National Home Inspector Exam (NHIE) — All Questions

On a sloped asphalt-shingle roof, what is the primary purpose of the metal or plastic drip edge installed along the eaves and rakes?

• a.To increase the roof's fire resistance rating
• b.To direct runoff into the gutter and keep water from wicking back onto the fascia and sheathing✓
• c.To hold the shingles down during high winds
• d.To provide attic ventilation at the roof edge

A drip edge extends water past the fascia so runoff falls into the gutter rather than wicking behind it and rotting the sheathing and fascia. It is a moisture-management detail, not a structural, ventilation, or fire component.

During an exterior inspection, the finished grade slopes toward the foundation on one side of the house. Why is this a defect worth reporting?

• a.It reduces the home's curb appeal only
• b.It violates the color scheme of the siding
• c.It channels surface water toward the foundation, promoting basement/crawlspace moisture and settlement✓
• d.It prevents proper installation of gutters

Grade should slope away from the foundation (commonly about 6 inches of fall within the first 10 feet) so surface water drains away. Negative slope directs water toward the foundation, causing intrusion, hydrostatic pressure, and potential settlement.

In a home's electrical panel, why is it a defect to find two circuit conductors (a 'double tap') under a single breaker terminal not rated for two wires?

• a.The terminal may not clamp both wires securely, causing loose connections, arcing, and overheating✓
• b.It doubles the available amperage on the circuit
• c.It improves grounding of the panel
• d.It is required by code for kitchen circuits

Most breakers are listed for a single conductor; forcing two under one lug can leave one wire loose, producing high-resistance connections that arc and overheat. Double taps are only acceptable on breakers specifically listed for two conductors.

What is the main safety function of the temperature and pressure relief (TPR) valve on a residential water heater?

• a.To regulate the water temperature at the faucet
• b.To reduce sediment buildup in the tank
• c.To conserve energy by limiting heating cycles
• d.To discharge water and relieve pressure if temperature or pressure exceeds safe limits, preventing tank rupture✓

A TPR valve opens if the tank exceeds roughly 210 degrees F or 150 psi, releasing pressure so the tank cannot explode. Its discharge pipe must run down to near the floor so escaping hot water cannot scald anyone.

An inspector finds no anti-tip bracket on a freestanding kitchen range. Why is this reported as a safety concern?

• a.The range will not heat evenly without it
• b.The range can tip forward if weight is applied to an open oven door, risking injury and burns✓
• c.The bracket is required for electrical grounding
• d.It prevents gas leaks at the supply line

An anti-tip bracket anchors the rear of the range so it cannot tip forward when a child stands or leans on the open oven door. Missing brackets are a common, easily corrected safety defect.

Why should the discharge pipe of a residential sump pump or condensate line not terminate directly into the sanitary sewer or a drain without an approved air gap?

• a.To prevent cross-connection that could allow sewage or contaminated water to back-siphon into the system✓
• b.To make the pump run more quietly
• c.To reduce the electrical load on the pump
• d.To keep the pipe from freezing in winter

A direct connection without an air gap creates a cross-connection where a backup could siphon contaminated water into clean systems. An air gap physically separates the discharge from the receiving drain, preventing back-siphonage.

In a vented attic, what problem is most directly caused by inadequate balance between soffit (intake) and ridge (exhaust) ventilation?

• a.Excessive foundation settlement
• b.Increased water pressure at fixtures
• c.Moisture buildup and heat accumulation leading to condensation, mold, and premature shingle aging✓
• d.Higher risk of electrical short circuits in the panel

Balanced intake at the soffits and exhaust at the ridge lets air wash the underside of the roof, carrying away heat and moisture. Without it, condensation and heat build up, promoting mold, rot, and shortened shingle life.

What is the purpose of the required clearance between combustible framing and a masonry fireplace or metal flue as specified by the manufacturer and code?

• a.To allow room for future chimney expansion
• b.To improve the draft of the fireplace
• c.To leave space for insulation to be added later
• d.To prevent heat transfer from igniting nearby wood framing over time✓

Required clearances keep combustible framing far enough from hot flue surfaces that radiant and conductive heat cannot pyrolyze and ignite the wood. Insulation must never be packed into these clearance spaces, which would trap heat against the framing.

On a forced-air furnace, why is a cracked heat exchanger considered a serious safety defect?

• a.It reduces the airflow through the ducts only
• b.It can allow combustion gases, including carbon monoxide, to mix with the conditioned air distributed through the home✓
• c.It causes the blower motor to overheat
• d.It only affects the furnace's energy efficiency

The heat exchanger separates combustion gases from the breathing air moved by the blower. A crack can leak carbon monoxide into the supply air, so a suspected cracked exchanger warrants immediate evaluation and shutdown.

Why is a bathroom exhaust fan that vents into the attic rather than to the building exterior reported as a defect?

• a.It dumps moist air into the attic, causing condensation, mold, and potential rot of framing and insulation✓
• b.It makes the fan louder than normal
• c.It reduces the fan's electrical efficiency
• d.It is acceptable as long as the attic is ventilated

Exhaust fans must discharge to the exterior; venting into the attic deposits humid air that condenses on cold framing and sheathing. The result is mold, wet insulation, and wood decay, so the duct must be extended through the roof or wall.

When inspecting a deck, why is the method of attaching the ledger board to the house of particular concern?

• a.It affects the appearance of the deck boards
• b.It determines the color of the flashing
• c.Improper ledger attachment (e.g., nails instead of through-bolts/lags with flashing) is a leading cause of catastrophic deck collapse✓
• d.It changes how the deck drains rainwater

The ledger transfers much of the deck's load to the house, and failures here cause sudden collapses. Proper attachment uses lag screws or through-bolts (not nails) with flashing to keep water out of the connection.

What does the presence of efflorescence (a white crystalline deposit) on a basement foundation wall indicate to an inspector?

• a.The concrete is losing structural strength rapidly
• b.The wall was recently painted
• c.There is an electrical fault behind the wall
• d.Water has been moving through the masonry, leaving mineral salts as it evaporates✓

Efflorescence is mineral salt left behind as water passes through masonry and evaporates at the surface. It is evidence of past or present moisture intrusion and should prompt a look at grading, drainage, and waterproofing.

Why should ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) protection be present at receptacles serving kitchens, bathrooms, garages, and exterior locations?

• a.To increase the voltage available at those outlets
• b.To quickly cut power when it detects current leaking to ground, reducing shock hazard in wet areas✓
• c.To prevent the circuit breaker from tripping
• d.To improve appliance energy efficiency

GFCIs sense small imbalances between hot and neutral current that indicate leakage through a person and trip within milliseconds. This protection is required where water raises shock risk, such as kitchens, baths, garages, and outdoors.

In a crawlspace with exposed soil, why does an inspector recommend a vapor barrier (ground cover) over the earth?

• a.To reduce moisture migrating from the soil into the crawlspace, limiting wood decay and mold✓
• b.To provide additional structural support to the floor joists
• c.To improve the crawlspace's fire rating
• d.To serve as a walking surface for future repairs

Bare soil continuously releases moisture into the crawlspace, feeding mold and rot in the wood structure above. A vapor barrier over the ground greatly reduces this moisture load and protects the framing and insulation.