Learn Practical Skills At Home

Your comprehensive lessons are clear and well-organized; easy to follow, yet challenging and engaging at the same time. Each lesson begins with an introductory note from your instructor, plus a preview outlining the subject matter and study objectives.

Next comes the reading assignment from your beautifully illustrated textbook, lesson book or supplemental references. Practical review exercises will help reinforce important key concepts and techniques. Then, turn in your open-book exam (available online) for the lesson, whenever YOU are ready.

You'll receive, at no extra charge, an exclusive 12-page inspector's checklist. It covers practically every item that must be checked in a home inspection, from the basement to the attic, inside and out. In addition, you'll receive a special bonus: a starter kit of essential inspection tools, including an awl for probing walls and supports; 25-foot tape to handle your measuring needs; telescoping mirror to reach hard-to-see places; dial thermometer; circuit tester to check wiring; penlight with strong beam; and screwdriver set for disassemblies. These are yours to keep and use as a student in our course!

Enroll online or call 1-800-535-1613 to speak with an Admission Advisor!

Meet Your Instructor

Roger Phelps is the chief instructor of The Professional Home Inspection
Program. He has been active in residential real estate and construction
since 1971. He has owned a construction business and build executive homes.
As a professional home inspector, Roger has completed more than 1,000 home
inspections.

Roger will make sure you progress smoothly through your studies. If you need help or have questions along the way, just write, call, fax or E-mail us 24 hours a day. Our staff of courteous, knowledgeable career tutors will give you prompt, personal guidance.

What You’ll Learn Lesson By Lesson in this Course

Lesson 1, Roofs

Pitched roofs; problems with different types of shingles; asbestos, slate, wood, and asphalt shingles; flat roofs; built-up roofs; roll roofing; metal roofs.

Lesson 2, Roof-Mounted Structures

Chimneys; vent stacks; roof vents; hatches; skylights; TV antennas; types of gutters and downspouts; weather-tightness; drainage.

Lesson 3, Paved Areas, Lots & Landscaping

Sidewalks; steps from the street and driveway; front and side paths; patios; driveways; drainage; soil erosion; ground water problems; water table; drainage structures; hydrostatic pressure; retaining walls; landscaping; grading; lawns; trees; shrubs; decks; fences.

Lesson 4, Walls, Windows & Doors

Exterior walls; wood siding; shingles; shakes; aluminum; plywood; vinyl; asbestos shingles; asphalt siding; veneer walls; masonry walls; trim; window types; exterior door types; storm doors and windows; screens; caulking.

Supplement: How To Build A Home Inspection Business

Lesson 5, Garages

Attached garages; fire and health hazards; plumbing; drainage and flood potential; garage doors; detached garages; exterior and interior features; garage door openers; heat and electricity.

Lesson 6, Wood-Destroying Insects & Rot

Termites; preventing infestation; termite types and typical problems; carpenter ants; powder-post beetles; wood rot.

Lesson 7, Attics & Interior Rooms

Attic types; insulation; violations; leakage; fire hazards; ventilation; vapor barriers; construction; walls; ceilings; floors; allowing for heating; windows; placement and types of electrical outlets; fireplaces; bedrooms; bathrooms; water pressure; kitchens; hallways; staircases.

Lesson 8, Basements & Crawl Spaces

Foundations; settling; cracking; structural support; dampness; water seepage; groundwater level; walls, floors, and hydrostatic pressure; furnace rooms; crawl spaces; ventilation.

Supplement: Time Management For Home Inspectors.

Lesson 9, The Electrical System

Inlet electrical service; understanding a home's electrical capacity; how to open and inspect panel boxes; fuses and circuit breakers; aluminum wiring and its dangers; principles of electrical grounding; improper ground connections; electrical outlets and their locations; knob-and-tube wiring; low-voltage switching systems; code violations.

Lesson 10, Plumbing Systems

Water supply and distribution; fixtures; drainage systems; waste disposal; air vents and stacks; cesspools; septic systems; lawn sprinklers; water pressure and flow; pipes; water supply; distribution pipes; drainage; wells; piston, jet, and submersible pumps; storage tanks; pressure switches and gauges.

Lesson 11, Heating Systems: Part I

Central heating; heat registers; radiators; thermostats; shutoff controls; warm air systems; forced warm air; furnace types; distribution design; heat pumps; gravity and forced hot water systems; radiators; panel heating; zone control; domestic hot water; steam heating; piping; hybrid systems.

Lesson 12, Heating Systems: Part II

Oil-fired heating systems; gas-fired heating systems; electrical heating systems; area heaters; understanding electrical heating units; inspection procedures for all kinds of heating systems.

Lesson 13, Domestic Water Heaters

Tank-type heaters; important safety considerations for relief valves; understanding noises in water heaters; exhaust stacks; testing operation; replacing water heaters; capacity and recovery; tankless coil heaters; indirect-fired storage heaters.

Lesson 14, Air Conditioners

Air conditioning capacity; integral air conditioning systems; split systems; compressors; evaporators; ducts; heat pumps; evaporative coolers.

Lesson 15, Energy Considerations

Conducting a complete energy audit; types of insulation; the R factor; vapor barriers; attic ventilation; storm windows; caulking; weather stripping; fireplaces; wood stoves; heating and air conditioning systems; degree-days.

Lesson 16, Environmental Concerns

Radon seepage in basements; asbestos and its dangers; problems with drinking water and contamination; lead; formaldehyde; leaky oil tanks; electromagnetic fields.

Supplement: On-Site Checklist For Home Inspectors.