CBI Maintenance Protocols 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: How often should a fuel-burning furnace or boiler typically be professionally serviced?
- Annually (Correct answer)
- Every 10 years
- Only when it stops working
- Every 6 months for electric units only
Correct answer: Annually
Annual professional service checks combustion, venting, heat exchangers, and safety controls.
Question 2: Why is a cracked furnace heat exchanger a serious maintenance concern?
- It increases the electric bill only
- It can let combustion gases, including carbon monoxide, enter the supply air (Correct answer)
- It causes the thermostat to lose calibration
- It makes the blower motor run in reverse
Correct answer: It can let combustion gases, including carbon monoxide, enter the supply air
A breached heat exchanger can let carbon monoxide and other combustion byproducts into the living space.
Question 3: Why should weep holes at the base of brick veneer be kept clear during maintenance?
- They provide attic ventilation
- They let water drain out of the wall cavity (Correct answer)
- They act as termite inspection ports
- They supply combustion air to the furnace
Correct answer: They let water drain out of the wall cavity
Weep holes drain water that collects behind the veneer, and blocking them traps moisture against the sheathing.
Question 4: What indoor relative humidity range does the EPA recommend to help prevent mold growth?
- 10–20%
- 30–50% (Correct answer)
- 60–70%
- 80–90%
Correct answer: 30–50%
The EPA advises keeping indoor humidity between 30% and 50%, and below 60%, to limit mold growth.
Question 5: Where must a bathroom exhaust fan duct terminate?
- Into the attic space
- Into the soffit cavity without a fitting
- To the exterior of the building (Correct answer)
- Into a wall cavity
Correct answer: To the exterior of the building
Bath exhaust must vent to the outdoors, because venting into an attic or cavity deposits moisture that causes mold and rot.
Question 6: Why can a frost-free sillcock still freeze and burst in winter?
- Its valve seat is outside the wall
- A garden hose left attached traps water in the valve body (Correct answer)
- It has no shutoff mechanism
- It is only rated for hot water
Correct answer: A garden hose left attached traps water in the valve body
An attached hose keeps water from draining out of the barrel, so it can freeze; hoses should be disconnected before winter.
Question 7: What is the main maintenance reason for keeping basement window wells clear of leaves and debris?
- To improve the window's energy rating
- To allow drainage and prevent water from pooling against the window and foundation (Correct answer)
- To reduce radon levels
- To keep the window from fogging
Correct answer: To allow drainage and prevent water from pooling against the window and foundation
Debris clogs the well drain, which lets water pond and leak through the window or foundation.
