NHIE Pass Course

Retaining Walls, Window Wells & Drains

Judge retaining-wall distress, window-well drainage, and where downspouts must discharge.

Driveways, Walks & Patios

Classify flatwork settlement, trip hazards and material failures — and what is merely cosmetic.

Vegetation & Moisture Pathways

Recognize how trees, planting beds and irrigation create moisture and pest paths into the house.

Flashing, WRB & Drainage Planes

Explain kickout flashing, weep holes and the drainage plane — and what happens when each is missing.

Windows, Doors & Safety Glazing

Identify failed seals, sill defects, and every location where safety glass is required.

Decks, Porches & Balconies

Inspect ledger attachment, guards, stairs and footings — the deck-collapse checklist.

Soffits, Fascia & Exterior Trim

Read soffit and fascia condition as evidence of roof-edge water and ventilation problems.

Tile, Slate, Metal & Low-Slope Roofs

Know the inspection points and failure modes of non-asphalt coverings and membranes.

Roof Flashing: Valleys to Penetrations

Trace valley, step, chimney and vent flashing details — where most roof leaks actually start.

Gutters & Roof Drainage

Size up gutter slope, discharge and overflow patterns that put water against the foundation.

Attic Ventilation & Net Free Area

Balance intake and exhaust, compute the 1/150–1/300 ratios, and spot short-circuited venting.

Roof Structure From Below

Read sheathing sag, delamination and framing distress from inside the attic.

Framing: Spans, Notching & Boring

Apply joist/rafter span logic and the notching-and-boring limits that keep members structural.

Columns, Beams & the Load Path

Follow loads from ridge to footing and catch missing bearing, crushed posts and altered members.

Crawl Spaces & Basements

Evaluate moisture, vapor retarders and supplemental supports below the first floor.

Wood-Destroying Organisms & Rot

Distinguish termite evidence, carpenter ants and fungal rot — and probe where they hide.

Anchorage & Lateral Connections

Check anchor bolts, shear transfer and seismic/wind hardware the way the exam expects.

Panels: Bonding, Taps & Breaker Sizing

Catch neutral/ground violations, double-taps and breakers oversized for their conductors.

Branch Circuits & Conductor Ampacity

Pair wire gauge to breaker (14→15A, 12→20A, 10→30A) and handle aluminum branch wiring.

GFCI & AFCI Protection

List every required GFCI/AFCI location and describe how each device is tested.

Grounding & Bonding

Explain electrodes, water-pipe and gas bonding — and why grounding differs from bonding.

Devices, Fixtures & Junction Boxes

Spot open splices, missing covers, reversed polarity and other everyday unsafe conditions.

Knob-and-Tube & Legacy Panels

Recognize K&T, FPE and Zinsco equipment and report the hazard without overreaching.

Drain, Waste & Vent Defects

Explain trap seals, slope and venting, and why an S-trap fails where a P-trap works.

Water Heaters & TPR Discharge

Inspect TPR valves and discharge piping, combustion air, venting and seismic strapping.

Fuel Gas Piping & Shutoffs

Check sediment traps, appliance shutoffs, bonding of CSST and leak evidence.

Fixtures & Cross-Connections

Find cross-connections and missing air gaps before they siphon waste into supply.

Wells, Septic & Sump Pumps

Know what a general SOP covers at private systems and which indicators trigger referral.

A/C & Heat Pumps

Use temperature split, condensate and refrigerant-line clues to judge cooling systems.

Venting Categories & Clearances

Sort Category I–IV venting, B-vent vs direct vent, and clearances to combustibles.

Ducts, Registers & Filters

Trace distribution defects: crushed flex, disconnected runs, filter and return problems.

Boilers & Hydronic Systems

Inspect boilers, radiators, expansion tanks and relief protection on water-based heat.

Thermostats & Safety Controls

Operate systems with normal controls and know which safety switches must be present.

Stairs, Handrails & Guards

Apply the stair geometry numbers: rise, run, riser uniformity, rail height, sphere rules.

Interior Doors & Bedroom Egress

Verify emergency escape and rescue openings and the egress path from sleeping rooms.

Garage Separation & Door Safety

Check occupancy separation, self-closing doors and the auto-reverse test on the opener.

Smoke & CO Alarms

Place smoke and CO alarms correctly by level, bedroom and fuel/garage exposure.

Vapor Retarders & Air Sealing

Put the vapor retarder on the right side for the climate and find air-leak superhighways.

Attic & Crawl Space Ventilation

Apply ventilation ratios and clearances that keep concealed spaces dry.

Bath, Kitchen & Dryer Exhaust

Confirm every exhaust terminates outdoors — and why attic termination is a defect.

Chimneys & the 3-2-10 Rule

Evaluate liners, crown, cap and flashing, and apply chimney height above the roof.

Factory-Built Fireplaces & Stoves

Inspect listed fireplaces, inserts and solid-fuel appliances to their listing logic.

Diagnostic Reasoning

Reason from observed symptoms to the most likely cause before writing it up.

Recommending Further Evaluation

Refer to specialists at the right threshold — neither alarmist nor complacent.

Defensible Report Language

Write observation → implication → action sentences without playing code official.

Safety Hazards & Priorities

Rank findings: immediate safety hazards vs items to monitor or maintain.

Multi-System Scenarios

Untangle moisture, heat-loss and electrical scenarios that cross system boundaries.

Documentation & Limitations

Document photos, inaccessible areas and limitations so the report defends itself.

Remaining Service Life

Estimate remaining life of roofs, water heaters and HVAC from age and condition.

Code of Ethics

Apply the conflict rules: referral fees, repairs on inspected homes, undisclosed interests.

Client Agreements & Liability

Use pre-inspection agreements, limitation clauses and confidentiality correctly.

Communicating With the Parties

Handle clients, agents and sellers on site without compromising the report.

Staying Inside Inspector Scope

Recognize conditions that are outside scope and hand them off cleanly.