NC home inspector study guide
questions and answers
Function of the barometric damper ✔✔Provide draft regulation
The function of weep holes in a brick home ✔✔Equalize pressure and allow water to
escape
Which of the following can be corrected ✔✔Hoist deflection can be shimmed
A wood retaining wall is anchored to the hillside through the use of an ✔✔Anchor post
Monolithic slabs ✔✔Don't have footings
What does EIFS stand for ✔✔Exterior insulated and finish system
Properly balanced ductwork ✔✔Return ductwork 30% larger than supply ductworkAn
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 circuit breaker is in the off position or it's fuse is missing or blown the inspector is not
required to reestablish the circuit for the purpose of operating the equipment or system
Solid fuel heating device ✔✔Any wood coal or other similar organic fuel burning device
including fireplaces whether masonry or factory built fireplace inserts and stoves wood
stoves room heaters central furnaces and combinations of these devices
Structural component ✔✔A component that supports non variable forces or weights
dead loads and variable forces or weights live loads
System ✔✔A combination of interacting or independent components assembled to carry
out one or more functions
Technically exhaustive ✔✔An inspection involving the use of measurements
instruments testing calculations and other means to develop scientific or engineering
findings conclusions or recommendations
Under floor crawl space ✔✔The area within the confines of the foundation and between
the ground and the underside of the lowest floor structural component
Home inspections provide ✔✔The client with an understanding of the property
conditions as inspected at the time of the home inspection
Home inspectors ✔✔Provide a written contract signed by the client before the
inspection is performed. State the home inspection is in accordance with the standards
of practice of the North Carolina home inspector licensure board. Describe the services
questions and answers
Function of the barometric damper ✔✔Provide draft regulation
The function of weep holes in a brick home ✔✔Equalize pressure and allow water to
escape
Which of the following can be corrected ✔✔Hoist deflection can be shimmed
A wood retaining wall is anchored to the hillside through the use of an ✔✔Anchor post
Monolithic slabs ✔✔Don't have footings
What does EIFS stand for ✔✔Exterior insulated and finish system
Properly balanced ductwork ✔✔Return ductwork 30% larger than supply ductworkAn
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 circuit breaker is in the off position or it's fuse is missing or blown the inspector is not
required to reestablish the circuit for the purpose of operating the equipment or system
Solid fuel heating device ✔✔Any wood coal or other similar organic fuel burning device
including fireplaces whether masonry or factory built fireplace inserts and stoves wood
stoves room heaters central furnaces and combinations of these devices
Structural component ✔✔A component that supports non variable forces or weights
dead loads and variable forces or weights live loads
System ✔✔A combination of interacting or independent components assembled to carry
out one or more functions
Technically exhaustive ✔✔An inspection involving the use of measurements
instruments testing calculations and other means to develop scientific or engineering
findings conclusions or recommendations
Under floor crawl space ✔✔The area within the confines of the foundation and between
the ground and the underside of the lowest floor structural component
Home inspections provide ✔✔The client with an understanding of the property
conditions as inspected at the time of the home inspection
Home inspectors ✔✔Provide a written contract signed by the client before the
inspection is performed. State the home inspection is in accordance with the standards
of practice of the North Carolina home inspector licensure board. Describe the services
