Home Inspection

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.

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.