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National Home Inspector Examination (NHIE) — Practice Exam

Cooling: practice questions

Our Home Inspector (NHIE) bank has 11 questions on this topic. Here are 5 of them with answers; the full mock exam draws from every topic, like the real one.

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Question 1

What does an evaporative (swamp) cooler do?

  1. Heats air in winter
  2. Cools air by evaporating water, working best in dry climates
  3. Uses refrigerant to cool air, working best in hot, humid climates
  4. Removes humidity like an AC
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B. Cools air by evaporating water, working best in dry climates — Alternative cooling systems are in the outline.

Question 2

Why should the larger refrigerant line (suction line) be insulated?

  1. It carries very hot gas that could burn someone
  2. To prevent condensation and heat gain
  3. It is required
  4. It protects the line from sunlight only
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B. To prevent condensation and heat gain — Missing suction line insulation is a typical cooling defect.

Question 3

How does a heat pump provide heat in winter?

  1. It reverses the refrigerant cycle to move heat from outdoors to indoors
  2. It uses only electric resistance strips
  3. It stores summer heat
  4. It burns gas in the outdoor unit and blows the warm air inside
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A. It reverses the refrigerant cycle to move heat from outdoors to indoors — Auxiliary heat strips assist in cold weather.

Question 4

What does the condenser do in an air-conditioning system?

  1. Absorbs heat from indoor air and removes moisture from the house
  2. Filters the air
  3. Releases heat from the refrigerant to the outdoors
  4. Produces heat from gas
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C. Releases heat from the refrigerant to the outdoors — Refrigerant cycle: compressor, condenser, metering device, evaporator.

Question 5

In a split air-conditioning system, where is the evaporator coil?

  1. Outdoors in the condensing unit, beside the compressor and fan
  2. Indoors, at the air handler or furnace
  3. In the ductwork returns only
  4. In the attic vents
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B. Indoors, at the air handler or furnace — The evaporator absorbs heat from indoor air.

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