HERS RATER PRACTICE EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS
1. What is the minimum R-value for ceiling insulation in Climate Zone 4A according to the
IECC? a) R-30 b) R-38 c) R-49 d) R-60
Answer: c) R-49
2. Which test method is used to measure air leakage in residential buildings? a) Duct blaster
test b) Blower door test c) Combustion analyzer test d) Manometer test
Answer: b) Blower door test
3. What does ACH50 represent? a) Air changes per hour at 50 pascals pressure difference b)
Air conditioning hours at 50°F c) Air circulation heating at 50 BTUs d) Air chamber height
of 50 inches
Answer: a) Air changes per hour at 50 pascals pressure difference
4. The thermal boundary should align with which boundary? a) Property boundary b) Air
barrier c) Vapor barrier d) Foundation boundary
Answer: b) Air barrier
5. What is the primary purpose of a vapor retarder? a) Prevent air leakage b) Control moisture
diffusion c) Provide structural support d) Improve insulation performance
Answer: b) Control moisture diffusion
6. Which insulation type has the highest R-value per inch? a) Fiberglass batt b) Cellulose c)
Polyurethane spray foam d) Mineral wool
Answer: c) Polyurethane spray foam
7. What is considered an acceptable air leakage rate for new construction? a) 3 ACH50 or
less b) 5 ACH50 or less c) 7 ACH50 or less d) 10 ACH50 or less
Answer: a) 3 ACH50 or less
8. Thermal bridging occurs when: a) Insulation is compressed b) Conductive materials bypass
insulation c) Air barriers fail d) Vapor barriers are missing
Answer: b) Conductive materials bypass insulation
,9. What is the recommended approach for insulating a basement wall? a) Exterior insulation
only b) Interior insulation only c) Both interior and exterior d) No insulation needed
Answer: a) Exterior insulation only (preferred)
10. Which window performance metric indicates heat transfer through the entire window? a)
U-factor b) SHGC c) VT d) AL
Answer: a) U-factor
Section 2: HVAC Systems (Questions 11-35)
11. What is the minimum duct leakage requirement for new homes? a) 4 CFM25 per 100 sq ft
of conditioned floor area b) 6 CFM25 per 100 sq ft of conditioned floor area c) 8 CFM25 per
100 sq ft of conditioned floor area d) 10 CFM25 per 100 sq ft of conditioned floor area
Answer: a) 4 CFM25 per 100 sq ft of conditioned floor area
12. AFUE stands for: a) Annual Fuel Usage Efficiency b) Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency
c) Air Flow Unit Efficiency d) Automatic Fuel Unit Efficiency
Answer: b) Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency
13. What does SEER measure? a) Heating efficiency b) Cooling efficiency c) Water heating
efficiency d) Ventilation efficiency
Answer: b) Cooling efficiency
14. The Manual J calculation determines: a) Duct sizing b) Equipment sizing c) Ventilation
requirements d) Insulation levels
Answer: b) Equipment sizing
15. What is the purpose of Manual D? a) Load calculations b) Equipment selection c) Duct
design d) Ventilation design
Answer: c) Duct design
16. Which refrigerant is being phased out due to ozone depletion? a) R-410A b) R-22 c) R-
134a d) R-32
Answer: b) R-22
17. What is the minimum HSPF for air source heat pumps in northern climates? a) 7.7 b) 8.2
c) 8.5 d) 9.0
Answer: b) 8.2
,18. Ductwork located outside the conditioned space should be insulated to a minimum of: a)
R-4 b) R-6 c) R-8 d) R-10
Answer: c) R-8
19. What is the recommended return air temperature rise for a properly functioning cooling
system? a) 10-15°F b) 15-20°F c) 20-25°F d) 25-30°F
Answer: b) 15-20°F
20. Which ventilation standard applies to residential buildings? a) ASHRAE 62.1 b)
ASHRAE 62.2 c) ASHRAE 90.1 d) ASHRAE 90.2
Answer: b) ASHRAE 62.2
Section 3: Water Heating & Renewable Energy (Questions
21-40)
21. What does EF stand for in water heater ratings? a) Energy Factor b) Efficiency Factor c)
Electric Factor d) Environmental Factor
Answer: a) Energy Factor
22. The newer water heater efficiency metric UEF stands for: a) Uniform Energy Factor b)
Updated Energy Factor c) Universal Energy Factor d) Ultimate Energy Factor
Answer: a) Uniform Energy Factor
23. What is the minimum insulation requirement for hot water pipes? a) R-2 b) R-3 c) R-4 d)
R-6
Answer: b) R-3
24. Solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) for windows should be: a) High in northern climates,
low in southern climates b) Low in northern climates, high in southern climates c) Always
high d) Always low
Answer: a) High in northern climates, low in southern climates
25. What is the federal tax credit percentage for residential solar installations (as of 2023)? a)
26% b) 30% c) 22% d) 10%
Answer: b) 30%
Section 4: Testing & Diagnostics (Questions 26-50)
26. The blower door test measures: a) Total air leakage area b) Air changes per hour c) Both
a and b d) Neither a nor b
, Answer: c) Both a and b
27. What pressure differential is used for standard blower door testing? a) 25 pascals b) 50
pascals c) 75 pascals d) 100 pascals
Answer: b) 50 pascals
28. Duct leakage testing uses what pressure differential? a) 25 pascals b) 50 pascals c) 75
pascals d) 100 pascals
Answer: a) 25 pascals
29. What is the maximum allowable draft for a natural draft water heater? a) -2 pascals b) -5
pascals c) -8 pascals d) -10 pascals
Answer: b) -5 pascals
30. Carbon monoxide levels above what concentration require immediate action? a) 9 ppm b)
35 ppm c) 100 ppm d) 200 ppm
Answer: c) 100 ppm (ambient air)
Section 5: Energy Modeling & HERS Index (Questions 31-
55)
31. A HERS Index of 100 represents: a) Zero energy home b) Code-compliant home c)
RESNET Reference Home d) Energy Star qualified home
Answer: c) RESNET Reference Home
32. What HERS Index is required for ENERGY STAR certification? a) 67 or lower b) 85 or
lower c) 100 or lower d) Varies by climate zone
Answer: d) Varies by climate zone
33. A lower HERS Index indicates: a) Higher energy consumption b) Lower energy
consumption c) Average energy consumption d) No correlation to energy consumption
Answer: b) Lower energy consumption
34. What software is most commonly used for HERS ratings? a) EnergyGauge b) REM/Rate
c) Both a and b d) REMDesign
Answer: c) Both a and b
35. The HERS Index calculation is based on: a) Annual energy costs b) Annual energy
consumption c) Peak demand d) Both a and b
Answer: b) Annual energy consumption
ANSWERS
1. What is the minimum R-value for ceiling insulation in Climate Zone 4A according to the
IECC? a) R-30 b) R-38 c) R-49 d) R-60
Answer: c) R-49
2. Which test method is used to measure air leakage in residential buildings? a) Duct blaster
test b) Blower door test c) Combustion analyzer test d) Manometer test
Answer: b) Blower door test
3. What does ACH50 represent? a) Air changes per hour at 50 pascals pressure difference b)
Air conditioning hours at 50°F c) Air circulation heating at 50 BTUs d) Air chamber height
of 50 inches
Answer: a) Air changes per hour at 50 pascals pressure difference
4. The thermal boundary should align with which boundary? a) Property boundary b) Air
barrier c) Vapor barrier d) Foundation boundary
Answer: b) Air barrier
5. What is the primary purpose of a vapor retarder? a) Prevent air leakage b) Control moisture
diffusion c) Provide structural support d) Improve insulation performance
Answer: b) Control moisture diffusion
6. Which insulation type has the highest R-value per inch? a) Fiberglass batt b) Cellulose c)
Polyurethane spray foam d) Mineral wool
Answer: c) Polyurethane spray foam
7. What is considered an acceptable air leakage rate for new construction? a) 3 ACH50 or
less b) 5 ACH50 or less c) 7 ACH50 or less d) 10 ACH50 or less
Answer: a) 3 ACH50 or less
8. Thermal bridging occurs when: a) Insulation is compressed b) Conductive materials bypass
insulation c) Air barriers fail d) Vapor barriers are missing
Answer: b) Conductive materials bypass insulation
,9. What is the recommended approach for insulating a basement wall? a) Exterior insulation
only b) Interior insulation only c) Both interior and exterior d) No insulation needed
Answer: a) Exterior insulation only (preferred)
10. Which window performance metric indicates heat transfer through the entire window? a)
U-factor b) SHGC c) VT d) AL
Answer: a) U-factor
Section 2: HVAC Systems (Questions 11-35)
11. What is the minimum duct leakage requirement for new homes? a) 4 CFM25 per 100 sq ft
of conditioned floor area b) 6 CFM25 per 100 sq ft of conditioned floor area c) 8 CFM25 per
100 sq ft of conditioned floor area d) 10 CFM25 per 100 sq ft of conditioned floor area
Answer: a) 4 CFM25 per 100 sq ft of conditioned floor area
12. AFUE stands for: a) Annual Fuel Usage Efficiency b) Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency
c) Air Flow Unit Efficiency d) Automatic Fuel Unit Efficiency
Answer: b) Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency
13. What does SEER measure? a) Heating efficiency b) Cooling efficiency c) Water heating
efficiency d) Ventilation efficiency
Answer: b) Cooling efficiency
14. The Manual J calculation determines: a) Duct sizing b) Equipment sizing c) Ventilation
requirements d) Insulation levels
Answer: b) Equipment sizing
15. What is the purpose of Manual D? a) Load calculations b) Equipment selection c) Duct
design d) Ventilation design
Answer: c) Duct design
16. Which refrigerant is being phased out due to ozone depletion? a) R-410A b) R-22 c) R-
134a d) R-32
Answer: b) R-22
17. What is the minimum HSPF for air source heat pumps in northern climates? a) 7.7 b) 8.2
c) 8.5 d) 9.0
Answer: b) 8.2
,18. Ductwork located outside the conditioned space should be insulated to a minimum of: a)
R-4 b) R-6 c) R-8 d) R-10
Answer: c) R-8
19. What is the recommended return air temperature rise for a properly functioning cooling
system? a) 10-15°F b) 15-20°F c) 20-25°F d) 25-30°F
Answer: b) 15-20°F
20. Which ventilation standard applies to residential buildings? a) ASHRAE 62.1 b)
ASHRAE 62.2 c) ASHRAE 90.1 d) ASHRAE 90.2
Answer: b) ASHRAE 62.2
Section 3: Water Heating & Renewable Energy (Questions
21-40)
21. What does EF stand for in water heater ratings? a) Energy Factor b) Efficiency Factor c)
Electric Factor d) Environmental Factor
Answer: a) Energy Factor
22. The newer water heater efficiency metric UEF stands for: a) Uniform Energy Factor b)
Updated Energy Factor c) Universal Energy Factor d) Ultimate Energy Factor
Answer: a) Uniform Energy Factor
23. What is the minimum insulation requirement for hot water pipes? a) R-2 b) R-3 c) R-4 d)
R-6
Answer: b) R-3
24. Solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) for windows should be: a) High in northern climates,
low in southern climates b) Low in northern climates, high in southern climates c) Always
high d) Always low
Answer: a) High in northern climates, low in southern climates
25. What is the federal tax credit percentage for residential solar installations (as of 2023)? a)
26% b) 30% c) 22% d) 10%
Answer: b) 30%
Section 4: Testing & Diagnostics (Questions 26-50)
26. The blower door test measures: a) Total air leakage area b) Air changes per hour c) Both
a and b d) Neither a nor b
, Answer: c) Both a and b
27. What pressure differential is used for standard blower door testing? a) 25 pascals b) 50
pascals c) 75 pascals d) 100 pascals
Answer: b) 50 pascals
28. Duct leakage testing uses what pressure differential? a) 25 pascals b) 50 pascals c) 75
pascals d) 100 pascals
Answer: a) 25 pascals
29. What is the maximum allowable draft for a natural draft water heater? a) -2 pascals b) -5
pascals c) -8 pascals d) -10 pascals
Answer: b) -5 pascals
30. Carbon monoxide levels above what concentration require immediate action? a) 9 ppm b)
35 ppm c) 100 ppm d) 200 ppm
Answer: c) 100 ppm (ambient air)
Section 5: Energy Modeling & HERS Index (Questions 31-
55)
31. A HERS Index of 100 represents: a) Zero energy home b) Code-compliant home c)
RESNET Reference Home d) Energy Star qualified home
Answer: c) RESNET Reference Home
32. What HERS Index is required for ENERGY STAR certification? a) 67 or lower b) 85 or
lower c) 100 or lower d) Varies by climate zone
Answer: d) Varies by climate zone
33. A lower HERS Index indicates: a) Higher energy consumption b) Lower energy
consumption c) Average energy consumption d) No correlation to energy consumption
Answer: b) Lower energy consumption
34. What software is most commonly used for HERS ratings? a) EnergyGauge b) REM/Rate
c) Both a and b d) REMDesign
Answer: c) Both a and b
35. The HERS Index calculation is based on: a) Annual energy costs b) Annual energy
consumption c) Peak demand d) Both a and b
Answer: b) Annual energy consumption
