How to Pass a Rescheck

Written by Jobe Leonard of Rescheck.info. Jobe enjoys all things related to Rescheck reporting and the study of home energy audit softwares like Rescheck, Comcheck, and Manual J.

Jobe Leonard Rescheck.info

Most readers want to know one thing when they visit the Reschexpert blog.  How to pass a Rescheck.  We want to give you some simple ideas to help you answer this question in your own mind before you get started using either Rescheck Web or Desktop to create your DIY Rescheck.  So read along as we discuss some Rescheck basics that will help you pass your Rescheck.

The first thing you should do to pass your Rescheck is talk to your building department.  You need to ask them 2 questions.

What building code do I need to use for my Rescheck?  There are many options in Rescheck softwares the most popular being IECC 2009 Rescheck, IECC 2012 Rescheck, IECC 2015 Rescheck, IECC 2018 Rescheck, and IECC 2021 Rescheck.  There are are also state and city specific codes your building department may require.

The next question is, are there any city specific requirements?  Your building department may make you jump through extra hoops, just because they can.  For example, the city of Houston you can present them a Houston Rescheck that passes by 20% using an R 30 roof, they will not pass the Rescheck.  They require a city specific value of R38 and several other items to be included on their Rescheck.  There are thousands of other cities with their own Rescheck requirements that you can only get by talking to your inspector.

After you know the Rescheck criteria your next step is to choose which software that you will use.  You have 2 options.  The Department of Energy offers a cloud based Rescheck Web and a local hard drive based Rescheck Desktop.  If you are just getting started with your first Rescheck I would say the easiest way to pass your Rescheck would be using Rescheck Web because it contains all the energy codes.  Rescheck Desktop is lacking key codes like IECC 2018 Rescheck and IECC 2021 Rescheck.  However, if you are in an area with low or slow internet connectivity then Rescheck Desktop may work better for your Rescheck, as long as the code you are using stops at the IECC 2015 Rescheck update.

The next way to pass is to know your project.  You need to know the jobsite address, ceiling R values, wall R values, Window U values, Window SHGC, Foundation R Values, Door U Values, and the values of any skylights you might install.

You also need to find a way to get a full size set of plans to get the area estimates.  A local office supply store should able to print them for you.  Also look for an architect’s scale while you are there to take the measurements off of the plans.

Once you have all this data collected you simply need to enter it into the software.  If all your specs are good for your local climate zone you can simply click “check compliance” on Rescheck Web or Rescheck Desktop and the age old question of How Do I Pass a Rescheck?  Will be answered.

Thanks for reading the Reschexpert blog.  If you need help with a Rescheck email your plans, jobsite address, and square footage to service@rescheck.info and we can help make your troubling question of How to Pass a Rescheck, a thing of the past.