NHIE Quiz

A poured concrete retaining wall with weep holes is rotating. What is the most likely reason for the rotation?

A poured concrete basement wall has a 1/4 inch wide crack where the wall is bowing slightly. Brown stains are below the crack. What is the most likely reason for this condition?

A concrete block basement wall has significant efflorescence. What is the most likely reason for this condition?

A concrete driveway is 1/2 inch higher than the adjacent concrete walkway. What is the most likely reason for this condition?

Which is the most acceptable fastener for connecting a deck ledger to a band board?

A movement joint should be installed in brick veneer:

Adhered masonry veneer is installed in the same manner as:

Which roof covering is most appropriate for a roof with a slope of 1 1/2 : 12 above a single family house? Assume standard installation of any required underlayment.

What is the most appropriate fastener material for a slate shingle roof covering?

A scupper would most likely be located in

A sidewall extends past a roof. Hardboard siding is water damaged a few inches beyond where the roof and sidewall meet. The roof covering is asphalt strip shingles. What is the most likely cause of this condition?

A 1/2 inch wide gap exists between the drywall wall and ceiling. The seller reports that this gap opens in the winter and closes in the summer. What is the most likely cause of this condition?

A collar tie would most likely be found in

A concrete basement wall has a crack that varies in width between 3/8 inch at the floor to 1/8 inch 2 feet down from the wall top. What is the most likely cause of this condition?

A notch in a 12 foot long 2×10 floor joist is located 5 feet from the joist end. What is the MAXIMUM allowed notch depth?

Racking is most likely to occur from failure to install

You see a ceramic tile floor with numerous cracks running through the grout and the tiles. The floor system is constructed using 2×10 floor joists. Which is the most likely cause of this condition?

You see uniform width cracks at both upper corners of all windows along one top story wall. Which is the most likely cause of this condition?

The grounding electrode system of a house

How many energized conductors supply 240 volt, 200 amp, single phase electric service?

A circuit breaker protects against too much

Which event is most likely to cause arc flash?

A subpanel in a detached building has melted insulation on a neutral conductor. What is the most likely cause of this condition?

In which location may NM cable be installed?

A 2-slot receptacle has been replaced with a 3-slot receptacle in a branch circuit that does not contain an equipment grounding conductor? Which method is permitted?

Where would an evaporative cooler be most effective?

When a heat pump is operating in cooling mode the temperature of the liquid line should be a few degrees

The effect of high humidity on an air conditioning system will be

What is most likely to cause the greatest reduction of air flow in a flexible air duct?

What is the most likely result of insufficient air flow across the evaporator coil?

Which is the best example of heat flow by conduction?

When should combustion air NOT be drawn from inside a building?

The flame from a properly adjusted oil burner should be what color?

What component is involved in controlling when a hot water boiler activates?

Where would an equalizer pipe be found?

Brown-colored particles under the flue collar of an induced draft gas furnace are most likely an indication of which defect?

Permeability is the property of a material that allows the passage of

In a cold climate, a vapor retarder should be installed on which sides of a wall?

Fiberglass batt insulation slows heat movement by

What action would most likely reduce fiberglass batt insulation R-value by the largest amount?

Where would a radiant barrier be MOST effective?

Why should 50% – 60% of the attic ventilation opening be at the eaves?

Which may be used as water distribution pipe in a house?

What is the best definition of a cross-connection?

What is the MOST likely result of thermal expansion?

Where is an S-trap most likely to be located?

The label on a 240 volt electric water heater indicates that the element wattage should be 4,500. The measured current is 14.6 amps. The MOST likely explanation is that

The client complains of an occasional foul odor in a seldom used bathroom. Which is the most likely cause of this issue?

What is the MOST likely explanation for a drywall crack that extends up from one window corner?

An interior door rubs the header on the latch side. There are no cracks in the drywall around the door. What is the MOST likely reason for this to occur?

Which component supports a stairway?

Where is stairway width measured?

On a vehicle door, a containment cable should be installed on the

What is the BEST material for a masonry chimney crown?

The process by which heat changes wood chemistry making it more likely to burn is called

Creosote is most likely to be created in a chimney when burning

What is the BEST reason for a chimney to terminate above nearby obstructions?

A chimney should NOT be located on an exterior wall because

A wood-burning stove is listed for 12 inches clearance to combustibles. What is the minimum clearance to combustibles for this stove when using a sheet metal and air space clearance reduction device?

Inspection of which appliance is NOT within the scope of a home inspection?

A properly installed food waste disposer that makes no sound when activated can sometimes be activated by

What is the prescriptive MINIMUM distance between the bottom of a microwave oven and a range cooking surface?

What is LEAST likely to be an approved pool access barrier?

Which is NOT a type of pool filter?

A double gate that allows access to the pool should be

The primary function of a skimmer is to provide

Which of these irrigation components is MOST often required in areas where water is scarce?

Which is MOST likely to be a problem when an emitter is located near the house?

Which would NOT be an approved irrigation system pipe?

What is the correct term for the component shown in the picture?

The electricity service drop runs through tree branches. What is the best recommendation in this situation?

What is the correct term for the wall covering in this picture?

What is the correct term for the component shown in the picture?

The home inspector is NOT required to report the location of the

The home inspector is required to report the location of the

What information is NOT required in an inspection report?

The closet where the water heater is located was locked. Hot water was available where required. The best way to report this situation is the water heater

The MINIMUM inspection of an accessible attic involves viewing the attic

A toilet water supply valve is shut off. The BEST way to deal with this situation is to

A roof is accessible by ladder and the home inspector believes the roof is safe to walk on. The MINIMUM method of inspecting this roof involves

A roof covering is concealed by snow. The attic inspection reveals no evidence of water leaks. The best method of reporting this situation is to state the roof covering was

What is the most accurate deficiency description for a dimension lumber floor joist that is not deformed but has a clear span longer than allowed by current standards?

What information is usually required when reporting a deficient component?

Which of the following is the BEST example of an unsafe condition?

A 3-light receptacle tester will NOT display

A fiberglass shingle roof covering is inspected during the summer. What is the LEAST likely indication that the shingles are near the end of their service life?

What is the MOST likely indication that an air-source air conditioning system is near the end of its service life?

What is the MOST likely indication that an electric water heater lower element has failed?

An eight foot tall concrete block wall leans in 1/2 inch and is not cracked. The wall is damp with moderate efflorescence. Who is the BEST specialist to recommend?

Nails that penetrate the roof sheathing are rusted. Some areas of roof sheathing present moisture stains and fungal growth. What is the MOST likely cause of these conditions?

There is a crack at the upper corner on the lock side of an interior door. The crack gets wider as it runs toward the ceiling. The door scrapes against the lock-side jamb. What is the BEST recommendation in this situation?

While performing a buyer’s inspection at an occupied house, the home inspector detects a minor gas leak at the exterior gas meter. What is the home inspector’s MOST appropriate action?

What is the correct term for the component shown in the picture?

What is NOT required to establish an agreement between a home inspector and a client?

An inspection agreement presented to the client after the inspection may be declared invalid. What is the MOST likely reason for declaring such agreements invalid?

A home inspection agreement is most likely to be interpreted using which law?

A real estate agent’s signature on an inspection agreement is most likely to be valid if

A limitation of remedies clause is most likely to have which effect?

Mediation can best be described as a

What situation would General Liability insurance be likely to cover?

A home inspector surety bond may best be described as a promise to pay if

Ordinary negligence can best be described as a failure to

A home inspector failed to report a significant defect. Recovery of monetary damages is most likely as an act of

Which is most likely to be considered an ethical breach by a home inspector?

The home inspector encounters a steam boiler that is shut down for the season. The home inspector has been trained to inspect steam boilers but rarely sees them. What is the best method for dealing with this situation?

Sending the inspection report to which party is LEAST likely to be considered an ethical breach by a home inspector? Assume all parties attended the inspection.

Buckling in horizontal vinyl siding is generally caused by

At what level would water pressure within a single-family dwelling begin to be considered excessive and require correction?

A newer home with electric heat is being inspected. It has a below grade finished basement containing a bedroom. The inspector should look for a smoke alarm and

A swimming pool fence must prevent passage of a sphere that is larger than

Refer to the photograph to answer this question. What should an inspector recommend to the client regarding the conditions shown in relation to the downspout/rain leader?

If water infiltration is suspected behind a finished surface. What tool would be the best choice to verify dampness?

Gas-fired furnace heat exchangers most often fail from

Relative Humidity (RH) is expressed as

Connections of dissimilar metal in a plumbing system, such as galvanized steel pipe and copper pipe, will usually cause

A Ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) is a safety device that

An electrical system with a fuse on the neutral conductor and on the energized (hot) conductors

To operate a central air conditioner, an electric clothes dryer, and an electric range, the ampacity of the service to the house should be AT LEAST

A floor joist in a crawl space has been cut where the toilet drain passes through the floor. The joists are 2×6 spaced at 16 inches on center. The inspector should recommend that

Most problems with concrete are caused at the time of installation. What single factor causes the MOST problems?

Brick chimneys on older properties with oil heat sometimes curve above the roof line, with no visible cracks. Which is a possible cause of this curving?

Which set of building terms do NOT belong together?

Which has the LEAST effect on the deflection of a dimension lumber floor system?

The normal MAXIMUM rise of residential stair treads is

An ungrounded receptacle may be replaced by a ground fault circuit interrupter installed

Circuit breakers

In a forced air heating system containing a split system air conditioner and a humidifier, humidity is reduced by

A home inspection report MUST include

Water hammer can occur as a result of

If a system designed for use with natural gas is supplied with propane gas

Low pressure boiler pipes do NOT carry steam pressure above

When an asphalt shingle roof is installed over existing shingles, leakage commonly occurs at the

Roof trusses

On a hillside house with foundation drain systems,

A subpanel in an older house that is wired with non-metallic sheathed cable (NM) has one circuit with a ground wire. The ground wire

Inspecting a very old country house, a gurgling sound is heard from the tub drain when the toilet is flushed. Which of the following is the MOST likely explanation for the sound?

You are inspecting an older home which has replacement windows and new vinyl siding. The new siding is backed up with rigid foam insulation that covers the service entrance cable from the weatherhead to the meter. You should report that this is

When looking at the exterior wall of a sixty year old brick masonry house with a gable roof, you notice a horizontal crack in the mortar and outward brick displacement along the gutter edge of the roof. The displacement is greatest at the center of the top three courses of brick. This condition is MOST likely caused by

You inspect a wood framed cantilevered balcony off a second-story bedroom. You find significant wood deterioration (at least one-half member depth) of all cantilever joists at the bearing point of the house. You should

When a cooling unit is located in an attic where damage may result from condensate overflow

Asphalt shingles are NOT allowed to be installed on roofs with slopes less than

If a poured concrete foundation has an unusually large number of vertical cracks, each no wider than 1/32 inch, the cause is likely to be

Where should squash blocks (web blocking) be found in a wood I-joist floor system?

Columns typically support

Oriented strand board (OSB) is used MOST frequently in

Which of the following is NOT a component of wood stairs?

When inspecting the structural system, the inspector is required to

A ground fault occurs when

Electrical receptacles in bathrooms should be

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

The purpose of a trap in the waste drainage system is to

A home inspection typically includes an examination of

In new construction, the MINIMUM overhead electrical service clearances are

During a summertime inspection, what could indicate chronic condensation problems in an attic?

Ice damming at the eaves may be caused by

The purpose of flashing on a roof is to

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

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 suspect

What is the MINIMUM electrical service drop clearance from a residential driveway?

The reason a dielectric union would be used in plumbing distribution pipes is to

A basin makes a gurgling sound at the end of draining the fixture. This may be due to

Condensation between glass layers of thermal pane windows indicates the need to

Dielectric unions

The MINIMUM clearance between a wood stove single wall vent connector and combustible materials should be

Garage door opener electronic eye sensors are properly installed when facing each other

Capillary tubes are part of the

As a lintel over doors and windows in a masonry wall rusts it may cause

Roof truss uplift can cause cracks to form

When measuring the temperature drop across the evaporator in a central air conditioning system, a properly running unit on a humid summer day should read between

Knob and tube wiring may be acceptable if

The MAXIMUM acceptable variation in riser heights within a flight of stairs is

While conducting an inspection, your ladder falls over and breaks the homeowner’s priceless Ming vase. What type of insurance is needed to cover the replacement?

What is the MINIMUM allowable separation between a masonry chimney and combustible materials?

Bonding of appliances can be confirmed by using a/an

The service panel enclosure door is required to open at least

Which of the following is a common maintenance task for a residential refrigeration system?

The device used to detect the electrical current to the electric heater coil is called

The inspector is required to operate all of the following EXCEPT

Potable water systems connected to lawn irrigation systems need to be protected from

Most modern kitchen ranges are required to have

The inclusion of photographs in home inspection reports is

A home inspector should probe

Overhead electrical service should be a MINIMUM of how many feet above a flat roof subject to foot traffic?

One of the purposes of a home inspection contract is to define the responsibilities and limitations for

What is a required element of a contract?

Home inspection agreements (contracts) should

Stringer, tread, and riser are all components of a

The final decision to enter a crawl space is made

The purpose of a contract is to protect the

Conducting a complete and thorough home inspection minimizes the need for

What is the most common contributing factor to masonry retaining wall movement?

How are the holes in rigid foundation drain pipe aligned?

What is the primary purpose of control joints placed in concrete driveways?

Where might you expect to find a window with safety glass?

What is a common cause of buckled hardwood flooring in an existing house?

A newly built ventilated crawl space with a vapor retarder is REQUIRED to have one square foot of net ventilation opening per

A standard claims made errors and omissions insurance policy includes claims filed

Refer to the photograph to answer this question. What common defect is visible in the photo­ graph of the entry steps?

Refer to the photograph to answer this question. What component is the arrow pointing to in the picture of the roof framing?

Refer to the photograph to answer this question. Some inspectors measure the electricity used by a condenser. The numerals on the readout show

Refer to the photograph to answer this question. The truss roof framing in the photograph is

Refer to the photograph to answer this question. The testing of garage doors with a wood block