| No. | Term | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Abatement | Removal or reduction of a hazard. |
| 2. | Adjustable-rate mortgage | Loan with interest rate that changes over time. |
| 3. | Air handler | Indoor unit that circulates conditioned air. |
| 4. | Amortization | Paying off loan through scheduled payments. |
| 5. | Anchor bolt | Bolt securing framing to concrete foundation. |
| 6. | Appraisal | Professional estimate of a property’s market value. |
| 7. | Asbestos | Hazardous mineral fiber found in older materials. |
| 8. | Attic insulation | Material reducing heat transfer through attic. |
| 9. | Backflow preventer | Device stopping contaminated water from reversing flow. |
| 10. | Baluster | Vertical railing support between handrail and base. |
| 11. | Baseboard | Trim covering wall-to-floor joint. |
| 12. | Bearing wall | Wall supporting structural loads above. |
| 13. | Berm | Raised strip of earth for drainage control. |
| 14. | Breaker panel | Electrical panel containing circuit breakers. |
| 15. | Building permit | Official approval to start specific construction work. |
| 16. | Caulking | Sealant used to close gaps and joints. |
| 17. | Cesspool | Underground pit collecting wastewater and solids. |
| 18. | Circuit breaker | Safety switch that trips on overload. |
| 19. | Closing costs | Fees paid to finalize a real estate purchase. |
| 20. | CO detector | Alarm for carbon monoxide gas. |
| 21. | Compressor | HVAC component that pressurizes refrigerant. |
| 22. | Condensation | Water droplets forming from humid air cooling. |
| 23. | Condenser | Outdoor HVAC unit releasing heat. |
| 24. | Conduit | Protective tubing for electrical wiring. |
| 25. | Crawlspace | Low space beneath a house floor. |
| 26. | Curb stop | Exterior valve shutting off home water supply. |
| 27. | Damper | Valve controlling airflow in ductwork. |
| 28. | Deck ledger | Board attaching deck to house framing. |
| 29. | Deed | Legal document transferring property ownership. |
| 30. | Demising wall | Wall separating adjoining units or properties. |
| 31. | Dew point | Temperature where air moisture condenses. |
| 32. | Ductwork | Channels distributing heated or cooled air. |
| 33. | Easement | Legal right to use another’s land. |
| 34. | Egress | Required exit route for safety. |
| 35. | Electrical load | Amount of power used on a circuit. |
| 36. | Encumbrance | Claim or restriction affecting property title. |
| 37. | Energy audit | Inspection identifying energy losses and upgrades. |
| 38. | Equity | Home value minus outstanding mortgage balance. |
| 39. | Escrow | Third-party holding funds until conditions met. |
| 40. | Expansion tank | Tank absorbing water heater pressure changes. |
| 41. | Fascia | Board covering roof edge and supporting gutters. |
| 42. | FCI (fault current) | Abnormal current indicating insulation or wiring fault. |
| 43. | Fence setback | Required distance between fence and property line. |
| 44. | Flashing | Metal or membrane preventing water intrusion. |
| 45. | Floodplain | Area prone to flooding during heavy rains. |
| 46. | Foundation | Base structure supporting the entire building. |
| 47. | Frost line | Depth where ground typically freezes. |
| 48. | GFCI outlet | Outlet that trips on ground-fault current. |
| 49. | Girder | Main beam supporting joists or floor loads. |
| 50. | Grade | Slope of ground around the house. |
| 51. | Grout | Filler between tiles, hardens after application. |
| 52. | Gutter | Channel collecting roof water for drainage. |
| 53. | Hardie board | Fiber-cement siding and trim material. |
| 54. | Heat pump | System moving heat for heating and cooling. |
| 55. | HEPA filter | High-efficiency filter capturing fine airborne particles. |
| 56. | Home inspection | Professional evaluation of home condition and systems. |
| 57. | Humidity | Amount of water vapor in air. |
| 58. | HVAC | Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system. |
| 59. | Insulation R-value | Measure of resistance to heat flow. |
| 60. | Joist | Horizontal framing member supporting floors or ceilings. |
| 61. | Kilowatt-hour (kWh) | Unit measuring electricity consumption over time. |
| 62. | Lally column | Steel column supporting beams in basements. |
| 63. | Laminate flooring | Layered synthetic floor covering resembling wood. |
| 64. | Lateral line | Pipe carrying sewage from house to main. |
| 65. | Ledger board | Board fastened to structure supporting framing. |
| 66. | Lien | Legal claim securing payment of a debt. |
| 67. | Load-bearing | Designed to support structural weight. |
| 68. | Main shutoff valve | Primary valve stopping water to the home. |
| 69. | Makeup air | Fresh air replacing exhausted indoor air. |
| 70. | Mastic | Adhesive or sealant for ducts and tiles. |
| 71. | Meter base | Mounting enclosure for electric utility meter. |
| 72. | Mold | Fungus growth caused by moisture problems. |
| 73. | Mortar | Cement mixture bonding bricks or stone. |
| 74. | Mortgage | Loan secured by real property. |
| 75. | Neutral wire | Conductor returning current to electrical source. |
| 76. | Nosing | Stair tread edge projecting beyond riser. |
| 77. | O-ring | Circular gasket providing a watertight seal. |
| 78. | OSB | Engineered wood panel used for sheathing. |
| 79. | P-trap | Curved drain fitting blocking sewer gases. |
| 80. | PEX | Flexible plastic tubing for water supply lines. |
| 81. | Pitch | Slope of a roof or pipe. |
| 82. | Plenum | HVAC chamber distributing air to ducts. |
| 83. | Pressure regulator | Device reducing incoming water pressure. |
| 84. | Primer | Base coating improving paint adhesion and coverage. |
| 85. | Property line | Legal boundary of a parcel. |
| 86. | Radon | Radioactive gas that can accumulate indoors. |
| 87. | Rafter | Sloped roof framing member supporting roof deck. |
| 88. | Receptacle | Electrical outlet where plugs connect. |
| 89. | Refrigerant | Fluid enabling heat transfer in HVAC systems. |
| 90. | Return air | Air drawn back to HVAC for conditioning. |
| 91. | Ridge vent | Roof peak vent allowing attic airflow. |
| 92. | Rim joist | Perimeter joist closing off floor framing ends. |
| 93. | Sill plate | Bottom framing plate anchored to foundation. |
| 94. | Soffit | Underside of eaves providing ventilation and finish. |
| 95. | Sump pump | Pump removing groundwater from a sump pit. |
| 96. | Thermostat | Device controlling heating and cooling setpoints. |
| 97. | Title insurance | Policy protecting against defects in property title. |
| 98. | Trap primer | Device adding water to prevent trap drying. |
| 99. | Underlayment | Layer beneath flooring or roofing for support. |
| 100. | Vapor barrier | Material limiting moisture diffusion through assemblies. |


