National Home Inspector Exam
questions and answers
How many inches of clearance should a masonry chimney have from combustible
framing materials such as joists and rafters?
A. 6 inches
B. 12 inches
C. 2 inches
D. 0 inches ✔✔C. 2 inches
A fireplace may share a flue with an appliance such as a furnace or water heater.
A. This is not allowed
B. This is allowed
C. This is only allowed if there is a permit
D. This is only allowed if the water heater is electric ✔✔A. This is not allowed
What is an acceptable material for a chimney cap?
A. Mortar
B. Cement
C. Clay
D. Metal ✔✔A. MortarWhat monitors the pilot flame in a gas water heater?
A. A thermometer
B. A thermocouple
C. A thermolock
D. A pressure gauge ✔✔B. A thermocouple
What are the 3 prohibited traps?
A. P trap, S trap and Drum Trap
B. Drum Trap, Bell Trap and P Trap
C. S Trap, Drum Trap and Bell Trap
D. S Trap, Bell Trap and P Trap ✔✔C. S Trap, Drum Trap and Bell Trap
What does an Air Admittance Valve do?
A. It detects negative air pressure to allow air into pipes and closes to prevent sewer
gases from entering.
B. It allows air into vents from the attic
C. It detects positive air pressure to allow air into pipes
,D. It allows air inside the home when negative pressure from the outside is detected
✔✔A. It detects negative air pressure to allow air into pipes and closes to prevent sewer
gases from entering.
An accessible shutoff valve for each gas appliance should be located where?
A. At the main gas line or within 8 feet from appliance
B. In the same room as appliance and within 6 feet from appliance
C. On the appliance or within 15 feet from appliance
D. In the same room as appliance and within 12 feet from appliance. ✔✔B. In the same
room as appliance and within 6 feet from appliance
What are the 3 most common kinds of retaining walls made from?
A. Metal, Masonry, Concrete
B. Wood, Metal, PVC
C. Wood, Masonry, Concrete
D. Gravel, Wood, Cement ✔✔C. Wood, Masonry, Concrete
CMU stands for ____________.
A. Concrete Masonry Unit
B. Cement Masonry Unit
C. Cinder Block Masonry Unit
D. Compressed Masonry Unit ✔✔A. Concrete Masonry Unit
CMUs in taller retaining walls should be grouted and reinforced with _______.
A. Steel
B. Mortar
C. Wood
D. Brick ✔✔A. Steel
Retaining walls should have _______ on the outside to secure the wall.
A. beams
B. shoring (vertical posts)
C. pillars
D. columns ✔✔B. shoring (vertical posts)
Retaining walls can be anchored through the soil using _____________.
A. concrete
B. concrete and tie-backs
C. deadman and tie-backs
,D. shoring posts ✔✔C. deadman, tie-backs
Proper slope away from foundation within the first 10 feet should be how many inches?
A. 5 inches
B. 6 inches
C. 4 inches
D. 8 inches ✔✔B. 6 inches
Spalling and efflorescence is usually an indication of _______________.
A. An earthquake
B. Foundation damage
C. Settlement
D. Water management problems ✔✔D. Water management problems
What is the crumbling of surface bricks, blocks or concrete called?
A. Spalling
B. Efflorescence
C. Settlement
D. Step Crack ✔✔A. Spalling
Plants should be at least_________ from the house.
A. 2 feet
B. 1 foot
C. 3 feet
D. No distance required ✔✔B. 1 foot
A door leading to a pool should be _________.
A. only self-closing
B. over 4 feet tall
C. self-closing and self-latching.
D. made of metal ✔✔C. self-closing and self-latching.
A pool fence's horizontal member should be at least ________ apart to prevent
climbing.
A. 45"
B. 44"
C. 36"
D. 30" ✔✔A. 45"
, Gates should swing _____ from the pool.
A. toward
B. away
C. not swing
D. it doesn't matter ✔✔B. away
What does EIFS stand for?
A. Exterior Irrigation and Floor System
B. Electrical Integrated Fiber System
C. Exterior Insulation and Finish System
D. Electrical Insulation and Finish System ✔✔C. Exterior Insulation and Finish System
Types of veneers (wall coverings) methods:
A. Attached, Anchored, Adhered
B. Able, Adorned, Adhered
C. Attached, Asphalt, Adorned
D. Casement, Attached, Anchored ✔✔A. Attached, Anchored, Adhered
All types of siding, including EIFS are _______ veneers.
A. Anchored
B. Attached
C. Adhered ✔✔B. Attached
Brick and natural stone are _________ veneers and are attached to the house.
A. Anchored
B. Attached
C. Adhered ✔✔A. Anchored
Stucco and artificial stone are _________ veneers and are attached to the house with
mortar.
A. Anchored
B. Attached
C. Adhered ✔✔C. Adhered
Damaged, deteriorating, pealing and oxidation are typical defects in what kind of siding?
A. Aluminum
B. Wood
C. Vinyl
questions and answers
How many inches of clearance should a masonry chimney have from combustible
framing materials such as joists and rafters?
A. 6 inches
B. 12 inches
C. 2 inches
D. 0 inches ✔✔C. 2 inches
A fireplace may share a flue with an appliance such as a furnace or water heater.
A. This is not allowed
B. This is allowed
C. This is only allowed if there is a permit
D. This is only allowed if the water heater is electric ✔✔A. This is not allowed
What is an acceptable material for a chimney cap?
A. Mortar
B. Cement
C. Clay
D. Metal ✔✔A. MortarWhat monitors the pilot flame in a gas water heater?
A. A thermometer
B. A thermocouple
C. A thermolock
D. A pressure gauge ✔✔B. A thermocouple
What are the 3 prohibited traps?
A. P trap, S trap and Drum Trap
B. Drum Trap, Bell Trap and P Trap
C. S Trap, Drum Trap and Bell Trap
D. S Trap, Bell Trap and P Trap ✔✔C. S Trap, Drum Trap and Bell Trap
What does an Air Admittance Valve do?
A. It detects negative air pressure to allow air into pipes and closes to prevent sewer
gases from entering.
B. It allows air into vents from the attic
C. It detects positive air pressure to allow air into pipes
,D. It allows air inside the home when negative pressure from the outside is detected
✔✔A. It detects negative air pressure to allow air into pipes and closes to prevent sewer
gases from entering.
An accessible shutoff valve for each gas appliance should be located where?
A. At the main gas line or within 8 feet from appliance
B. In the same room as appliance and within 6 feet from appliance
C. On the appliance or within 15 feet from appliance
D. In the same room as appliance and within 12 feet from appliance. ✔✔B. In the same
room as appliance and within 6 feet from appliance
What are the 3 most common kinds of retaining walls made from?
A. Metal, Masonry, Concrete
B. Wood, Metal, PVC
C. Wood, Masonry, Concrete
D. Gravel, Wood, Cement ✔✔C. Wood, Masonry, Concrete
CMU stands for ____________.
A. Concrete Masonry Unit
B. Cement Masonry Unit
C. Cinder Block Masonry Unit
D. Compressed Masonry Unit ✔✔A. Concrete Masonry Unit
CMUs in taller retaining walls should be grouted and reinforced with _______.
A. Steel
B. Mortar
C. Wood
D. Brick ✔✔A. Steel
Retaining walls should have _______ on the outside to secure the wall.
A. beams
B. shoring (vertical posts)
C. pillars
D. columns ✔✔B. shoring (vertical posts)
Retaining walls can be anchored through the soil using _____________.
A. concrete
B. concrete and tie-backs
C. deadman and tie-backs
,D. shoring posts ✔✔C. deadman, tie-backs
Proper slope away from foundation within the first 10 feet should be how many inches?
A. 5 inches
B. 6 inches
C. 4 inches
D. 8 inches ✔✔B. 6 inches
Spalling and efflorescence is usually an indication of _______________.
A. An earthquake
B. Foundation damage
C. Settlement
D. Water management problems ✔✔D. Water management problems
What is the crumbling of surface bricks, blocks or concrete called?
A. Spalling
B. Efflorescence
C. Settlement
D. Step Crack ✔✔A. Spalling
Plants should be at least_________ from the house.
A. 2 feet
B. 1 foot
C. 3 feet
D. No distance required ✔✔B. 1 foot
A door leading to a pool should be _________.
A. only self-closing
B. over 4 feet tall
C. self-closing and self-latching.
D. made of metal ✔✔C. self-closing and self-latching.
A pool fence's horizontal member should be at least ________ apart to prevent
climbing.
A. 45"
B. 44"
C. 36"
D. 30" ✔✔A. 45"
, Gates should swing _____ from the pool.
A. toward
B. away
C. not swing
D. it doesn't matter ✔✔B. away
What does EIFS stand for?
A. Exterior Irrigation and Floor System
B. Electrical Integrated Fiber System
C. Exterior Insulation and Finish System
D. Electrical Insulation and Finish System ✔✔C. Exterior Insulation and Finish System
Types of veneers (wall coverings) methods:
A. Attached, Anchored, Adhered
B. Able, Adorned, Adhered
C. Attached, Asphalt, Adorned
D. Casement, Attached, Anchored ✔✔A. Attached, Anchored, Adhered
All types of siding, including EIFS are _______ veneers.
A. Anchored
B. Attached
C. Adhered ✔✔B. Attached
Brick and natural stone are _________ veneers and are attached to the house.
A. Anchored
B. Attached
C. Adhered ✔✔A. Anchored
Stucco and artificial stone are _________ veneers and are attached to the house with
mortar.
A. Anchored
B. Attached
C. Adhered ✔✔C. Adhered
Damaged, deteriorating, pealing and oxidation are typical defects in what kind of siding?
A. Aluminum
B. Wood
C. Vinyl
