Question Bank - Home Inspection Exam

The main difference between brass and copper supply pipes is(Category: Plumbing) • brass pipes are magnetic and copper pipes aren't • brass pipes use a different solder than copper pipes • brass pipes can be bent through a 7-inch radius and copper pipes can't • brass pipes have threaded joints and copper pipes have soldered joints

What is the normal operating water pressure for a hot water heating system?(Category: Plumbing) • 3 to 8 psi • 28 to 36 psi • 12 to 22 psi • 30 to 40 psi

Common faucet problems include all of the following EXCEPT(Category: Plumbing) • stiff • no insolating valves • cross connections • leaks • loose

Common well problems include all of the following except(Category: Plumbing) • casing missing • recovery rate of 10 to 15 gpm • casing not well sealed • not enough water • poor surface grading

Which water heater has the slowest recovery rate?(Category: Plumbing) • insulated tank • oil • electric • a heater installed beside a parallel heater • gas

Minimum acceptable water pressure is(Category: Plumbing) • 65 PSI • 20 PSI • 40 PSI • 95 PSI

What are the types of geothermal energy resources?(Category: Heating) • Hydrothermal, geo-pressurised brines, hot dry rocks, magma • Biomass, geo-pressurised brines, hot dry rocks • Wind, magma, geopressurised brines, hydrothermal • Hydrothermal, geo-pressurised brines, hot dry rocks, sun

A dirt leg is used(Category: Heating) • on a gas pipe, just before it enters a gas appliance • on water pipe as a condensate drain line • on gas pipe where it enters the home • on water pipe connected to a well

The distribution piping in a steam system may contain all of the following EXCEPT(Category: Heating) • water • condensate • steam • air • exhaust

On an oil-burning furnace, the primary controller(Category: Heating) • atomizes the oil for combustion. • is the chamber in which the oil is burned. • must be tested in a standard home inspection. • is an automatic safety device. • is the pipe that carries the the exhaust gases from the outlet of the heat exchanger to the base of the chimney.

Which of the following does not have a heat exchanger?(Category: Heating) • Steam boiler • Electric furnace • Gas boiler • Oil furnace • Heat recovery ventilator

The condition posing the greatest hazard in a forced-air heating system is(Category: Heating) • vent piping in close contact with combustibles • vent piping that ends too close to other building openings • a crack in the heat exchanger • gas leakage in either the gas piping or vent piping

One thousand BTUs are equal to _______ of natural gas.(Category: Heating) • 1 cubic foot • 3 cubic feet • 2 cubic feet • 4 cubic feet

An unlisted wood stove should have what clearance from the top of the stove to combustibles?(Category: Heating) • 72 inches • 24 inches • 36 inches • 48 inches • 60 inches

All of the following are common problems found on gas piping EXCEPT(Category: Heating) • improper connections • no drip leg • excess pressure • rusting • leaks

The flame of a heating unit or water heater installed in a garage should be ____ inches above the floor.(Category: Heating) • 24 • 12 • 18 • 6

The high-temperature limit on a wood furnace should be set at(Category: Heating) • 325 F • 235 F • 295 F • 265 F • 205 F

A factory-built chimney designed for use with a wood fireplace requires how much clearance from combustibles?(Category: Heating) • 18 inches • 1 inch • 2 inches • Zero clearance • 3 inches

Exhaust flues on gas or oil fired water heaters(Category: Heating) • should be friction fit together. • should slope down away from the water heater to allow for condensation. • should be cool to the touch when the system is operating. • should have a minimum length of 10 feet. • should have a slope of 1/4 inch per foot up away from the heater.

Boilers are connected to the domestic plumbing system to(Category: Heating) • to provide make-up water • to provide adequate water pressure in the plumbing system • to provide de-icing water flow • to prevent backflow from occurring • allow humidification to occur

The ________ is where the water comes out.(Category: Pool) • outflow reservoir • inlet • outlet • inflow reservoir

The bonding conductor should be at least _____ or larger solid copper.(Category: Pool) • 8 AWG • 12 AWG • 8 PWG • 12 PWG

Type B ladders are for(Category: Pool) • staircase ladder • limited-access • in-pool ladder • double-access

Manufactured and fabricated diving system and equipment must not be installed on Type __ swimming pools (non-diving pools).(Category: Pool) • A • T • S • O

No luminaire should be installed less than _______ below the water level.(Category: Pool) • 6 inches • 8 inches • 2 inches • 4 inches

Where handrails are installed for a swimming pool, the top of the gripping surface of the handrail must be at least _______ to a maximum _______ above the standing/step surface or ramp sloped surface.(Category: Pool) • 30 inches, 38 inches • 60 inches, 68 inches • 40 inches, 48 inches • 50 inches, 58 inches

Type D ladders are for(Category: Pool) • staircase ladder • double-access • limited-access • in-pool ladder

A separation tank used with a filter tank must have a means of releasing(Category: Pool) • air pressure • heat • carbon dioxide • condensation

. Submerged vacuum fittings must accessible and not be greater than ___ inches below the water level.(Category: Pool) • 18 • 20 • 12 • 10

Ladder treads must have a uniform depth of at least(Category: Pool) • 1 foot • 6 inches • 2 inches • 8 inches

Type A ladders are for(Category: Pool) • limited-access • double-access • staircase ladder • in-pool ladder

All electric pool water heaters should have its heating elements divided into loads that do not exceed(Category: Pool) • 30 amperes • 48 amperes. • 60 amperes. • 52 amperes.

Optional report items include all of the following, EXCEPT(Category: Professional Responsibility & Report Writing) • scope of work • client questionnaire • limitations • contract • description of components

A homeowner refuses to pay for a home inspection report because the inspector did not comment on certain design defects discovered after the inspection. Which of the following is TRUE?(Category: Professional Responsibility & Report Writing) • this is an omission on the part of the home inspector; the client is right • because comments on design defects are an extra service requiring an extra fee, the owner must pay for the inspection • only licensed professional engineers can comment on design defects • the home inspector need only comment on the property's design as specifically indicated in the pre-inspection agreement

he home inspector’s ultimate obligation is to(Category: Professional Responsibility & Report Writing) • the home itself • the seller • the selling agent, if they are a buyer broker • the buyer • the listing agent

An inspector is NOT required to inspect(Category: Professional Responsibility & Report Writing) • sump pumps • pressure tanks • thermal expansion valves • TV antennas

A water source heat pump(Category: AC & Heat Pump) • can be an open or closed system • has a very limited capacity for heating and cooling • has two piping systems buried directly in the earth • must use distilled water • typically uses water from the house plumbing system

Which of the following statements about evaporator fans in a split-system air conditioner is false?(Category: AC & Heat Pump) • The evaporator fan should move roughly 100 cfm of air for each ton of air conditioning. • The fan can be part of a fan coil unit. • The fan can be direct driven. • The fan can be multi-speed. • The fan can be belt driven.

The evaporator fan in a split-system air conditioner is designed to(Category: AC & Heat Pump) • heat the Freon in the evaporator coil • cool the Freon in the condenser coil • heat the Freon in the condenser coil • none of the above/below • cool the Freon in the evaporator coil

The refrigerant lines of an operating system on a hot day should feel(Category: AC & Heat Pump) • Both lines-cold • Both lines-hot • Liquid line-hot, suction line-cold • Suction line-hot, liquid line-cold • Both lines ambient temperature

Which of the following components would be found on a heat pump but not a central air conditioning system?(Category: AC & Heat Pump) • an insulated suction line • house air fan • an Emergency Heat switch • a crankcase heater • outdoor fan

In the evaporator coil of an air-cooled air conditioner,(Category: AC & Heat Pump) • Freon cools as it changes from a gas to a liquid • Freon changes from a warm liquid to a cool liquid • Freon changes from a cool gas to a warm gas • Freon cools as it changes from a liquid to a gas • Freon heats up as it changes from a liquid to a gas

A heat pump with a natural gas burner outdoors below the evaporator coil is called(Category: AC & Heat Pump) • A Kool-Fire system • A flame-source heat pump • A pulse system • A plenum heater

The purpose of the crankcase heater on an air conditioning compressor is to(Category: AC & Heat Pump) • heat the lubricating oil to reduce its viscosity • boil the refrigerant out of the lubricating oil • help the system defrost • help to dehumidify the air • warm the Freon so that is can be condensed

Which statement about relative humidity is true?(Category: Insulation & Ventilation) • Relative humidity is always greater than absolute humidity. • Relative humidity is expressed in grains of moisture. • Relative humidity drops as air temperature rises. • Air at 80% relative humidity is considered saturated. • Relative humidity is always less than absolute humidity

When installing strapping perpendicular to roof joists on a flat roof in order to increase ventilation, minimum height of the strapping is(Category: Insulation & Ventilation) • 1 inch • 3 1/2 inches • 4 inches • 2 1/2 inches

Which material is not an air barrier?(Category: Insulation & Ventilation) • Plywood • Drywall • Polyethylene • Housewraps • Fiberglass

What is the minimum electric service size by modern-day standards?(Category: Electrical) • 60-amp • 100-amp • 200-amp • 50-amp • 125-amp

A refrigerator should be served by a(Category: Interior) • a relative • any outlet located near the kitchen countertop • 20-amp dedicated • AFCI outlet • GFCI outlet

9. Masonry chimneys should have a clearance from combustible framing members of(Category: Chimney & Fireplace) • 4 inches • 1 inch • 6 inches • 2 inches • 12 inches

When resistors are connected in series, the total resistance is(Category: Electrical) • equal to the sum of all the resistance values divided by the number of resistors • equal to the smallest resistance value • equal to the sum of all the resistance values • equal to the largest resistance value

Grounded and grounding conductors must be connected at(Category: Electrical) • the service panel only • never • all subpanels • all boxes and panels • all possible locations

The only suitable receptacles for use with aluminum wire should be marked?(Category: Electrical) • AL/OK • CO/ALR • CU/ALR • CU/AL • CO/ALR

In a service panel, it is especially important that the(Category: Electrical) • neutral wire is "floating" and not in electrical contact with the panel enclosure • neutral wire has no splices between the weather-head and ground rod • hot bus bars be tied together with a bonding jumper • grounding conductor, neutral, and panel enclosure all be bonded together

In the service box, the ungrounded service entrance wires should be connected(Category: Electrical) • to power the fuses first, then the switch. • one to the switch, and the other to the grounding terminal. • to the “load” side of the main switch. • one to the switch, and the other to the neutral. • to the “line” side of the main switch.

Where should the smaller appliance vent when connected into a chimney with a larger appliance?

Masonry chimneys should extend above the roof(Categories: Roofing, Chimney & Fireplace) • 2 feet higher than the roof where it penetrates the roof. • 1 foot higher than anything within 10 feet. • 3 feet higher than any point in the roof. • 3 feet higher than anything within 5 feet. • 3 feet higher than the roof where it penetrates the roof.

If a metal chimney extends more than ______ feet above the roof, it will require additional bracing.

A fireplace chimney should terminate above the roof using the masonry chimney ______ rule.(Category: Chimney & Fireplace) • 12/12 • 10/3 • 3/2/10 • 6/8/10

A metal chimney should have at least _____ inches of clearance to combustibles, including insulation.(Category: Chimney & Fireplace) • 4 • 3 • 2 • 1

A fireplace hearth should extend beyond the front of the fireplace by at least _____ inches.(Category: Chimney & Fireplace) • 16 • 12 • 24 • 8

What component is installed in the flue connector and the combustion air supply of a wood-burning stove? • barometric damper • vents • isolation joint • damper

Masonry chimneys typically require bracing if• There is a tall structure nearby that may create wind turbulence. • The unsupported tops are taller than 12 feet. • They are single flue. • They are on a roof with a slope of more than 10 in 12. • They extend through the roof at the peak of the chimney.

Drip edge flashings • is always required along rakes • can never be omitted • may extend roughly three inches up the roof surface • may extend roughly one inch up the roof surface • cannot be used with eave protection

A drip edge flashing that sits proud above the roof sheathing

Condensation is most common on?

The ideal smoke alarm location is on the ceiling at least ______ inches away from the wall

The minimum required headroom above a stairway is

A thermal overload switch is found on

Guardrails should be how tall as a minimum?

A window used for emergency egress should have a sill height of not more than ___ inches above the floor.

The minimum required headroom above an attic access opening is ___ inches.

Galvanized vally flashing should be ____ or heavier

The R-value of a solid wood exterior door is roughly

What is the minimum slope for a shake roof?

A gas clothes dryer needs a ______ am circuit.

What kind of floating is done to bring fine aggregate to the surface of the concrete slab?