Home Retrofit

Quality assurance corrective action trends


Using 2020 verification results, Energy Trust of Oregon’s Residential Quality Management team has identified several corrective action trends across multiple measures, including gas furnaces and fireplaces, windows, and ductless heat pumps. Avoiding these common corrections will reduce costly call-backs.

Most common corrective actions of 2020:

    1. Homes with gas furnaces and fireplaces missing CO alarm. A functioning UL-listed carbon monoxide alarm must be installed according to manufacturer’s specifications on every floor with a bedroom. CO2 detector
    2. Flanged windows missing drip caps. All flanged windows must have Z-style rigid flashing, known as drip caps, inserted behind the weather barrier and over the head trim piece unless the windows are protected by an overhang (page 54, Specifications Manual).
      Drip cap
    3. Ductless heat pumps missing line set insulation. The entire line set must be insulated and line set penetrations in the building shell need to be sealed with caulk, foam or other compatible sealant rated for exterior use.
      Heat pump line set correctly

      Line set installed correctly

      heat pump line set wrong

      Line set installed incorrectly

    4. Ductless heat pump outdoor unit not secured to pad. The outdoor unit must be bolted directly to risers that are mechanically or adhesively attached to a permanent pad on a stable, level surface.
      Outdoor unit

Consulting the 2020 Energy Trust Specifications Manual prior to completing a project installation is always the best way to avoid having to return to a site and make corrections. You can also receive live video support from the Quality Management team. If you have any questions about project specifications or you could benefit from a live video support call, please email the Residential Quality Management team.