We’re exciting to announce that a new free, online course is coming soon. It’s titled “Introduction to Home Inspections.”
In this course, the student will learn:
- how to perform a home inspection,
- how a home works, and
- how to maintain a home.
The free, online course will be available to InterNACHI® members, homeowners, and real estate agents for state-approved Continuing Education.
The course will also be converted into a home inspection textbook and a series of online training videos.
Check out the table of contents. If you think there’s a topic that is missing, feel free to email education@internachi.org.
Coming soon!
Chapter 1: Introduction to Home Inspections
1.1 A House Has More Than 10,000 Parts
1.2 The Home Inspector’s Responsibility
1.3 A Homeowner’s Questions
1.4 Real Estate Agent’s Duty
1.5 Home Inspection Standards of Practice
Chapter 2: Home Maintenance
2.1 Hire a Certified Professional Inspector CPI®
2.2 Stay Safe
2.3 Basic Home Inspection Checklist
Chapter 3: InterNACHI® Home Inspection Standards of Practice
3.1 Read the Standards
3.2 Visual Inspection
3.3 Future Events
3.4 Not Every Problem
3.5 Material Defect
3.6 Inspection Report
Chapter 4: Roof
4.1 Roof Inspections Are Dangerous
4.2 Standards of Practice
4.3 Any Roof Can Leak
4.4 Hail and Wind Damage
4.5 Infrared Thermography
4.6 Sloped Roof-Covering Materials
4.7 Roof Slope
4.8 Underlayment
4.9 Reporting Upon the Roof Covering Materials
4.10 Concrete Roofs
4.11 Wood Shingles and Shakes
4.12 Metal Roofing
4.13 Slate, Clay Tile, and Asbestos Cement
4.14 Low-Slope Roof Coverings
4.15 Gutters and Downspouts
4.16 Ice Dams
4.17 Skylights
4.18 Roof Inspection Checklist
Chapter 5: Exterior & Property
5.1 Standards of Practice
5.2 Step Back, Then Move Closer
5.3 Foundation Walls and Piers
5.4 Exterior Wall Covering
5.5 Exterior Wooden Components
5.6 Clearance
5.7 Aluminum and Vinyl Siding
5.8 Asbestos Cement Shingles
5.9 Brick or Stone Veneers
5.10 Stucco
5.11 Exterior Insulation and Finish System (EIFS)
5.12 Wall Insulation
5.13 Moisture
5.14 Exterior Doors
5.15 Windows
5.16 Weatherstripping
5.17 Shutters
5.18 Awnings
5.19 Garage Doors
5.20 Decks
5.21 Exterior Water
5.22 GFCI (Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupter)
5.23 Masonry and Metal Chimneys
5.24 Pre-Fab Metal Chimney
5.25 Lightning Protection
5.26 Property Surface Drainage
5.27 Protection of Wood Against Decay
5.28 Hillside
5.29 Landscaping
5.30 Puddles
5.31 Downspouts
5.32 Fences
5.33 Paving and Hard Surfaces
5.34 Exterior Steps
5.35 Retaining Walls
5.36 Buried Oil Tanks
5.37 Other Structures
5.38 Yards and Courts
5.39 Flood Zones
5.40 Steep Slope Grading
5.41 Wind
5.42 Lead
5.43 Wildfires
5.44 Accessibility
5.45 Homeowner Associations (HOA)
5.46 Exterior Inspection Checklist
Chapter 6: Basement, Foundation, Crawlspace, and Structure
6.1 Standards of Practice
6.2 Major Defects
6.3 Assessing Structural Capacity
6.4 Seismic Resistance
6.5 Wind Resistance
6.6 Masonry
6.7 Masonry Foundation and Piers
6.8 Masonry Piers
6.9 Concrete Cracking
6.10 Soil
6.11 Above-Ground Masonry Walls
6.12 Cracking of Masonry Over Openings
6.13 Cracking Due to Ties
6.14 Bulging & Leaning of Walls
6.15 Brick Veneer Walls
6.16 Problems Associated with Parapet Walls
6.17 Chimneys
6.18 Wood Structural Components
6.19 Deflection, Warping, and Associated Problems
6.20 Party Walls
6.21 Spreading and Tying
6.22 Deflection
6.23 Fungal and Insect Attack
6.24 Subterranean Termites
6.25 Cutting, Drilling, and Notching in Sawn Lumber
6.26 Iron and Steel Structural Components
6.27 Concrete Structural Components
6.28 Basement, Foundation, Crawlspaces, and Structure Inspection Checklist
Chapter 7: Heating
7.1 Standards of Practice
7.2 HVAC Systems
7.3 Energy Source
7.4 Warm-Air Heating Furnace
7.5 Forced Warm-Air Heating
7.6 Circulation Blower Fan
7.7 Heat Exchanger
7.8 Distribution System
7.9 Air Filters
7.10 Humidifiers
7.11 Ducts
7.12 Furnace Categories
7.13 Thermostatic Controls
7.14 Gas Meter
7.15 Gas Piping
7.16 Galvanized Steel
7.17 CSST
7.18 Appliance Fuel Connectors
7.19 Gas Leak
7.20 Drip Leg
7.21 Gas Shutoff Valve
7.22 Service Shutoff Switch
7.23 Emergency Shutoff Switch
7.24 Forced Hot-Water or Hydronic System
7.25 Boilers
7.26 Expansion Tank
7.27 Circulating Pump and Controls
7.28 Distribution Piping
7.29 Steam-Heating System
7.30 Steam Boiler Controls
7.31 Steam-distribution Pipes
7.32 Electric-Resistance Heater
7.33 Electric Wall Heaters
7.34 Heat Pump Systems
7.35 Heating System Defects
7.36 Gas Furnace Inspection Checklist
Chapter 8: Cooling
8.1 Standards of Practice
8.2 Central Air-Conditioning Systems
8.3 Compressor and Condenser
8.4 Clearance
8.5 Refrigerant Lines
8.6 Evaporator
8.7 Geothermal Heating and Cooling Systems
8.8 Ductless Air Cooling Systems
8.9 Heat Pump
8.10 Cold Temperatures
8.11 Improper Defrosting
8.12 Evaporative Cooling System
8.13 Humidifiers
8.14 Unit (Window) Air Conditioners
8.15 Whole-House Fan
8.16 Cooling Inspection Checklist
Chapter 9: Plumbing
9.1 Standards of Practice
9.2 Water Service Entry & Valves
9.3 House Service Main
9.4 Main (or Master) Water Shutoff Valve
9.5 Shutoff Valves
9.6 Water Meter
9.7 Interior Water Distribution
9.8 Distribution Piping
9.9 Galvanized Steel
9.10 Brass
9.11 Copper
9.12 Plastic
9.13 PB
9.14 PEX
9.15 Gridded and Parallel
9.16 Drain, Waste, and Vent Piping
9.17 Fixture Traps
9.18 Vents
9.19 Stack Vent Termination at Roof
9.20 Drainage Pipe Slope
9.21 Hot Water
9.22 Water Heaters
9.23 TPR Valves
9.24 Water Heater Labeling
9.25 Thermal Expansion Control
9.26 Pressurized Expansion Tanks
9.27 Water Valves for Water Heater Tanks
9.28 Water Leak Catch Pan
9.29 Discharge Pipe of a TPR Valve
9.30 Domestic Coil Water Heaters (with Boiler)
9.31 Tankless or Demand-Type Water Heaters
9.32 Water Heaters Located in Storage Closets, Bedrooms, and Bathrooms
9.33 Located in Garages
9.34 Private Well
9.35 Septic System
9.36 Plumbing Inspection Checklist
Chapter 10: Electrical
10.1 Standards of Practice
10.2 Basic Service Terminology
10.3 Old Electrical Systems
10.4 Service
10.5 Service Panel
10.6 Overhead Wires
10.7 Electric Meter
10.8 Service Entrance Conductor
10.9 Main Electrical Service Panel
10.10 Main Disconnect
10.11 Panel Condition and Location
10.12 Amperage Rating
10.13 Grounding & Bonding
10.14 GFCI (Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupter)
10.15 AFCI (Arc-Fault Circuit Interrupter)
10.16 Over-Current Protection
10.17 Circuit Identification
10.18 Branch Circuits
10.19 Aluminum Wire
10.20 Low Voltage
10.21 Electrical Inspection Checklist
Chapter 11: Fireplace
11.1 Standards of Practice
11.2 Fireplaces and Flues
11.3 Hearth
11.4 Lintel
11.5 Firebox
11.6 Damper
11.7 Smoke Pipe Connections
11.8 Flues
11.9 Ash Dump and Pit
11.10 Chimneys
11.11 The 3-2-10 Rule
11.12 Chimney Flashing
11.13 Factory-Built (Pre-Fabricated) Fireplaces
11.14 Ventless or Unvented Fireplaces
11.15 Fireplace Inspection Checklist
Chapter 12: Attic, Insulation, and Ventilation
12.1 Standards of Practice
12.2 Attic
12.3 Attic Access
12.4 Mechanical Exhaust Systems for Kitchen, Bathroom, and Laundry
12.5 Kitchen Exhaust
12.6 Kitchen Fan Location
12.7 Kitchen Venting
12.8 Exterior Vent Location
12.9 Inspection
12.10 Bathroom Exhaust
12.11 Straight as Possible
12.12 Condensation
12.13 Exhaust Outlet
12.14 Clothes Dryer (Laundry) Exhaust
12.15 Attic Ventilation
12.16 House Ventilation
12.17 Three Ways to Ventilate
12.18 Indoor Air Quality
12.19 Thermal Insulation
12.20 R-Value
12.21 Where to Look for Insulation
12.22 Attic, Insulation, and Ventilation Inspection Checklist
Chapter 13: Doors, Windows, and Interior
13.1 Standards of Practice
13.2 Interior Doors
13.3 Egress
13.4 Windows
13.5 Glazing and Safety Glass
13.6 Floors
13.7 Moisture Intrusion
13.8 Moisture Production from Domestic Activities
13.9 Walls and Ceilings
13.10 Drywall Truss Uplift
13.11 Cosmetic Defects
13.12 Stairs and Hallways
13.13 Ramps
13.14 Guards
13.15 The 4-Inch Sphere
13.16 Handgrip
13.17 HVAC Source
13.18 Ventilation
13.19 Closets
13.20 Electrical Receptacles and Lighting
13.21 Skylights
13.22 Firewall
13.23 Habitable Rooms
13.24 Bathrooms
13.25 General Bathroom Inspection Checklist
13.26 Kitchen
13.27 Kitchen Appliance Inspection Checklists
13.28 Smoke Detectors
13.29 Laundry Rooms
13.30 Furnace and Utility Rooms
13.31 Garage Door Openers Inspection Checklist
13.32 Asbestos
13.33 Lead
13.34 Lead-based Paint
13.35 Lead in Paint
13.36 Lead in Water
13.37 Radon Gas
13.38 Doors, Windows, and Interior Inspection Checklist
Chapter 14: Water Management and Damage Prevention
14.1 Smart Decisions
14.2 Houses and Water
14.3 Firm, Dry Foundation
14.4 Frequent Causes of Moisture Damage
14.5 Roof and Flashing
14.6 Gutters and Downspouts
14.7 Ice Dams
14.8 Soffits and Fascias
14.9 Weep Holes
14.10 Landscaping and Grading
14.11 Window and Door Flashing and Seals
14.12 Groundwater and Rainwater
14.13 Condensation
14.14 HVAC
14.15 Sump Pump
Chapter 15: A Word About Your Home’s Energy
15.1 InterNACHI® Certified Home Energy Inspector
Chapter 16: Seasonal Maintenance Checklist
16.1 In the Spring
16.2 In the Summer
16.3 In the Fall
16.4 In the Winter
16.5 Annually
Chapter 17: Annual Home Maintenance Inspection
17.1 InterNACHI® Certified Annual Home Maintenance Inspector
Chapter 18: Healthy Home Inspections
18.1 InterNACHI® Certified Healthy Homes Inspector