Next NATE Heat Pump Service Practice Test 2

NATE_HEATPUMP_SERVICE NEC 2023

NATE Heat Pump Service Practice Test 1

This practice test focuses on how the reversing valve controls refrigerant flow in a heat pump, including how the indoor and outdoor coils swap between condenser and evaporator roles. You will also see a few questions on valve wiring diagnosis and how the valve behaves during defrost.

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NATE Heat Pump Service

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Frequently Asked Questions

Yes — completely free with no signup required. Every question includes a full explanation of the correct answer.

Two: the NATE Core exam plus at least one specialty exam (for example AC Service, Heat Pump Service, or Air Distribution Service). You can take them on the same day or separately.

The Core exam has 50 questions and each installation or service specialty exam has 100 questions. You need 70% on each to pass — 35 of 50 on Core and 70 of 100 on a specialty. Check natex.org for the current format before you book.

NATE certification lasts two years. To renew, you submit 16 hours of continuing education or retake the specialty exam before your certification expires.

No. These are independent practice tests written to match the published NATE exam topics. They are not official NATE exam questions.

Exam Tip: Always picture where the hot discharge gas is going. If it is going to the indoor coil, the system is in heating mode; if it is going to the outdoor coil, the system is in cooling mode.

30

Questions

30 min

Time

70%

Pass

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NATE Heat Pump Service Practice Test 1 — Question List

Question 1: What is the main job of a reversing valve in a heat pump?

It changes the direction of refrigerant flow so the system can heat or cool.
It changes the direction of electrical current to the compressor.
It controls the speed of the indoor blower fan.
It meters refrigerant flow into the evaporator coil.

Question 2: True or False: In cooling mode, hot discharge gas from the compressor is sent to the outdoor coil.

False, it is sent to the indoor coil
True
False, it is sent straight to the compressor suction line
False, it depends only on outdoor temperature

Question 3: In heating mode, which coil acts as the condenser?

The outdoor coil
Neither coil; only the reversing valve heats the air
The indoor coil
Both coils act as condensers at the same time

Question 4: In heating mode, what role does the outdoor coil play?

Condenser
Filter drier
Compressor
Evaporator

Question 5: In cooling mode, which coil acts as the evaporator?

The indoor coil
The outdoor coil
Both coils equally
Neither coil; the compressor does the evaporating

Question 6: True or False: The position of the reversing valve decides which coil is acting as the condenser and which is acting as the evaporator.

False, coil roles never change
True
False, only outdoor temperature decides this
False, only the thermostat setting decides this without the valve

Question 7: What does the small pilot solenoid on a reversing valve actually control?

The compressor's rotation speed
The outdoor fan motor speed
The position of the main valve slide inside the valve body
The thermostat's mode setting

Question 8: Where is the reversing valve located in the refrigerant circuit?

Inside the indoor blower housing
Inside the thermostat
Between the evaporator and the expansion valve only
Near the compressor, connected to the discharge and suction lines and both coils

Question 9: A technician finds that a heat pump reversing valve has a small internal leak between the high side and low side. What is a likely symptom?

Reduced heating or cooling performance, sometimes with signs of both heating and cooling happening at once
The compressor will immediately stop turning
The outdoor fan will run at double speed
The thermostat display will stop working

Question 10: A heat pump cools normally but only blows lukewarm air in heating mode. What is a likely cause?

The outdoor coil is oversized
The reversing valve may be stuck in the cooling position
The thermostat batteries are low
The compressor is rotating backward

Question 11: A heat pump won't cool at all — it only ever heats, no matter what the thermostat is set to. What does this suggest?

The crankcase heater has failed
The condensate drain is blocked
The reversing valve may be stuck in the heating position
The air filter is dirty

Question 12: Which statement about the reversing valve is TRUE?

It changes the direction electricity flows to the compressor
It changes the compressor's rotation direction
It changes the refrigerant charge amount in the system
It changes the direction refrigerant flows through the coils

Question 13: What actually moves the large internal slide of a reversing valve once the pilot solenoid changes position?

A difference in refrigerant pressure across the valve
A small electric motor built into the slide
Direct hand adjustment during installation only
The compressor's oil pump

Question 14: Which of these is NOT a job of the reversing valve?

Redirecting hot discharge gas to the correct coil
Metering refrigerant flow into the evaporator
Allowing the system to operate in both heating and cooling modes
Determining which coil acts as evaporator at a given time

Question 15: During heating mode, refrigerant vapor returns to the compressor's suction line from which coil?

The indoor coil
Neither coil; it comes straight from the reversing valve body
The outdoor coil
It alternates between both coils every few seconds

Question 16: During cooling mode, refrigerant vapor returns to the compressor's suction line from which coil?

The outdoor coil
It comes directly from the condenser without passing through a coil
Neither; suction gas comes only from the accumulator
The indoor coil

Question 17: A technician notices the system responds to a call for heat by running in cooling mode instead, and vice versa. What should the technician check first?

The reversing valve wiring against the unit's own wiring diagram
The size of the outdoor unit's electrical disconnect
The color of the refrigerant lines
The brand of thermostat installed

Question 18: True or False: Both the indoor and outdoor coils always act as the evaporator at the same time.

True, that is how heat pumps work
False, only one coil is the evaporator at a time
True, but only during defrost
False, neither coil ever acts as an evaporator

Question 19: In which mode does the outdoor coil act as the condenser?

Heating mode
Defrost mode only
Cooling mode
Emergency heat mode

Question 20: In which mode does the indoor coil act as the evaporator?

Heating mode
Emergency heat mode
Defrost mode
Cooling mode

Question 21: What is another common name for the reversing valve?

4-way valve
3-way valve
Check valve
Service valve

Question 22: A gauge check shows that when the reversing valve shifts, high-side and low-side pressures do not fully separate the way they should. What does this suggest?

The thermostat is miscalibrated
The reversing valve may have an internal leak allowing gas to bypass between sides
The outdoor fan motor capacitor is weak
The indoor blower belt is slipping

Question 23: What happens to the direction the compressor itself pumps refrigerant when the reversing valve shifts?

The compressor briefly reverses direction
The compressor stops and restarts in the opposite direction
Nothing — the compressor always pumps refrigerant the same way; only the coil connections change
The compressor speed doubles

Question 24: What is the best way to check that a reversing valve is switching properly?

Read the electric bill for the month
Check the age of the unit only
Look at the outdoor unit's paint condition
Command the system into each mode and confirm line temperatures or pressures change as expected

Question 25: Right after a defrost cycle ends, what position does the reversing valve normally return to?

Back to the heating mode position, since defrost is only temporary
It stays in the cooling position permanently
It moves to a neutral middle position
It shuts off completely until the next service call

Question 26: True or False: A reversing valve can be commanded electrically, but the main slide still needs a refrigerant pressure difference to actually move.

False, the solenoid moves the slide directly with no pressure involved
True
False, the slide is moved by hand during defrost
False, pressure is only needed in cooling mode, not heating mode

Question 27: A reversing valve is best described as a:

Metering device
Safety switch
Refrigerant flow-direction control valve
Type of compressor

Question 28: The pilot solenoid on a reversing valve is confirmed to be energizing correctly (with proper voltage), but the valve still fails to shift positions. What is the most likely explanation?

The thermostat needs new batteries
The outdoor temperature is too warm
The refrigerant type was recently changed
A mechanical problem inside the valve, such as a stuck slide

Question 29: Which refrigerant line is connected to the reversing valve and always carries hot gas from the compressor, regardless of mode?

The compressor discharge line
The liquid line to the expansion device
The condensate drain line
The low-voltage thermostat wire

Question 30: What is the main benefit of using a reversing valve in a heat pump system?

It lowers the refrigerant charge needed
It lets one system provide both heating and cooling
It eliminates the need for a compressor
It removes the need for an outdoor coil

EXAM CARD NATE_HEATPUMP_SERVICE

Questions30

Time limit30 min

Pass score70%

Code editionNEC 2023

DifficultyIntermediate

Last reviewedJun 2026

Timer starts immediately. Progress is auto-saved.

Source: NEC 2026 (NFPA 70)