Glossary, 277 terms
Home inspection terms: S
Each definition is the Key Term from the lesson named under it. Where two lessons define a term for different uses, both are here.
- S corporation
- A corporation with few shareholders, who pay its taxes as individuals.
Lesson 22, Ethics, Starting a Business and Marketing - S-trap
- 1. A trap shape that older sinks may have in place of a P-trap.
Lesson 35C, Sinks - 2. A prohibited trap whose outlet turns down into a vertical pipe in the floor.
Lesson 38A, Traps and Fixture Drains - Saddle fitting
- A fitting that clamps onto a pipe over a punched or drilled hole.
Lesson 37B, DWV Fittings, Cleanouts and Defects - Safety cable
- A cable fastened to a submersible pump and motor for raising and lowering them.
Lesson 35G, Wells: Types, Location and Components - Safety glazing
- 1. Glazing identified by a permanent label etched into one corner.
Lesson 5B, Windows, Window Flashing, Glazing, Window Wells, Escape Openings and Fall Protection - 2. The glazing that all glass in and around a shower should be.
Lesson 35B, Showers and Tub/Showers - Salt-free water softener
- A softener with no brine tank.
Lesson 35F, Water Treatment Devices and Hot Water Circulation - Saltillo tile
- A clay tile of terra-cotta made in Mexico.
Lesson 17B, Interior Doors and Floor Coverings - Sanitary tee
- A fitting set in a vertical pipe that receives flow from a horizontal pipe.
Lesson 37B, DWV Fittings, Cleanouts and Defects - Sash cord
- A cord or chain that links an older hung window sash to its sash weight over a pulley.
Lesson 5B, Windows, Window Flashing, Glazing, Window Wells, Escape Openings and Fall Protection - Sash lift (sash pull)
- A hook, finger hold, or groove that gives a grip for opening a hung window sash.
Lesson 5B, Windows, Window Flashing, Glazing, Window Wells, Escape Openings and Fall Protection - Sash lock (sash fast)
- A lock where the sashes meet that secures them and reduces air infiltration.
Lesson 5B, Windows, Window Flashing, Glazing, Window Wells, Escape Openings and Fall Protection - Sash weight
- The weight inside the frame of an older hung window that counterbalances the sash.
Lesson 5B, Windows, Window Flashing, Glazing, Window Wells, Escape Openings and Fall Protection - Saw kerf
- The cut made by a saw blade.
Lesson 6C, Deck Guards, Framing, Flooring, Bracing, Beams, Footings and Defects - Scaled score
- 1. A raw score converted to a scale of 200 to 800, used because NHIE versions differ in difficulty.
Lesson 1, Course Introduction and NHIE Overview - 2. A raw score converted to the 200 to 800 scale, so that versions of the NHIE that differ in difficulty report on a common scale.
Lesson 43, Scheduling, Taking and Passing the NHIE - Schedule 40 and Schedule 80
- 1. The two wall thicknesses of PVC conduit; Schedule 80 is used where protection from physical damage is necessary.
Lesson 25A, Wiring Methods, Cables and Raceways - 2. Ratings of pipe wall thickness; Schedule 40 has the thinner wall.
Lesson 34A, Plumbing Scope and Plumbing Terms - Schrader valves
- Condenser unit valves where technicians connect a gauge set to read refrigerant line pressures, similar to automobile tire valves.
Lesson 28A, Cooling Systems: Understanding the System - Sconce
- A wall-mounted light fixture.
Lesson 26B, Switches, Lights and Ceiling Fans - Score report
- The record of a candidate's result, whose form varies by state and testing center.
Lesson 43, Scheduling, Taking and Passing the NHIE - Scratch coat
- The first of the three plaster coats.
Lesson 17A, Interior Walls, Ceilings, Drywall, Plaster and Trim - Screen
- A fitting at the casing bottom that holds sand and small gravel out of the water.
Lesson 35G, Wells: Types, Location and Components - Screw jack column
- An adjustable steel column with a screw at one end.
Lesson 11B, Forces and Soils, Footings, Piers and Columns - Screw-in stopper
- The stopper type that newer bathtubs usually have.
Lesson 35A, Bathtubs - Scroll compressor
- A compressor type found in many systems now in service, at less risk of slugging.
Lesson 28B, Cooling Systems: Inspecting Equipment and Typical Defects - Scum layer
- Grease and fatty material floating on the liquid in a septic tank.
Lesson 38D, Septic Systems - Scupper
- A rectangular opening in a parapet wall through which a low slope roof drains.
Lesson 9C, Roof Drainage: Gutters, Scuppers and Internal Drains - Sealant
- A material such as caulk or roofing cement that requires periodic replacement.
Lesson 4C, Exterior Trim, Flashing and Sealants, Eaves and Cornice - Sealed seam
- A metal panel seam that is lapped and fastened, then closed with a sealant the manufacturer approves.
Lesson 8B, Steep Slope Roofing: Fiber Cement and Metal - Sealed tank
- The softener tank, holding the polystyrene beads, where softening happens.
Lesson 35F, Water Treatment Devices and Hot Water Circulation - Seam tape
- Heavy plastic or fiberglass material with an adhesive that heat activates, used to join carpet seams.
Lesson 17B, Interior Doors and Floor Coverings - Seasoned (dry) wood
- Dry firewood, which forms less creosote than wet wood when burned.
Lesson 40B, Draft Problems, Fireplace Inserts, Wood and Pellet Stoves - Seat cut
- 1. A horizontal cut in a rafter where it sits on a wall top or at a valley.
Lesson 11A, Structural Scope and Terms - 2. The cut at the lower end of a rafter that bears on the wall plate or other support.
Lesson 13A, Roof and Ceiling Framing, Rafters, Ties and Purlins - 3. The horizontal cut at the bottom of a stringer.
Lesson 18A, Stairs, Ramps, Handrails and Guards - Seat washer
- The washer that a compression faucet valve stem raises from the valve seat; once worn, it tends to let water through the spout.
Lesson 34D, Faucets, Shower Valves, Hose Bibbs and Aerators - Secondary drainage system
- The required backup to a scupper or internal drain: a scupper or another internal drain, at least as large as the primary and located 2 inches higher.
Lesson 9C, Roof Drainage: Gutters, Scuppers and Internal Drains - Sectional door
- The most common garage vehicle door, made of 5 to 8 panels about 18 inches tall.
Lesson 7, Garage Vehicle Doors and Operators - Security bars
- Bars mounted on the outside of a window.
Lesson 42, Life Safety Systems: Egress, Fire Separation, Alarms and Sprinklers - Sediment trap
- An arrangement of solid pipe fittings near an appliance, downstream from its shutoff valve, that keeps debris from restricting gas flow at the burners or orifice.
Lesson 38G, Other Gas Pipes, Connectors, Valves and Gas Pipe Installation - SEER (seasonal energy efficiency ratio)
- The cooling efficiency of an air conditioner, or of a heat pump when cooling, the cooling season output divided by the electric energy used.
Lesson 28A, Cooling Systems: Understanding the System - Seismic bracing
- Anchors or straps that hold a water heater against movement during an earthquake.
Lesson 36D, Water Heater Installation, Seismic Bracing, Thermal Expansion and Defects - Seismic reinforcing
- Vertical steel bars and horizontal ties that reinforce a masonry chimney in a seismic risk area.
Lesson 39B, Combustion Air, Masonry Chimney Construction, Liners, Flue Area and Defects - Seismic risk
- The risk factor for houses in earthquake zones.
Lesson 12D, Wood Wall Framing, Bracing and Wall Defects - Self-supporting balcony
- A balcony cantilevered beyond the house wall.
Lesson 6A, Stoops, Porches and Balconies - Semicircular (roundhead) window
- A window topped by a semicircle.
Lesson 5B, Windows, Window Flashing, Glazing, Window Wells, Escape Openings and Fall Protection - Sensible load
- 1. The heat a cooling system must remove because of indoor air temperature, from wall and ceiling heat gain, solar gain through windows, and equipment such as ovens and lights, usually less in the north than the south.
Lesson 28A, Cooling Systems: Understanding the System - 2. The heat an air conditioner removes from the air; temperature drop measures it.
Lesson 28B, Cooling Systems: Inspecting Equipment and Typical Defects - 3. The heating load a Manual J calculation estimates for a house.
Lesson 30, Heating Fundamentals, Combustion and Capacity - Septic system
- The most common private sewage disposal method, made in several types.
Lesson 38D, Septic Systems - Septic tank
- A vessel where sewage solids settle and decompose and liquid drains to a drain field.
Lesson 34A, Plumbing Scope and Plumbing Terms - Sequencer
- 1. A control that turns on banks of backup heating coils according to the heat needed.
Lesson 28B, Cooling Systems: Inspecting Equipment and Typical Defects - 2. The device that controls sequencing.
Lesson 33A, Electric Heating Systems - Sequencing (staging)
- Activation of furnace heating elements one at a time rather than all at once.
Lesson 33A, Electric Heating Systems - Series connection
- An arrangement in which the outflow of one distribution device feeds the input of the next.
Lesson 33B, Hot Water Heating Systems - Series fault
- An arcing fault along one conductor.
Lesson 24B, Overcurrent Protection, GFCI and AFCI - Serious injury
- For the unsafe criteria, an injury that may be defined as one needing a doctor's treatment.
Lesson 19C, Deficient Conditions, Service Life and Imminent Threats - Serpentine heat exchanger
- A heat exchanger with many curves that increase its surface area.
Lesson 31A, Gas Appliance Categories and Gas Forced-Air Furnaces - Service drop
- 1. The overhead conductors between the utility transformer and the house.
Lesson 23A, Electrical Terms and Basic Electricity - 2. Overhead conductors from the utility's pole transformer to the service point at the house.
Lesson 23B, Grounding, Bonding and the Electrical Service - Service entrance cable (SE)
- A factory-made cable that carries the service entrance conductors from the service point to the service equipment.
Lesson 25A, Wiring Methods, Cables and Raceways - Service entrance conductors
- 1. The conductors from the service drop or lateral to the service equipment.
Lesson 23A, Electrical Terms and Basic Electricity - 2. Conductors from the service point to the service equipment, passing through the meter base.
Lesson 23B, Grounding, Bonding and the Electrical Service - Service equipment
- 1. The equipment that disconnects the main electrical service.
Lesson 19D, System Descriptions and Inspection Methods - 2. The breakers, switches, or fuses that disconnect the house from electricity; also called the main disconnect or main shutoff.
Lesson 23A, Electrical Terms and Basic Electricity - 3. The means of disconnecting all electricity to the house; also called the main breaker, main disconnect, or service disconnect.
Lesson 24A, Service Equipment, Enclosures and Panelboards - Service head
- The fitting atop a service mast where the service entrance conductors enter; also called a gooseneck.
Lesson 23B, Grounding, Bonding and the Electrical Service - Service lateral
- 1. The underground conductors between the utility transformer and the house.
Lesson 23A, Electrical Terms and Basic Electricity - 2. Underground conductors from the transformer, through a riser at the house, to the meter base.
Lesson 23B, Grounding, Bonding and the Electrical Service - Service load calculation
- The amperage load of a house as calculated by a qualified electrician; outside the scope of a home inspection.
Lesson 23B, Grounding, Bonding and the Electrical Service - Service mast
- A pipe rising above the roof that service drop conductors may attach to.
Lesson 23B, Grounding, Bonding and the Electrical Service - Service point
- 1. The point where utility conductors end and house service entrance conductors begin.
Lesson 23A, Electrical Terms and Basic Electricity - 2. The connection between the service drop and service entrance conductors; usually where utility responsibility ends.
Lesson 23B, Grounding, Bonding and the Electrical Service - Service space
- The level space in front of appliance parts that require service, evaporator coils included.
Lesson 28B, Cooling Systems: Inspecting Equipment and Typical Defects - Service valve (main shutoff)
- The valve controlling water flow into the water distribution pipes.
Lesson 34A, Plumbing Scope and Plumbing Terms - Settlement
- An agreement by the parties that resolves a claim without a trial.
Lesson 21A, Business Law, Claims and Liability - Sewage
- Drainage or sewer pipe contents, liquid and solid, carrying animal or vegetable matter or other impurities.
Lesson 34A, Plumbing Scope and Plumbing Terms - Sewage disposal system (individual/private)
- A system that disposes of a house's sewage on the property, usually a septic tank with a drain field.
Lesson 34A, Plumbing Scope and Plumbing Terms - Sewage ejector
- A pump in a sealed sump that lifts waste from basement fixtures to the building drain.
Lesson 38E, Sewage Ejectors, Backwater Valves and Sump Pumps - Sewage ejector pump
- The pump that lifts sewage from a sump into the building drain.
Lesson 34A, Plumbing Scope and Plumbing Terms - Sewer (building)
- The pipe carrying sewage from the building drain, starting 30 inches past the exterior walls; also called the sewer lateral.
Lesson 34A, Plumbing Scope and Plumbing Terms - Sewer (public)
- A system, usually government owned, carrying house sewage to a central treatment plant.
Lesson 34A, Plumbing Scope and Plumbing Terms - Sewer gas
- Gas from the drainage pipes; a nuisance, a health hazard from its bacteria, and a fire hazard from its methane.
Lesson 38A, Traps and Fixture Drains - Shadow box (picture frame)
- A rectangle of trim applied to a wall, as below a chair rail.
Lesson 17A, Interior Walls, Ceilings, Drywall, Plaster and Trim - Shear wall (braced wall)
- A wall designed to resist racking under wind, earthquake, and similar loads.
Lesson 11A, Structural Scope and Terms - Sheathing
- 1. The covering over the rafters, over the floor joists (the subfloor), or over the exterior wall structural components.
Lesson 11A, Structural Scope and Terms - 2. A material over wall framing that adds structural stability and some air flow resistance.
Lesson 12D, Wood Wall Framing, Bracing and Wall Defects - Sheathing with an integrated WRB
- Wall sheathing panels that carry their own WRB face.
Lesson 15A, Insulation Defects, Water-Resistive Barriers, Radiant Barriers and Fenestration - Shed roof
- A roof style, usually rectangular, that usually ends at a sidewall or another roof.
Lesson 13A, Roof and Ceiling Framing, Rafters, Ties and Purlins - Sheet goods
- The name for linoleum and vinyl.
Lesson 17B, Interior Doors and Floor Coverings - Sheet insulation
- One of the two broad categories of foam plastic insulation; XPS sheet insulation is one kind.
Lesson 12C, Wall Systems, Fireblocking and Fire Separation - Sheet insulation (rigid insulation)
- Insulation made in rigid sheets, most commonly 4 feet wide.
Lesson 14C, Insulation Materials - Shelf storage area
- The clothes closet space above the highest shelf, up to the ceiling, reaching out from the wall 12 inches or the widest shelf width, whichever is larger.
Lesson 26B, Switches, Lights and Ceiling Fans - Shell
- Perimeter walls of poured concrete or concrete blocks that form a stoop or porch, either filled under a concrete top or left open.
Lesson 6A, Stoops, Porches and Balconies - Shield plate
- A plate installed over a hole or notch in framing to protect gas pipe or tubing from physical damage.
Lesson 38G, Other Gas Pipes, Connectors, Valves and Gas Pipe Installation - Shingle fashion
- Laps arranged so each sheet higher on the roof laps over the sheet below it.
Lesson 9B, Low Slope Roofing: Modified Bitumen, Foam and EPDM - Shock chlorination
- A treatment that may be used for biofouling.
Lesson 35H, Cisterns, Water Quality and Fire Sprinklers - Short circuit
- 1. Unintended current flow between conductors, such as hot to neutral.
Lesson 23A, Electrical Terms and Basic Electricity - 2. A fault that can produce sparks and is detected in a breaker by its magnetic field.
Lesson 24B, Overcurrent Protection, GFCI and AFCI - Short turn
- The drainage quarter bend with the tighter bend; also called short sweep.
Lesson 37B, DWV Fittings, Cleanouts and Defects - Short-cycling
- The repeated quick starting and stopping of an oversized system.
Lesson 28A, Cooling Systems: Understanding the System - Shower
- A plumbing fixture for personal hygiene in which a person stands or sits under a spray of water.
Lesson 35B, Showers and Tub/Showers - Shower arm
- 1. The generally horizontal pipe between the shower riser and the shower head.
Lesson 34A, Plumbing Scope and Plumbing Terms - 2. The short pipe from the wall that holds the shower head.
Lesson 35B, Showers and Tub/Showers - Shower pan
- The watertight base of a shower floor, either a prefabricated tray or a field-constructed pan.
Lesson 35B, Showers and Tub/Showers - Shower valve
- A faucet mounted on a wall that controls water flow to a shower, of compression, ball, cartridge, or disc type.
Lesson 34D, Faucets, Shower Valves, Hose Bibbs and Aerators - Shroud
- 1. The cover that protects the ductwork connected to a package system mounted on the ground or roof.
Lesson 28B, Cooling Systems: Inspecting Equipment and Typical Defects - 2. A decorative metal cover around a vent termination.
Lesson 31B, Floor and Wall Furnaces, Room Heaters and Unvented Appliances - 3. A metal or other noncombustible cover around a chimney termination that hides the chimney and termination cap.
Lesson 40A, Factory-Built Fireplaces and Chimneys - Side arm coil
- A coil near the boiler that can heat the water for a range boiler.
Lesson 33B, Hot Water Heating Systems - Side inlet
- An added inlet on the side of a quarter bend, rather than on the heel.
Lesson 37B, DWV Fittings, Cleanouts and Defects - Side splash
- A splash on a wall perpendicular to a countertop, covering the gap at the wall.
Lesson 18B, Cabinets, Countertops and Smart Home Scope - Sidelights
- The usual name for the windows that flank a door.
Lesson 5B, Windows, Window Flashing, Glazing, Window Wells, Escape Openings and Fall Protection - Sidewalk
- A paved path beside a public road, for public use.
Lesson 3, Driveways, Walkways, Patios and Pool/Spa Barriers - Sidewall
- A vertical wall at the side of a roof.
Lesson 10A, Roof Flashing: Penetrations, Sidewalls and Headwalls - Sidewall and headwall flashing
- Flashing where a roof meets a vertical sidewall.
Lesson 4C, Exterior Trim, Flashing and Sealants, Eaves and Cornice - Sight glass
- A glass tube gauge on a boiler for monitoring the water level.
Lesson 33E, Steam Boiler Components, Solid Fuel and Related Components - Significant injury risk
- For the unsafe criteria, a fairly high probability or a fairly large risk of injury.
Lesson 19C, Deficient Conditions, Service Life and Imminent Threats - Significantly deficient
- A reporting term for a system or component, working or not when inspected, that carries a deficit likely to make it function improperly later or in certain conditions.
Lesson 19C, Deficient Conditions, Service Life and Imminent Threats - Sill
- 1. The bottom member of a door frame.
Lesson 5A, Exterior Doors and Safety Glazing at Doors - 2. The horizontal wood beneath a window.
Lesson 12D, Wood Wall Framing, Bracing and Wall Defects - Sill plate
- 1. The wood plate on the foundation wall that may carry the first floor system.
Lesson 12A, Floor Framing, Spans, Bearing, Notching and Boring - 2. The preservative treated bottom plate an exterior wall rests on.
Lesson 12D, Wood Wall Framing, Bracing and Wall Defects - Simplified duct
- The HRV or ERV duct configuration that pulls some pollutants out of the HVAC return duct and adds outside air to it.
Lesson 16A, Mechanical Ventilation, HRV and ERV, Whole-House Fans - Single door
- One door leaf hung in a frame.
Lesson 5A, Exterior Doors and Safety Glazing at Doors; Lesson 17B, Interior Doors and Floor Coverings - Single hung window
- A hung window in which the bottom sash alone is operable.
Lesson 5B, Windows, Window Flashing, Glazing, Window Wells, Escape Openings and Fall Protection - Single panel door
- A garage door with a single panel that tilts upward to open.
Lesson 7, Garage Vehicle Doors and Operators - Single phase electrical service
- Service with one grounded conductor and two 120 volt energized conductors; almost all houses have it.
Lesson 23A, Electrical Terms and Basic Electricity - Single-bus panelboard
- A panelboard whose OPDs are all supplied through lugs or a main breaker on it.
Lesson 24A, Service Equipment, Enclosures and Panelboards - Single-cylinder deadbolt
- A deadbolt worked by a key outside and a knob inside.
Lesson 5A, Exterior Doors and Safety Glazing at Doors - Single-wall pipe
- 1. A manufactured vent pipe that loses heat faster than a Type B vent; its limited use is mostly in warm climates, for vent connectors.
Lesson 32A, Category I Gas Vent Systems and Vent Defects - 2. Metal pipe with one wall, which may serve as a vent connector.
Lesson 32D, Oil Vent Systems - Sink base
- A cabinet meant for the sink, which may also serve under a cook top.
Lesson 18B, Cabinets, Countertops and Smart Home Scope - Siphon
- To draw the water out of a trap by suction.
Lesson 38B, Plumbing Vents: Purpose, Inspection, Terminals and Size - Sister stud
- A new stud installed next to a defective stud.
Lesson 12D, Wood Wall Framing, Bracing and Wall Defects - Sister walls
- A wall repair of one or more walls running parallel to the problem wall.
Lesson 11D, Foundation Repairs, Crawl Spaces and Slabs - Skimming
- A thin coat of joint compound over taped seams and corners for a smooth surface.
Lesson 17A, Interior Walls, Ceilings, Drywall, Plaster and Trim - Skirt board
- Trim, usually wood, set beside exposed treads and risers.
Lesson 18A, Stairs, Ramps, Handrails and Guards - Slab jacking
- A repair that forces foam, or soil and mortar mix, under a sunken slab through drilled holes; also called foam jacking.
Lesson 11D, Foundation Repairs, Crawl Spaces and Slabs - Slab-on-grade
- A foundation that is a concrete slab placed on level ground.
Lesson 11D, Foundation Repairs, Crawl Spaces and Slabs - Slab-on-stem wall
- A foundation in which a spread footing and a short wall are built first, then the slab.
Lesson 11D, Foundation Repairs, Crawl Spaces and Slabs - Slate shingle
- A roofing shingle cut from quarried stone.
Lesson 8C, Steep Slope Roofing: Slate, Polymer, Wood and Ice Dams - Sleeve
- A pipe, such as PVC pipe, that encloses gas pipe or tubing through a wall, in a solid floor, or underground.
Lesson 38G, Other Gas Pipes, Connectors, Valves and Gas Pipe Installation - Sleeve vent
- The vent on a sleeve that ends outdoors, where the sleeve should be ventilated.
Lesson 38G, Other Gas Pipes, Connectors, Valves and Gas Pipe Installation - Sliding door
- A door that rides on rollers in a track at the header.
Lesson 17B, Interior Doors and Floor Coverings - Sliding door (patio door)
- A door that rides on rollers in a track at the bottom of its frame.
Lesson 5A, Exterior Doors and Safety Glazing at Doors - Sliding window
- A window that usually has one fixed sash and one that slides horizontally.
Lesson 5B, Windows, Window Flashing, Glazing, Window Wells, Escape Openings and Fall Protection - Slip joint
- A gasket under a nut, usually found at a sink trap; it must be accessible.
Lesson 34A, Plumbing Scope and Plumbing Terms - Slip-resistant
- Made of a material that resists slipping, as a shower floor should be.
Lesson 35B, Showers and Tub/Showers - Slipform stone wall
- A modern stone wall in which concrete is poured behind stones set in a form.
Lesson 12E, CMU, Brick, ICF, SIPs and Uncommon Wall Materials - Sliplining
- A sewer repair method that builds a new inner wall in the pipe from a material such as PVC or polyethylene.
Lesson 37A, DWV Rules and Pipe Materials - Slope (of a roof)
- The rise of a roof in inches for each 12 inches of horizontal run.
Lesson 11A, Structural Scope and Terms - Sloped glazing
- Glazing set at a slope, which like a field assembled skylight is flashed on site and usually glazed with glass.
Lesson 10B, Skylights - Sludge
- Dirt and minerals from the water that collect in the boiler and must be drained regularly, as often as weekly.
Lesson 33C, Steam Heating Systems and Distribution Piping - Sludge layer
- Solids settled at the bottom of a septic tank.
Lesson 38D, Septic Systems - Slugging
- Coolant entering the compressor as a liquid instead of a gas, which can damage the compressor.
Lesson 28B, Cooling Systems: Inspecting Equipment and Typical Defects - Small claims court
- A court for civil disputes too small in amount to justify hiring a lawyer.
Lesson 21A, Business Law, Claims and Liability - Smart home
- A home with network-connected products that control and automate functions such as lighting, temperature, and security; no definition is broadly accepted.
Lesson 18B, Cabinets, Countertops and Smart Home Scope - Smart homes (internet of things)
- Names for computer and communication technology installed in buildings; no broadly accepted definition at this time.
Lesson 17A, Interior Walls, Ceilings, Drywall, Plaster and Trim - Smoke chamber
- The space between the throat and the flue of a masonry fireplace that directs combustion gases to the flue.
Lesson 39A, Fireplace Types and Terms, Firebox, Hearth and Clearances - Smooth (slick) finish
- A drywall finish with a uniform appearance.
Lesson 17A, Interior Walls, Ceilings, Drywall, Plaster and Trim - Smooth-wall trap
- A toilet trap without rough walls, a feature that improves bowl clearing.
Lesson 35D, Toilets and Bidets - Snake
- A flexible tool a plumber feeds into a pipe to clear a blockage.
Lesson 37B, DWV Fittings, Cleanouts and Defects - Snap switch
- The modern switch with a small handle, descended from the toggle switch.
Lesson 26B, Switches, Lights and Ceiling Fans - Sock
- A fabric wrap, close to cheesecloth in texture, around the perforated plastic pipe of a foundation drain.
Lesson 11C, Basement Foundations, Materials, Waterproofing and Defects - Soffit
- The horizontal trim that closes in the rafter bottoms from the fascia back to the house wall.
Lesson 4C, Exterior Trim, Flashing and Sealants, Eaves and Cornice - Soffit (eaves)
- Horizontal trim covering the rafters.
Lesson 4A, Exterior Scope and Terms, Adhered Masonry Veneer, Metal and Asbestos Cement Siding and Brick Veneer - Soffit ventilation opening
- An air intake opening in the soffit of an eave.
Lesson 38B, Plumbing Vents: Purpose, Inspection, Terminals and Size - Soft start mode
- A variable speed fan start mode that may need several minutes to bring the fan to full speed.
Lesson 33A, Electric Heating Systems - Solar heat gain
- Heat from sunlight entering the house, which skylights can increase.
Lesson 10B, Skylights - Solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC)
- Rates how much solar radiation a window lets through.
Lesson 14A, Insulation Scope and Terms, R-Value and How Insulation Works - Solar photovoltaic (PV) system
- A system that converts sunlight into direct current electricity.
Lesson 27B, Alternative Energy Systems: Solar PV, Wind and Solar Water Heating - Solar water heating system
- A system that uses solar energy, mostly infrared, to raise the temperature of water.
Lesson 27B, Alternative Energy Systems: Solar PV, Wind and Solar Water Heating - Soldering (sweating)
- Fusing metal pipe and fittings with a mostly tin alloy below 800 degrees F.
Lesson 34A, Plumbing Scope and Plumbing Terms - Sole plate
- The bottom plate an interior wall rests on.
Lesson 12D, Wood Wall Framing, Bracing and Wall Defects - Sole proprietorship
- A business that one person owns and runs.
Lesson 22, Ethics, Starting a Business and Marketing - Solid fuel
- Fuel such as wood logs, wood pellets, coal, or biomass.
Lesson 33E, Steam Boiler Components, Solid Fuel and Related Components - Solid stringer
- A stair stringer that is not cut; it is stronger than a cut stringer.
Lesson 6B, Deck Materials, Flashing, Ledger Attachment and Deck Stairs - Solid-conductor aluminum wiring
- Aluminum building wire with a single solid conductor, made from 1964 to around 1980 in #8 to #12 AWG NM cable.
Lesson 25B, Older Wiring: Knob and Tube, Cloth NM and Aluminum - Solid-fuel-burning appliances
- Wood stoves and fireplace inserts, designed to run with the access door closed.
Lesson 39A, Fireplace Types and Terms, Firebox, Hearth and Clearances - Solvent-cemented fittings
- The usual fittings for joining CPVC to CPVC.
Lesson 34B, Pipe Supports, Copper, CPVC, Galvanized Steel and PEX - Soot
- Carbon produced by incomplete combustion.
Lesson 30, Heating Fundamentals, Combustion and Capacity - Source
- 1. Where electricity begins, such as a power plant, a generator, or solar photovoltaic panels.
Lesson 23A, Electrical Terms and Basic Electricity - 2. Where electricity seeks to return; in most houses the utility transformer, and ultimately the generating station.
Lesson 23B, Grounding, Bonding and the Electrical Service - Spa
- A tub for recreational use that usually is not drained after every use; also called a hot tub.
Lesson 35A, Bathtubs - Space heater
- Another name for an unvented appliance.
Lesson 31B, Floor and Wall Furnaces, Room Heaters and Unvented Appliances - Spaced (skip) sheathing
- Lumber roof sheathing laid with gaps, recommended under wood roof coverings.
Lesson 13A, Roof and Ceiling Framing, Rafters, Ties and Purlins - Spaced structural sheathing
- Roof sheathing of boards, at least 1x4, laid with gaps between them.
Lesson 8C, Steep Slope Roofing: Slate, Polymer, Wood and Ice Dams - Spalling
- 1. Popping of the top layer of concrete.
Lesson 3, Driveways, Walkways, Patios and Pool/Spa Barriers - 2. Separation of the finished concrete surface, about 1/8 inch deep, across an area of several square inches or more; also called scaling.
Lesson 11D, Foundation Repairs, Crawl Spaces and Slabs - Span
- The distance between structural supports, measured horizontally.
Lesson 11A, Structural Scope and Terms - Span rating
- Two numbers stamped on a plywood or OSB sheet: the maximum rafter span with edge support, then the maximum floor joist span.
Lesson 13A, Roof and Ceiling Framing, Rafters, Ties and Purlins - Spark arrestor
- 1. A screen at a flue termination that stops hot embers from leaving the flue.
Lesson 39A, Fireplace Types and Terms, Firebox, Hearth and Clearances - 2. A device at the top of a chimney that helps keep embers in and vermin out.
Lesson 40B, Draft Problems, Fireplace Inserts, Wood and Pellet Stoves - Special examination arrangements
- Changes to how the NHIE is given, for a candidate who needs them because of a disability.
Lesson 43, Scheduling, Taking and Passing the NHIE - Spigot
- 1. (1) the plain pipe end that fits into a hub; (2) another name for a hose bibb.
Lesson 34A, Plumbing Scope and Plumbing Terms - 2. The end of a cast iron pipe opposite the hub, with no special characteristics.
Lesson 37A, DWV Rules and Pipe Materials - Spike and ferrule method
- A gutter attachment method in which a long nail is driven through the gutter top and a tube into the fascia.
Lesson 9C, Roof Drainage: Gutters, Scuppers and Internal Drains - Spinning disk
- A motor-driven disk in the blast tube that puts controlled turbulence into the air flow.
Lesson 32C, Oil Burners - Spiral stairway
- A stairway of triangular treads joined to a central pole and winding in a spiral between landings.
Lesson 18A, Stairs, Ramps, Handrails and Guards - Splash block
- A concrete or plastic tray that receives water from a downspout.
Lesson 9C, Roof Drainage: Gutters, Scuppers and Internal Drains - Splash diverter
- 1. A 1 inch tall diverter at the center of the galvanized steel layer of tile valley flashing.
Lesson 8A, Steep Slope Roofing: Asphalt Shingles and Tile - 2. The part at the center of the valley metal, 1 inch tall under fiber cement and 3/4 inch tall under metal shingles.
Lesson 8B, Steep Slope Roofing: Fiber Cement and Metal - 3. A diverter at the center of metal valley flashing.
Lesson 8C, Steep Slope Roofing: Slate, Polymer, Wood and Ice Dams - Splash guard
- The flexible guard at the mouth of a food-waste disposer.
Lesson 41B, Microwave Ovens, Exhaust Hoods, Disposers, Trash Compactors, Refrigerators and Freezers - Splicing sleeve
- A metal sleeve, 8 inches long or more, that joins two pieces of flexible duct.
Lesson 29, Air Distribution Systems, Ducts, Returns and Filters - Split bus panelboard
- A panelboard with no single main service disconnect.
Lesson 19D, System Descriptions and Inspection Methods - Split system
- A cooling system or heat pump with the evaporator coil inside and an air-source condenser outside.
Lesson 19D, System Descriptions and Inspection Methods - Split system (air conditioning)
- A heat pump or air conditioner with its evaporator coil and fan inside and its condenser unit outside, the most common type.
Lesson 28A, Cooling Systems: Understanding the System - Split-bus panelboard (split-bus panel)
- An older panelboard with no main circuit breaker, in which a breaker on the upper bus feeds the lower bus.
Lesson 24A, Service Equipment, Enclosures and Panelboards - Spray applied closed cell foam
- The polyurethane foam roof covering, which dries hard and needs a top coating.
Lesson 9B, Low Slope Roofing: Modified Bitumen, Foam and EPDM - Spray foam insulation
- 1. One of the two broad categories of foam plastic insulation; closed cell spray foam is one kind.
Lesson 12C, Wall Systems, Fireblocking and Fire Separation - 2. Foam insulation sprayed or injected into place, mostly polyisocyanurate or polyurethane.
Lesson 14C, Insulation Materials - Sprayer
- A device on a flexible hose, separate or built into a sink faucet spout, that sprays water in many small streams.
Lesson 34D, Faucets, Shower Valves, Hose Bibbs and Aerators - Spread
- The size of a sink faucet, measured between its valves or between its water supply connections.
Lesson 34D, Faucets, Shower Valves, Hose Bibbs and Aerators - Spread footing (ribbon footing)
- A continuous footing, usually concrete poured in a trench with leveled wood forms.
Lesson 11B, Forces and Soils, Footings, Piers and Columns - Spring-loaded sash balance
- The spring system that counterbalances the sashes of a modern hung window.
Lesson 5B, Windows, Window Flashing, Glazing, Window Wells, Escape Openings and Fall Protection - Square
- 1. 100 square feet of roof area.
Lesson 8A, Steep Slope Roofing: Asphalt Shingles and Tile; Lesson 8B, Steep Slope Roofing: Fiber Cement and Metal; Lesson 8C, Steep Slope Roofing: Slate, Polymer, Wood and Ice Dams - 2. 100 square feet of roof.
Lesson 9A, Low Slope Roofing: Built-Up Membranes and Roll Roofing - Square (squared)
- Describes intersecting walls that form a 90 degree angle.
Lesson 11A, Structural Scope and Terms - Squash blocks
- Wood blocks on both sides of an I-joist that carry a point load from above.
Lesson 12B, I-Joists, SCL, Glulam and Floor Trusses - Squirrel cage fan
- 1. The furnace fan (blower), named for its resemblance to a rodent exercise wheel.
Lesson 31A, Gas Appliance Categories and Gas Forced-Air Furnaces - 2. A furnace fan, or blower, that resembles a rodent cage exercise wheel.
Lesson 33A, Electric Heating Systems - Stack
- A vertical vent or drainage pipe more than one story high.
Lesson 34A, Plumbing Scope and Plumbing Terms - Stack effect
- 1. The rising of hot air, which is lighter than cooler air.
Lesson 14A, Insulation Scope and Terms, R-Value and How Insulation Works - 2. Attic air flow in which warmer air leaves at the ridge openings and cooler air enters at the eave openings.
Lesson 16C, Attic Ventilation and Closed Attics - 3. The rising of hotter air, which is lighter than cooler air.
Lesson 28A, Cooling Systems: Understanding the System - 4. The rise of hot liquids and gasses, which are lighter, more buoyant, and lower in pressure than the material around them.
Lesson 30, Heating Fundamentals, Combustion and Capacity - 5. The rise of a gas that is more buoyant and lighter than the air around it.
Lesson 31A, Gas Appliance Categories and Gas Forced-Air Furnaces - Stack head (HVAC distribution system)
- A rectangular or round sheet metal fitting that joins a grille or register to a stack duct.
Lesson 28A, Cooling Systems: Understanding the System - Stack relay
- The older flame sensor, located in the vent close to the burner; it detects heat from the flame.
Lesson 32C, Oil Burners - Stack vent
- A drainage stack extended upward to vent the stack and its fixtures.
Lesson 34A, Plumbing Scope and Plumbing Terms - Staging
- Turning on backup heating coils in banks, according to the heat needed.
Lesson 28B, Cooling Systems: Inspecting Equipment and Typical Defects - Stainless steel chimney liner
- A metal liner that vents a fireplace insert up the chimney to a listed termination cap.
Lesson 40B, Draft Problems, Fireplace Inserts, Wood and Pellet Stoves - Stair guard
- A guard that also serves as the handrail of a stairway.
Lesson 18A, Stairs, Ramps, Handrails and Guards - Stairway
- A passage between floors at different vertical levels; also called a staircase.
Lesson 18A, Stairs, Ramps, Handrails and Guards - Stand-alone system
- A PV or wind system with no utility grid connection.
Lesson 27B, Alternative Energy Systems: Solar PV, Wind and Solar Water Heating - Standard Method
- Combustion air drawn from the appliance room, sized at 50 cubic feet or more of room volume per 1,000 Btu/h.
Lesson 30, Heating Fundamentals, Combustion and Capacity - Standard of care (SoC)
- The level of care a home inspector is held to, usually the applicable SoP named in the contract.
Lesson 21A, Business Law, Claims and Liability - Standard of Practice (SoP)
- 1. A document that sets what should take place during an inspection and what the report should contain.
Lesson 19A, Inspection Scope, Limitations, Standards and Report Formats - 2. The standard a home inspection contract names for performing the inspection.
Lesson 21A, Business Law, Claims and Liability - 3. The standard named in the contract under which the inspection is performed.
Lesson 21B, Contracts and Insurance - Standards of Practice (SoP)
- 1. The standards that name the broad categories of condition home inspectors should identify and report.
Lesson 19C, Deficient Conditions, Service Life and Imminent Threats - 2. The standard under which a home inspection is conducted, with its lists of exclusions and limitations.
Lesson 19E, Inspection Limitation Statements and Other Report Contents - Standards of Practice (SoPs)
- The published rules a home inspection follows, including which systems and components the report describes.
Lesson 19D, System Descriptions and Inspection Methods - Standing pilot light
- A pilot light that older furnaces often have; it should be lit and steady.
Lesson 31A, Gas Appliance Categories and Gas Forced-Air Furnaces - Standing seam
- A vertical seam between metal panels, crimped to restrict water entry.
Lesson 8B, Steep Slope Roofing: Fiber Cement and Metal - Standpipe
- 1. (1) a pipe receiving liquid waste, usually from a clothes washer; (2) a firefighting pipe system in commercial and industrial buildings.
Lesson 34A, Plumbing Scope and Plumbing Terms - 2. The drain pipe a clothes washing machine may discharge into; it should be trapped and vented.
Lesson 35E, Standpipes, Floor Drains and Backflow Prevention - Statutory fraud
- Fraud defined by legislation, often within a consumer protection law.
Lesson 21A, Business Law, Claims and Liability - Steam heating system
- A heating system whose boiler, fired by gas or oil in a house, turns water into steam for distribution.
Lesson 33C, Steam Heating Systems and Distribution Piping - Steam trap
- A device that, like an air vent, releases air ahead of the steam and closes once steam reaches it.
Lesson 33C, Steam Heating Systems and Distribution Piping - Steel I-beams
- A wall repair of one or more beams set against the problem wall.
Lesson 11D, Foundation Repairs, Crawl Spaces and Slabs - Steel shield plates
- Steel plates over a pipe in framing that protect it from puncture by nails and screws.
Lesson 34B, Pipe Supports, Copper, CPVC, Galvanized Steel and PEX - Steel tank
- An older air-over-water pressure tank with nothing between its air and water.
Lesson 35G, Wells: Types, Location and Components - Steep slope roof covering
- A roof covering installed on roofs sloping 2:12 or greater.
Lesson 8A, Steep Slope Roofing: Asphalt Shingles and Tile - Stem wall
- The short CMU or poured concrete wall on a spread footing in a slab-on-stem wall foundation.
Lesson 11D, Foundation Repairs, Crawl Spaces and Slabs - Stem washer
- The washer on a compression faucet valve stem; once worn, it tends to let water leak around the stem.
Lesson 34D, Faucets, Shower Valves, Hose Bibbs and Aerators - Step flashing
- Base flashing installed as smaller pieces.
Lesson 10A, Roof Flashing: Penetrations, Sidewalls and Headwalls - Stick-framed roof
- A roof framed from dimensional lumber.
Lesson 13A, Roof and Ceiling Framing, Rafters, Ties and Purlins - Stile
- 1. A vertical member along each side of a wood door.
Lesson 5A, Exterior Doors and Safety Glazing at Doors - 2. A vertical side member of a sash.
Lesson 5B, Windows, Window Flashing, Glazing, Window Wells, Escape Openings and Fall Protection - 3. The vertical piece along each side of a stile and rail door.
Lesson 17B, Interior Doors and Floor Coverings - Stool
- The ledge at the bottom of a window, with casing below it.
Lesson 17A, Interior Walls, Ceilings, Drywall, Plaster and Trim - Stoop
- 1. A small platform serving as the exterior landing at a door.
Lesson 4A, Exterior Scope and Terms, Adhered Masonry Veneer, Metal and Asbestos Cement Siding and Brick Veneer - 2. The landing outside an exterior door, a small platform usually little wider than the door.
Lesson 6A, Stoops, Porches and Balconies - Stop
- 1. Trim that holds the sash or tracks in place around the window perimeter.
Lesson 5B, Windows, Window Flashing, Glazing, Window Wells, Escape Openings and Fall Protection - 2. The strip around the header and jambs that the door closes against.
Lesson 17B, Interior Doors and Floor Coverings - Stop and waste valve
- 1. A valve similar to a globe valve, with a removable side cap that drains the piping downstream.
Lesson 34C, PB, Brass and Lead Pipe, Water Connectors and Valves - 2. A valve that shuts off water at a point not subject to freezing and lets the rest of the valve mechanism drain.
Lesson 34D, Faucets, Shower Valves, Hose Bibbs and Aerators - Stop valve
- The valve in a toilet water supply, usually followed by a flexible water connector.
Lesson 35D, Toilets and Bidets - Stopper
- A device that blocks a sink drain so the sink holds water.
Lesson 35C, Sinks - Stops
- Limits on a single handle shower valve that keep the handle from turning past a certain point and the temperature adjustable over a reasonable range.
Lesson 34D, Faucets, Shower Valves, Hose Bibbs and Aerators - Storage tank water heater
- The most common DHW system, which heats water with a self-contained device and holds it for later use.
Lesson 36A, Domestic Hot Water, Storage Tank Basics and Components - Storm collar
- 1. A metal ring on an appliance vent, above the boot, that helps reduce water entering the boot.
Lesson 10A, Roof Flashing: Penetrations, Sidewalls and Headwalls - 2. A collar that protects the metal thimble or roof jack at a vent roof penetration.
Lesson 32B, Vent Connectors, Category III and IV Vents and Direct Vent Terminations; Lesson 32D, Oil Vent Systems - 3. Part of the flashing for a flue straight through the roof, also installed with caulk at a chase pan.
Lesson 40A, Factory-Built Fireplaces and Chimneys - Stove
- Any device that produces heat from an energy source, in modern usage sometimes a range.
Lesson 41A, Appliance Scope and Terms, Cooktops, Ranges, Ovens and Dishwashers - Strain relief clamp
- The clamp where the electrical cable to a disposer should end at the unit.
Lesson 41B, Microwave Ovens, Exhaust Hoods, Disposers, Trash Compactors, Refrigerators and Freezers - Strainer
- A device in a sink drain outlet that helps keep objects out of the drain.
Lesson 35C, Sinks - Stranded aluminum wire
- Aluminum wire in #8 AWG and larger, used for feeders, service entrance wires, and large appliance branch circuits.
Lesson 25B, Older Wiring: Knob and Tube, Cloth NM and Aluminum - Straw bale
- Wall construction of straw bales, begun in the Midwest in the late 1800s and limited to 1 story.
Lesson 12E, CMU, Brick, ICF, SIPs and Uncommon Wall Materials - Street bend (elbow)
- A bend carrying a spigot at one end and a hub at the other.
Lesson 34A, Plumbing Scope and Plumbing Terms - Stressed-skin panels
- Another name for SIPs.
Lesson 12E, CMU, Brick, ICF, SIPs and Uncommon Wall Materials - Strike jamb
- The side of a door frame that carries the lock strike plate.
Lesson 5A, Exterior Doors and Safety Glazing at Doors; Lesson 17B, Interior Doors and Floor Coverings - Stringer
- A sloping member that supports the treads of a stair.
Lesson 6B, Deck Materials, Flashing, Ledger Attachment and Deck Stairs - Stringer hanger
- A hanger designed for attaching a stair stringer to a deck.
Lesson 6B, Deck Materials, Flashing, Ledger Attachment and Deck Stairs - Stringers
- The primary supports of a stairway, which carry the treads and risers.
Lesson 18A, Stairs, Ramps, Handrails and Guards - Strongback
- Lumber fastened vertically to a horizontal lateral support member.
Lesson 13A, Roof and Ceiling Framing, Rafters, Ties and Purlins - Structural composite lumber (SCL)
- A broad class of engineered wood made of wood strands or veneers compressed with glue, heat, and pressure.
Lesson 12B, I-Joists, SCL, Glulam and Floor Trusses - Structural insulated panels (SIPs)
- 1. Insulated wall panels made in a factory and then shipped to the site.
Lesson 12C, Wall Systems, Fireblocking and Fire Separation - 2. Factory panels of insulation glued between OSB sheets 7/16 inch thick; also called stressed-skin panels.
Lesson 12E, CMU, Brick, ICF, SIPs and Uncommon Wall Materials - Structured wiring
- Connection of devices by cables; also called hard-wiring.
Lesson 18B, Cabinets, Countertops and Smart Home Scope - Strut
- See purlin brace.
Lesson 13A, Roof and Ceiling Framing, Rafters, Ties and Purlins - Stucco weep screed
- The part that serves as the base flashing at a stucco wall.
Lesson 10A, Roof Flashing: Penetrations, Sidewalls and Headwalls - Stud
- A lumber grade below #2 and about equal to #3, or a vertical member that forms part of a wall.
Lesson 11A, Structural Scope and Terms - Stud grade
- A lower lumber grade, similar to #3 grade.
Lesson 12D, Wood Wall Framing, Bracing and Wall Defects - Stud shoe
- A manufactured metal bracket that strengthens a stud at an improper hole or notch.
Lesson 12D, Wood Wall Framing, Bracing and Wall Defects - Studs
- The vertical framing members of a wall.
Lesson 12D, Wood Wall Framing, Bracing and Wall Defects - Subbase
- The soil and base materials that support a driveway, walkway, or patio.
Lesson 3, Driveways, Walkways, Patios and Pool/Spa Barriers - Subdrain
- A drain pipe below the building drain, emptied by a sewage ejector pump.
Lesson 34A, Plumbing Scope and Plumbing Terms - Subject matter experts (SMEs)
- The panel members who set the NHIE passing score from item difficulty ratings under a psychometrician's guidance.
Lesson 43, Scheduling, Taking and Passing the NHIE - Subject to physical damage
- An undefined term, open to interpretation, often applied to electrical components.
Lesson 25A, Wiring Methods, Cables and Raceways - Submersible pump
- One of the two usual sump pump types; the other is the pedestal pump.
Lesson 38E, Sewage Ejectors, Backwater Valves and Sump Pumps - Submersible pump and motor
- The pump used in most wells, hung from a drop pipe inside the well.
Lesson 35G, Wells: Types, Location and Components - Subpanel
- 1. A panelboard supplied from an upstream panelboard; also called a downstream or distribution panel.
Lesson 23A, Electrical Terms and Basic Electricity - 2. Any panelboard downstream of the GEC connection.
Lesson 23B, Grounding, Bonding and the Electrical Service - 3. A panelboard in which the grounding conductors are kept separate and isolated from the neutral conductors.
Lesson 24A, Service Equipment, Enclosures and Panelboards - 4. For grounding and bonding, any panelboard downstream of the service equipment.
Lesson 24C, Panelboard Defects, Subpanels and Problem Panels - Suction line (tube)
- The larger, insulated copper tube of the line set, which returns cool, low-pressure gas to the compressor in cooling mode.
Lesson 28A, Cooling Systems: Understanding the System - Sulfur
- A mineral that occurs naturally and can dissolve in water; in some locations, a common objection.
Lesson 35H, Cisterns, Water Quality and Fire Sprinklers - Summary judgment
- A judgment either side may request, granted when the facts are not in significant dispute and the law entitles the moving party to win.
Lesson 21A, Business Law, Claims and Liability - Summons
- A court notice to the defendant of a properly filed complaint, requiring an answer.
Lesson 21A, Business Law, Claims and Liability - Sump (crock)
- A pit or vessel too low to drain by gravity, so a pump must drain it.
Lesson 34A, Plumbing Scope and Plumbing Terms - Sump (sump pit)
- The pit that receives a building subdrain.
Lesson 38E, Sewage Ejectors, Backwater Valves and Sump Pumps - Sump pump
- 1. The pump for a sump that collects ground water or storm water around the foundation.
Lesson 34A, Plumbing Scope and Plumbing Terms - 2. A pump that removes storm water or subsurface water from in or around a foundation.
Lesson 38E, Sewage Ejectors, Backwater Valves and Sump Pumps - Supplemental heat
- Heat for single rooms, such as bathrooms, rather than a whole house; the more common use of electric radiant heating.
Lesson 33A, Electric Heating Systems - Supply fixture
- A device water flows from, a hose bibb or faucet for example.
Lesson 34A, Plumbing Scope and Plumbing Terms - Surety
- The issuer of a bond.
Lesson 21B, Contracts and Insurance - Surge protective device (lightning arrestor)
- A device installed between a wind turbine system and the loads the house electrical system serves.
Lesson 27B, Alternative Energy Systems: Solar PV, Wind and Solar Water Heating - Suspended ceiling (drop ceiling, acoustic ceiling)
- Tiles set in a metal grid hung on wire hangers.
Lesson 17A, Interior Walls, Ceilings, Drywall, Plaster and Trim - Swale
- 1. A channel or depression in the soil meant to direct water one way.
Lesson 2A, Site Scope, Terms and Retaining Walls - 2. A channel or depression in the soil; a drainage swale carries water to a chosen location.
Lesson 2B, Grade, Drainage and Vegetation - Sweep
- 1. A seal between the bottom rail of a door and the threshold.
Lesson 5A, Exterior Doors and Safety Glazing at Doors - 2. A 90 degree DWV fitting, made long or short.
Lesson 34A, Plumbing Scope and Plumbing Terms - Swept valley
- A wood valley where the covering crosses the flashing in a semicircular pattern.
Lesson 8C, Steep Slope Roofing: Slate, Polymer, Wood and Ice Dams - System shutdown
- A shutdown of an entire system, usually because the utility service is turned off.
Lesson 19E, Inspection Limitation Statements and Other Report Contents
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