North Carolina Home Inspector Practice Exam

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Prepare for the North Carolina Home Inspector Exam. Use multiple choice questions, hints, and explanations to enhance your study. Get confident and ready for your test!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.

In a gas furnace, what is the function of the thermocouple?

To ignite the gas burner
To monitor the furnace temperature
To control gas flow to the burner
To monitor the pilot light

The correct answer is: To monitor the pilot light

The thermocouple is a vital safety device in a gas furnace that serves the specific function of monitoring the pilot light. It operates by generating a small voltage when heated, which occurs when the pilot light is lit. This voltage signal is used to keep the gas valve open, allowing gas to flow to the burner. If the pilot light goes out, the thermocouple cools down and stops producing voltage, signaling the gas valve to close and preventing unsafe gas accumulation. Understanding this function highlights the thermocouple's role in both safety and system operation. The importance of monitoring the pilot light ensures that the furnace operates safely; if the pilot light is extinguished, the thermocouple effectively stops the gas flow, making it crucial for preventing gas leaks and potential hazards associated with a gas leak.