Home Inspector Electrical System Safety Hazards Flashcards
7 cards from real Home Inspector Test practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Home Inspector Electrical System Safety Hazards flashcards as text
An inspector finds aluminum wiring connected directly to a standard copper-rated outlet. What is the primary hazard?
Answer: Galvanic corrosion and loose connections can cause arcing and fires
Aluminum and copper expand at different rates, leading to loose connections, oxidation, and arcing that can ignite fires.
What does a double-tapped breaker mean, and why is it a concern?
Answer: Two wires connected to one breaker terminal, risking poor contact and overheating
Most breakers are rated for only one wire; two wires can cause loose connections, arcing, and inadequate overcurrent protection.
Which condition indicates a Federal Pacific Electric (FPE) Stab-Lok panel is a safety concern?
Answer: Breakers have been documented to fail to trip under overcurrent conditions
FPE Stab-Lok breakers have a documented history of failing to trip, leaving circuits unprotected during overloads.
An inspector observes a 30-amp breaker protecting 14-gauge wire. What hazard does this create?
Answer: The wire can overheat and ignite before the breaker trips
14-gauge wire is rated for 15 amps; a 30-amp breaker will not trip until current far exceeds the wire's safe capacity, causing overheating.
What is the significance of an open ground on a three-prong outlet?
Answer: The grounding path is missing, leaving users unprotected from shock if a fault occurs
Without a ground, fault current has no safe path to earth, increasing shock risk to anyone touching a faulted appliance.
A bathroom outlet is located 10 feet from the sink and has no GFCI protection. What should the inspector report?
Answer: GFCI protection is required for all bathroom receptacles regardless of distance from water
NEC requires GFCI protection for all receptacles in bathrooms, regardless of their distance from the sink.
What does it mean when a home inspector finds reversed polarity on an outlet?
Answer: The outlet is wired with hot and neutral conductors swapped
Reversed polarity places voltage on the neutral slot, leaving lamp sockets and switch-leg conductors energized when the device is off, creating shock risk.