NHIE FINAL EXAM 2026 ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS GRADED A+
✔✔41. When inspecting the structural system, the inspector is required to
A. inspect only the visible components in the attic and crawl space.
B. specify method of structural repairs to the system.
C. report all structural deficiencies observed.
D. determine the cause and origin of the damage. - ✔✔C
✔✔42. A ground fault occurs when
A. too many devices are used on a circuit.
B. a hot conductor touches another hot conductor.
C. a hot conductor touches a grounded surface or grounding conductor.
D. a grounded conductor comes in contact with a grounding conductor. - ✔✔C
✔✔43 Electrical receptacles in bathrooms should be
A. GFCI protected.
B. at least 3 feet away from showers and bathtubs.
C. not more than 2 feet from the vanity basin.
D. waterproofed. - ✔✔A
✔✔44. Medium efficiency furnaces have a draft inducer fan and are connected directly
to the vent system instead of having a draft hood. There are white and yellowish
deposits below the draft inducer fan. A possible explanation for these deposits is that
A. the seal between the draft inducer fan and the furnace is failing.
B. moisture is condensing in the vent and running back into the draft inducer fan.
C. the draft inducer fan is not operating properly.
D. the furnace has failed and is unsafe to operate. - ✔✔B
✔✔45. The purpose of a trap in the waste drainage system is to
A. provide maintenance access.
B. prevent siphoning.
C. block sewer gases.
D. cause water to drain smoothly. - ✔✔C
✔✔46. A home inspection typically includes an examination of
A. adequacy of heat supply.
B. heat exchangers.
C. humidifiers.
D. vents, flues, and chimneys. - ✔✔D
✔✔47. In new construction, the MINIMUM overhead electrical serv ice clearances are
A. walkway: 8 feet, roadway: 16 feet, deck: 10 feet
B. walkway: 9 feet, roadway: 15 feet, deck: 12 feet
, C. walkway: 10 feet, roadway: 18 feet, deck: 10 feet
D. walkway: 12 feet, roadway: 20 feet, deck: 12 feet - ✔✔C
✔✔48. During a summertime inspection, what could indicate chronic condensation
problems in an attic?
A. The attic is very warm.
B. There is no vapor retarder on the insulation.
C. There are gray/black stains on the north side roof sheathing.
D. There are mildew stains on the bathroom ceilings. - ✔✔C
✔✔49. Ice damming at the eaves may be caused by
A. inadequate attic insulation.
B. undersized gutters.
C. shallow roof slope.
D. improper flashing. - ✔✔A
✔✔50. The purpose of fla shing on a roof is to
A. shed water onto roofing materials.
B. seal roof shingles to vertical surfaces.
C. protect roofing material.
D. join different roofing materials. - ✔✔A
✔✔51. 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 h as some houses served by oil
heat - ✔✔C
✔✔52. 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 su spect
A. an exterior fan running too slowly.
B. an overheating compressor.
C. a dirty filter.
D. a thermostat set too low. - ✔✔C
✔✔53. What is the MINIMUM electrical service drop clearance from a residential
driveway?
A. 12 feet
ANSWERS GRADED A+
✔✔41. When inspecting the structural system, the inspector is required to
A. inspect only the visible components in the attic and crawl space.
B. specify method of structural repairs to the system.
C. report all structural deficiencies observed.
D. determine the cause and origin of the damage. - ✔✔C
✔✔42. A ground fault occurs when
A. too many devices are used on a circuit.
B. a hot conductor touches another hot conductor.
C. a hot conductor touches a grounded surface or grounding conductor.
D. a grounded conductor comes in contact with a grounding conductor. - ✔✔C
✔✔43 Electrical receptacles in bathrooms should be
A. GFCI protected.
B. at least 3 feet away from showers and bathtubs.
C. not more than 2 feet from the vanity basin.
D. waterproofed. - ✔✔A
✔✔44. Medium efficiency furnaces have a draft inducer fan and are connected directly
to the vent system instead of having a draft hood. There are white and yellowish
deposits below the draft inducer fan. A possible explanation for these deposits is that
A. the seal between the draft inducer fan and the furnace is failing.
B. moisture is condensing in the vent and running back into the draft inducer fan.
C. the draft inducer fan is not operating properly.
D. the furnace has failed and is unsafe to operate. - ✔✔B
✔✔45. The purpose of a trap in the waste drainage system is to
A. provide maintenance access.
B. prevent siphoning.
C. block sewer gases.
D. cause water to drain smoothly. - ✔✔C
✔✔46. A home inspection typically includes an examination of
A. adequacy of heat supply.
B. heat exchangers.
C. humidifiers.
D. vents, flues, and chimneys. - ✔✔D
✔✔47. In new construction, the MINIMUM overhead electrical serv ice clearances are
A. walkway: 8 feet, roadway: 16 feet, deck: 10 feet
B. walkway: 9 feet, roadway: 15 feet, deck: 12 feet
, C. walkway: 10 feet, roadway: 18 feet, deck: 10 feet
D. walkway: 12 feet, roadway: 20 feet, deck: 12 feet - ✔✔C
✔✔48. During a summertime inspection, what could indicate chronic condensation
problems in an attic?
A. The attic is very warm.
B. There is no vapor retarder on the insulation.
C. There are gray/black stains on the north side roof sheathing.
D. There are mildew stains on the bathroom ceilings. - ✔✔C
✔✔49. Ice damming at the eaves may be caused by
A. inadequate attic insulation.
B. undersized gutters.
C. shallow roof slope.
D. improper flashing. - ✔✔A
✔✔50. The purpose of fla shing on a roof is to
A. shed water onto roofing materials.
B. seal roof shingles to vertical surfaces.
C. protect roofing material.
D. join different roofing materials. - ✔✔A
✔✔51. 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 h as some houses served by oil
heat - ✔✔C
✔✔52. 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 su spect
A. an exterior fan running too slowly.
B. an overheating compressor.
C. a dirty filter.
D. a thermostat set too low. - ✔✔C
✔✔53. What is the MINIMUM electrical service drop clearance from a residential
driveway?
A. 12 feet
