CMI Advanced Defect Analysis & Documentation Flashcards
6 cards from real CMI practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 CMI Advanced Defect Analysis & Documentation flashcards as text
A CMI identifies reversed polarity at multiple outlets throughout a home. Which component is the most likely cause?
Answer: Hot and neutral wires were swapped at the outlet, a junction box, or at the panel
Reversed polarity is almost always a wiring error at the connection point — outlet, junction box, or panel — where hot and neutral conductors were inadvertently transposed.
What does a high static pressure drop across an HVAC air filter most likely indicate?
Answer: The filter is clogged or too restrictive, reducing airflow and stressing the blower
Excessive static pressure drop across a filter signals restriction from clogging or an overly dense filter media, which reduces airflow and can cause blower motor stress and coil icing.
During a roof inspection, a CMI observes granule loss concentrated at the north-facing slope. What is the most likely explanation?
Answer: Prolonged moisture retention on the shaded slope accelerating granule loss and aging
North-facing slopes receive less sunlight and dry more slowly, promoting algae and moss growth that actively loosen and displace surface granules over time.
A CMI notes that a gas water heater flue connector has a downward pitch toward the appliance. Why is this a critical safety defect?
Answer: A downward pitch traps combustion gases including carbon monoxide, preventing proper venting to the exterior
Flue connectors must pitch upward continuously toward the chimney so buoyancy drives combustion gases out; a dip allows CO and other products to back-draft into the living space.
What does the term 'negative drainage' mean in a home inspection context?
Answer: Grading that slopes toward the foundation, directing surface water against the structure
Negative drainage describes a grade that falls toward rather than away from the foundation, channeling rainwater and snowmelt against the structure and increasing basement water intrusion risk.
A CMI observes cupping of hardwood floor boards. What is the primary cause of this condition?
Answer: Moisture imbalance where the bottom of the boards has higher moisture content than the top
Cupping occurs when the underside of a hardwood board absorbs more moisture than the top surface, causing the edges to rise as the bottom swells more than the face.