> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://ac-plus-heating-air.mintlify.site/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # HERS Verification Test > HERS Verification Test — AC Plus Heating & Air knowledge base, Victorville, CA. ## HERS verification test in Victorville - AC Plus Heating & Air The HERS Verification Test. Called the HERS Test or Home Energy Rating Test. Is a state-mandated field inspection. It confirms that a newly installed air conditioning system meets California's Title 24 energy efficiency standards by measuring duct leakage, airflow, refrigerant charge, and static pressure against defined pass/fail thresholds. A certified HERS rater, independent of the installing contractor, performs every test on-site and submits results to the California Energy Commission registry before a permit closes. Without a passing result, the installation is legally incomplete. This holds true regardless of how well the equipment runs. ### What the HERS Verification Test is The HERS Verification Test is a type of Building Energy Compliance Inspection, the same broad category as blower-door tests and insulation inspections, applied specifically to HVAC systems in new construction and qualifying replacement projects. Title 24 Verification is required any time a new [central air conditioning system](https://ac-plus-heating-air.mintlify.site/central-air-conditioning-system.md) is permitted in California, including Victorville and the rest of San Bernardino County. A permit-only installation or contractor self-certification is not an acceptable substitute. A third-party HERS rater inspection for new air conditioning is the only path to compliance. The test produces a Verification score on a 1-to-100 scale and an Inspection status of Pass or Fail. Both values are recorded in the state registry and tied to the permit record for the property. ### Measurable attributes the HERS rater tests The HERS Verification Test requirement covers five distinct measurements, each with a defined acceptance range under Title 24. * **Duct leakage rate:** Duct leakage is measured in CFM25. Cubic feet per minute at 25 pascals of pressure. Total duct leakage must fall below the Title 24 threshold for the system size; excessive leakage means conditioned air escapes before reaching living spaces. * **Airflow measurement:** Airflow is measured in CFM per ton of cooling capacity. A correctly sized and installed system delivers airflow within the range the equipment manufacturer specifies, typically 350 to 450 CFM per ton. * **Refrigerant charge verification:** The rater confirms target superheat and subcooling are within ±3°F of the manufacturer's specification. A charge outside that band reduces efficiency and shortens compressor life. * **Static pressure:** Static pressure, measured in inches of water column (in. W\.c.), shows whether the duct system creates excessive resistance. High static pressure forces the blower to work harder and reduces airflow below the tested CFM target. * **Duct leakage to outside:** Beyond total leakage, the rater isolates leakage to unconditioned space. Attics, crawlspaces, garages. Because that leakage carries the largest energy penalty and is reported separately as a percentage or CFM25 value. A [heat pump](https://ac-plus-heating-air.mintlify.site/heat-pump.md) installation triggers the same five measurements, since heat pumps fall under the same Title 24 compliance pathway as conventional split systems. ### How the HERS Verification Test relates to the broader HVAC system The HERS Verification Test sits at the intersection of equipment performance and building envelope compliance. It confirms that the installed system. The air handler, the condensing unit, the duct network and the refrigerant circuit. Performs as a whole, not merely that individual components passed a factory test. A [ductless mini split system](https://ac-plus-heating-air.mintlify.site/ductless-mini-split-system.md) bypasses the duct leakage portion of the test because it has no duct network, but refrigerant charge and airflow verification still apply when the permit requires HERS compliance. The Compliance level is Title 24, California's Building Energy Code, which sets the legal floor for energy performance in new and replacement HVAC work. Passing the HERS Test means the system meets that floor. An unverified HVAC system. One installed without a completed HERS inspection. Leaves the homeowner with an open permit, potential resale complications and no documented proof the system performs to the efficiency rating on the equipment label. ### What happens when a system fails the HERS Verification Test A failed Inspection status requires the installing contractor to correct the deficiency and schedule a re-inspection before the permit closes. The most common failure causes are duct leakage above the CFM25 limit, refrigerant charge outside the ±3°F superheat or subcooling target and airflow below the minimum CFM per ton. Sealing duct joints, adjusting refrigerant charge and correcting static pressure restrictions are the typical corrective steps. The HERS rater does not perform the corrections. That work belongs to the licensed [air conditioning contractor](https://ac-plus-heating-air.mintlify.site/air-conditioning-contractor.md) who completed the installation. An unverified HVAC system that never received a passing result carries ongoing risk: the permit remains open, the efficiency rating on the AHRI certificate is unconfirmed in the field and utility rebate programs that require HERS documentation cannot be claimed. [AC Plus](https://share.google/6FSUMKvu776gf9z9l) holds CSLB License #805216 and serves the Victorville, Wrightwood, Rancho Cucamonga, and Redlands areas as a California licensed HVAC contractor. ### Where the HERS Verification Test requirement applies in Victorville Title 24 Verification applies to all permitted new AC installations in California. Victorville falls under San Bernardino County's enforcement of that requirement. Climate Zone 14, which covers the High Desert including Victorville, carries specific duct leakage and airflow targets that differ from coastal zones due to the region's extreme summer temperatures and wide diurnal swings. Coastal passing scores do not transfer. A system that passes HERS in a coastal climate zone may not automatically meet the CFM and leakage thresholds set for Climate Zone 14, so the rater applies the correct zone-specific values during the inspection. [AC Plus Heating and Air](https://maps.app.goo.gl/K8E36ND3S9tFaNMQA) coordinates HERS rater scheduling as part of permitted AC installations in the Victorville area, ensuring the inspection is completed before the permit closes and the homeowner receives a documented pass result tied to their property record. ### Related entities * [air conditioning contractor](https://ac-plus-heating-air.mintlify.site/air-conditioning-contractor.md) * [central air conditioning system](https://ac-plus-heating-air.mintlify.site/central-air-conditioning-system.md) * [ductless mini split system](https://ac-plus-heating-air.mintlify.site/ductless-mini-split-system.md) * [heat pump](https://ac-plus-heating-air.mintlify.site/heat-pump.md) *** **AC Plus Heating & Air** · Victorville, CA · (760) 474-5776 · [acplushvac.com](https://acplushvac.com) This documentation is built and hosted on [Mintlify](https://mintlify.com), a developer documentation platform.