What determines the amount of electricity (amperage) a wire can carry?
size (diameter)
How is the electrical system in most older homes grounded?
water supply piping
True of false. The ground wire should always be clamped upstream of the water meter?
true
Breakers are safer than fuses. Any house with fuses should be upgraded to to breakers. True or false
false
What are the most common reasons for replacing knob-and-tube wiring?
Breakdown of cloth covering(insulation) Buried in thermal insulation Homeowner splices and repairs
Name an important improvement between knob-and-tube wiring and modern cable
use of grounding
What is the most common electrical flaw found residentially.
over fusing
Non-metallic sheathed cable in an attic on top of joist must be?
protected within 6' of scuttle and must be fastened every 4'
When GFCI is installed on a two-wire, non-grounded system, it provides
fault protection but not grounding protection
The most common clues to venting problems are:
sewer odor, gurgling drains ,slow drains
What is a wet vent?
a vent that also serves as a drain
How much water does a modern residential toilet discharge into the waste system?
1.6 gpf (gallons per flush)
True of false. A flexible appliance connector can be cut?
false
Plumbing vents must terminate at least?
6" above the roof and 10' from windows
What causes structures to move?
gravity
The 2 basic forces that individual structures are subjected to are?
compression- pushed from both ends 2. tension-pulled upon
What condition may result from inadequate lateral support?
the walls will deflect inward
What are two common footing problems with piers?
1. inadequate footing 2. pier base not below the frost line
What is the function of beams?
to carry the floor and wall loads horizontally to the foundation
What purpose do weep holes serve?
1allow rain water to drain out of the 1" space 2. balance the pressure on both sides of the brick
What function do lintels perform?
transfer the load above an opening in a masonry structure
Steel lintels on masonry walls should be at least how many inches wider than the opening on either side?
6
What function do knee walls perform?
support the roof rafters and prevent sagging
What causes wood rot?
improper ventilation and too much moisture
A standard air conditioning system can easily be converted to a heat pump by the addition of a few key components. True or false?
false
An accumalator prevents what from entering the compressor?
liquid refrigerant
The most common cause of insufficient airflow in an A/C system is?
1. dirty coil 2. dirty filter
True or false? A furnace can be located in a laundry room?
true
What does an A/C compressor do?
pressurizes the refrigerant gas in order to raise it's temperature
Which part of the A/C cycle removes the heat from the refrigerant?
when it goes through the condenser
A heat pump is primarily sized for the
a. cooling load or b. heating load
a. cooling load
A single wall gas flue 2" from wood would be a ____ ______.
safety hazard
Double tapping a circuit breaker is allowed when:
the breaker is designed for double tapping
The interior plumbing distribution pipes should be at least ___inches.
1/2"
When installing insulation in rafters, the minimum gap between the sheathing and the insulation is ___ inches.
1'
Siding should be kept at least ____inches from soil contact
6"
A hornet nest on the house need not be reported. True or false?
false
A home inspectors product is:
1. an opinion as to whether or not a client should purchase a property.
2. Professional inspection of a home
3. The written inspection report
3
Humidity in basement concrete and poor ventilation have little effect on the amount of radon in a home. True or false?
true
Floor joists should be installed:
1. crown up
2. crown down
crown up
The more slope on a waste pipe, the better it will drain.
false
When the furnace is located in a small, enclosed area:
inlet and outlet ventilation openings must be provided
If an inspector notes biological contaminents, he should report them in his inspection report?
true
What is a "latent defect"?
a defect that is concealed or not readily discoverable
Insulation in the attic should be located:
between the floor joists in both crawl and full access attics
What gas is measured in picocuries?
radon
Even if an inspector does not see a suspect area, he should report conditions that may be condusive to mold growth?
true
Which plumbing system piping is usually under pressure?
supply pipes
Hydrostatic pressure is the force or push of water against the foundation wall? True or false?
true
The vapor barrier should be installed:
1. closest to the conditioned space
2. closest to the unconditioned space
1. closest to the conditioned space
Radon can also enter a house through the drinking water if the supply is a well. True or false?
true
A type of flashing used to prevent snow and ice buildup is known as:
1. house wrap
2. cricket
3. frieze board
4. felt paper
2. cricket
Reversed polarity is:
the hot and neutral reversed
The primary purpose for roof shingles is:
1. keep out UV light
2.insulate
3. waterproof
4. decorate