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NC HOME INSPECTOR STUDY GUIDE
An inspector enters a home and notices a strong smell of gas. What should he do? - Vacate the home and call appropriate people The expansion device - Changes refrigerant from high temperature high pressure liquid to low temperature low pressure liquid The condensing coil - Refrigerant changes from high temperature high pressure gas to high temperature high pressure liquid The evaporator coil - Refrigerant changes from a low pressure low temperature liquid to a low temperature low pressure gas The compressor - Refrigerant changes from a low pressure low temperature gas to a high temperature high pressure gas Automatic safety controls - Devices designed and installed to protect systems and components from excessively high or low pressures and temperatures, excessive electrical current, loss of water, loss of ignition, fuel leaks, fire, freezing, or other unsafe conditions Central air conditioning - Means a system that uses ducts to distribute cooled or dehumidifies air to more than one room or uses pipes to distribute chilled water to heat exchangers in more than one room and that is not plugged into an electrical convenience outlet Component - A readily accessible and observable aspect of a system such as a Floor or wall but not individual pieces such as boards or nails where many similar pieces make up the component Cosmetic damage - Superficial blemishes or defects that do not interfere with the functionality of the component or system Cross connection - Any physical connection or arrangement between potable water and any source of contamination Dangerous or adverse situation - Situations that pose a threat of injury to the inspector or those situations that require the use of special protective clothing or safety equipment Describe - Report in writing a system or component by its type or other inspected characteristics to distinguish it from other systems or components used for the same purpose
Dismantle - To take apart or remove any component device or piece of equipment that is bolted screwed or fastened by other means and that would not be dismantled by a homeowner in the course of normal household maintenance enter - To go into an area to inspect all visible components Functional drainage - A drain that empties in a reasonable amount of time and does not overflow when another fixture is drained at the same time Functional flow - A reasonable flow at the highest fixture in a dwelling when another fixture is operated simultaneously Habitable Space - A space in a building for living sleeping eating or cooking. It does not mean bathroom toilet room closet or any space used for storage inspect - The act of making a visual inspection installed - Attached or connected such that an item requires tools for removal Normal operating controls - Homeowner operated devices such as a thermostat wall switch or safety switch On site water supply quality - Water quality is based on the bacterial chemical mineral and solids content of the water operate - To cause systems or equipment to function readily accessible - A panel provided for homeowner inspection and maintenance that has removable or operable fasteners or latch devices in order to be lifted off swung open or otherwise removed by one person and it's edges and fasteners are not painted in place. This definition is limited to those panels within normal reach or from a four foot step ladder and that are not blocked by stored items furniture or building components readily visible - Seen by using natural or artificial light without the use of equipment or tools other than a flashlight Representative number - Means for multiple identical components such as windows and electrical outlets one such component per room and for multiple identical exterior components one such component on each side of building Roof drainage system - Gutters downspouts leaders splash blocks and similar components used to carry water off a roof and away from a building shut down - A piece of equipment or a system which cannot be operated by the device or control that a homeowner should normally use to operate it. If it's safety switch or
Home inspectors are not required to - Offer warranties or guarantees, calculate the strength or efficiency of a system, operate a system that is shut down or inoperable, operate a system that does not respond to normal operating procedures, move personal items that obstruct visibility or access, determine the effectiveness of any system installed to control or remove hazardous substances, predict future conditions, project operating costs of systems, inspect special equipment not listed as components Summary page must include - All of the items that does not function as intended or requires subsequent investigation and must include the statement " this summary is not the entire report. The complete report may include additional information of interest or concern to you. It is strongly recommended that you promptly read the complete report. For information regarding the negotiability of any item in this report under the real estate purchase contract, contact your North Carolina real estate agent or an attorney" To receive your license you must have - General liability insurance in the amount of 250,000 either individual or under the coverage of an employer policy, minimum net assets in an amount determined by the board not less than 5,000 or more than 10,000 a bond of not less than 5,000 or more than 10,000, errors and omissions insurance i the amount of 250,000 individual or by employer. Suspension revocation and refusal to renew license - Employees fraud deceit or misrepresentation, malpractice or gross negligence, performing inspection without license for compensation, engaged in harmful conduct, convicted of felony, failed to maintain requirements Home inspectors - Must keep records of all inspections done Continuing education requirements - Not less than 12 hours and no more than 20 hours Structure masonry vs frame - A home built on a frame has wooden studs between the exterior material and the drywall inside. This is the most common type of home construction. A home built on masonry has brick or segment block between the exterior material and the drywall inside Seismic/wind load bracing components - Metal straps are used to tie roof framing to wall framing. Earthquake areas require water heaters to be securely strapped to the structure. Flexible piping is needed for water heaters, foundation anchors are needed every 6-8 feet starting at the corners. Foundation waterproofing and drainage - Black tar is used for damp proofing not water proofing. Mortar( black plaster or parading) is used to water proof foundations. Drain tile around the perimeter of foundation running into interior drain tile via bleeders every 8 feet or directed away from the foundation. Wall cracks - Vertical cracks that don not penetrate the footing are usually shrinkage cracks, signs of newer cracks are sharp edges and no paint in the crack. Dull edges
indicate the crack existed for a while. Paint in the crack is a sign the the crack existed at the time the paint was applied, diagonal cracks in poured concrete basements normally indicate serious problems, sheared cracks offset at the bottom of block walls or in corners are a cause for concern, cracks less than 1/4" wide or without displacement in any direction are not likely to be signs of serious issues unless they are active, cracks over 3/8" need further evaluation Sequence of construction from footings to finish - Excavation, footings, foundation walls, floor framing, wall and roof framing, roof siding, roughed in electrical, plumbing, heating, interior drywall or plaster, cabinets, finish trim, finish plumbing, electrical, and heating. Movement different from uniform settlement - Movement occurs from shrinking of wood mortar and concrete as they dry out. Cracks from shrinkage are uniform without shearing. Vertical cracks that are even and do not penetrate the footing, step cracks that are not wider at the top of the crack, cracks above windows and doors Roof and floor truss defects - Cracked or cut rafters or trusses missing lateral braces required for truss systems sagging waviness rafter spread bowing and warping What kind of wire can't be covered by insulation - Knob and tube wiring What part holds a truss together - Gusset plate The dip tube on a water heater - Brings cold water to the bottom of the tank You look into the burner area of a water heater and see a twisted metal piece sitting on the burner - The baffle tribulation has rusted out and dropped You turn off the GFCI in one bathroom and it kills power to the receptacles in another bathroom you report - That this is an acceptable practice What is the minimum distance of a single wall vent connector for a wood burning stove to combustibles - 18" What is spalling - Pieces of brick breaking or chipping away What is the proper way to vent a condensate drain - Indirect drain What is a sign of condensation in an attic - Mildew on framing, frost on sheathing, rusted nails An inspector pushes on brick siding what is he looking for - Missing masonry ties What is rated for 100 amp service and is unsafe - 100 amp panel with a 200 amp main breaker
Where is a smoke detector not required - Garage What is not a safety hazard in a stairway - Mid stairs landing What are some stairs safety hazards - Uneven risers, torn carpet, missing spindles What kind of roof covering cannot be installed of space boards - Spray applied foam, BUR, asphalt shingles A garage door opener sensor can be no more than 6" off the floor true or false - True What two things do collar ties do - Stabilize the roof and distribute the load An outside air conditioning unit must be within 10 degree of level true or false - True What is the purpose of the neutral wire - It completes the circuit What does UF stand for - Underground feeder There is a gas furnace in the basement and u notice your glasses fogging up - This is caused by improper appliance venting Most common problem with deck ledger board - Improper flashing Dryer can be vented to - The outside with a back draft damper When firing up a steam system that has been off all summer u hear a hissing sound - This is normal Service drop over a flat roof should be - 8' Low slope roof should not be less than - Depends on the covering material The homeowner is an electrician and stated he pushed the aluminum wires into the back of the receptacle - Recommend a UL approved crimp method Girders and joists must overlap - 3" on concrete and 1 1/2" on wood or steel Crawl space insulation vapor barrier - Should face the sub floor Plaster cracks not pulling away from the lath - These are typical Exhaust fan must exhaust to - The exterior What are risers and treads mounted to - Stringers
What roof material doesn't require an underlayment - Wood shingles Where is kick out flashing located - At the end of the roof where wall and roof intersect, usually the last piece of step flashing bent out from wall What type of flashing for parapet walls - Flashing over a cant strip Flat roof pounding around drains indicates - Inadequate or or clogged drain system Fiberglass, asphalt, and composition shingles are all the same thing - Organic shingles are different than fiberglass shingles Most common fiberglass shingle defect - Cracks Where is a drip edge installed - Under the felt paper at raves or over the rake Retaining wall 8" block with 3" displacement - Recommend repair Retaining wall needs - Gravel behind it Best way to prevent a skylight from leaking - Build a minimum 4" curb Pull down steps in a garage is a fire issue - This is not really fixable Offset flues what is wrong - They allow heat and gases to escape which is a safety hazard Barometric damper in a chimney - Allows for constant draft in the chimney when the system is on Dirty air filter will cause a high A/C temperature differential true or false - True Condensate line is not allowed in plumbing vent - True Tonnage can be determined by dividing FLA by 6-7 - Not anymore, with the new high efficiency a/c units. The math does not work anymore. Frost on evaporator coil - Too little air flow Elsa furnace vent is what type - BW vent How often should an oil furnace be tuned up - Annually In new construction a high efficiency furnace must have outside combustion air true or false - True
Maximum offset of a wall perpendicular to the joist from a bearing wall below - 1 joist depth Size of a bored hole in a non bearing wall stud or double bearing wall - 60% of studs width Size of a notch that is allowed in a bearing wall stud - 25% of studs width Size of a notch that is allowed in a non bearing wall stud - 40% of studs width What happens if the a/c unit has dirty evaporator coil with many bent fins - Higher differential/ split temperature What is a sump - Hole, put, or crock in the ground that collects water What is a swale? - Grading that directs water around a home What flashing is used where chimney and roof meet? - Counter and step flashing What is a material not typically used for gutters - Brass A downspout terminates 6" before the foundation what do u report - Recommend an extension How far apart max can sill bolts be - 6' Minimum skylight curb height - 4" Biggest hazard for a fire box - Gap between frame and brick What is the reasoning for gapped roof sheathing - Expansion Why is there a drop loop In electrical wires coming into a house - To Keep water from running down the mast head Concrete block retaining wall with 3" deflection what should I say - Have an engineer examine Spacing of collar ties should be - Spaced every 4' Where is a/c tonnage encoded - In the model number Where should the TOR extension terminate - Wishing 6" of the floor TPR VALVE EXTENSION PIPING - Should be the same size as the valve it's connected to
Why would u put a mirror under a water heater draft hood - To detect back drafting Can an a/c have a larger breaker than it's corresponding wire - Yes If a second roof is applied, where is it most likely to leak? - Valleys What can not be used as a gas line - Plastic pipe Which roof type has the greatest life expectancy out of asphalt, fiberglass, tile and BUR
- Tile What can not be run under a concrete floor? water line, drain line, gas pipe, electrical conduit - Gas pipe Installing a screened chimney cap does - Not interrupt proper draft it keeps animals out, dirt and debris out, and rain out. Common metal roofing includes - Copper, aluminum, v-seam but does not include Metallica OSB is most commonly used as - Roof sheathing A house rests on a 8" concrete block foundation 8' high. One wall is back filled 6' high while the opposite wall is exposed with a downhill slope in front. The backfilled wall has a horizontal crack across its length this may be - Roaring of the reinforcement rod, freezing, force of ground against the wall but it won't be because of the weight of the house on the foundation A masonry building circa 1910 has a horizontal metal star bolted to it on the outside at the top of the first floor this is - Used to anchor the wall structure to the roof When converting a gas forced air furnace to heat pump the duct work is - Undersized and may or may not perform adequately An HVAC installation requires the following - Insulating ducts outside building envelope only Vertical load on top of this truss has the following effect on foundation walls - Vertical pressure only At what point in an A/C cycle does the liquid turn to gas - Coming out of the evaporator coil At what point in an A/C cycle does the gas turn to liquid - Coming out of the condensing coil
A home is built with a second floor and a trussed attic/roof above it which one of the following is not a consideration when determining joist depth - The depth of the insulation to be installed is not a consideration An A/C unit sitting on a roof exposed should be sitting on - Pressure treated wood not 4x4 SPF boards Why would u instal a pressure regulator - Water pressure in the home is too high When a gutter overflows - It is usually undersized for the area of roof covered A flat roof with a two foot surrounding parapet wall needs - Scuppers or a roof drain with secondary overflow drain A house is built on a sloping hill the surface water should be drained - Into a 4" perforated plastic drain line and directed downhill to daylight Garage doors must be - 1 3/8" thick wood, metal, or fire rated The most serious safety hazard with an exterior door is - Double cylinder dead bolt( keyed inside and outside) In an older home the forced hot air furnace is replaced by a heat pump the heat coming out of the register will be - Cooler When a heat pump is installed as a retro fit into an existing system and the ducts are too small what will happen - The unit is starved for air, the high temperature caused by reduced air flow can damage the compressor FRT plywood failure is due to - Inadequate ventilation accompanied by high heat and humidity In a heat pump a loss of refrigerant will - Frost up lines, overheat on heat mode Which of the following statements is true regarding a hillside house with a foundation drain system - The foundation drain system collects water passing laterally through the slope Geothermal heat pumps compared to air to air are - More efficient, do not lose efficiency as outside temperature drops, more expensive to install What was added to furnaces in 1980 to increase their efficiency - Two heat exchangers A heat pump in heating mode will be - Suction line will be cool to touch, discharge air from outside coil will be cooler than ambient air, discharge air from inside coil will be between 90-105 degrees
Three wires to mast head two wires to main panel what is the voltage - 120 volts The defrost cycle of a heat pump occurs usually at - 50 degrees What materials are proper for flashing - Copper, galvanized steel, and aluminum Stairway riser heights must not vary by more than - 3/8" Which is the most rigid floor joist - 2x The major concern with EIFS is - Trapped moisture cannot escape thereby damaging the structure behind it A three pronged receptacle requires - Grounding conductor Which coat of stucco can be eliminated - None Where roof and dormer come together siding should be how far above shingles - 1-2" above shingles Guard rails must - Have 4" opening max between rails, be atleast 36" high, and is required for a drop of 30" or greater The relief valve for a water heater must be installed - With stem directly in tank top 6" What does an AC compressor do - Pressurizes the refrigerant has in order to raise its temperature Plaster cracks over a chimney breast are usually caused by - Settlement of the chimney A plastic goose neck pipe on the side of a house is used for - Fresh air vent for a high efficiency furnace When plaster cracks over gypsum lath either 2 or 4 feet apart this is normally - Not serious Stair railings must - Be 38" high max and hand grip a max of 2" diameter The neutral wire - Returns 110v to ground The Hartford loop - Precludes symphony action if the unit develops a leak The most obvious clue to a plumbing venting problem is - Gurgling Most likely place to find a crack in the heat exchanger is - In front behind the heat shield
The two main components of an air cooled air conditioning system are - Evaporator unit, and the condensing unit You see a return air register in the side of a furnace - Can cause flue gases to be drawn into air supply Two forces structures are subjected to are - Compression/ tension When inspecting a heat pump or airconditioner you find the inside coils condensation drain connected directly to or is inside of a sanitary sewer line - This is a health and safety hazard and needs to be corrected What is a counter flashing - A second layer of flashing that covers the bottom layer of flashings Mid efficiency furnace - Does not need a draft diverter In receptacle wiring which slot is hot - The small one A hole drilled through a joist for plumbing or electrical lines should be located - In the center The ground a foundation sits on should - Slope away from the foundation in all directions at the rate of 1" per foot for atleast the first 6' What is the proper exposure for a 24" shake - 10" What does voltage measure - Electrical pressure An engineered floor joist requires squash blocks - As required by manufacturer Safety glazing is not required in glass - Greater than 10 sq ft over 18" above floor How far does a toilet have to be from the wall in front based on IRC - 21" In a Stucco wall hairline cracks appear every 16" what is the cause - Nailing of drywall on the inside Two small copper pipes going through a basement wall indicates - Possible underground storage tank What is the proper way to flash around a chimney on a tile roof - Counter and pan flashing AC evaporator cooks in the attic present what problems - Condensation overflow
You are inspecting a home in 1950 and see a silver wire to a branch circuit what is this - Tin coated copper A vertical hairline crack in a basement poured concrete wall - Is most likely a shrinkage crack Moisture accumulates in a poorly vented attic because - Warm air rises and condenses in the attic What is the proper attachment for deck joists to a house - Joist hanger What is the proper exposure for an 18" wood shake - 7 1/2 inches What is the proper distance between wood shakes - 5/8" You view a type B vent in an attic the insulation is falling into the open chase you report
- What u see, recommend fire stop be installed, and they remove insulation from the chase What is the proper distance between wood shingles - 3/8" What determines the size of a flue - The opening of a fireplace Difference between single and split bus bar panels is - A split bus bar has more than one main disconnect Chimney cap functions include - Keeping animals out, keeping rain out, keeping debris out A GFCI outlet located next to a sink is wired with two wires no ground and trips with the receptacle test button - This is acceptable What does cross bridging on floor joists do - Keeps joists from twisting What is the clearance for combustibles for a single wall furnace flue - 6" Potential problems with roof sheathing is - 3/8" plywood used, ends touching eachother, plywood placed parallel to rafters Type B vent is - Double wall What does not require dedicated circuits - Bedroom, dining room What is the general use of type B vent - Gas fired appliance Wood shakes are most likely to wear and expose felt paper at - Key way
Too much slope in horizontal waste lines can cause - Sip homage at the traps How much space is required between double walled B vents and a chase - 1" The device used to provide ignition to oil and gas fired systems - Pilot/electronic ignition, and sensing devices A new electric dryer receptacle - May be 120v, must be a dedicated circuit, and may have four wires to it A fireplace should not share a flue with - Another fireplace, a furnace, another wood stove If exterior service piping has been converted to plastic what is required for electrical - Must provide another grounding means What is the term used to describe the act of learning/offsetting the chimney as it goes through the roof - Corbeling Resistance is measured in - Ohms Maximum number of disconnects to shut off electrical service - 6 Current flow is measured in - Amperes/AMPS Which is not an acceptable grounding means - Underground gas piping Clay/concrete tile roof should have - 3" overlap An electrical panel with a split bus bar - Has more than one shutoff BUR having a lap joint every 12" is a - 3ply What insulation was considered a safety hazard - UFFI What is the appropriate insulation for a BUR - Rigid Reverse polarity is - A possible shock hazard Double tapping is only allowed if - The breaker is designed for double tapping What would be the least hazardous for a staircase - 1/4" riser differential A plug fuse rated at 30 amps is usually - Green in color
Romex wiring can be used - Outside, garage with proper height, in attic nailed to top of joist A hydronic or forced hot water circulating system is - Closed to the atmosphere and under pressure Another name for Romex wiring is - NM Minimum bearing for a wood beam on a column - 3" What is not a defect in a garage door - Missing remote control Good stair design has - A maximum rise of 7 3/4" to 8" and a width of 10" If the roof is covered with non perforated felt paper asphalt shingles can be installed on
- A roof with a pitch as low as 2/ Central air added to an existing furnace what is needed - 2 speed fan Wood shingles and shakes should be installed over what type roof sheathing - Spaced A 50 year old forced air heating system has been retrofitted with an evaporator coil as part of a split system air conditioner. The ducts are original steel 4" branch ducts insulated with aspestos paper. Which of the following is true - The duct system may be prone to rusting and probably undersized for air conditioning loads A heat anticipator - Turns off the furnace a few degree below the setting to prevent over shooting A gas appliance vents through a 5/12 pitched roof requires a minimum clearance of - 1 foot The proper heights of electrical wires over a backyard and from a balcony window are - 10' and 3' What is the proper clearance above a stove top for a cabinet - 30" Aluminum branch wiring was recommended as a substitute for scarce and expensive copper wire from - 1965- Garage door requirements for garages built before 1978 - Needs safety wire through spring coil A dirty filter can cause - Reduced air flow and lower return air temperature The proper pressure of a hydronic heating system is - 12-15 psi
