HOME INSPECTOR NATIONAL PREP
UPATE;( PRACTICE EXAMINATION 2026
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS GRADED A+
◍ Which of the following is a component of a roof drainage system?a.
Downspoutsb. Guttersc. Splash blocksd. All of the above.
Answer: All of the above
◍ Which deficiency should be considered an immediate potential safety
hazard?.
Answer: A missing temperature and pressure relief valve on a hot water
heater
◍ A bathroom door sticks and there is a drywall crack above the door. What
should you report?
A. The bathroom door is causing foundation problems.
B. Foundation problems are causing doors to stick and walls to crack.
C. A structural engineer should be consulted.
D. The bathroom door sticks, which may have caused the drywall crack
above it..
Answer: The bathroom door sticks, which may have caused the drywall
crack above it.
◍ The MOST common cause of chimney flue liner deterioration is:.
Answer: Condensation.
◍ A bathroom light switch that is reachable from the tub or shower should be
____________.
A. covered by an insulated face plate
B. moved
C. a GFCI receptacle
, D. grounded.
Answer: Moved
◍ Subflooring may be omitted when a 1-inch nominal tongue-and groove
wood strip is applied perpendicular to the joists and the joist spacing does
NOT exceed.
Answer: 16 inches.
◍ In order for soffit vents to operate properly, there MUST be:.
Answer: A clear air channel between the roof boards and the insulation.
◍ It is recommended that stucco sidewall finishes on houses with more than
one story should be __________________ framed..
Answer: Balloon
◍ How large should the footing or foundation for a masonry fireplace be?a. It
should be more than six inches thick and extend six inches beyond the
fireplace on all sides.b. It should be more than 12 inches thick and extend
six inches beyond the fireplace on all sides.c. It should be more than six
inches thick and extend 12 inches beyond the fireplace on all sides.d. It
should be more than 12 inches thick and extend 12 inches beyond the
fireplace on all sides..
Answer: It should be more than 12 inches thick and extend six inches
beyond the fireplace on all sides.
◍ Ledger boards should be securely attached directly to the house by.
Answer: properly sized lag bolts every 16 inches.
◍ A sacrificial anode (also called an anti-corrosion rod) is found in:.
Answer: water heaters
◍ A chimney should be ____________________.
A. maximum of 5 feet high
B. any height
C. minimum of 2 feet high and 6 feet higher than any obstruction within 10
feet of the chimney
D. minimum of 3 feet above the roof line and 2 feet higher than any other
, obstruction within 10 feet.
Answer: a minimum of 3 feet above the roof line and 2 feet higher than any
other obstruction within 10 feet
◍ When is an unvented conditioned attic permitted?a. When there is a vapor
retarder applied on the floor of the attic, but there is no insulation applied to
the underside of the roof deck.b. Where there is not a vapor retarder applied
to the floor of the attic, but there is insulation applied to the underside of the
roof deck.c. This is always allowed.d. This is never allowed..
Answer: Where there is not a vapor retarder applied to the floor of the attic,
but there is insulation applied to the underside of the roof deck.
◍ A room is built over a garage, with floor joists parallel to the garage door
opening. To allow room to install a double-wide automatic garage door
opener, the center of the joists may.
Answer: not be notched.
◍ While inspecting a crawl space, you should probe for decay if the
_________ is dark in appearance..
Answer: Floor joist
◍ If a well pump cycles on and off rapidly, it is an indication that.
Answer: the pressure tank is probably water logged.
◍ You observe on a home inspection a whitish, cottony growth on the surface
of baseboards. Which of the following types of fungi are most likely the
cause?
A. White-rot fungi
B. Water-conducting fungi
C. Brown-rot fungi
D. Sapstain fungi.
Answer: White-rot fungi
◍ Which of the following terms matches the definition: One who has
contracted to be responsible for another, especially one who assumes
responsibilities or debts in the event of default?
UPATE;( PRACTICE EXAMINATION 2026
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS GRADED A+
◍ Which of the following is a component of a roof drainage system?a.
Downspoutsb. Guttersc. Splash blocksd. All of the above.
Answer: All of the above
◍ Which deficiency should be considered an immediate potential safety
hazard?.
Answer: A missing temperature and pressure relief valve on a hot water
heater
◍ A bathroom door sticks and there is a drywall crack above the door. What
should you report?
A. The bathroom door is causing foundation problems.
B. Foundation problems are causing doors to stick and walls to crack.
C. A structural engineer should be consulted.
D. The bathroom door sticks, which may have caused the drywall crack
above it..
Answer: The bathroom door sticks, which may have caused the drywall
crack above it.
◍ The MOST common cause of chimney flue liner deterioration is:.
Answer: Condensation.
◍ A bathroom light switch that is reachable from the tub or shower should be
____________.
A. covered by an insulated face plate
B. moved
C. a GFCI receptacle
, D. grounded.
Answer: Moved
◍ Subflooring may be omitted when a 1-inch nominal tongue-and groove
wood strip is applied perpendicular to the joists and the joist spacing does
NOT exceed.
Answer: 16 inches.
◍ In order for soffit vents to operate properly, there MUST be:.
Answer: A clear air channel between the roof boards and the insulation.
◍ It is recommended that stucco sidewall finishes on houses with more than
one story should be __________________ framed..
Answer: Balloon
◍ How large should the footing or foundation for a masonry fireplace be?a. It
should be more than six inches thick and extend six inches beyond the
fireplace on all sides.b. It should be more than 12 inches thick and extend
six inches beyond the fireplace on all sides.c. It should be more than six
inches thick and extend 12 inches beyond the fireplace on all sides.d. It
should be more than 12 inches thick and extend 12 inches beyond the
fireplace on all sides..
Answer: It should be more than 12 inches thick and extend six inches
beyond the fireplace on all sides.
◍ Ledger boards should be securely attached directly to the house by.
Answer: properly sized lag bolts every 16 inches.
◍ A sacrificial anode (also called an anti-corrosion rod) is found in:.
Answer: water heaters
◍ A chimney should be ____________________.
A. maximum of 5 feet high
B. any height
C. minimum of 2 feet high and 6 feet higher than any obstruction within 10
feet of the chimney
D. minimum of 3 feet above the roof line and 2 feet higher than any other
, obstruction within 10 feet.
Answer: a minimum of 3 feet above the roof line and 2 feet higher than any
other obstruction within 10 feet
◍ When is an unvented conditioned attic permitted?a. When there is a vapor
retarder applied on the floor of the attic, but there is no insulation applied to
the underside of the roof deck.b. Where there is not a vapor retarder applied
to the floor of the attic, but there is insulation applied to the underside of the
roof deck.c. This is always allowed.d. This is never allowed..
Answer: Where there is not a vapor retarder applied to the floor of the attic,
but there is insulation applied to the underside of the roof deck.
◍ A room is built over a garage, with floor joists parallel to the garage door
opening. To allow room to install a double-wide automatic garage door
opener, the center of the joists may.
Answer: not be notched.
◍ While inspecting a crawl space, you should probe for decay if the
_________ is dark in appearance..
Answer: Floor joist
◍ If a well pump cycles on and off rapidly, it is an indication that.
Answer: the pressure tank is probably water logged.
◍ You observe on a home inspection a whitish, cottony growth on the surface
of baseboards. Which of the following types of fungi are most likely the
cause?
A. White-rot fungi
B. Water-conducting fungi
C. Brown-rot fungi
D. Sapstain fungi.
Answer: White-rot fungi
◍ Which of the following terms matches the definition: One who has
contracted to be responsible for another, especially one who assumes
responsibilities or debts in the event of default?
