Home Inspector Test Ultimate Home Inspector 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: An inspector observes that a home's main water shutoff valve is a gate valve rather than a ball valve. Why might this be noted as a concern?
- Gate valves are too large for residential use
- Gate valves can fail to fully close after years of disuse, making them unreliable in an emergency (Correct answer)
- Gate valves require annual lubrication
- Gate valves are incompatible with copper pipe
Correct answer: Gate valves can fail to fully close after years of disuse, making them unreliable in an emergency
Gate valves corrode internally over time and their stems can seize, meaning they may not fully open or close when needed in an emergency shut-off situation.
Question 2: What is the purpose of a 'kickout flashing' where a roof slope meets a sidewall?
- To secure the bottom row of shingles
- To divert water away from the wall and into the gutter rather than behind the siding (Correct answer)
- To provide ventilation at the eave edge
- To anchor the fascia board to the rafter tails
Correct answer: To divert water away from the wall and into the gutter rather than behind the siding
Kickout (diverter) flashing at the roof-wall intersection deflects water out into the gutter; without it, water runs behind the siding and can cause severe rot and moisture intrusion.
Question 3: During an electrical inspection, an inspector finds aluminum wiring used for branch circuits in a home built in the 1970s. What is the primary concern?
- Aluminum conducts electricity less efficiently than copper
- Aluminum expands and contracts more than copper, causing loose connections that can overheat and arc (Correct answer)
- Aluminum wiring cannot be used with standard breakers
- Aluminum wiring corrodes in humid environments only
Correct answer: Aluminum expands and contracts more than copper, causing loose connections that can overheat and arc
Aluminum's greater thermal expansion relative to copper causes connection points to loosen over time, increasing resistance, heat, and the risk of fire at outlets and switches.
Question 4: Which of the following best describes 'polybutylene' piping, which may be found in homes built between 1978 and 1995?
- A blue-tinted copper alloy used for hot water lines
- A gray plastic pipe that became prone to micro-fractures and leaks, leading to widespread recalls (Correct answer)
- A flexible corrugated stainless steel tubing for gas lines
- A high-density polyethylene pipe used for main water service
Correct answer: A gray plastic pipe that became prone to micro-fractures and leaks, leading to widespread recalls
Polybutylene pipe reacts with oxidants in public water supplies, causing it to flake and crack from the inside out, often resulting in catastrophic leaks.
Question 5: An inspector observes a 'S-trap' configuration under a bathroom sink drain. Why is this a deficiency?
- S-traps are prohibited because they reduce water flow
- S-traps can siphon their water seal, allowing sewer gases to enter the home (Correct answer)
- S-traps require special tools to clean
- S-traps are only allowed on two-story homes
Correct answer: S-traps can siphon their water seal, allowing sewer gases to enter the home
The S-trap's shape causes the water to siphon out of the trap as it drains, destroying the water seal that blocks sewer gases; a P-trap with proper venting is the code-compliant alternative.
Question 6: What is the significance of visible 'truss uplift' cracking at interior ceiling-to-wall joints during an inspection?
- Foundation settlement causing the walls to pull away from the ceiling
- Engineered roof trusses moving seasonally as the bottom chord bows upward in cold weather (Correct answer)
- Roof sheathing delaminating and pushing the ceiling down
- Improper installation of interior partition walls
Correct answer: Engineered roof trusses moving seasonally as the bottom chord bows upward in cold weather
Truss uplift is a seasonal phenomenon where cold, moist attic air causes the bottom chord to bow upward, separating the interior wall from the ceiling drywall; it is cosmetic and not structural.
Question 7: A home inspector should report the absence of tempered or safety glass in which of the following locations?
- A picture window in the living room that is 5 feet off the floor
- A sidelight window adjacent to an entry door within 24 inches of the door edge (Correct answer)
- A skylight located in a cathedral ceiling
- A transom window above a kitchen cabinet
Correct answer: A sidelight window adjacent to an entry door within 24 inches of the door edge
Building codes require safety glazing in hazardous locations including sidelight panels within 24 inches of a door, since a person could easily fall into this glass.
Home Inspector Test Ultimate Home Inspector 5
An inspector observes that a home's main water shutoff valve is a gate valve rather than a ball valve.
Why might this be noted as a concern?