PSI Practice Test Flashcards
Which of the following is TRUE with regard to powder post beetles?
They create exit holes which are approximately 1/16” in diameter
To avoid scalding injuries, heating elements should be set to
120°F
To measure carbon monoxide, you should use a
CO detector
Water is dripping from the cold water pipes above a gas water heater. This may be caused by
Exhaust spillage
Home inspectors report receptacles with reversed polarity as potentially hazardous because
They increase the shock likelihood at connected equipment
The purpose of anchor bolts in a sill plate is to
prevent movement
Which of the following is the correct termination where the sloped roof terminates with a EIFS wall?
Use kick-out flashing into the gutter
When a water heater thermostat is set at 140°F or higher, a _____ should be installed to temper the water.
Mixing valve
What type of foundation has a large amount of reinforced steel and is known as a floating foundation?
Mat foundation slab
Soil surface adjacent to the foundation should be
Sloped away to provide proper drainage
You are inspecting a home build in 1996. In the garage you observe the the wall is covered with 1/4” hardboard panels. You advise the client that
There does not appear to be any fire barrier between the garage and living space as currently required
The term “wet vent” refers to a
Waste line that also functions as a vent
What is a safety mandate in a remodeled home where a massage bathtub has been added?
There must be a GFCI
Ivy has grown across the entire exterior brick wall surfaces of a one-family house. The home inspector should report tat the ivy
Could cause damage to the surface and recommend removal
You see during your inspection that the air conditioning system has supply registers in each bedroom, but only one large return register is in the center hallway. Your FIRST course of action would be to
Check to see if the bedroom doors are undercut at the bottom with 2” of clearance
What plumbing fixture valves should NOT be operated?
Shut-off valves
The proper slope on a drain line is
1 inch per foot
When evaluating the operation of an AC system during the summer months, temperature differential between the supply and renew air should typically be
15-20°F
You are approached by a real estate agent/broker to advertise in their official brochure for a fee. In turn, they will promote your firm as a preferred vendor and recommend you. You should
Accept only if there is nothing which precludes your responsibility to your clients
While inspecting a one-year old house, slab on grade, you observe hairline cracks in the concrete floor with no vertical displacement. This indicates
normal shrinkage
In order for soffit vents to operate properly, there MUST be
A clear air channel between the roof boards and the insulation
Damage from ice dams could indicate
Insufficient attic insulation
Generally chi type of item is NOT included in a home inspection
Cosmetic
During a routine home inspection, an assumption can be made that the house is in sound structural condition (True or False)
False
The MOST common cause of chimney flue liner deterioration is
Condensation
During an inspection of a gas dryer, you observe no exhaust vent. Your recommendation should
Recommend installing a metal dryer duct vented to the exterior
Two roof trusses passing above an interior hallway have been cut to install a pull-down attic ladder. There is no cracking or indication of distress in the walls or ceilings. What should be the recommendation of the inspector?
The inspector should recommend this situation be referred to a structural engineer.
How should a home inspector handle a safety issue is found in a home?
Determine the degree of immediacy, and report to the appropriate parties.
While inspecting a home, you observe a large ceiling fan with built-in lamps. This installation requires an
Approved brace or box
A missing temperature and pressure relief valve on a hot water heater should be considered an immediate potential safety hazard. (True or False)
True
The joints on the exterior of the brick chimney should be:
a. convex
b. concave
c. flush
b. concave
On a previous work day, you left a crawl space access cover off of the access to the pantry. A party fell the next day and was injured. Which of the following insurance types will be used to pay damages?
General liability and bonding
Water vapor has a tendency to disperse itself equally in the available air creates
partial vapor pressure
You observe approximately 12 inches of loose fill fiberglass insulation in an attic space. You advise the client that the “R” value is approximately:
R30
Fireplace flues must extend AT LEAST:
Three feet above roof penetration and two feet above the highest point within 10 feet.
When inspecting a home, the seller of the property has made the statement that all the appliances are in working order. As an inspector, you should:
Check them anyway
The framing method that uses studs continuously from the sill to the roof is called:
Balloon framing
It is recommended that stucco sidewall finishes on houses with more than one story should be __________________ framed.
Balloon
While inspecting a crawl space, you should probe for decay if the _________ is dark in appearance.
Floor joist
EIFS is a siding material that:
Looks like stucco but lacks a wire mesh.
During your inspection you see small white insects. What do you say to your clients?
Suggest obtaining the services of a pest control operator.
Screened metal chimney caps slow the draft that accelerates at the top of the flue. (True or False)
False
You complete your inspection and deliver the report to the client (buyer). The seller calls and asks what you found on the inspection. What is your response?
You are not allowed to discuss your findings with them.
While inspecting the attic, you observe that the 2 x 4 webbing has been removed from two (2) adjacent manufactured roof trusses to enable the installation of the attic-mounted HVAC air-handler unit, in a single-family dwelling. Your report should state that:
The trusses are no longer structurally sound, and the best method of correction should be determined by qualified engineer.
The MINIMUM width of stairways (not considering railings) is:
36 inches
In a forced air furnace, the burners are used to generate heat in the:
Heat exchanger
An electrical wire that is hanging loose with a bare end is seen in the attic of a home. The homeowner says it is an abandoned circuit and is not being used. The quickest way to check the wire is to:
Use a voltage “sniffer.”
While inspecting the furnace you detect very high levels of carbon monoxide at the supply air registers. You should:
Open windows, shut down systems, and advise immediate evaluation by an HVAC contractor.
Looking into an open electric service panel you see a wire with evidence of burning. What should you do?
Report on the condition, and inform the homeowner that an electrician should review.
A drainage tile can be recognized BEST as a
Pipe set in gravel running continuously along the exterior of a building’s foundation footings.
