HERS Certified Process… Step by Step
Momentum conducts 5 different tests & inspections during your building process.
Job Documents
Please send your Plans, Manual J and Job Schedule to Monica at billing@momentumidaho.com
Inspections at Framing Stage
(Rough-In Inspections)
Visit 1: Inspect energy seal – ensure all penetrations are caulked and/or foam-filled. *After the Air Seal has been completed by your insulation company.
Visit 2: Perform duct blaster – determines that duct leakage falls within required parameters. *Ducts must be completely assembled & sealed before we can administer this test.
Visit 3: Insulation Inspection
- Verify correct R-Values.
- Check for gaps and voids.
- Confirm that cavities have been filled with insulation.
- Verify window qualifications – backer rod, U-factor under .30
*After the walls have been insulated and before the drywall goes up.
Visit 4: Final Inspection
- Envelope, HVAC & Lighting
- Verify furnace qualifications and filtering system.
- Check required attic insulation is installed properly.
- Check crawl space – insulation and vapor barrier installed properly.
- Verify heat pump meets HSPF & SEER (AC SEER Only) requirements
- Verify water heater efficient factor of at least .61 gas / .93 electric.
- Check for LED & CFL lighting
- Perform blower door test
- Static & Temp
- Balance (if requested)
*Usually scheduled right before the final clean.
- Attic insulation is installed
- Appliances are installed.
- Carpet, doors, & weather stripping are in place.
If additional inspections are required, Momentum will notify builder as soon as possible.
HERS Certified building process
As part of the HERS Certified building process, Momentum starts with a review of the project’s plans and Manual J to determine a preliminary HERS Score. Momentum’s HERS Certification process is based on the HERS Index, utilizing the RESNET Accredited Rating Software to calculate a rating score on the HERS Index.
During the building process for a HERS Certified Home, Momentum is on-site conducting tests at the framing stage such as a duct blaster test, air seal, and insulation inspection. When the home is finished, a blower door test will be conducted along with other inspections such as reviewing attics, crawls, lights, appliances, water run-off and balancing of the HVAC system, if required.
Finally, once Momentum has finalized the home, your home is then registered with RESNET job details, and final numbers are added into Ekotrop software to produce the home’s final HERS score. Momentum will then issue the builder an official HERS Certificate with the official HERS score to be given to the homeowner.
The lower the score on the HERS Index, the BETTER! The lower the score, the more energy-efficient the home and the less the homeowner will pay in energy bills. LOWER IS BETTER with the HERS Index.
Watch the video below to learn more: