REScheck Rejected? Here's How I Fix It
Nine Times Out of Ten, It's One Line Item — Not a Redesign
Quick answer: A rejected REScheck almost always comes down to one incorrect field — the wrong code year, a climate zone mismatch, a U-factor or R-value typo, or unconditioned space modeled as conditioned. It's rarely a redesign. Send me the plan reviewer's comment letter and I'll tell you within minutes what's wrong and how fast it can be corrected.
You got the comment letter back from plan review, your REScheck has a big red “FAILS” stamped across it, and now your permit's stuck. I get calls like this every week, and here's the thing nobody tells you while you're staring at that rejection: it's almost never a redesign. Twenty-five years doing this, and the overwhelming majority of rejected RESchecks come down to one wrong number in one field. Somebody typed 13 instead of 30 for attic insulation, or picked the wrong climate zone, or the jurisdiction's running the 2021 IECC and the report got run against 2018. Fixable in minutes once I know what it is.
What Does It Mean When a REScheck Is Rejected?
A rejected REScheck isn't a failed inspection and it isn't a redesign order. It means the plan reviewer looked at the numbers and something didn't match, didn't compute, or didn't clear the code minimum for your climate zone. For the full technical rundown of what usually trips it up, see “How Can a REScheck Fail?” on the site — this page is about getting yours fixed, not the full list of causes. Most of the time the fix doesn't touch your actual building at all. It touches what got typed into the software.
The Fixes I See Most Often
Wrong or outdated code year — reviewer's working off 2021 IECC, report was run against 2018 (or the reverse)
Climate zone mismatch — common in counties that split zones, or jobs that sit near a county line
A U-factor or R-value typo that got flagged because it doesn't match the specs on the plans
Unconditioned space — a garage or unfinished attic modeled as conditioned, which throws off the whole envelope calc
Missing or unsigned compliance certificate — administrative, not technical, but reviewers bounce it anyway
If your rejection letter reads like a foreign language, just forward it to me. I'll tell you in five minutes whether it's a five-minute fix or something bigger.
What I Need From You
The plan reviewer's comment letter or redlines — whatever the jurisdiction sent back
The jurisdiction or county name — code years vary by adoption date, not by state
The original REScheck file, if you have it (if I ran the original, I can usually track mine down fast)
How Fast Can a Rejected REScheck Be Corrected?
I don't quote a locked-in number of hours — every rejection's different, and I'm often out in the field doing home energy tests when these come in, so I'm not going to promise something I can't hit. What I can tell you: corrections jump to the front of the line. A wrong-field fix on a report I already built typically turns around the same day I get your comment letter.
What Does It Cost to Correct a Rescheck Rejected?
If I built the original REScheck and the building department is asking for a correction, that first revision is included — no charge, no exceptions. If you're bringing me a report someone else built, or one you built yourself that's bouncing back, call me and I'll tell you straight what it'll take.
Common Questions About REScheck Rejections
My rejection wasn't about the REScheck — it was structural, electrical, something else. Can you still help?
No. That's outside a HERS rater's lane — that's on your architect or engineer. If you're not sure which category your rejection falls into, send it over and I'll tell you which direction is appropriate. We do HERS ratings as well.
Will fixing this push my permit review back to the end of the line?
Depends on your jurisdiction, not on me. Most plan reviewers treat a resubmittal as a quick recheck on the corrected item, not a full re-review. Either way, I'll get the corrected report back to you fast.
What if I didn't order the original REScheck from you?
Doesn't matter — send me the comment letter and I'll take a look. I just can't promise same-day turnaround on something I've never seen before.
Can you fix a report that was run in different software, or was wrong from the start?
Usually, yes. Rather than patching someone else's mistake, I run it fresh in REScheck against your actual specs, so you know it's clean.
Got a rejection letter sitting in your inbox right now? Send it to me and I'll tell you what's wrong and what it'll take to fix — brad@rescheckreview.com or (800) 671-1895 ext. 702.
