HVACR distributors today are introducing software to meet contractors where they’re at and to fit the way they place electronic orders. At the same time, they’re working to maintain the personal relationships they’ve built with those customers.

Current rules allow for date-of-installation deadlines, which critics say are burdensome for distributors and contractors who may risk being stuck with equipment that cannot be legally installed in their region.

In addition to taking up less space, smaller chillers can be more easily installed, weigh less, and pose fewer shipping, rigging, and building-construction challenges. They can also be more energy efficient, with the same or even greater cooling capacity.

Proper indoor RH — generally between 35% and 60%, with the range leaving wiggle room for personal preferences and outdoor conditions — is vital in maintaining IAQ, the health and well-being of a home’s occupants, and the condition of its furnishings.

The Clear Seas Research survey found, for example, that while 47% of contractors advertise via local print media, such as newspapers and mailers, only 22% of homeowners search for a contractor through print media.

Guidelines have changed several times since the program began. Eligibility was expanded, and the credit amounts increased.

The Inflation Reduction Act’s major incentive for the installation of a qualified geothermal system is a 30% federal clean energy credit, which can be used at filing time to offset taxes owed or add to any refund.