Home Inspector Exam Questions and Answers 2023/2024 (GRADED A+)

Branch circuits must be installed in several locations in every building. Which of the following is not one of them? a. Central HVAC equipment b. An office or bedroom c. The laundry room d. Bathrooms - answerAn office or bedroom The International Residential Code (IRC) requires rafters to be fastened to ridge boards or gusset plates if the pitch of the roof is greater than or equal to a certain angle. What is the angle? a. 3/12 b. 2/12 c. 4/12 d. 5/12 - answer3/12 If you observe a component, you make a visual examination. - answerTrue 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. - answerIt should be more than 12 inches thick and extend six inches beyond the fireplace on all sides. You inspect a "representative number" of electrical outlets in a building. What does this mean? a. You inspect a percentage of all the electrical outlets in the structure. d. None of the above - answerYou select one electrical outlet to test in each room of the structure. How much glazing area should every habitable room in a residential dwelling contain? a. ≥8% of floor area b. ≥6% of floor area c. ≥10% of floor area d. ≥7% of floor area - answer≥8% of floor area A "technically exhaustive" inspection uses measurements, tests, calculations and instruments to gather information on the structure under inspection. - answerTrue A builder has added an additional load to a wood truss in the form of a water heater. Under what circumstances does the IRC allow this? a. This is never allowed. b. This is always allowed. c. This is allowed only if the additional load has been verified as acceptable by a certified engineer. d. None of the above - answerThis is allowed only if the additional load has been verified as acceptable by a certified engineer. How far from the foundation should the roof drainage system discharge water? a. 2 ft or into a drain pipe b. 3 ft or into a drain pipe c. 4 ft or into a drain pipe d. 5 ft or into a drain pipe - answer5 ft or into a drain pipe b. 50 and 100 psi c. 60 and 120 psi d. 40 and 80 psi - answer40 and 80 psi A "system" carries out one or more functions in a structure and is composed of at least two interacting or interdependent components. - answerTrue A "system" does not carry out one or more function in a structure and is composed of at least two interacting or interdependent components. - answerFalse In which of the following locations are ground-fault circuit interceptors (GFCI) required? a. All bathroom outlets b. All outdoor outlets c. All countertop outlets d. All of the above - answerAll of the above Which of the following is not a normal operating control? a. A wall switch b. The fuse box c. A safety switch d. A thermostat - answerThe fuse box 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. d. This is never allowed. - answerWhere 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 "cross connection" is a physical connection between two electrical circuits. - answerFalse Which of the following would not be a structural component of a building? a. An exterior wall b. The floor of the second or higher story c. An interior wall that is not connected to a loft or the second story floor joists d. The floor of the main or only story - answerAn interior wall that is not connected to a loft or the second story floor joists What is the proper slope for a horizontal drain pipe? a. Anywhere from 1/8:1 to 1/2:1 b. ≥1/8:1 c. ≤1/2:1 d. None of the above - answerAnywhere from 1/8:1 to 1/2:1 How far above a showerhead should the waterproof material in a bathroom extend? a. ≥ 2" b. ≥ 3" c. ≥ 4" d. ≥ 5" - answer≥ 3" An on-site water quality test is generally done only on structures that are on a non-municipal Which of the following is a component of a roof drainage system? a. Downspouts b. Gutters c. Splash blocks d. All of the above - answerAll of the above Federal and state regulations both require certain warnings to be conspicuous. As a home inspector, you will often have to determine whether or not hazardous components are adequately labeled. Which of the following would a reasonable person consider to be conspicuous? a. UNPLUG POWER BEFORE TOUCHING CIRCUIT (with graphic warning symbols) b. UNPLUG POWER BEFORE TOUCHING CIRCUIT (without graphic warning symbols) c. Unplug power BEFORE touching circuit d. Both A and B - answerBoth A and B The International Residential Code requires cleanouts for drain pipes to be established at intervals throughout the drain system. What is the maximum allowable distance between cleanouts? a. 50 feet horizontally b. 75 feet horizontally c. 100 feet horizontally d. 125 feet horizontally - answer100 feet horizontally A drain with a "functional flow" empties in a reasonable amount of time. - answerFalse What is the minimum slope requirement of a roof with asphalt shingles? a. ≥1:12 d. ≥4:12 - answer≥2:12 How far above grade should a concrete slab extend? a. At least 4" b. At least 6" c. At least 8" d. There is no minimum requirement - answerAt least 8" Damage from ice dams could indicate: A. Over-exposure of shingles or slates. B. Rain gutters with too low an outer lip. C. Insufficient attic insulation. D. Attic vents left open during winter months. - answerInsufficient attic insulation While inspecting a one-year-old house, slab on grade, you observe hairline cracks in the concrete floor with no vertical displacement. This indicates: A. Insufficient reinforcement. B. Unstable subsoil. C. Over hydrated concrete. D. Normal plastic shrinkage. - answerOver hydrated concrete. Which of the following is a safety mandate in a remodeled home where a hydromassage bathtub has been added? A. The faucets must be at the drain end. B. The tub area must have a venting fan. C. There must be a vacuum breaker. D. There must be a ground fault circuit interrupter. - answerThere must be a ground fault circuit interrupter. You see during your inspection that the air conditioning system has supply registers in each bedroom, but only one large return register is located in the center hallway. Your FIRST course of action would be to: A. Recommend to your client that return ducts be installed in each bedroom. B. Check to see if the bedroom doors are undercut at the bottom. C. Report that the life of the A/C equipment will be reduced. D. Report that the A/C system will not work well. - answerCheck to see if the bedroom doors are undercut at the bottom Identify the definition of the term: Collar beam. A. Nominal 1- or 2-inch-thick members connecting opposite roof rafters. They serve to stiffen the roof structure. B. Concrete either without reinforcement, or reinforced only for shrinkage or temperature changes.