Home Inspection
Career Diploma
Home Inspection Course Outline
The Home Inspection Course is comprised of 16 comprehensive lessons. They are easy to follow, yet challenging and stimulating at the same time. Each lesson begins with a subject matter preview and objectives, an introductory note from your instructor and a vocabulary builder of new words and terms.
Next comes the reading assignment. Practice exercises help you check and review what you've learned. At the end of the lesson is an open-book exam, which you may take online.
Lesson 1: Roofs
Pitched roofs; problems with different types of shingles; asbestos, slate, wood, and asphalt shingles; flat roofs; built-up roofs; roll roofing; metal roofs.
Lesson 2: Roof-Mounted Structures
Chimneys; vent stacks; roof vents; hatches; skylights; TV antennas; types of gutters and downspouts; weather-tightness; drainage.
Lesson 3: Paved Areas, Lots and Landscaping
Sidewalks; steps from the street and driveway; front and side paths; patios; driveways; drainage; soil erosion; ground water problems; water table; drainage structures; hydrostatic pressure; retaining walls; landscaping; grading; lawns; trees; shrubs; decks; fences.
Lesson 4: Walls, Windows and Doors
Exterior walls; wood siding; shingles; shakes; aluminum; plywood; vinyl; asbestos shingles; asphalt siding; veneer walls; masonry walls; trim; window types; exterior door types; storm doors and windows; screens; caulking.
Supplement: How To Build A Home Inspection Business
Lesson 5: Garages
Attached garages; fire and health hazards; plumbing; drainage and flood potential; garage doors; detached garages; exterior and interior features; garage door openers; heat and electricity.
Lesson 6: Wood-Destroying Insects and Rot
Termites; preventing infestation; termite types and typical problems; carpenter ants; powder-post beetles; wood rot.
Lesson 7: Attics and Interior Rooms
Attic types; insulation; violations; leakage; fire hazards; ventilation; vapor barriers; construction; walls; ceilings; floors; allowing for heating; windows; placement and types of electrical outlets; fireplaces; bedrooms; bathrooms; water pressure; kitchens; hallways; staircases.
Lesson 8: Basements and Crawl Spaces
Foundations; settling; cracking; structural support; dampness; water seepage; groundwater level; walls, floors, and hydrostatic pressure; furnace rooms; crawl spaces; ventilation.
Lesson 9: The Electrical System
Inlet electrical service; understanding a home's electrical capacity; how to open and inspect panel boxes; fuses and circuit breakers; aluminum wiring and its dangers; principles of electrical grounding; improper ground connections; electrical outlets and their locations; knob-and-tube wiring; low-voltage switching systems; code violations.
Lesson 10: Plumbing Systems
Water supply and distribution; fixtures; drainage systems; waste disposal; air vents and stacks; cesspools; septic systems; lawn sprinklers; water pressure and flow; pipes; water supply; distribution pipes; drainage; wells; piston, jet, and submersible pumps; storage tanks; pressure switches and gauges.
Lesson 11: Heating Systems: Part I
Central heating; heat registers; radiators; thermostats; shutoff controls; warm air systems; forced warm air; furnace types; distribution design; heat pumps; gravity and forced hot water systems; radiators; panel heating; zone control; domestic hot water; steam heating; piping; hybrid systems.
Lesson 12: Heating Systems: Part II
Oil-fired heating systems; gas-fired heating systems; electrical heating systems; area heaters; understanding electrical heating units; inspection procedures for all kinds of heating systems.
Lesson 13: Domestic Water Heaters
Tank-type heaters; important safety considerations for relief valves; understanding noises in water heaters; exhaust stacks; testing operation; replacing water heaters; capacity and recovery; tankless coil heaters; indirect-fired storage heaters.
Lesson 14: Air Conditioners
Air conditioning capacity; integral air conditioning systems; split systems; compressors; evaporators; ducts; heat pumps; evaporative coolers.
Lesson 15: Energy Considerations
Conducting a complete energy audit; types of insulation; the R factor; vapor barriers; attic ventilation; storm windows; caulking; weather stripping; fireplaces; wood stoves; heating and air conditioning systems; degree-days.
Lesson 16: Environmental Concerns
Radon seepage in basements; asbestos and its dangers; problems with drinking water and contamination; lead; formaldehyde; leaky oil tanks; electromagnetic fields.
Ready to get started on your Home Inspection training? Enroll online or call 1-800-957-5412 to speak with an Admissions Advisor.