National Home Inspector Examination (NHIE) — Practice Exam
Heating: practice questions
Our Home Inspector (NHIE) bank has 17 questions on this topic. Here are 5 of them with answers; the full mock exam draws from every topic, like the real one.
Question 1
Must an inspector light a furnace pilot that is out under InterNACHI's standards?
- No
- Only for oil furnaces
- Yes, always
- Only in winter
Show the answer
A. No — SOP 3.4.IV excludes lighting pilots.
Question 2
How should single-wall vent connectors slope?
- Any direction
- Level
- Upward toward the chimney, about 1/4 inch per foot
- Downward toward the chimney, so condensate drains away from the appliance
Show the answer
C. Upward toward the chimney, about 1/4 inch per foot — Upward slope helps natural draft.
Question 3
Which combustion by-product is colorless, odorless and deadly?
- Carbon monoxide (CO)
- Carbon dioxide at normal levels
- Nitrogen
- Water vapor
Show the answer
A. Carbon monoxide (CO) — CO comes from incomplete combustion.
Question 4
What safety device on a hot-water boiler protects against excess pressure?
- An expansion tank on the supply side of the boiler
- A thermostat
- A pressure-relief valve
- A circulator
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C. A pressure-relief valve — Its discharge should be piped to a safe location.
Question 5
What clearance is required for a gas furnace from combustibles?
- Always 12 inches on every side
- None
- The clearances on the manufacturer's label
- Always 36 inches from all walls, whatever the listing says
Show the answer
C. The clearances on the manufacturer's label — Listing labels set clearances.