HOME INSPECTIONS – Plumbing-Test
Questions with All Correct Answers
2026/2027 Update.
inspector shall inspect: - Answer Interior H2O supply and distribution systems; including
fixtures and faucets. Interior drain, waste and vent systems, including fixtures. Water heating
equipment and hot water supply systems.
inspector shall also inspect: - Answer Vent systems, flues, and chimneys. Fuel storage and fuel
distribution systems. Sewage ejectors, sump pumps, and related piping.
inspector shall describe: - Answer Interior water supply, drain, waste, and vent piping
materials. Water heating equipment including energy sources. Location of main water and main
fuel shut off valves.
inspector NOT required to inspect: - Answer Clothes washing machine connections. Interior of
vent systems, flues, or chimneys that are not readily accessible. Wells, well pumps, and water
storage related equipment. Water conditioning systems. Solar, geothermal, and other
renewable energy water heating systems. Manual and automatic fire extinguishing and sprinkler
systems and landscape irrigation systems. Septic and other sewage disposal systems.
NOT required to determine: - Answer Whether water supply and waste disposal systems are
public or private, water quality, adequacy of combustion air components.
NOT required to measure: - Answer water supply flow and pressure, and well water quantity
NOT required to: - Answer fill shower pans and fixtures to test for leaks
storm water is typically NOT allowed in a: - Answer sanitary disposal system
there are lots of piping hidden in walls, so we should check carefully for: - Answer stains and
mold
typical plumbing materials: - Answer copper, galvanized, lead (no longer used), CPVC, PVC,
polybutylene, PEX, HDPE (polyethylene)
what does the term "service" mean? - Answer piping from the city water main or a private
well into home
,what does the term "distribution" mean? - Answer piping within the home from the main
valve to the plumbing fixtures
Copper Pipe - Answer
what type of copper pipe can be used underground? - Answer K or L
what type of copper pipe can be used for interior use? - Answer K, L, or M
___ is the thickest wall copper pipe, while ___ is the thinnest wall copper pipe - Answer K, M
K copper pipe has what color writing? - Answer green
L copper pipe has what color writing? - Answer blue
M copper pipe has what color writing? - Answer red
Galvanized Steel Pipe - Answer life expectancy - 40-50 yrs., used in older homes, interior
surfaces corrode and reduces water pressure
lead pipe - Answer has caused lead poisoning, and has been removed from house interiors
CPVC Pipe - Answer can be used for hot AND cold water distribution; sometimes has a yellow
stripe (ivory in color)
PVC Pipe - Answer COLD WATER ONLY; schedule 40 is typical (80 has a thicker wall, w/ same
diameter)
Polybutylene - Answer leaking at the fittings, standard color is grey but can also be black;
recommend a plumber if you see this
cross linked polyethylene pipe (PEX) - Answer red is for hot water, blue is for cold; resistant to
freeze damage, can stretch slightly; service and distribution
HDPE pipe - Answer COLD WATER ONLY; used for private wells and sprinkler systems; black is
for water, yellow for natural gas
, what causes galvanic corrosion? 3 elements - Answer dissimilar metals, metal to metal
contact, metals in the same conduction solution (electrolyte)
what is a great electrolyte? - Answer hot water
what two pipes will you see most likely causing galvanic corrosion? - Answer copper touching
galvanized steel
what prevents galvanic corrosion? - Answer dielectric unions
another term for galvanic corrosion? - Answer galvanic action
for a copper pipe that has a 1" diameter or less, where should a metal pipe support be located?
- Answer every 8'
for a copper pipe that has a 1 1/4" diameter or less, where should a metal pipe support be
located? - Answer every 10'
for a galvanized steel or brass pipe that has a 1 1/4" diameter or less, where should a metal pipe
support be located? - Answer every 10'
for a galvanized steel or brass pipe that has a 1 1/2" diameter and up, where should a metal
pipe support be located? - Answer every 12'
for a CPVC and PVC pipe, any diameter, a metal pipe support should be every: - Answer 4'
PEX pipe should have a metal pipe support every: - Answer 32", it is also a very soft pipe - so
the support should be made of plastic
if water is not on in the house: - Answer DO NOT TURN ON
what is "water hammer"? - Answer a banging sound heard when rapidly closing a faucet
what causes the "water hammer" noise? - Answer air being trapped in piping
what is "pipe groan"? - Answer a ticking noise, common w/ hot water running through a PVC
waste line
Questions with All Correct Answers
2026/2027 Update.
inspector shall inspect: - Answer Interior H2O supply and distribution systems; including
fixtures and faucets. Interior drain, waste and vent systems, including fixtures. Water heating
equipment and hot water supply systems.
inspector shall also inspect: - Answer Vent systems, flues, and chimneys. Fuel storage and fuel
distribution systems. Sewage ejectors, sump pumps, and related piping.
inspector shall describe: - Answer Interior water supply, drain, waste, and vent piping
materials. Water heating equipment including energy sources. Location of main water and main
fuel shut off valves.
inspector NOT required to inspect: - Answer Clothes washing machine connections. Interior of
vent systems, flues, or chimneys that are not readily accessible. Wells, well pumps, and water
storage related equipment. Water conditioning systems. Solar, geothermal, and other
renewable energy water heating systems. Manual and automatic fire extinguishing and sprinkler
systems and landscape irrigation systems. Septic and other sewage disposal systems.
NOT required to determine: - Answer Whether water supply and waste disposal systems are
public or private, water quality, adequacy of combustion air components.
NOT required to measure: - Answer water supply flow and pressure, and well water quantity
NOT required to: - Answer fill shower pans and fixtures to test for leaks
storm water is typically NOT allowed in a: - Answer sanitary disposal system
there are lots of piping hidden in walls, so we should check carefully for: - Answer stains and
mold
typical plumbing materials: - Answer copper, galvanized, lead (no longer used), CPVC, PVC,
polybutylene, PEX, HDPE (polyethylene)
what does the term "service" mean? - Answer piping from the city water main or a private
well into home
,what does the term "distribution" mean? - Answer piping within the home from the main
valve to the plumbing fixtures
Copper Pipe - Answer
what type of copper pipe can be used underground? - Answer K or L
what type of copper pipe can be used for interior use? - Answer K, L, or M
___ is the thickest wall copper pipe, while ___ is the thinnest wall copper pipe - Answer K, M
K copper pipe has what color writing? - Answer green
L copper pipe has what color writing? - Answer blue
M copper pipe has what color writing? - Answer red
Galvanized Steel Pipe - Answer life expectancy - 40-50 yrs., used in older homes, interior
surfaces corrode and reduces water pressure
lead pipe - Answer has caused lead poisoning, and has been removed from house interiors
CPVC Pipe - Answer can be used for hot AND cold water distribution; sometimes has a yellow
stripe (ivory in color)
PVC Pipe - Answer COLD WATER ONLY; schedule 40 is typical (80 has a thicker wall, w/ same
diameter)
Polybutylene - Answer leaking at the fittings, standard color is grey but can also be black;
recommend a plumber if you see this
cross linked polyethylene pipe (PEX) - Answer red is for hot water, blue is for cold; resistant to
freeze damage, can stretch slightly; service and distribution
HDPE pipe - Answer COLD WATER ONLY; used for private wells and sprinkler systems; black is
for water, yellow for natural gas
, what causes galvanic corrosion? 3 elements - Answer dissimilar metals, metal to metal
contact, metals in the same conduction solution (electrolyte)
what is a great electrolyte? - Answer hot water
what two pipes will you see most likely causing galvanic corrosion? - Answer copper touching
galvanized steel
what prevents galvanic corrosion? - Answer dielectric unions
another term for galvanic corrosion? - Answer galvanic action
for a copper pipe that has a 1" diameter or less, where should a metal pipe support be located?
- Answer every 8'
for a copper pipe that has a 1 1/4" diameter or less, where should a metal pipe support be
located? - Answer every 10'
for a galvanized steel or brass pipe that has a 1 1/4" diameter or less, where should a metal pipe
support be located? - Answer every 10'
for a galvanized steel or brass pipe that has a 1 1/2" diameter and up, where should a metal
pipe support be located? - Answer every 12'
for a CPVC and PVC pipe, any diameter, a metal pipe support should be every: - Answer 4'
PEX pipe should have a metal pipe support every: - Answer 32", it is also a very soft pipe - so
the support should be made of plastic
if water is not on in the house: - Answer DO NOT TURN ON
what is "water hammer"? - Answer a banging sound heard when rapidly closing a faucet
what causes the "water hammer" noise? - Answer air being trapped in piping
what is "pipe groan"? - Answer a ticking noise, common w/ hot water running through a PVC
waste line
