NHIE Practice Questions
207 questions published in full with worked explanations, drawn from a bank of 1,616. Grouped by the official content areas.
Site & Grounds
80 total- A concrete stoop has settled and now tilts back toward the front door. What is the concern?
- A driveway slopes down toward the garage. What detail determines whether that works?
- A large tree stands close to a house with a shallow foundation on clay soil. The mechanism to describe is:
- A sump pump discharges two feet from the foundation wall. Why is this reported?
- Erosion channels run across a lawn toward the house after storms. What do they document?
- Grade around a house should generally fall away from the foundation over the first several feet because:
- How should an inspector handle a raised sidewalk edge on the walking path?
- In site drainage terms, what exactly is a swale?
- Planting beds have been built up over the years around a house. What should an inspector consider?
- Steps between a driveway and an entry with inconsistent riser heights are:
- Tree roots visible lifting a section of sidewalk indicate:
- What is the consequence of ground that slopes toward the foundation?
- Which observation about a large tree close to the house is most useful in the report?
- Why does an inspector note a large tree very close to the foundation?
Exterior
88 total- A band of stucco at the base of every wall is chronically damp long after rain. What is the likely mechanism?
- A storm door installed on a south-facing entry with a solid-core door behind it can:
- An exterior door binds at its top corner and the gap along its top edge is wedge-shaped. What is worth considering?
- An exterior door that swings open on its own indicates:
- Holes and gnawed openings in soffit panels most often indicate what?
- Paint is peeling from one wall of a house while the others are sound. What should an inspector consider?
- Soffit panels sagging away from the framing along one elevation most likely indicate:
- Why does an inspector look for a kickout flashing where a roof edge meets a wall?
- Why is trim made of finger-jointed wood more vulnerable outdoors than clear lumber?
Roofing
124 total- A bathroom exhaust duct terminates through the roof but the flap does not close. Why is this reported?
- A roof with shingles laid over a wavy, uneven deck will:
- Drip edge is absent along the eaves of a shingle roof. What is the consequence?
- Gutters that overflow at the outside edge during moderate rain most often indicate:
- Roofing cement has been applied over a chimney flashing in place of proper counterflashing. How should this be reported?
- Staining and rot on fascia boards directly behind a gutter suggest:
- What is the effect of installing two different exhaust vent types on the same roof plane?
- Why does an inspector distinguish a vented attic from a conditioned unvented one?
- Why does an inspector note a downspout that discharges beside the foundation?
- Why does an inspector note frost on the underside of roof sheathing in cold weather?
- Why does an inspector note shingles that have lost their tab alignment across a slope?
- Why is a valley a common location for roof leaks?
- Why is the flashing at a roof-to-wall junction checked at its lower termination in particular?
- Why should an inspector be cautious about walking a roof in the early morning?
Structure
126 total- A basement support column was removed during a finishing project, leaving the beam unsupported over a longer span. The finding is:
- A probe sinks easily into a deck post at the ground line while the wood above remains firm. This indicates:
- A sill plate section has its nearest anchor bolt about three feet from the plate end. Why does the end distance matter?
- An engineered I-joist has a large hole cut through its top flange. Why is this more serious than a hole in a solid joist?
- Anchor bolts connecting a sill plate to the foundation serve to:
- Carpenter ants differ from termites in that carpenter ants:
- Efflorescence and rust staining on the underside of a basement's steel beam suggest:
- Engineered I-joists with large unauthorized holes cut through their webs are a concern because:
- Frass — sawdust-like debris — accumulating below a wooden beam indicates:
- Standing water in a crawl space with a functioning sump pump suggests:
- What distinguishes a slab-on-grade foundation from a crawl space foundation for inspection purposes?
- What does an inspector look for at the tops of foundation walls in a house with a wood-framed floor?
- What is the purpose of foundation anchorage in a wood-framed house?
- Why are diagonal braces or sheathing panels important in a wood-framed wall?
- Why does an inspector look for evidence of a removed wall in a finished space?
- Why does an inspector note a header that has been cut for a duct or a pipe?
- Why does an inspector note the absence of a crawl space access opening?
- Why does an inspector note the direction that floor joists run?
- Wood at the base of a post is soft and crumbles when probed. What does this most likely indicate?
Electrical
132 total- A bathroom exhaust fan is wired to the light switch with no separate control. How should this be reported?
- A receptacle beside a bathroom sink has no cover plate and the device is loose in the box. Why is this reported?
- A receptacle that holds a plug loosely, allowing it to fall partly out:
- A receptacle that reads 'open ground' on a tester in a house with modern wiring most likely indicates:
- Cloth-insulated wiring with brittle, crumbling insulation at the panel indicates:
- Fuses larger than the circuit conductors warrant are found in an older fuse panel. What is this called?
- Solid aluminum branch-circuit wiring from the 1960s and 1970s raises which specific concern?
- The dead front cover is missing from an energized panel. How should the inspector treat this?
- What does the inspector look for at the panel to assess how branch circuits are labelled?
- Why does an inspector look at receptacles for evidence of scorching around the slots?
- Why does an inspector note that a circuit serves both indoor and outdoor receptacles?
- Why does an inspector open a receptacle cover plate only where it is safe and appropriate?
- Why is buried knob-and-tube wiring in contact with loose insulation a concern?
- Why might a refrigerator on a shared GFCI circuit be a practical concern?
- Why might an arc fault device trip on a circuit that appears to work normally?
Plumbing
126 total- A flexible gas connector passing through a wall or cabinet partition is a concern because:
- A gas appliance connector that has been reused from a prior installation is a concern because:
- A gas water heater installed in a bedroom or bathroom without direct-vent or sealed-combustion design is:
- A temperature and pressure relief valve's discharge pipe should terminate:
- A toilet that runs continuously wastes water and also:
- Banging is heard in the piping when a washing machine valve closes. What is this?
- Flexible gas connector tubing is found passing through a cabinet wall. Why is this reported?
- PEX supply piping is found installed outdoors in direct sunlight. Why is this reported?
- Several fixtures gurgle when a nearby toilet is flushed. What does this suggest?
- What does an inspector examine at a sump pit during a general inspection?
- What does an inspector look for at a shower or tub surround's corners and joints?
- What does an inspector note about black iron gas piping supported at long intervals?
- What does an inspector report about a water heater with no visible expansion tank on a closed system?
- What should an inspector observe about a toilet that runs continuously?
- Why does an inspector fill a sink and then release it rather than only running the tap?
- Why does an inspector look at piping where it passes through a garage or unheated space?
- Why does an inspector look at the anode access on a water heater where visible?
- Why does an inspector note a hand-held shower whose hose can reach the bottom of the tub?
- Why does an inspector note the distance between a well and a septic disposal field where both are visible?
- Why does an inspector operate fixtures on an upper floor as well as a lower one?
HVAC
140 total- A baseboard hydronic heater with crushed fins delivers less heat because:
- A high-efficiency condensing furnace is distinguished by:
- A return air opening is located inside a closet containing a gas water heater. Why is this reported?
- A room has a supply register but no return path when its door is closed. What follows?
- An emergency shutoff switch for the furnace is found inside the furnace room beside the unit. Why is placement reported?
- Duct in a crawl space rests directly on the soil. What should the report note?
- Flexible ducts sagging between supports in an attic reduce performance because:
- Return air taken from a garage or a mechanical closet containing fuel-burning appliances is a concern because:
- Rust flakes and scaling are found inside a furnace burner compartment. What should the inspector consider?
- Two gas appliances vented into a common flue with the smaller connector entering below the larger is:
- Vegetation has grown tightly around an outdoor condensing unit. What is the concern?
- What does an inspector note about vent connectors secured with sheet metal screws?
- What does an inspector observe about a boiler's relief valve discharge piping?
- What does an inspector observe about an oil storage tank serving a furnace?
- What is the function of a limit switch on a forced-air furnace?
- Why does a cooling system need a condensate drain?
- Why does a general inspection stop short of confirming a heat exchanger is intact?
- Why does an inspector check that supply registers are present in each conditioned room?
- Why does an inspector note refrigerant lines that pass through a wall without a sleeve or seal?
- Why does an inspector note the age of a furnace alongside its condition?
- Why does an inspector note whether a furnace's return and supply plenums are sealed at the cabinet?
- Why does an inspector observe supply registers in every room rather than sampling one?
- Why does an inspector operate a system through its normal controls rather than at the equipment?
Interior
94 total- A handrail ends in a free-hanging cut end rather than returning to the wall. Why note it?
- An electrical receptacle in a garage has no GFCI protection. The report should:
- An opener reverses only after pressing hard against an obstruction. What does this indicate?
- Treads on a stairway measure between 9 and 11 inches deep at different steps. The concern is:
- What causes fastener heads to become visible as small bumps in a drywall surface?
- What does an inspector note about lighting at an interior stairway?
- What headroom is expected over a residential stairway?
- What makes a double-keyed deadbolt on an exterior door a safety finding?
- Why do the photo sensors of a garage door sit near the floor?
- Why does a bedroom door matter to fire safety beyond its latch working?
- Why is a basement stair with no railing on its open side a priority finding?
- Why is a garage floor expected to slope toward the vehicle door?
Insulation & Ventilation
78 total- A crawl space with no ventilation openings and no vapor barrier over the soil is:
- Attic ventilation that is all exhaust and no intake will:
- In a balloon-framed house, why do the wall cavities matter to the attic?
- Why does an inspector note an attic hatch with no insulation or weatherstripping?
Fireplace & Chimney
60 total- A factory-built fireplace has been installed with a masonry chimney above it. This combination is:
- A masonry chimney is leaning away from the house wall. What does an inspector report?
- An older fireplace has no damper at all in its throat. What is the practical consequence?
- Brown staining and scorched paint appear on the wall directly above a fireplace opening. What does this suggest?
- Flashing where a chimney passes through the roof typically consists of:
- On a direct-vent gas fireplace, why is the glass front's condition critical?
- What should an inspector do when a solid fuel appliance's data label is accessible?
- Why does an inspector note cracked or missing refractory panels in a factory-built firebox?
Analysis & Reporting
440 total- A 1960s house has copper supply piping, a modern panel and original cast iron drains. What does this pattern suggest?
- A basement stairway has no light switch at the top and a single bare bulb at the bottom. This is:
- A finished basement shows fresh paint on the lower walls only, and the exterior grade slopes toward the house. What should the inspector consider?
- A garage overhead door fails to reverse when its path is obstructed during closing. This belongs in the report as:
- A home has a newer furnace, an original oversized chimney flue, and a water heater as the only remaining appliance on that flue. This combination indicates:
- A hot water tap runs hot briefly, turns cold, then hot again. The likely cause to describe is:
- A house has new windows and the interior trim shows water staining beneath several of them. What should be considered?
- A house shows water stains at exterior wall bases in several rooms, exterior grade slopes toward the house, and gutters are missing. Reported together these establish:
- A retaining wall two feet high with slight leaning is best treated as:
- A roof-mounted solar array is present. The inspection should:
- A room over the garage is cold; its supply register barely blows; the flex duct to it, visible in the garage attic, makes two kinked bends. The reporting link is:
- A seller's disclosure mentions a repair the inspector did not observe evidence of. How should this be handled?
- A stairway has a handrail on one side that stops short of the bottom tread. Why is this reported?
- A well pump of unknown age delivers adequate pressure and flow during testing. The report should note:
- An asphalt driveway shows widespread alligator cracking and several depressions. The service-life framing is:
- An electrical panel located inside a clothes closet is a concern because:
- An inspector cannot determine whether an older home's wiring is aluminum or copper-clad aluminum from visible portions. The report should:
- An inspector notes aluminum branch wiring. The best further-evaluation language pairs the referral with:
- An older home has newly finished basement walls with no visible moisture, but the exterior shows a patched foundation crack and fresh soil against the wall. The report should:
- Burner flames on the gas range are yellow-orange rather than blue. The report should:
- Comparing a component's age against typical service life is most useful when the report also:
- Every window in one bedroom fogs between the panes. The correct diagnosis is:
- How should a report handle a system the inspector suspects exists but could not locate?
- How should an inspector convey the relative severity of findings?
- How should an inspector describe a system that has been well maintained but is old?
- How should an inspector handle a hazard discovered while the client is present at the property?
- Mature trees line the sewer route of a 70-year-old house with clay piping. The most useful recommendation is:
- No smoke alarms are present outside the sleeping areas. In the report's hierarchy this belongs:
- One diagonal crack runs from a window corner in drywall, doors nearby operate freely, and floors are level. The most proportionate report treatment is:
- Part of an attic cannot be reached because of low clearance beyond the access. What should the report record?
- Ponding water rings mark a low-slope roof days after rain. The right referral framing is:
- Rust stains run down the foundation below every window well, and the window wells have no drains. Reported together, these indicate:
- Should a report state that a system was inspected and no deficiencies were observed?
- Smoke alarms in a home are present but none appear interconnected. The report should note:
- Staining on the ceiling of a room directly beneath an attic HVAC unit, with the roof sound above, most likely traces to:
- The inspector finds 1960s two-prong ungrounded receptacles working properly throughout an original-condition house. The right frame for the report is:
- The property is vacant and the utilities have been shut off. How does this affect the inspection?
- Two bathroom exhaust fans are joined into one duct with no backdraft dampers. The consequence to report is:
- Two circuits' neutral conductors share a single terminal on the panel's neutral bar. The concern is:
- Vinyl windows approximately 18 years old that operate, lock and show no seal failure should be reported as:
- Weather on inspection day affects the report because:
- What distinguishes an informational note from a reported deficiency?
- What information should accompany a referral to a specialist?
- What is the purpose of describing the method used to inspect a component?
- Why does a report benefit from describing the property's basic characteristics before the findings?
- Why does an inspector avoid recommending a specific repair method?
- Why does an inspector consider a property's exposure and orientation when reading its condition?
- Why does an inspector consider what has recently changed at a property when interpreting a symptom?
- Why is a component's installation date more useful than its manufacture date?
- Why is a negative finding sometimes as informative as a positive one?
- Why should a report avoid stating that a system will fail within a stated period?
- Wood shrinkage gaps between hardwood floor boards during a dry winter are:
Professional Practice
128 total- A client asks the inspector to negotiate repairs with the seller on their behalf. What is the appropriate response?
- An agent who refers many inspections asks for shorter reports with fewer flagged items. What does this represent?
- An inspector is offered a commission by a contractor for each referral sent to them. What is the issue?
- Is an inspector required to dismantle equipment to examine internal components?
- Limitation of liability clauses in inspection agreements are:
- May an inspector pay a real estate agent to be included on a list of preferred inspectors?
- What does the standard provide about the method of construction, such as whether a house is modular or site-built?
- What is an inspector required to do when a component is present but not readily accessible?
- What should an inspector do when a client asks about a condition after the report has been delivered?
- Which is an inspector not required to determine about a system?
- Which is outside a general home inspection?
- Why does an inspector avoid inspecting a property in which they hold a financial interest?
- Why does an inspector confirm who the client is before the inspection begins?
- Why does the standard exclude identifying concealed conditions and latent defects?
- Why should an inspection agreement identify the property precisely?
- Why should an inspector avoid predicting future conditions in a report?
- Why should an inspector's marketing avoid implying that an inspection finds every defect?
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