Skip to content
130-140-4072
walterw3@me.com
Facebook
X-twitter
Linkedin
Home
About
Services
Inspection Process
Your Report
For Agents
Blog
Home
About
Services
Inspection Process
Your Report
For Agents
Blog
Schedule Now
Final Exam
Exam Instructions
The answers to the multiple-choice questions should be filled in by selecting the most correct answer.
You will have 2 hours to complete the test.
Breakdown
Multiple Choice (30 marks)
Short Answer (30 marks)
Illustrations (20 marks)
Total:
80 marks
Hints
Go through every question to get all the easy ones. Then come back to any you had trouble with.
Read every word of the question carefully.
Your first instincts are usually the best. Don’t second-guess yourself.
Your Information
Full Name
*
Email Address
*
Part A: Multiple Choice (30 marks)
1. Home inspectors
*
must disclose an interest in a business which may affect the client.
having disclosed any interest in a business which may affect the client, must decline to perform the inspection.
may use the home inspection to gather referral work in other fields.
may waive the home inspection fee if a repair contract on the home is subsequently signed between the client and home inspector.
may collect separate fees from two interested parties, as long as at least one party is aware of it.
2. The advantages of on site reports include all of the following, EXCEPT
*
you are more likely to get paid on site.
faster reporting.
you can check what you may have missed while still in the house.
more customized presentation.
there is no time spent proofreading reports or remembering houses.
3. A maximum rise for steps is commonly
____
inches.
*
7
7 3/4
8 1/2
10
11 1/2
4. Common beam problems on porches include all of the following EXCEPT
*
checking.
sag.
poor end support.
rot or insect damage.
wood/soil contact.
5. Wood frame walls with wood siding should be
*
at least 2 inches above grade.
at least 6 inches above grade.
at least 8 inches above grade.
at least 12 inches above grade.
just barely above grade.
6. Beams rely on at least
____
inches of end bearing on concrete or masonry structures.
*
11⁄2 inches
2 inches
3 inches
3 ½ inches
6 inches
7. Which of the following is NOT a common problem with wood decks?
*
Settlement
Rotting wood
Use of pressure treated lumber
Carpet over wood
Loose steps
8. Solid masonry walls typically need all of these EXCEPT
*
a way to hold the wythes together.
arches or lintels over openings.
lateral support.
mortar.
spalling.
9. Steel lintels resting on masonry
*
are considered an unacceptable building practice.
are flat, 4-inch wide steel stock, 1⁄4 inch thick.
are usually stainless steel.
need 4 inches of continuous endbearing.
have a minimum span of 6 foot 6 inches.
10. What is a gusset plate used for in a roof structure?
*
To connect members of a truss together.
Gusset plates are used only in earthquake and hurricane prone areas.
To connect edges of roof sheathing together when they do not bear directly on top of a rafter or truss.
To connect the purlins to the rafters.
To hold dwarf walls perpendicular to the rafters.
11. All of the following could indicate spreading rafters EXCEPT
*
sag in roof or ridge.
top of exterior wall bowed out.
gap between the soffit and the exterior wall.
cracks in interior ceilings running perpendicular to the outside walls.
all of the above could indicate rafter spread.
12. Attic duct problems include all the following EXCEPT
*
leaking.
over-sized.
disconnected.
insulation missing or loose.
air/vapor barrier missing or damaged.
13. Which of the following is NOT a venting concern with flat roofs?
*
No vents
Vents on all four exposures of the fascia
Vent areas totaling less than 1/150 of the roof area
Obstructed vents
Vents on only one side of the roof
14. Which of the following is NOT a common problem with exterior trim of windows?
*
Rot
Reverse sill slope
Excessive sill projection
Deteriorated caulking
Paint or stain needed
15. All of the following are common window glass problems, EXCEPT
*
thermally broken.
lost seal.
excess condensation.
cracked glass.
loose.
16. The main service fuses have been installed with the labels facing backward, not allowing you to read their rating. No other markings are visible. You should
*
turn off the house power and remove a fuse to check its rating.
measure the diameter of the fuse body to determine its rating.
report that the main service fuse rating was not determinable.
carefully insert your inspection mirror until the label is visible, then read the rating from the label.
report that this is a defect and recommend immediate repair.
17. In most areas, for what distance can service entrance wires run inside the building before going into the service box, without special permission?
*
5 feet
10 feet, if in conduit
0 feet, or as short as possible
Maximum of 3 feet
Minimum of 1 foot
18. A 14-gauge copper wire is protected by a 20-amp fuse. You should report that
*
this is a defect, and recommend improvement.
this is always allowable.
this indicates poor wiring.
this may be acceptable, depending on what the circuit load is.
the wire must be replaced with a 10-guauge wire.
19. Typical water pressure at a boiler at rest in a two-story house is
*
1 to 5 psi.
5 to 10 psi.
10 to 15 psi.
15 to 20 psi.
20 to 25 psi.
20. Supply air registers in a forced air heating system are best located
*
high on interior walls.
low on interior walls.
high on exterior walls.
low on exterior walls.
centrally located on ceilings.
21. Which of the following is a simple test on an operating conventional gas-fired forced-air furnace that should always be performed?
*
Test the exhaust for carbon monoxide.
Test the temperature drop from the beginning to the end of the vent connector.
Test for spillage at the draft hood.
Test for excessive vibration of the house air fan by touching the fan.
Measure the pressure differential across the house air fan.
22. The most common exhaust pipe material used for high efficiency furnaces is
*
pvc.
stainless steel.
galvanized steel.
aluminum.
Plexvent, Sel-Vent or Ultravent.
23. All of the following are basic components of a masonry wood-burning fireplace EXCEPT
*
a damper.
a throat.
a smoke shelf.
a smoke chamber.
a heat circulator.
24. The main function of a chimney cap or crown is to
*
protect the top of the chimney from water penetration.
deflect downdrafts.
enhance draft.
prevent burning embers from leaving the chimney and igniting the roof.
keep birds and animals out of the chimney.
25. Masonry chimneys should extend above the roof
*
3 feet higher than anything within 5 feet.
1 foot higher than anything within 10 feet.
3 feet higher than the roof where it penetrates the roof.
3 feet higher than any point in the roof.
2 feet higher than the roof where it penetrates the roof.
26. How many heat transfer coils do conventional air-cooled central air conditioning systems have?
*
None
One
Two
Three
Five
27. Which of the following components would be found on a heat pump but not a central air conditioning system?
*
House air fan
Outdoor air fan
An Emergency Heat switch
A crankcase heater
An insulated suction line
28. Which of the following drain pipes is typically used below grade?
*
Galvanized steel
Cast iron
Brass
Clay
Copper
29. What type of trap is allowed by most plumbing codes?
*
P-trap
S-trap
Double trap
Drum trap
Bell trap
30. Common shower stall problems include all of the following EXCEPT
*
slow drains.
leaks.
rust.
water damage around sills and thresholds.
missing overflows.
Part B: Short Answer (30 marks)
1. When inspecting you notice a large built-in planter against the house wall. What strategies can you use to assess the condition? What do you recommend?
*
2. What can you expect to be happening when you see cracks in a wall forming a pyramid?
*
3. What might a horizontal crack in a foundation wall indicate?
*
4. What is a cold joint in a poured concrete foundation?
*
5. Why is it worse to notch a beam at the bottom section?
*
6. What do we mean by a closed valley?
*
7. Provide two clues, during the summer, that indicate there may be ice damming problems.
*
8. Why must the main fuses be downstream of the disconnect switch?
*
9. List two common problems with heat exchangers
*
10. Describe some strategies in identifying a leaking oil tank.
*
11. What is a B vent typically used for?
*
12. What are the implications of a chimney having an excessive offset from vertical?
*
13. Upon inspecting the refrigerant lines to an air-conditioner you find some oily residue on the line. What might this indicate?
*
14. What is the main purpose of a trap on waste plumbing?
*
15. When would a sewage ejector pump be required?
*
Part C: Illustrations (20 marks)
1. What are the problems and implications you may find with respect to the systems and components in the illustration?
Problems
*
Implications
*
2. Provide two reasons why the valley shown in the illustration below should be wider at the bottom than the top.
Reason 1
*
Reason 2
*
3. Write the name of the window types in the illustration that are marked with a circle on the list provided.
4. Identify the condition found in the illustration below and explain its implication.
Submit
©2018 Carson Dunlop & Associates
May be reproduced for educational uses only.
