Home Inspector Practice Test

This is a practice test for a home inspector certification exam. Requirements for certification as a home inspector in the US vary by state, though you may need to be a member of a national association (NAHI, ASHI, etc.).

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1 What is the minimum allowed slope of graded soil next to a building's foundation, according to the International Residential Code (IRC)?

a. ≥ 5"/10'

b. ≥ 5"/12'

c. ≥ 6"/12'

d. ≥ 6"/10'

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

2 Which of the following is not a solid fuel heating device?

a. A fireplace

b. A woodstove

c. A coal furnace

d. An electric heater

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

3 Every basement and sleeping room is required to have an easily operable emergency escape window. How large must this window be?

a. At least 5.7 sq. ft

b. At least 4.7 sq. ft

c. At least 6.7 sq. ft

d. At least 3.7 sq. ft

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

4 The roofing material on a house or other building is considered a part of the roof drainage system.

True

False

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

5 You are inspecting a residential property. You have to observe and/or test all of the readily accessible components of each system. Determine which of the following is not considered to be a readily accessible component of a room.

a. A small window

b. The doorknob on the closet door

c. Nails or screws in the floor

d. None of the above

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

6 Branch circuits must be installed in several locations in every building. Which of the following is not one of them?

a. Central HVAC equipment

b. An office or bedroom

c. The laundry room

d. Bathrooms

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

7 The International Residential Code (IRC) requires rafters to be fastened to ridge boards or gusset plates if the pitch of the roof is greater than or equal to a certain angle. What is the angle?

a. 3/12

b. 2/12

c. 4/12

d. 5/12

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

8 If you observe a component, you make a visual examination.

True

False

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

9 How large should the footing or foundation for a masonry fireplace be?

a. It should be more than six inches thick and extend six inches beyond the fireplace on all sides.

b. It should be more than 12 inches thick and extend six inches beyond the fireplace on all sides.

c. It should be more than six inches thick and extend 12 inches beyond the fireplace on all sides.

d. It should be more than 12 inches thick and extend 12 inches beyond the fireplace on all sides.

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

10 You inspect a "representative number" of electrical outlets in a building. What does this mean?

a. You inspect a percentage of all the electrical outlets in the structure.

b. You inspect electrical outlets in the structure at random.

c. You select one electrical outlet to test in each room of the structure.

d. None of the above

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

11 How much glazing area should every habitable room in a residential dwelling contain?

a. ≥8% of floor area

b. ≥6% of floor area

c. ≥10% of floor area

d. ≥7% of floor area

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

12 A "technically exhaustive" inspection uses measurements, tests, calculations and instruments to gather information on the structure under inspection.

True

False

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

13 A builder has added an additional load to a wood truss in the form of a water heater. Under what circumstances does the IRC allow this?

a. This is never allowed.

b. This is always allowed.

c. This is allowed only if the additional load has been verified as acceptable by a certified engineer.

d. None of the above

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

14 How far from the foundation should the roof drainage system discharge water?

a. >2 ft or into a drain pipe

b. >3 ft or into a drain pipe

c. >4 ft or into a drain pipe

d. >5 ft or into a drain pipe

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

15 What is the minimum and maximum pressure for a water supply system in a residential building?

a. 30 and 60 psi

b. 50 and 100 psi

c. 60 and 120 psi

d. 40 and 80 psi

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

16 A "system" carries out one or more functions in a structure and is composed of at least two interacting or interdependent components.

True

False

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

17 In which of the following locations are ground-fault circuit interceptors (GFCI) required?

a. All bathroom outlets

b. All outdoor outlets

c. All countertop outlets

d. All of the above

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

18 Which of the following is not a normal operating control?

a. A wall switch

b. The fuse box

c. A safety switch

d. A thermostat

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

19 When is an unvented conditioned attic permitted?

a. When there is a vapor retarder applied on the floor of the attic, but there is no insulation applied to the underside of the roof deck.

b. Where there is not a vapor retarder applied to the floor of the attic, but there is insulation applied to the underside of the roof deck.

c. This is always allowed.

d. This is never allowed.

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

20 A "cross connection" is a physical connection between two electrical circuits.

True

False

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

21 Which of the following would not be a structural component of a building?

a. An exterior wall

b. The floor of the second or higher story

c. An interior wall that is not connected to a loft or the second story floor joists

d. The floor of the main or only story

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

22 What is the proper slope for a horizontal drain pipe?

a. Anywhere from 1/8:1 to 1/2:1

b. ≥1/8:1

c. ≤1/2:1

d. None of the above

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

23 How far above a showerhead should the waterproof material in a bathroom extend?

a. ≥ 2"

b. ≥ 3"

c. ≥ 4"

d. ≥ 5"

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

24 An on-site water quality test is generally done only on structures that are on a non-municipal water supply.

True

False

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

25 Which of the following is a component of a roof drainage system?

a. Downspouts

b. Gutters

c. Splash blocks

d. All of the above

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

26 Federal and state regulations both require certain warnings to be conspicuous. As a home inspector, you will often have to determine whether or not hazardous components are adequately labeled. Which of the following would a reasonable person consider to be conspicuous?

a. UNPLUG POWER BEFORE TOUCHING CIRCUIT (with graphic warning symbols)

b. UNPLUG POWER BEFORE TOUCHING CIRCUIT (without graphic warning symbols)

c. Unplug power BEFORE touching circuit

d. Both A and B

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

27 The International Residential Code requires cleanouts for drain pipes to be established at intervals throughout the drain system. What is the maximum allowable distance between cleanouts?

a. 50 feet horizontally

b. 75 feet horizontally

c. 100 feet horizontally

d. 125 feet horizontally

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

28 A drain with a "functional flow" empties in a reasonable amount of time.

True

False

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

29 What is the minimum slope requirement of a roof with asphalt shingles?

a. ≥1:12

b. ≥2:12

c. ≥3:12

d. ≥4:12

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

30 How far above grade should a concrete slab extend?

a. At least 4"

b. At least 6"

c. At least 8"

d. There is no minimum requirement

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.