This is an interactive "internet-based" course which will grant you 22.5 hours of New York State approved continuing education credit for your real estate salesperson or broker license renewal. It will take you approximately 22.5-25 hours to complete the program. Follow the directions as you read through and make sure to log in the LAST FOUR digits of your social security number to confirm your "attendance and active participation" in the program.
Please read each section then respond to the questions that follow based on your careful reading of the material. Students receive an "S" for satisfactory completion of the program on their official transcript. We remind you, according to the NYS regulations for real estate agent & broker continuing education, exams CANNOT be a requirement for successful completion of a CE program [however, in order to fullfill the time requirements and show active participation in the program, students must attempt to answer ALL questions]. Call if you have any questions at the numbers above. We recommend that you print each segment and retain the valuable information for future reference. Certified Home Inspector questions that follow the end of each segment will require you to refer back to see how you answered. Good luck and enjoy!
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CONTACT OUR STAFF AT THE NUMBER ABOVE TO REGISTER AND DISCUSS
SECURITY PROCEDURES FOR THIS ON-LINE COURSE!
(only at the initial start of the program).
Answers to questions from the preceding page:
1. b / 2. b / 3. c / 4. e / 5. a / 6. d / 7. b / 8. b / 9. b / 10. c
/ 11. d / 12. d / 13. d / 14. c / 15. d / 16. a / 17. a / 18. c / 19. a
/ 20. b / 21. d / 22. e / 23. c / 24. d / 25. d / 26. c / 27. d / 28. e
/ 29. d / 30. d / 31.d / 32. b
Heating & the Residential
Inspection
Forced-Air Furnace
Forced-air
gas furnaces have a motor that pushes the heat through ducts, which can
have long level runs, and sometimes up and down and around obstacles.
The unit may be located in a basement, closet, garage or attic area.
They're very adaptable and
don't take up much room, and are very efficient. In addition to pushing
hot air through the ducts, the motor sucks cold air from inside the house
and reheats it. This cold air is generally filtered.
The forced-air
oil furnace works in the same way as the gas furnace. The main difference
is that the oil furnace has a motor in front of the furnace to pump oil.
Gravity Warm-Air Furnace
A gravity
furnace has no filter, no motor. The ducts must slope up from the
furnace to the registers so the warm air can rise. A gravity furnace
is always found in the basement. And the gravity furnace does not
have electric wires running to it. There may be small wires, but
they are for the thermostat. Since it operates without a motor, the
gravity furnace is quieter. It is not as quick with the heat, but
it has no working parts to break down.
Floor Furnace
A floor furnace
is essentially gravity heat, without the duct work. The main drawback to floor
furnaces is that distribution of heat is poor. The furnace's grill typically
gets quite hot (and this is a hazard for small children and pets).
Wall Heaters
Wall heaters
are space heaters and they do heat the space around them adequately but
again do not distribute the heat very well. They are often installed
in new additions like sunrooms and/or florida rooms.
Electric Heat
Electric heat is particularly popular in municipalities that have "muncipally-owned" electric generating plants where electric prices are low per killowatt used. It's clean, quiet and safe if wired properly, with no gases or vents, and installation is generally less expensive when compared to gas heating systems. Intertherm, sometimes called liquid electric, is a perimeter-type heater with a sealed-in liquid that heats grills and convects heat-either 115 volt or 230 volt. Calculate the cubic feet of space in the room; if you figure one watt for each cubic foot of space, you'll get a pretty accurate estimate of the amount of heat using liquid electric.
Baseboard Hot Water [Hydronic Furnace's]
Another heating
system that is gaining favor is the hydronic furnace. This is forced
hot water. Small baseboard radiators are installed and connected
to a heating plant and storage tank. Hot water is forced by pump
throughout the system. It is very good heat, quiet and clean.
In addition, this system can supply hot water instantly to faucets, thus
eliminating a hot-water tank. The hot water doesn't come from the
boiler, so the water to faucets is hotter than what goes to the room
heaters.
Radiant Heat
Radiant
heat is generally from the floor. Pipes are embedded in concrete
or sometimes placed between wood floor joists, and hot water is pumped
through them. Occasionally you'll find the pipes in the ceiling.
Radiant heat requires a large heater to heat the water, a pump to circulate
it, and preferable an expansion tank. Various zones of heat control
can be arranged when the system is being installed, but not after the pipes
are covered. About the only thing you can check for on radiant heat
is the pump and whether or not there's a leak in any pipe. Often
a pressure gauge is installed in the line, which would tell you if water
is leaking. If the leak is large enough, water can be heard entering
the pipes near the heater. It is virtually impossible to determine
where a leak has occurred in pipes embedded in concrete. If they
are copper pipes, as they should be, the chance of a leak is slight.
Checking a Furnace
Forced-air furnaces
are the most common because of their availability and adaptability -
they can be installed in confined areas and do not require a basement.
The most important part of a furnace is the heat exchanger.
Essentially this is a metal box enclosed inside the furnace jacket.
The hot air accumulates outside the combustion chamber and is blown into
the heating ducts.
There are four
good tests to determine if the heat exchanger is firm. First, close
all dampers but one, as close to the pipe as possible, then turn on the
main flame. Study it carefully to note its color and how it stands
up. You can see it through the pilot light hole. Then take
your head away from the hole and turn on the blower. If there is
a hole in the exchanger, the flame may be pushed out through the viewing
hole. The flame should not change. Second, with dampers open,
turn on the main flame and again watch it carefully, then turn on the blower.
If the flame boils up vigorously or slants off in any direction, it is
probably being sucked toward a hole in the exchanger. Again, the
flame should not change.
Next, use a small mirror on the end of an extension or stick. Insert the mirror in the hole above the burners, and with a flashlight you can see an image of the exchanger. Move the mirror around to view as much surface as possible. You have to unscrew a small plate covering the section of the burners to get a better view.
Paint on a good amount of oil of wintergreen on the heat exchanger on both sides of each burner. I use a 1/4 inch long handled brush bent to a 30-degree angle. Then, if there is a summer switch, turn it on. Check for odor at each heat register. You should not get any. If you do, beware; you undoubtedly have a cracked heat exchanger or pinholes that are difficult to see. If there is no summer switch, you have to turn on the furnace, then wait for the fan. Be patient and allow the odor to accumulate and seek the holes. The flame will quickly burn away the oil on the exchanger, but the odor will have done the job for you. If there is a hole the furnace needs to be replaced.
If the heater or furnace is in good condition, check the vent pipe to see if all connections are firm, so that it will carry all exhaust gases to the outside. Look at the burners - are they pitted, corroded, or deteriorated? If so, it is an old unit.
Does it make sense with the
age you originally approximated the furnace to be? Check out the heat ducts.
Are all joints connected? Are there dampers in the ducts? This
is important because everyone have different demands for heat in various
rooms.
Another important aspect of any gas furnace is combustion venting (the presence of oxygen to feed the burning gas). Wherever the unit is placed, there must be oxygen coming into the space. It may be through a pipe from the outside, or, if in the basement, the area should not be closed tight. This is also true for gas water heaters. If the pilot light goes out frequently, it may be from a lack of oxygen in the area.
The furnace
should always respond to the thermostat. Try it and see. In a forced-air
furnace, look at the fan housing. If the filter hasn't been changed
frequently, the housing can be very dirty. This can be dangerous
because it will cause overheating. If the fan is belt-driven, handle
the belt and see if it is in good condition. They get old, then crack
& split, and finally break. If the maintenance has been deferred
(this can be observed via dirty and an untended unit) - it needs
to be serviced.
Older Heating Systems
The old systems are usually steam or a gravity hot-water system. These old systems are extremely durable-they're made to last and probably have many years of service in them. There is nothing wrong with them except for two things: (1) from a modern viewpoint they are slow, and (2) many of these older heating systems might be insulated with asbestos. Asbestos was used as an insulator around heating pipes, in heating systems, and in ceiling blocks. The main reason for it's prominent use included: low cost, easy to use, highly effective as an insulator and readily available.
When examining
an older home's heating system, be sure to look carefully at the heating
unit itself. If the unit appears to be covered by a cloth or plaster
like material, you have reason to suspect that the substance is asbestos.
How to Judge Heating Capacity
If you wonder
whether the furnace is large enough to heat the house adequately, there
are numerous factors to consider. How well is the house built? Is
it flimsily constructed, with 1/4 inch plywood interior walls and 3/8-inch
exterior walls with no insulation? If you have 1/2-inch gypsum board interior
and 3/4 inch exterior sheathing, the heat loss will be less. Some
other things to consider include:
How well or how poorly is the
house built?
How well is it insulated?
How much glass is there?
Is the glass double-pane?
In what climatic region is
the home located?
Heat is measured by BTU's (British thermal units). The number of BTUs put out by the furnace is important, but there is no set formula for determining how may BTUs required is much lower than heating engineers have demanded in the past.
The capacity of an air-conditioner unit is rated in tons of refrigeration or BTU's as well. 12,000 BTU's are approximately equal to a one-ton capacity. In other words, a 12,000 BTUs rated (per hour) air conditioner would melt one ton of ice in about a day.
The BTU capacity of the furnace is generally marked on a logo plate, usually on the front of the unit. There'll be several figures, but the one you're interested in is the figure after the word "Input."
Another thing
to look for is a summer switch. You'll find them only in a forced
air furnace. If there is one, it will be to one side of the front
of the furnace and is marked "Summer Switch" or sometimes "Manual" or "Automatic."
It starts only the motor. The purpose is to circulate air throughout the
ducts.
PLEASE ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS BASED ON YOUR READING ABOVE - BE AS DETAILED AS POSSIBLE WITH YOUR ANSWERS....
A) Name four types of heating
systems and at least one characteristic of each.
B) What is the most important
part of a furnace and why?
C) Summarize the test of a
"heat-exchanger" in your own words.
D) Explain "combustion venting"
and the purpose of it.
E) Name at least four things
an inspector should check for when doing a furnace inspection.
F) Name four things to consider
when "judging heating capacity".
G) Where do you find the BTU
rating of a furnace (typically) and what does this acronym stand for?
Here are some multiple choice questions from our popular "Certified Home Inspector Program" that relate to heating & heating systems, check your answers on the screen that follows.
1. A 40 year old home in the mid Atlantic states has a full basement which the owners have finished off. The furnace and water heater are located in the center of the basement and they have been walled around. Which of the following statements is NOT true with regard to a home inspection on this property?
A: A home inspector will pay
a lot of attention to the finished basement area because where changes
have been made is where problems tend to surface.
B: The combustion air supply
for the furnace and water heater may have inadvertently been cut off or
substantially reduced.
C: The only air supply to the
furnace/water heater is via the ceiling of the basement since that has
not been finished off. This is OK.
D: There is a greater likelihood
of back drafting of the furnace and water heater because the finishing
of the basement has reduced air infiltration.
E: Clearances from combustible
materials may have been compromised.
2. A Florida house has an updraft gas fired forced air furnace located in a small closet of a one story home in central Florida. The furnace rests on a platform type return plenum which is holed for the refrigerant lines. Which of the following IS NOT true with this installation?
A: The low pressure from the
return air plenum could contribute to a back drafting condition
B: Carbon monoxide could be
circulated throughout the home via the ducted system.
C: The return air could compete
with the furnace for combustion air.
D: The negative pressure from
the return air plenum could cause excessive outside air to enter the closet
and then enter the return ducting.
E: This type of installation
is very common and has proven itself as a "no risk" installation.
3. Full basement house is being examined and there is a gas furnace installed near the center and off to one side wall. The furnace was designed to accommodate return ducting on either side of the air handler. As installed, the furnace has a return duct running off one side but only a filter on the other. Which of the following IS NOT likely to be true with this installation?
A: The strong negative pressure
from the filtered side of the air handler can cause a back draft from the
furnace itself.
B: The filtered side of the
air handler compartment will draw in basement air which will need to be
dehumidified in the summer.
C: The filtered air handler
compartment will result in less air flow from the connected return ducting.
D: The larger opening to the
air handler compartment will result in higher speed air flow across the
heat exchanger and evaporative coils.
E: The depressurization of
the basement area may increase radon gas infiltration.
4. You are examining a standard gas fired forced air furnace in a seven year old house. You explain to your client that the examination of the heat exchanger during a normal, visual, non-intrusive furnace examination will be limited to which of the following:
A: Removal of the flame shield
and observation with a mirror and flashlight.
B: Observation of the furnace
exterior for signs of scorching.
C: Observation of the flame
pattern before and during fan operation.
D: Testing of the combustion
gasses with a CO-detector.
E: Questioning of the home
owner, if possible, about previous repair history.
5. You have just discovered a small crack in a heat exchanger in a warm air gas furnace. You explain to your client that:
A: These small cracks are very
common and are no real concern since the high pressure of the forced air
will prevent leakage of any combustion gasses.
B: Cracked heat exchangers
are not uncommon but all such leaks should be checked by a licensed heating
contractor the next time the unit is serviced.
C: As long as cracks or holes
are low on the exchanger where air will blow out from the back side, there
is no real problem.
D: Cracked heat exchangers
are often considered dangerous and may trigger the need for a new furnace.
Check with the gas company or a contractor.
E: The crack can easily be
repaired with furnace cement.
6. The 20-year old house has a 150,000 BTU gas furnace. You notice screw heads around the lower portion of the heat exchanger where the burner tubes penetrate. You also notice that the gas flames are more yellow than normal and they stay the same after the air handler comes on. Which of the following is/are reasonable conclusions about this furnace:
A: The heat exchanger has been
repaired and air is leaking through it to disturb the gas flames.
B: This is a heat exchanger
that is made up of individual sections.
C: The heat exchanger should
be tested with a gas tracer system.
D: The burners are out of adjustment
and more primary air is needed.
E: The secondary air around
the burners is causing them to burn poorly such that there is too much
oxygen available to the flames.
7. You are taking off the flame shield of a gas furnace and notice a hair line crack about an inch long above the pilot light. Which of the following is NOT true with regard to this condition?
A: This is a very dangerous
condition that left incorrectly will likely kill house occupants.
B: It is unlikely that any
real quantity of combustion products can enter that crack since it is pressurized
from the back side.
C: The gas company service
people or heating contractors will likely red tag the unit, turn off the
gas, and say it must be replaced.
D: Given the size of the crack
in comparison to the combustion products given off by a gas stove it is
curious why small cracks get so much attention.
E: The crack my increase in
size and this is a typical argument for replacing the furnace now.
8. Typical air conditioning or heat pump systems in houses use a phase change material that can readily be changed from a liquid to a gas. Which of the following is NOT TRUE with regard to the typical "refrigerant cycle" of such systems?
A: The compressor in the system
is used to take a gas and compress it into a much hotter gas where air
is blown over it.
B: The very hot, high pressure
gas condenses to a liquid as heat is extracted from it.
C: The liquid is metered and
evaporates back into a gas in a lower pressure environment.
D: Air blown over the cold
tubing gives up heat and loses some of its humidity to condensation.
E: The phase change material
used in any refrigerant cycle must be kept separated from lubricants lest
it get contaminated.
9. There is an unvented gas space heater that is original equipment in the bathroom of a very old house. Which of the following is the most reasonable disclosure for this?
A: The unit should be disconnected
since if operated it will compete with occupants for oxygen and very frequently
it wins.
B: These units are carbon monoxide
producers and kill people.
C: The unvented gas heaters
are known fire hazards.
D: The nitrogen dioxide and
carbon dioxide produced by the gas space heater will build up toxic levels.
E: Space heaters by their nature
burn a lot of gas and consume a lot of oxygen and for that reason they
are inherently dangerous.
10. An older home built in 1957 has just had its gas furnace replaced. The new unit has the same BTU rating as the old one but the flue appears to be about half the diameter of the old unit. Which of the following IS NOT a consideration for a home inspector to keep in mind with regard to this installation?
A: If the small flue pipe connects
to the original chimney, there is a greater likelihood of condensation
taking place in the old chimney.
B: The flue gas volume is reduced
as is the temperature.
C: The combustion products
are under pressure, hence the smaller flue pipe. Flues and chimneys
must be very tightly sealed.
D: The furnace flue may not
now be compatible with an adjoining flue from a water heater.
E: The new equipment is obviously
of much higher efficiency.
11. You are inspecting a property and suspect that it once may have used oil as a heating source. You are concerned that an underground storage tank (UST) may still exist on the property and hence be an environmental concern which might add very significantly to the downstream expenses of whoever owns the property. Which of the following IS NOT a symptom, clue, or telltale that oil had been used in the house?
A: Blackening around the top
of the masonry chimneys.
B: Thin copper tubing piece
buried along the foundation wall/slab joint by a coving of cement.
C: A one inch pipe stocking
up above grade about 4 inches in the yard near the foundation.
D: A pair of 2 inch steel pipes
cut off and filled in as they penetrate the foundation wall.
E: A filled in area in a masonry
chimney in the basement which may have housed a barometric damper.
12. Which of the following IS NOT true about a gas furnace located in a garage attached to a house?
A: It should be located at least
12 inches off the floor.
B: It should not be located
near flammable materials.
C: It should be provided with
combustion air.
D: To avoid rolling gasoline
fumes, the pilot and gas burner need to be elevated at least 18 inches
off the floor.
E: It must be equipped with
a pilot safety switch.
13. Which of the following ARE NOT considered typical ways of checking electronic filters in central heating/air conditioning systems?
A: Turn the unit on and listen
for an occasional zapping or snapping sound.
B: Press the test button (if
it has one) and listen for a snapping or zapping sound.
C: Check the washable filter
for cleanliness.
D: Check the electrostatic
wires for visible breaks or damage.
E: Check the magnetron for
signs of overheating.
14. While inspecting an oil fired forced air heating system you notice that the red safety reset button is popped and the unit will not come on. Which of the following would be most UNLIKELY?
A: The unit has run out of fuel.
B: The fuel oil was contaminated.
C: The fan was not turning
fast enough (slipping or broken fan belt) and the unit began to overheat
and shut off.
D: The nozzle screen was clogged.
E: The cad cell was defective.
15. During an examination of an air conditioning condensing unit, you discover that the data plate is damaged and undreadable in part. You can not read the model number. You read the RLA as 24 amps and the manufacturing date as 1990. Given this data, you conclude that the size of the unit is which of the following?
A: Two tons.
B: 18,000 BTUs.
C: Three tons.
D: Four tons
E: Five Tons.
16. A house located in Georgia and built in 1955 has just had its original oil fired forced air central heating and cooling system upgraded with a heat pump central heating and cooling system. The heat pump is connected to the original duct work. Which of the following sounds/noises might you expect to hear due to this installation?
A: A humming noise from vibrating
duct work.
B: An oil canning noise from
expanding and contracting ducting as the air handler comes on and off.
C: A crinkling sound from the
flexible duct work runouts.
D: A whistling noise from high
speed air or undersized ducting.
E: A ticking sound from the
expansion/contraction of the refrigerant tubing within the system.
17. You are inspecting an older home and notice that there is a buried oil tank in the yard but that the house is no longer using oil as a fuel. Which of the following IS NOT an appropriate disclosure to the customer?
A: The underground storage tank
(UST) may be leaking and could be an unexpected expense item for you.
B: The underground tank must
be removed.
C: The underground tank can
be checked, pumped if necessary, and filled with sand.
D: A leaking underground oil
tank can be an environmental hazard that costs thousands and thousands
of dollars to clean up.
E: You would be wise to at
least find out if the tank is leaking prior to going ahead with your planned
purchase.
18. An older two story home has its forced air gas furnace located in the basement. Your customers are interested in adding central air conditioning to the ducted system. Which of the following IS NOT a consideration that you should mentally consider prior to answering their question?
A: That older systems were designed
to get 2/3 of the air to the first floor and only 1/3 of the air to the
second floor.
B: That a central air conditioning
system should deliver 2/3 of the air to the second floor and only 1/3 of
the air to the first floor.
C: That a strong return on
the second floor is going to be very important if air conditioning is added
to this house.
D: That the existing duct work
will probably have to be enlarged since the air conditioned air is more
dense than heated air.
E: A stronger air handler may
be needed to boost more air to the second floor area.
19. An older two story home with hot water heat has been retrofitted with a central air conditioning system. The air handler is located in the attic as are the bulk of the distributing ducts. Which of the following IS NOT a concern for a home inspector checking such a system?
A: The mounting of the air handler
such that it will not transmit vibrating noises via the attic ceiling.
B: The presence of an emergency
overflow collection pan beneath the air handler with its own drain line.
C: How well sealed and insulated
the ducting is lest it contribute to an ice damming condition during the
winter.
D: The size and placement of
returns in the living space of the house below the attic.
E: That ceiling grilles can
be closed off to prevent living space heat from escaping into the attic
ducting in the winter.
20. With regard to ducted heating/cooling systems installed in houses, which of the following IS NOT generally accepted as being true?
A: The energy losses via the
duct system are automatically calculated at 10%.
B: A leaky return duct in a
basement or crawlspace can contribute to negative pressurization and induce
radon gas infiltration.
C: Leaky duct work in attics
is felt to be a major cause of air bypasses and ice damming formations
in colder areas.
D: Leaky and poorly insulated
ducting is thought to be one of the primary reasons why so many owners
are unhappy with their heat pump systems.
E: Return ducting in most houses
is oversized such that returns do not generally draw air as they should.
21. You are inspecting a larger two story home with hot water heat. One of the radiators does not heat on the second floor. Which of the following is the most likely cause of this situation?
A: There is an air purge problem
at the bailer and the system is air bound at that radiator.
B: The valve for that particular
radiator is stuck closed.
C: The radiator needs to be
bled.
D: The system is not adequately
filled with water.
E: It is a one pipe "non flo"
system and flowing water is not being drawn up into the radiator.
22. You are inspecting a gas furnace or boiler with cast iron burners. You notice that the base of the gas flames are reddish or orange. You also notice that not all of the holes in the burners have flames above them. Which of the following is most likely the reason for this?
A: There is rust in/on the burners.
B: There is insufficient gas
pressure to the burners.
C: The combustion air supply
to the unit is restricted.
D: There is inadequate primary
air down through the burners.
E: A humidifier is operating
the minerals in the air are causing the discoloration of the flames.
23. Which of the following statements IS NOT true with regard to the differences between conventional gas furnaces and the higher efficiency types?
A: Size for size, the higher
efficiency types will have small flue piping.
B: Many higher efficiency furnaces
have more restrictive heat exchangers.
C: Higher efficiency furnaces
often have more control over primary and/or secondary air or both.
D: Higher efficiency furnaces
tend to be more maintenance dependent than conventional furnaces.
E: There is less water in the
combustion products of higher efficiency furnaces than with conventional
furnaces.
24. There is an outside temperature at which a heat pump operating only the compressor will just keep up with the losses of the building. This temperature is commonly referred to as which of the following:
A: The sensible load.
B: The mean radiant temperature
(MRT)
C: The balance point.
D: The seasonal energy efficiency
point.
E: The coefficient of performance
(COP).
25. A thrifty home owner has recently replaced their central air conditioning equipment with the highest efficiency equipment they could buy. Which of the following statements IS NOT likely to be true with this installation?
A: It may not dehumidify properly
if the deck temperature of the inside coil does not drop low enough.
B: The existing duct work is
most likely restrictive for this equipment and this will negate much of
the efficiency increase expected.
C: The equipment may run longer
than the equipment it replaced.
D: The temperature differential
across the indoor coil may be less than what it had been.
E: The equipment will tend
to short cycle and leave the occupants cold and clammy.
26. You are inspecting an old hot water heating system and note the typical combination back flow prevention feed valve and pressure relief valve on a horizontal pipe in the ceiling. There is a union fitting on the pipe and between the valves and the boiler a gate valve. Which of the following IS NOT true with regard to this installation?
A: This constitutes a significant
danger since the pressure relief valve can be isolated from the boiler.
B: This arrangement sets up
a potential cross connection with boiler water able to enter the domestic
water supply.
C: Feed valves like this clog
and fail and often result in inadequate water being maintained in the system.
D: The pressure relief valve
should have a pipe extending from it to within 6 inches of the floor.
E: If you notice that the black
needle on the pressure gauge is below the red needle, it most likely means
the feed valve has failed.
27. You are inspecting a hot water system in an older house and before you fire up the boiler you check the pressure gauge. The red and black needles are lined up over top of one another. About an hour after firing up the system you find the pressure relief valve dripping water and the black needle pointed at 30 lbs on the pressure gauge. Which of the following is logical to conclude from this observation?
A: None of the radiators need
to be bled.
B: This is an open system and
you will find an expansion tank in an upstairs closet or in the attic.
C: There is not enough water
in the system.
D: Some of the radiators in
the system are turned off.
E: The pressure relief valve
is faulty.
28. An upscale older home is heated with hot water and has four different zones each with its own thermostat. Which of the following IS NOT true with regard to this type of system?
A: You may find that there are
four circulators on the system.
B: You should expect to find
at least one flow valve on the system.
C: You may find four different
zone valves on the system.
D: The zones may be controlled
with balance valves and there will be only one circulator and no other
zone valves.
E: The system must have balance
valves on the return side of each zone.
29. Which of the following WILL NOT tend to distinguish a hot water heating system from a steam heating system?
A: Circulators on the system.
B: Sight glass on the boiler.
C: Pressure relief valve on
the feed water line.
D: Pressure gauge attached
to power wire.
E: Zone valves on the system.
30. An older house has a steam heating system and the customer is concerned when you raise some of the idiosyncrasies common to steam systems. He asks whether the system can be converted to a hot water system. Which of the following is your primary concern in answering that question?
A: Whether there are traps on
the return side of the radiators.
B: If the system and its radiators
are rated for 30 lbs of pressure as hot water systems generally are.
C: Whether it is a one or two
pipe system.
D: Whether the wet return and
the Hartford loop are in serviceable condition.
E: Whether the circulators
on the system are functional.
31. You are inspecting a home for a customer who is transferring from Florida to Maryland. When inspecting the AC unit he asks how big it is and you answer that it is a three ton system. The customer gets very concerned and remarks that he is moving from the exact same size home and his AC unit there was four tons. Which of the following is a logical response for you to give him?
A: Your unit in Florida was
most likely oversized.
B: The AC equipment in Florida
must deal with a larger latent load factor.
C: It doesn't tend to get as
hot in Maryland as it does in Florida.
D: Houses in Maryland are better
insulated and more tightly sealed than houses in Florida.
E: This equipment is newer
and works at higher efficiency than the older equipment you had in your
Florida home.
32. Which of the following IS NOT true with regard to one pipe and two pipe steam heating systems found in houses?
A: The two pipe systems tend
to be more economical due to the radiator valves themselves.
B: Two pipe systems must be
run at higher pressures than one pipe systems.
C: Two pipe systems often utilize
different pipe sizes on each end of the radiator.
D: The valves for one pipe
systems must be left completely closed or completely open>
E: The wet returns of either
system are prone to leakage.
33. Which of the following IS NOT true with regard to oil burner operation and safety?
A: Emergency shutoff switches
are supposed to be located outside the utility space housing the equipment
or at the tops of basement stairways.
B: Solenoid valves set on the
oil supply line to the burner are intended to prevent "run on" fires.
C: Some areas use fusible links
located over top of oil burning equipment which are designed to melt and
shutoff the oil supply in the event of fire.
D: Deteriorating flue files
in a chimney can cause a "run on" fire.
E: Stack relays can sense the
color of the flame of burning oil and will shut off the burner if the relay
"sees" no color.
34. Which of the following is popularly thought to be true with regard to heat exchanger deterioration?
A: Dust will accumulate on the
surface of a heat exchanger as secondary air is drawn into the combustion
area.
B: Chlorides in the air around
laundry equipment may hasten the demise of heat exchangers located nearby.
C: Cross flow humidifiers,
in particular, tend to be destructive to heat exchangers due to water leakage.
D: Pilot lights that are turned
off during the summer months contribute to the rusting and deterioration
of heat exchangers.
E: High efficiency heat exchangers
are more prone to rust out since there is a greater likelihood of condensation
associated with flue gases.
35. Which of the following IS NOT true with regard to high speed flame retention oil burners and conventional oil burners?
A: The high speed type have
motors which turn at twice the speed of conventional motors.
B: The flame retention type
have shields on the top of the burner which cause the flame pattern to
be there.
C: The transformers and electrodes
of the more efficient equipment are more powerful.
D: The more efficient type
use more air and get a hotter flame form the same amount of oil.
E: The more efficient type
are not generally retrofitted to equipment with stainless steel combustion
chambers.
36. Which of the following IS NOT true about oil burning equipment in general?
A: It should be professionally
serviced each year. This is not work than an amateur should attempt.
B: The oil tanks should be
kept full during the summer.
C: Barometric dampers serve
to keep a higher temperature in the stack and chimney and thus maintain
a higher draw.
D: Servicing of oil burning
equipment should include thorough cleaning which includes vacuuming out
soot from breach piping etc.
E: Servicing will almost always
include cleaning all filters and changing the burner tip and adjusting
the electrodes.
37. Which of the following IS NOT true with regard to metal chimneys used on heating appliances?
A: Class B metal flues can only
be used for gas appliances and can be as close as 2 inches from flammable
materials.
B: Oil fired equipment must
use insulated double wall flue piping that is stainless steel on the inside.
C: Gas or oil fired equipment
can use triple walled flue pipe and have zero clearance to combustibles.
D: Wood stoves can use metal
asbestos piping but cannot use Class B flues.
E: Triple wall fireplace zero
clearance flue piping is not recommended for wood stoves because it runs
too cold.
38. Which of the following is true with regard to "Hartford loops" on heating systems?
A: All hot water and steam heating
systems have "Hartford loops".
B: The "Hartford loop" prevents
hot water from a boiler with a domestic hot water coil from heating a house
in the summer.
C: The "Hartford loop" returns
water to boilers at an elevation which won't allow the boiler to run dry
if the wet return leaks.
D: The "Hartford loop" is the
apparatus which contains the sight glass.
E: "Hartford loops" are not
required on boilers which are fitted with low water cutoff devices.
39. You are inspecting a solid masonry chimney and you notice that the fire bricks are loose and spalling. Which of the following explanations is the most plausible?
A: This is a minor and typical
problem and is nothing to worry about.
B: The bricks need a little
tuck pointing and they will be fine.
C: The chimney needs a rain
cover and the fireplace should be looked at by a mason.
D: The chimney was built with
weak mortar.
E: The damper seems to be leaking.
40. Which of the following methods are suitable for safely retrofitting an unlined chimney?
A: Pressure grouting with ferro
cement.
B: Glass lining.
C: Coating the flue with a
terra cotta paste.
D: "B" wall metal inserts.
E: None of the above.