Hello everyone,
I’m very happy to be here. I retired a few years ago and I am now just beginning what I hope to be a new career and home inspections.
In Florida, so I’m beginning with the courses needed to become licensed in Florida. The first course I decided to take is the HVAC course. There is an amazing amount of information about furnaces, a lot of technical detail, etc. I guess my question is how much of this do I have to memorize, or will I be fine if I can just pass the quizzes and pass the final examinations in the course?
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Hi Ted.
As to your query, I guess it really depends on how good of home inspector that you want to be.
IMHO, it is best to actually learn the material (HVAC, or whatever) instead of just memorizing to pass in the moment.
All of the courses that you take can help you build a strong foundation for your new business endeavor bringing you beyond the typical 3 year startup failure rate.
Good luck!
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You are just to nice!! 
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Jeebus, Ted.
Whachu mean? You wanna be a scummy spector dog?
Iss bess ta lern the f*ckin’ sheet, bout how it wurks, man!…not jus cheatin’ ta pass quik!
All dat lernin’ kan purtect ya from screwin’ the pooch when yor 3 years in…or yor done!
Go get um, you old basturd!
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Great comments folks. Back to the books to learn it all and be the best in the business in Florida. Thanks
WOW the softer side of Larry!
#1 You’re required to know what your state SOP requires you to inspect and to report. That is the general, simple stuff you’re talking about.
#2 Someone is going to ask you to explain something HVAC or what you said about it in your report. The more you know, the better about how things work, and why those questions should not be part of the home inspection and report as it goes into diagnostic work.
#3 You are required to know when things are properly operating through operational controls, not why they are not responding.
Learn what you can, but be sure you know the SOP requirements.
I recommend you print out a copy of your SOP and have it with you at all times.
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Thank you so much! That is so helpful. I was thinking along those lines but you explained it perfectly. It makes sense to learn as much as possible I agree. The gentleman who responded to me seemed to think that all I wanted to do was to do as littlest possible to pass the test, but that is absolutely not the case. I was simply wondering how much of all the various numbers I would have to memorise for example how many pounds of the various kinds of shingles in a square, efficiency ratings of AC or Heat-pump units by year of manufacture, termination clearances of mechanical draft systems, et cetera, et cetera
I have started a notebook that I can carry with me with all of that kind of information in it that I can refer to during an inspection. Thanks again for your comments. Very helpful.
Just my 2 cents worth. Leave the research to the office. You start reading reference material during an inspection and you lose your continuity or standardized procedure. Take GOOD notes, plenty of QUALITY pictures and then you can research all the relevant information once you are done on site.
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This is exactly what you need to have with you!
I’m an experienced residential contractor, retired, with decades of construction experience. That said, I carry reference material with me and refer to it regularly. Copies of chosen NACHI graphics and other graphics are great references to include in your notebook. If you have questions of a component that requires research, take lots of photos and research in the office, as mentioned above.
It doesn’t matter what you know, it matters that you know where to find the answer!
That source is not always this message board. Everyone has an opinion. Some post where to find the information. That’s where you will find the answers.
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