FREE HERS RATER PRACTICE EXAM

PUT YOUR HOME PERFORMANCE BUSINESS ON ROCKET FUEL

COMMON MISTAKES

Energy Auditors

1. Not finding all the problems in a home, especially in the attic.  This includes all the soffits, insulation misalignments, flex-to-flex splices, ductwork in need of replacement.  This is part of an auditors job, not just to show the homeowner air leaks with the blower door or an IR camera.  For my company, an energy auditor does not reach the highest pay scale until they can identify all the problem areas.
2. Not enough details in their work orders for the installers.  How much are the installers going to reroute a flex line if the line is pulled tight with no room for play?  How are installers going to access a return plenum?  Simply diagnosing a problem is not enough and it is nobody's job but the energy auditors to call out what is needed.
3. Unclear explanations or pictures of where and what the problems are in a house.  I love attic diagrams and lots of pictures.  Usually a general picture of the problem area, then a close-up.  There can never be enough explanation of where and what the problem is from an energy auditor to the crew.
4. Relying too much on showmanship with an IR camera and a blower door.  Yes there is leakage around recessed canned lights and electrical outlets but how much is that really going to save a homeowner?  $20 a year?  It's fine to use some showmanship to help sell a job, I totally agree with selling a homeowner what they want, and give them what they need, but not at the expense of undermining bigger issues that will really help homeowners.
5. Leaving doubt in the homeowner's mind.
6. Thinking that you are a good auditor and deserve a higher pay but you are guilty of all of the above items.
7. Over promising energy savings. This is less true with BPI Certified Energy Auditors than it is with just sales reps who have no formal energy auditor training, especially those who sell radiant barrier.

Crew

1. Hand prints on the walls, attic hatches and ceilings.  All my crew use latex gloves and register tape around duct registers when duct sealing.
2. Chipping paint off the wall when removing registers.  Use a blade to remove the register and cut the paint and caulk away.
3. Leaving a mess in the attic.  Yes, the homeowner hardly goes up there, but when they do your company is the first on their mind as to who left all this trash.  Nothing hurts a companies image more than a mess left no matter if it is the attic, the driveway or the house, clean it up.
4. Insulation blown into the AHU drip pan.  This could cause a nice flood when drain gets pulled and overflows the drip pan.  Best clean it out with the insulation hose running with just air or a shop vac.  Or just tape around it so nothing gets in the pan in the first place.
5. Swearing and talking inappropriately in the attic.  The homeowner can still hear you.
6. Not prepping an area, this means putting plastic out when you have carpeting, removing the clothes from a master closet attic hatch.
7. Popping a 5 amp fuse on the AHU.  This can be done all too easily by simply hitting the AHU switch off in the attic at the wrong time.  
8. Being late.
9. Looking sloppy.
10. Smoking in front of the home or leaving ciggerrette butts in the driveway.
11. Using the company trailer or van as a trash can.
12. Not tightening zip ties enough.  If you can fit one finger under the zip tie OR you can slightly slide the zip tie, it is not tight enough.
13. Forgetting a open soffit also has vertical misalignments.  Don't just cap the top of a soffit, often times there is also a nice open vertical section that needs to be sealed with foam board or drywall.
    
14. Getting mastic on your shoes and then tracking it on the carpet or floor.

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