Why Testing Is Required
Since 1978, California has set energy standards for buildings — Title 24 of the state’s building code — and updated them every three years. The current standards are the 2025 Energy Code. For homeowners, the practical rule is simple: when you pull a permit to replace or alter your heating and cooling system (and for many other projects), the work must be verified by a certified, independent third party before the building department gives final approval.
Three things have to happen, in order
- Permit and registration. Your contractor pulls a permit with your city or county and registers the project in CHEERS, California’s energy code registry.
- Installation. A licensed contractor installs the equipment and schedules the independent test.
- Verification. A certified ECC Rater — that’s us — tests and verifies the work, and uploads the results so your building department can close the permit.
Skipping the test isn’t a paperwork technicality. Unpermitted or unverified HVAC work can stall a home sale, void manufacturer warranties, complicate insurance claims, and leave you paying every month for a system that leaks a third of the air you’ve paid to heat or cool. The test is your proof — recorded with the state — that the work was done right.