Belloli was the author and Nate Adams of the “ House Whisper ” fame was being interviewed by Belloli. NATE has spent the last several years researching and applying best practices that combine mechanical systems and building science when installing residential HVAC. A practice that is ignored by 90% builders and 80% of contractors. There is a base of about 10% of contractors that fight for correct installs. Until builders realize the HVAC systems have space requirements for both the appliance and the duct system, substandard installs will continue. NATE is known for candid views on issues and the fact that his recommendations can change when necessary. He states he is learning every day and will gladly adjust position when proven changes are presented. In the article, Nate correctly stated a claim that 70% to 80% of homes have new systems with correctable problems intact. Nate is gracious quoting 70% to 80%. We find above 80% installed systems operating at only 60% of nameplate values continually. From our standpoint here, folks in our industry have had a habit of thumbing their nose at doing things correctly. I