California Home Inspector Certification Preparation Exam
It is important to maintain a positive grade away from the structure of at LEAST _______
inch drop per foot for six feet. A. 1/4 B. 1/2 C. 3/4 D. 1 -correct answer-1
Which of the following BEST describes the report statement shown below? "The roof is in
good condition for its age." A. Conclusion B. Recommendation C. Description D. Disclaimer -
correct answer-Conclusion
Which of the following conditions would be LEAST critical to your client's safety? A. A pin
hole in the heat exchanger B. No handrails on an interior stairway C. Lack of a pressure and
temperature relief valve on the water heater D. A non-reversing garage door opener -correct
answer-A pin hole in the heat exchanger
The normal MINIMUM run for a residential stair tread is: A. 7 in. B. 8 in. C. 9 in. D. 11 in. -
correct answer-9 inches
Standard three light electrical testers are NOT always reliable because: A. Some receptacles
only have two prongs B. Three light testers sometimes have broken bulbs C. Three light
testers will not detect multiple wiring problems D. Different test device manufactures have
different light patterns -correct answer-Three light testers will not detect multiple wiring
problems
Bulging plaster is observed high up on several bedroom walls. The primary concern is the
bulging plaster is a(n): A. installation defect B. indication the home was very cold for a period
of time C. indication the air handler leaked D. potential safety issue -correct answer-Potential
safety issue
EIFS is a siding material that: A. Is used in commercial buildings only. B. Looks like stucco but
lacks a wire mesh. C. Can be installed on top of a modified bitumen membrane. D. Can be
installed on top of a masonry surface. -correct answer-Looks like stucco but lacks a wire
mesh
While inspecting a home, you observe a large ceiling fan with built-in lamps. This installation
requires a(an): A. Strong ceiling. B. Pancake junction box. C. Approved brace or box. D. Larger
junction box. -correct answer-Approved brace or box
What are the types of heat that must be taken into account when calculating the cooling
loads for an HVAC system?
a. Sensible and radiant heat
b. Radiant and conductive heat
c. Conductive and latent heat
,d. Sensible and latent heat -correct answer-Sensible and latent heat
Which of the following would be most likely to have the highest R-value?
a. 6" fiberglass batt insulation
b. 12" cast-in-place concrete wall
c. 2" extruded polystyrene panel
d. Triple insulated glazing system with ½" air spaces -correct answer-6" fiberglass batt
insulation
An inspector can often determine the approximate age of a home by its method of
construction. Which of the following choices shows the methods of construction in order
from first developed to most recently developed?
a. Post and beam construction, balloon framing, platform framing, ICF construction
b. Balloon framing, post and beam construction, ICF construction, platform framing
c. ICF construction, balloon framing, post and beam construction, platform framing
d. Post and beam construction, platform framing, balloon framing, ICF construction -correct
answer-Post and beam construction, balloon framing, platform framing, ICF construction
One is inspecting an EIFS (Exterior Insulation and Finishing System) wall system for
deficiencies. Where would these be most likely to occur?
a. Window heads
b. The center of large expanses of EIFS
c. Along the bottom edge of the EIFS installation
d. At the corners of the installation, such as around windows -correct answer-At the corners
of the installation, such as around windows
An inspector notes that the heat pump is not functioning and that the condensate pan under
the air handler is full of water. Why might these two things be related?
a. The full condensate pan tripped a condensate overflow switch. The unit turned off in
order to ensure that condensate did not spill.
, b. The full condensate pan indicates that the fan in the air handler is not functioning, as it
should.
c. The full condensate pan indicates that there is a leak in the heat exchanger, which has
depressurized the unit, causing it to turn off.
d. The full condensate pan means that combustion byproducts have condensed and are
flowing back into the house through the flue. This tripped the flue gas spill switch, turning
the unit off. -correct answer-The full condensate pan tripped a condensate overflow switch.
The unit turned off in order to ensure that condensate did not spill.
While inspecting a crawl space, you should probe for decay if the _________ is dark in
appearance. A. King joist B. Floor joist C. Masonry wall D. Bearing wall -correct answer-Floor
joist
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' -correct answer-≥ 6"/10'
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 -correct answer-An electric heater
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 -correct answer-At least 5.7 sq. ft
The roofing material on a house or other building is considered a part of the roof drainage
system. -correct answer-False
It is important to maintain a positive grade away from the structure of at LEAST _______
inch drop per foot for six feet. A. 1/4 B. 1/2 C. 3/4 D. 1 -correct answer-1
Which of the following BEST describes the report statement shown below? "The roof is in
good condition for its age." A. Conclusion B. Recommendation C. Description D. Disclaimer -
correct answer-Conclusion
Which of the following conditions would be LEAST critical to your client's safety? A. A pin
hole in the heat exchanger B. No handrails on an interior stairway C. Lack of a pressure and
temperature relief valve on the water heater D. A non-reversing garage door opener -correct
answer-A pin hole in the heat exchanger
The normal MINIMUM run for a residential stair tread is: A. 7 in. B. 8 in. C. 9 in. D. 11 in. -
correct answer-9 inches
Standard three light electrical testers are NOT always reliable because: A. Some receptacles
only have two prongs B. Three light testers sometimes have broken bulbs C. Three light
testers will not detect multiple wiring problems D. Different test device manufactures have
different light patterns -correct answer-Three light testers will not detect multiple wiring
problems
Bulging plaster is observed high up on several bedroom walls. The primary concern is the
bulging plaster is a(n): A. installation defect B. indication the home was very cold for a period
of time C. indication the air handler leaked D. potential safety issue -correct answer-Potential
safety issue
EIFS is a siding material that: A. Is used in commercial buildings only. B. Looks like stucco but
lacks a wire mesh. C. Can be installed on top of a modified bitumen membrane. D. Can be
installed on top of a masonry surface. -correct answer-Looks like stucco but lacks a wire
mesh
While inspecting a home, you observe a large ceiling fan with built-in lamps. This installation
requires a(an): A. Strong ceiling. B. Pancake junction box. C. Approved brace or box. D. Larger
junction box. -correct answer-Approved brace or box
What are the types of heat that must be taken into account when calculating the cooling
loads for an HVAC system?
a. Sensible and radiant heat
b. Radiant and conductive heat
c. Conductive and latent heat
,d. Sensible and latent heat -correct answer-Sensible and latent heat
Which of the following would be most likely to have the highest R-value?
a. 6" fiberglass batt insulation
b. 12" cast-in-place concrete wall
c. 2" extruded polystyrene panel
d. Triple insulated glazing system with ½" air spaces -correct answer-6" fiberglass batt
insulation
An inspector can often determine the approximate age of a home by its method of
construction. Which of the following choices shows the methods of construction in order
from first developed to most recently developed?
a. Post and beam construction, balloon framing, platform framing, ICF construction
b. Balloon framing, post and beam construction, ICF construction, platform framing
c. ICF construction, balloon framing, post and beam construction, platform framing
d. Post and beam construction, platform framing, balloon framing, ICF construction -correct
answer-Post and beam construction, balloon framing, platform framing, ICF construction
One is inspecting an EIFS (Exterior Insulation and Finishing System) wall system for
deficiencies. Where would these be most likely to occur?
a. Window heads
b. The center of large expanses of EIFS
c. Along the bottom edge of the EIFS installation
d. At the corners of the installation, such as around windows -correct answer-At the corners
of the installation, such as around windows
An inspector notes that the heat pump is not functioning and that the condensate pan under
the air handler is full of water. Why might these two things be related?
a. The full condensate pan tripped a condensate overflow switch. The unit turned off in
order to ensure that condensate did not spill.
, b. The full condensate pan indicates that the fan in the air handler is not functioning, as it
should.
c. The full condensate pan indicates that there is a leak in the heat exchanger, which has
depressurized the unit, causing it to turn off.
d. The full condensate pan means that combustion byproducts have condensed and are
flowing back into the house through the flue. This tripped the flue gas spill switch, turning
the unit off. -correct answer-The full condensate pan tripped a condensate overflow switch.
The unit turned off in order to ensure that condensate did not spill.
While inspecting a crawl space, you should probe for decay if the _________ is dark in
appearance. A. King joist B. Floor joist C. Masonry wall D. Bearing wall -correct answer-Floor
joist
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' -correct answer-≥ 6"/10'
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 -correct answer-An electric heater
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 -correct answer-At least 5.7 sq. ft
The roofing material on a house or other building is considered a part of the roof drainage
system. -correct answer-False
