National Home Inspector Exam (NIHE) - Q & A (Complete Solutions) The purpose of flashing on a roof is to A. shed water onto roofing materials. B. seal
... [Show More] roof shingles to vertical surfaces. C. protect roofing material. D. join different roofing materials. The house you are inspecting currently has a gas-fired furnace or boiler. Each of the following clues may indicate that the house also has an abandoned buried fuel oil storage tank EXCEPT A. small diameter copper tubes emerging from the inside of the foundation wall or the floor near the furnace or boiler B. an approximately 1 % inch diameter vent pipe outside coming from underground up against the foundation C. the brick chimney serving the furnace or boiler has deteriorated mortar joints at the bottom D. your knowledge that the neighborhood h ad or still has some houses served by oil heat While inspecting a heat pump in the cooling mode, you measure a 28 degrees F temperature differential between the interior supply and return air. You should suspect A. an exterior fan running too slowly. B. an overheating compressor. C. a dirty filter. D. a thermostat set too low. What is the MINIMUM electrical service drop clearance from a residential driveway? A. 12 feet B. 13 feet C. 15 feet D. 18 feet The reason a dielectric union would be used in plumbing distribution pipes is to A. ensure that the grounding conductor has a secure connection. B. separate two dissimilar metals to prevent corrosion. C. isolate any electrical wires touching the supply pipes. D. bond the hot and cold water pipes. A basin makes a gurgling sound at the end of draining the fixture. This may be due to A. improperly supported pipes. B. inadequate venting. C. an undersized drain pipe. D. improper drain slope. Condensation between glass layers of thermal pane windows indicates the need to A. repair or replace sealant. B. repair or clean breather holes. C. replace glazing, sash, or window. D. replace the interior pane. Dielectric unions A. accommodate pipe expansion. B. are undesirable and indicate a problem. C. prevent galvanic action. D. help maintain electrical grounding of pipes. The MINIMUM clearance between a wood stove single wall vent connector and combustible materials should be A. 3 inches. B. 9 inches. C. 18 inches. D. 36 inches. Garage door opener electronic eye sensors are properly installed when facing each other A. 1 to 3 inches above the garage floor. B. 4 to 6 inches above the garage floor. C. 7 to 10 inches above the garage floor. D. 11 to 15 inches above the garage floor. Capillary tubes are part of the A. evaporator coil. B. heat exchanger. C. condenser coil. D. compressor discharge. As a lintel over doors and windows in a masonry wall rusts it may cause A. the window glass to crack B. the wall at the top to push out. C. cracks at the tops of openings. D. the lintel to rotate and displace the brick. Roof truss uplift can cause cracks to form A. above exterior doors and windows. B. at interior wall/ceiling intersections. C. in bottom chords of roof trusses. D. in top chords of roof trusses. When measuring the temperature drop across the evaporator in a central air conditioning system, a properly running unit on a humid summer day should read between A 5° F and 15° F B. 15° F and 25° F C. 25° F and 35° F D. 35° F and 45° F Knob and tube wiring may be acceptable if A. the home is insulated with fiberglass. B. the circuit breaker system is proper. C. not covered by insulation. D. the fuse system is still in place. The MAXIMUM acceptable variation in riser heights within a flight of stairs is A. 1/2 inch. B. 3/8 inch. C. 3/4 inch. D. 1 inch. While conducting an inspection, your ladder falls over and breaks the homeowner's priceless Ming vase. What type of insurance is needed to cover the replacement? A. general liability B. homeowner's C. errors and omissions D. bonding What is the MINIMUM allowable separation between a masonry chimney and combustible materials? A. 3/4 inch B. 1 inch C. 2 inches D. 4 inches Bonding of appliances can be confirmed by using a/an A. volt meter. B. receptacle tester. C. ohm meter. D. ammeter. The service panel enclosure door is required to open at least A 45°. B. 90°. c. 135°. D. 180°. Which of the following is a common maintenance task for a residential refrigeration system? A. clean the heat exchanger B. replace refrigerant C. clean the condenser coil D. replace the thermostat The device used to detect the electrical current to the electric heater coil is called A. an anemometer. B. an ohm meter. C. a volt meter. D. an ammeter. The inspector is required to operate all of the following EXCEPT A. shutoff valves. B. manual garage door. C. a representative number of windows. D. folding attic stairs. Potable water systems connected to lawn irrigation systems need to be protected from A. backsiphonage. B. excess water usage. C. mechanical damage. D. low water flow. Most modern kitchen ranges are required to have A. front edge controls. B. a warming drawer. C. an anti-tip device. D. a tipping alarm. The inclusion of photographs in home inspection reports is A. optional. B. mandatory. C. discriminatory. D. illegal. A home inspector should probe A. where decay is suspected. B. spalling in concrete. C. a representative number of floor joists. D. around a toilet. Overhead electrical service should be a MINIMUM of how many feet above a flat roof subject to foot traffic? A. 4 feet B. 6 feet C. 8 feet D. 10 feet One of the purposes of a home inspection contract is to define the responsibilities and limitations for A the real estate agent. B. the client. C. the seller. D. the appraiser. What is a required element of a contract? A consideration B. real estate agent's name C. seller's name D. names of persons attending the inspection Home inspection agreements (contracts) should A establish the limitations of the inspection. B. be as exculpatory as possible. C. describe the weather conditions allowed. D. include the name of the client's real estate agent. Stringer, tread, and riser are all components of a A truss system. B. floor system. C. stair system. D. wall system. The final decision to enter a crawl space is made A when the home inspection is booked. B. by the homeowner. C. by the home inspector. D. by the client and agent. The purpose of a contract is to protect the A homeowner. B. real estate agent. C. buyer/client. D. home inspector and client. Conducting a complete and thorough home inspection minimizes the need for A. a contract. B. errors and omissions insurance. C. bonding. D. a detailed inspection report. What is the most common contributing factor to masonry retaining wall movement? A corbelled construction B. hydrostatic pressure C. poorly mortared joints D. too many tiebacks How are the holes in rigid foundation drain pipe aligned? A. toward the foundation B. on the top half of the pipe C. on the bottom half of the pipe D. away from the foundation What is the primary purpose of control joints placed in concrete driveways? A. to prevent cracks B. to drain the surface C. to reduce random cracking D. to enhance appearance Where might you expect to find a window with safety glass? A. less than 18 inches above the floor B. less than 24 inches above the floor C. above a kitchen sink D. on the second story What is a common cause of buckled hardwood flooring in an existing house? A. excessive moisture B. lack of moisture C. improper installation D. poor quality material A newly built ventilated crawl space with a vapor retarder is REQUIRED to have one square foot of net ventilation opening per A. 150 square feet of crawl space. B. 600 square feet of crawl space. C. 1,200 square feet of crawl space. D. 1,500 square feet of crawl space. A standard claims made errors and omissions insurance policy includes claims filed A. during the time the policy is in effect. B. after the policy has lapsed. C. before the policy effective date. D. while the inspector maintains any required license. Refer to the photograph to answer this question. What common defect is visible in the photograph of the entry steps? A. The riser height is too high. B. The hand rail is missing. C. The tread depth is too shallow. D. The tread depth is uneven. [Show Less]