For five years I lived in my parents basement after college in order to save money to purchase a home. My dad was an accountant, so he suggested a couple of key financial items that I needed to have order before applying for a home loan. He suggested paying off my student loans, keeping only two credit cards, and raising my credit score to at least 790. In order to do what he suggested effectively, we thought it was best that I continued to leave with them until I purchased my own home. Finally, I was now looking for my first house. Once again my dad had a list of essential items that I must have reviewed by a professional before I made an offer on the home. Number one on the list was to have a quality HVAC technician examine and test the heating and air system in the home. I was able to schedule an appointment and the HVAC contractor was able to fit me in the very next day. Because the home is about 15 years old, I was concerned about having to run the HVAC system more due to the heat escaping through cracks in the windows and doors. The heating and air service technician explained that the Department of Energy states that 25 to 40 percent of the energy produced by the HVAC system is lost through leaks in the duct system. This is often due to cracks, breaks and disconnected ducts. To make sure that the HVAC system would be effective in the home, he tested the duct system, windows and doors for areas where the heat and air could leak out. The HVAC provider used a tool that measures how leaky the house is in general. Once the test was completed he verified that the home was sealed properly with adequate ventilation for proper air circulation