National Home Inspector Examination study guide
NHIE · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The National Home Inspector Examination® (NHIE) is a national, high-stakes licensing-style examination for the home inspection profession, governed and administered by the Examination Board of Professional Home Inspectors (EBPHI). EBPHI describes the NHIE as "the Original Exam for the Home Inspection Profession," and states that by requiring inspectors to pass it, states participate in a national standard for the professional home inspector. The NHIE study guide has 9 sections and about 2,985 words.
01Structural Systems
Every structural question comes back to one idea: load path. Roof and ceiling loads travel through rafters, the ridge, ceiling joists and bearing walls, then through headers, posts, beams and footings into the soil.
344 words, about 2 min02Mechanical Systems
Know the difference between forced-air and hydronic systems, and the sequence of a gas furnace: thermostat calls, inducer or draft fan, ignition, gas valve, flame proving, blower. Inspect what is visible: flame color and shape, rust or scale in the burner compartment, the flue, clearance to combustibles, the filter and the condensate path.
324 words, about 2 min03Electrical Systems
Start at the service drop. Typical overhead clearances are 10 feet above a sidewalk or balcony, 12 feet above a driveway, 18 feet above a public street, and 3 feet from a window.
344 words, about 2 min04Plumbing Systems
Typical residential supply pressure is 40–80 psi; above roughly 80 psi a pressure-reducing valve is expected. Note the main shutoff, fixture stops and any cross-connections.
349 words, about 2 min05Roofing
Determine slope as rise over run and use it to judge the covering. Asphalt shingles are the norm at 4:12 and steeper; between 2:12 and 4:12 they need special low-slope underlayment; below 2:12 expect a membrane or roll roofing.
313 words, about 2 min06Exterior and Site
Almost every exterior defect is a water problem in disguise. The grade should slope away from the house - a common standard is 6 inches of fall in the first 10 feet.
322 words, about 2 min07Interior
Interior work is mostly careful observation and clear description. Note cracks, stains, sloping floors, doors that no longer latch, and paint or caulk failures - these are clues about movement or moisture.
354 words, about 2 min08Insulation and Ventilation
R-value measures resistance to heat flow; thicker and denser materials rate higher. But the practical hierarchy is air sealing first, then insulation, then vapor control.
313 words, about 2 min09Professional Practice
Every inspection is a visual, non-invasive, non-exhaustive survey of readily accessible systems, performed to a standard of practice. It is not a code compliance inspection, not a warranty, and not a prediction of future performance.
322 words, about 2 min