California CSST Exam Review (Latest 2026/ 2027 Update) | Verified Questions & Answers | 100% correct Elaborations

1 California CSST Exam Review (Latest 2026/ 2027 Update) | Verified Questions & Answers | 100% correct Elaborations California CSST Exam 2026 / 2027 Academic Year Q: CSST Answer Corrugated Stainless Steel Tubing Q: The Standards of Practice for home inspections Answer Defines what is and what is not included in a standard home inspection Q: The inspector is NOT required to Answer Operate main shut-off valves 2 Q: What is flashing? Answer Material that covers exposed edges of roofing where it meets chimneys or sidewalls to prevent water intrusion. Q: What deficiency would cause the replacement of a forced-air gas furnace? Answer Crack in the heat exchanger Blisters and bubbles on a built-up roof usually indicate Q: The standards of practice Answer Help to limit the liability of a home inspector Q: What is the minimum clearance from combustibles for a single wall furnace vent? Answer 6" 3 Q: A gas dryer can Answer Vent to the exterior? Q: In a solid brick house, what is a sign of corner settlement? Answer step cracks at an exterior corner going down to the top of the foundation Q: It is preferable to put wood shingles and shakes over what type of roof sheathing to allow them to dry quickly? Answer skipped shingles plywood? Q: Vapor barrier should be Answer To the warm side 4 Q: The three main components of an air conditioning system are Answer Evaporator coil, condenser, and compressor Q: What is a functional flow test? Answer running water from multiple fixtures in the same bathroom Q: Differential cracking in a residential foundation is usually Answer An indication of a structural problem Q: When inspection private sidewalks, what should an inspector be alert for? Answer Settlement causing a trip hazard 5 Q: The age of a water heater can usually be determined by examining the Answer Serial number Q: The home inspector is NOT required to report Answer Cost of replacing the roof covering Q: If something is not readily accessible, it is what? Answer Beyond the scope of the inspection Q: Which of the following is the worst case situation? Answer The top of the foundation wall is three inches below grade Q: Gas piping running in a concrete slab Answer Must be sleeved and vented 6 Q: What is not a common insulation material? Answer Rayon fibers Q: What is the term for the object designed to shed water around a chimney? Answer Cricket Q: The supply water to circulated hot water radiators is usually what temperature? Answer 140 degrees F Q: What condition with a gas water heater should be reported as a safety hazard? Answer A TPR valve without a proper pipe to the floor 7 Q: For water to drain freely out of the house waste systems, there must be adequate: Answer Venting Q: The best way to vent and insulate a cathedral ceiling is to: Answer Leave one inch gap above insulation Q: A draft induction motor is found on a: Answer Medium or high efficiency furnace Q: One indication of a possible crack or hole in the heat exchanger is: Answer An irregular flame pattern when the blower starts 8 Q: How should a water heater burner be checked for operation? Answer Run hot water out of a tap Q: When testing a GFCI outlet that is not grounded, how will the outlet respond? Answer Will trip with test button on the outlet, but not by the tester Q: Which of the following is NOT an approved water supply material? Answer Lead Q: Your client is: Answer The person or company paying for the inspection and signing the inspection agreement 9 A steam radiator system usually operates at what temperature? Answer 215 degrees F Which of the following roofing materials should last the longest? Answer Slate Tempered glass is safer than ordinary glass because: Answer It breaks into small rectangular particles A home inspection conducted in accordance with the standards of practice will uncover every defect in the house Answer False Weak airflow on forced-air systems at the registers is caused by all of these except: Answer Weak airflow on forced-air systems at the registers is caused by all of these except: 10 A fireplace can share a chimney flue with: Answer Nothing else There are three wires at a weatherhead, one is a bare cable (no sheathing). This wire is the: Neutral The connection device between copper and galvanized piping that prevents corrosion is called a: Dielectric union Which is NOT a common material for a foundation wall? steel All new water heaters are of which type? Flammable vapor ignition resistant Standards of practice define "installed" as meaning: Requiring the use of tools to remove 11 What type of gusset plates are used on wood or floor trusses? Plywood or metal Inspectors are required to offer warranties limited to items inspected. T or F False Inspectors are required to move personal items that obstruct visibility. T or F False Inspectors are required to describe wall cladding material. T or F True Which of the following should be included in the inspection? Through-wall air conditioners Type B vent is: double wall Residential entrance cables must have a minimum clearance over a driveway of: 12 12' The minimum attic venting in an attic without a vapor barrier is what for every one square foot of free space? 150 The bottom of an I-Joist is the: Flange "Checking" in a structural wood framing member such as a wooden beam: Is caused by drying and shrinking of the wood and is usually not a cause for concern The normal path for electricity is to enter the house on the hot wire and return on the neutral wire. True What is a plumbing cross-connection? Mix of water supply piping and drain piping A brass flexible gas connection is hazardous and should be replaced immediately. 13 True How do you determine if a shower door has safety glazing? Marked in lower corner The complete combustion by-products of natural gas are: Non-toxic In balloon framing, the studs are: Continuous from foundation to the roof line The water in a trap: Forms a seal to block sewer gases Romex is another name for what type of cable: NM Where is safety glass required: At glazing near doors, tubs, or showers 14 The material at the top of a parapet wall is known as: Coping Given that you have a #3 copper wire, 100 amp breaker, panel rated for 125 amps, what is the service amperage that you should report? 100 The minimum amount of venting for a crawl space should be one square foot of net free venting for each: 300 Square Feet of floor area Improper attic ventilation can cause: Moisture problems In most cases, chimney deterioration is caused from: Water/moisture caused by condensation Which of the following is not an appropriate object to be contained within a concrete floor? Unsleeved Gas pipe 15 A water heater that is 27 years old: Should be reported as being beyond its expected lifespan Basement seepage most often occurs because of: Missing gutter downspout extensions Which siding tends to deteriorate from moisture damage? Hardboard (fiberboard) In an electrical sub panel, the grounds and neutrals should be: Floating (separate from each other) The inspector shall: Describe drain, waste and vent piping material What is the bottom component of a truss called? Chord A drain that gurgles or belches as it drains water may be a symptom of: 16 Not being properly vented What usually causes ice damming? Improper insulation and ventilation Which two elements must be found in every habitable room? Heat & electricity A double tap is potentially hazardous because: One or both of the wires could be loose, resulting in possible arcing When inspecting a toilet: The toilet should be tight to the floor The buyer's real estate agent requests a copy of your inspection report. How do you respond? Mention that you would first need authorization from your client. What is the small peaked roof construction on the high side of a chimney called? Cricket 17 Which siding has had extensive problems with moisture and subsequent rotting of the underlying framing? EIFS When should a home inspector not enter the crawl space? When the inspector feels it may be dangerous to do so A crack in the bricks at the top of a doorway or window usually indicates: A missing or damaged lintel Aluminum branch wiring was used as a substitute for expensive copper wire approximately when? 1963 to 1974 The three main components of a stairway are: Stringers, tread, risers Bonding is a term used in electricity for what? To tie metal together to provide a ground path 18 Ground rods must be driven into the ground at least: 8 feet What is the function of collar ties? To prevent the roof rafters from sagging and spreading EIFS siding Synthetic stucco The furnace has a pilot/thermocouple setup. What is the safety feature that shuts down the furnace? Thermocouple A water heater or furnace installed in a garage: Should have any source of ignition at least 18" above the floor to prevent a fire hazard Three tab asphalt roofs are most likely to wear at what location first? Valley 19 Three entrance cables providing service to a house indicates: 240 volts Typical wood frame wall assemblies include all of the following components except: Bridging The Standards of Practice requires you to observe: Kitchen/bathroom/laundry vents In a typical heat pump operation in the heating mode, the temperature differential (temperature rise) should be about: 15 to 30 degrees F Inspectors are not required to report on: Code compliance A gravity furnace is without what component? Blower motor