Fireplace and chimney practice questions

Question 1 of 10

Inspection of a steel firebox involves looking for:

• Acracked firebrick, absent mortar, and wide joints
• Bbowed lintels, rusted liners, and loose caps
• Crust, deformation, and deterioration
• Dsmoke stains, loose materials, and cracked surrounds

Question 2 of 10

A home inspector finds a masonry heater. That inspector may wish to:

• Areport it as a deficient masonry fireplace with a metal door
• Binspect it as a decorative appliance
• Coperate it to confirm that the masonry releases heat
• Ddisclaim inspection and recommend a qualified specialist

Question 3 of 10

A masonry fireplace has no cleanout, and the fireplace opening gives access for cleaning the hearth. The home inspector should report:

• Aa missing cleanout, which is always required
• Ba missing cleanout, unless a hearth extension is present
• Cno defect, since a cleanout usually is not required
• Da missing ash dump, since the firebox is steel

Question 4 of 10

For a masonry chimney, the 3/2/10 rule sets:

• AIts termination height above the roof and obstructions
• BIts clearances to joists, rafters, soffits, and sheathing
• CThe thickness of its footing and how far the footing extends
• DIts flue area compared with the fireplace opening area

Question 5 of 10

A home inspector finds the edge of wood siding touching the side of a masonry chimney. The siding is 9 inches from the inside edge of the flue. The inspector should report this as:

• AAcceptable, since the siding is at least 8 inches from the flue
• BA defect, since combustibles need 2 inches of clearance
• CA defect, since soffit materials need 1 inch of clearance
• DAcceptable only if fireblocking fills the space behind it

Question 6 of 10

A home inspector finds two back-to-back masonry fireplaces, each with its own firebox, connected to one shared flue. This arrangement:

• AIs acceptable, since the fireplaces are built back-to-back
• BIs acceptable, if the flue is sized for both fireplace openings
• CIs a defect, since each fireplace should have a separate flue
• DIs a defect only if one of the fireplaces burns gas

Question 7 of 10

Combustible mantel legs should sit no closer than _____ inches to a firebox opening.

• A2
• B6
• C8
• D12

Question 8 of 10

A shroud around the termination of a factory-built chimney is acceptable when:

• AIt is built on site from masonry block
• BIt hides the chimney and termination cap
• CIt sits at least 2 inches from the chimney
• DThe fireplace maker approves the design

Question 9 of 10

During an inspection, a fireplace smokes into the room only while the kitchen range hood runs. What is the likeliest cause?

• AThe range hood depressurizes the room
• BThe flue is too large for the fireplace
• CThe chimney is on an outside wall
• DThe chimney is too short for the roof

Question 10 of 10

Combustion gases that condense inside a flue are a concern because they:

• ARaise the flue temperature and cause overfiring
• BLower the ignition temperature of the liner
• CMay be acidic, and acids could damage the flue
• DSeal the spark arrestor and block the draft