Everybody, please see this for the maintenance skills quiz:
www.multifamilyinsiders.com/apartment-fo...enance-test?start=20
Did you check the answers to this test? Did you check the age of this test? I would guess it's about 40 years old, as most of them that I have taken are. Things have changed. This test is useless.
Do you know in the United States it is unlawful (Check with a lawyer) for anyone without EPA 608 certification to work with refrigerant since 1992? When was the last time you stuck an electrical meter into a wall socket and got a reading of 110 Volts? If you're female you might have been wearing Go-Go boots at the time.
It is impossible to hire a good quality maintenance person if you personally don't know anything about maintenance.
I took the test and listed my answers VS the answer Key. If we agreed I didn't list the key answers. If we didn't I added an explanation of why I answered the way I did. The test is very OLD and should not be used IMHO.
1. What are two (2) uses for caulking?
A. Sealing seams
B. Around bathtubs
C. Weatherproofing windows
D. Decoration
Me: I don't like caulk at all. It falls off. Key Says "Any two"
2. Five to ten gallons of water should be drained from the water heater spigot:
A. Monthly
B. Yearly
C. Never
D. Quarterly
Me: D.That would depend on the amount of sediment in the water. Key says A or D.
3. All of the following are part of the Maintenance Department's unit turnover procedure, except?
A. Exterminating
B. Cleaning
C. Painting
D. Showing the apartment to a prospect
E. Final inspections
Not D. Managers have to do something. Everything else is a "Maybe."
4. When moving around on the property, you should not take time to pick up trash, etc.
A. True
B. False
Me: B, False, that's a no-brainer.
5. A wax seal is used on the:
A. Kitchen sink trap
B. Tub "P" trap
C. Bathroom stool
D. All of the above
Me: C. This is also a No-brainer assuming that you have heard the bottom of a toilet called a stool. Some might picture a stool as something with 4 legs.
6. When taking resident service requests, it is best to:
A. Write them down on any available piece of paper
B. Trust them to your memory
C. Use the S.O.S. form designed for taking service requests
D. Stop what you are doing and take care of them immediately so they are not forgotten
Me: C. Depends on which way the manager told you to do it.
7. The "heat anticipator" is located in the:
A. Refrigerator
B. Washer
C. Dryer
D. Thermostat
E. Air Conditioner
Me: D, on an OLD, mechanical thermostat it's a coil of resistive wire. A more modern stat uses a therm-resistor and not a heater coil, it's a fine tuning adjustment.
8. Using a 30 amp fuse in a 15 amp circuit will have no ill effect
A. True
B. False
Me: False. Unless the fuse is not the primary over current protection device.
9. Improper grouting or missing grouting around the bathtub could cause:
A. Damage to drywall
B. Water leakage damage
C. Mildew and odors
D. All of the above
Me: D, all of the above. Moisture on your drywall does nasty things.
10. Why should you know the location of all water shutoffs?
A. To perform necessary service
B. To clean out drains
C. In case of an emergency
D. For watering grass
Me: A and or C. Key says A&C
11. What is "Routine Maintenance"?
A. Daily work orders
B. Grounds keeping
C. Unit turnover
D. Record keeping
E. Going to supply house
Me: Where is " All of the above" when we need it? Key says A,B,C,D.
12. Can 110 volt fan motor be used in a 220 volt electric furnace?
A. Yes
B. No
Me: A, so long as the supply volatge to the motor is 110. Leg to neutral voltage would be 110.
13. When patching a hole in an asphalt parking area, you should:
A. Pour tar over the hole
B. Dig out the hole and fill it with asphalt patch mix and pack down firmly
C. Call a contractor
D. Fill with cement and cover with sealer
Me: The answer on the key says B. But these litigious days I'm thinking C.
14. What are the best safety rules that should be strictly obeyed when working with electricity?
A. Wear a rubber suit
B. Turn off power
C. Use insulated tools
D. Stand on an aluminum ladder
Me: B is a must but C isn't a bad idea. Key says B &C.
15. What is the optimum pH level for pools?
A. 6.8 - 7.0
B. 7.2 - 7.4
C. 7.5 - 7.7
Me: The book says B but you would be wise to trust the inspector who will shut your pool down.
16. What is "Preventative Maintenance"?
A. Servicing items to prevent future failure
B. Semi-annual scheduling of services
C. Cleaning apartments
D. Shoveling snow
Me: A. Answer key says A & B but what good does just scheduling do?
17. Excessive hot water temperatures will deteriorate faucet washers quickly.
A. Yes
B. No
Me: A. The test is showing its age again. There are not a lot of two handle faucets these days.
18. Fatal chlorine gas can be formed by mixing:
A. Bleach and cleanser
B. Bleach and ammonia
C. Ammonia and oven cleaner
D. Ammonia and muriatic acid
Me: All of them produce nasty reactions. B is the most common mixture. Key says B or D.
19. When a circuit breaker trips or a fuse blows, it is usually for the following reason(s):
A. Bad breaker
B. Defective appliance
C. Overload
D. Short circuit
Me: Another name for fuse or breaker is "Overcurrent Protection Device" so, C. Key says C&D. A short circuit will cause an overload.
20. When making a service call in a resident's apartment, the following guidelines should be observed:
A. If the request cannot be handled in 24 hours time, the resident should be informed and given an indication of when service will be done
B. Make sure the resident is present when the job is being done
C. Clean the work area after the service call
Me: A, would be according to Building policy, B is not always possible, so C. Key says A&C
21. The major function(s) of air conditioning and central heating systems are:
A. Heating
B. Cooling
C. Cleaning the air
D. Humidity control
E. All of the above
Me: Because it says "Major Function" I'd go with A and B. Key says E.
22. An anti-freeze hydrant will never freeze
A. True
B. False
Me: This one stumped me. I've never heard of an anti-freeze hydrant…and neither has the internet.
23. What is the function of the condenser in the air-cooling system?
A. Remove the humidity form the air by condensing it on coils
B. To remove the heat from the coolant
C. It is an electrical control that prevents the compressor from overheating
D. None of the above
Me: B. The condenser comes between the compressor and metering device. Gathers heat.
24. What test instruments are required to troubleshoot electric water heaters?
A. Leak detector
B. Millivolt meter
C. Pilot stat
D. Thermometer
Me: D to check the water temp. B to check resistance on the heating elements @ 14 ohms.
25. What is "Deferred Maintenance"?
A. Work that can be done next week
B. Work orders that are not completed
C. Work not performed allowing minor problems to become major problems
Me: C. Also proves management has head up and locked.
26. Which of the following are necessary when soldering copper pipes?
A. Cleaning the ends of OD of the pipe and the ID of the fitting
B. Cutting the edges
C. Apply heat to the pipe four (4) inches away from the fitting
D. Solder
E. Taping the joint
Me: A, D, and possibly B if that means reeming the pipe.
27. The purpose of the compressor in an air-cooling system is to force the coolant through the system
A. True
B. False
Me: A
28. The purpose of gutters and downspouts on a building are to:
A. Take water from the roof away from the foundation
B. Protect the side of the structure
C. Runaway for built up dirt and rocks on the roof
D. Prevent ponding on roofs
Me: A and B. A if the downspout leads to a sump or drain. Key says A,B&D…Huh?
29. What is the speed of the fan motor in most electric furnaces?
A. 950 RPM
B. 1075 RPM
C. 1550 RPM
D. None of the above
Me: Well... 1200. But 950 will work and so will 1075. 1550 would be quite a breeze. Key B.
30. Name the major components of a domestic refrigerator system:
A. Compressor
B. Thermostat
C. Condenser
D. Relay
E. Evaporator
Me: A,C,and E are part of coolant processing. B,and D, both might be in the Thermostat.
31. Backwashing the pool is:
A. Changing the direction of the skimmers
B. Reversing the flow of water through the filters
C. Up drafter on the pump
Me: B but only with sand filters. The gunk sticks to the paper.
32. A continuity tester is used to measure voltage.
A. True
B. False
Me: B, there is no resistance measurment to it.
33. Which of the following statements about the "ground fault current interrupter" (GFCI) are true?
A. It detects accidental groundings in an appliance or tool
B. If a ground occurs, the GFCI will disconnect the circuit in 25/1000 seconds
C. The National Electrical Code (NEC) requires the GFCI on all 15 and 20 amp outdoor receptacles and on all bathroom receptacles
D. In 1978, NEC required all GFCI on all receptacles
Me: A for sure. B, not that fast, C yes, D no. Key says A,B,C
34. What is the correct temperature setting for domestic hot water tanks?
A. 190 degrees Fahrenheit
B. 212 degrees Fahrenheit
C. 110 degrees Fahrenheit
D. 140 degrees Fahrenheit
Me: C for apartments with small children. 120 in most cases. 130 will scald. Key says D.
35. The growth of algae on the side and bottom of a pool can be corrected by using:
A. Diatomaceous earth
B. Muriatic acid
C. Super chlorination
D. Limonitrogean oxide
Me: C shock the shoot out of it.
36. When a small leak is reported, you should:
A. Immediately call a plumber
B. Check into it when you have some free time
C. Investigate it immediately
D. Immediately shut off the main valve to prevent the leak from doing any damage
Me: C could be a leak, could be they spilled some water on the floor. Put a bucket under it first.
37. A sequencer can be found in the:
A. Air-conditioning unit
B. Refrigerator
C. Furnace
D. Thermostat
Me: C furnace, used when you want electrical components running but not starting at once.
38. The most common refrigerant used in household refrigerators is:
A. R-12
B. R-22
C. R-502
D. None of the above
Me: D. Key says A. R-12 is a CFC and banned by EPA 1995 if memory serves.