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Kansas HVAC Contractor Examination
— Local Jurisdiction Practice Exam 2026
| 100 Questions & Answers with
Detailed Rationales | Complete Exam
Prep & Study Guide
1. A gas-fired furnace is installed in a mechanical room with combustion air
openings communicating with the outdoors. What is the primary purpose
of the combustion-air openings?
A. Increase return-air velocity
B. Provide sufficient air for complete combustion and proper venting
C. Reduce refrigerant pressure
D. Prevent condensate from freezing
Answer: Provide sufficient air for complete combustion and proper venting
Rationale: Fuel-burning appliances require adequate combustion and dilution
air. Insufficient air can cause incomplete combustion, carbon-monoxide
production, unstable burner operation, and improper venting.
, 2. An HVAC contractor calculates a residential cooling load of 31,000 Btu/h.
Which nominal equipment capacity is generally the most appropriate
starting point, assuming available equipment and design conditions permit?
A. 1.5 tons
B. 2 tons
C. 2.5 tons
D. 4 tons
Answer: 2.5 tons
Rationale: One ton of refrigeration equals approximately 12,000 Btu/h. A
31,000-Btu/h load is about 2.58 tons, so equipment selection should be based on
the actual load and manufacturer performance data rather than simply
oversizing.
3. A contractor installs a furnace vent connector that is substantially larger
than required by the appliance manufacturer. What is a potential problem?
A. Excessive refrigerant migration
B. Reduced flue-gas velocity and possible condensation or draft problems
C. Increased evaporator superheat
D. Excessive compressor amperage
Answer: Reduced flue-gas velocity and possible condensation or draft problems
Rationale: Vent sizing must be compatible with the appliance, vent system,
connector configuration, and applicable venting requirements. An improperly
oversized vent can adversely affect draft and flue-gas condensation.
4. A split-system evaporator coil is operating with a very low suction pressure
and high superheat. Which condition is most likely?
A. Overcharged system
B. Undercharged system or restricted refrigerant flow
C. Excessive condenser airflow
D. Flooded evaporator
,Answer: Undercharged system or restricted refrigerant flow
Rationale: Low suction pressure combined with high superheat commonly
indicates insufficient refrigerant reaching the evaporator. A restriction can
produce similar symptoms, so temperature and pressure measurements must be
evaluated together.
5. What is the primary purpose of a Manual J-type residential load
calculation?
A. Determine duct leakage
B. Determine refrigerant charge
C. Calculate heating and cooling loads for equipment sizing
D. Calculate electrical service capacity
Answer: Calculate heating and cooling loads for equipment sizing
Rationale: Residential load calculations account for building envelope
characteristics, orientation, infiltration, internal gains, occupancy, and design
conditions to establish heating and cooling requirements.
6. A duct system has excessive external static pressure. Which condition can
result?
A. Increased blower efficiency in every operating condition
B. Reduced airflow and increased blower energy consumption
C. Increased evaporator temperature regardless of load
D. Automatic correction of duct leakage
Answer: Reduced airflow and increased blower energy consumption
Rationale: Excessive static pressure forces the blower to operate against greater
resistance. Airflow may fall below design requirements while motor energy
consumption and operating stress increase.
7. A contractor is commissioning a gas furnace. Which measurement is
particularly important for verifying safe combustion?
, A. Refrigerant subcooling
B. Condenser approach temperature
C. Flue-gas combustion analysis, when required by the appliance/system and
commissioning procedure
D. Evaporator superheat only
Answer: Flue-gas combustion analysis, when required by the appliance/system
and commissioning procedure
Rationale: Combustion analysis can identify improper excess air, carbon
monoxide, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and other combustion conditions that visual
inspection alone cannot reliably establish.
8. What is the primary function of an evaporator in a comfort-cooling system?
A. Reject heat outdoors
B. Compress refrigerant vapor
C. Absorb heat from the conditioned space or air stream
D. Meter electrical current
Answer: Absorb heat from the conditioned space or air stream
Rationale: The evaporator operates at low refrigerant pressure and
temperature, allowing refrigerant to absorb heat from indoor air as it changes
state.
9. A TXV-equipped system has normal subcooling but unusually high
evaporator superheat. What should the technician investigate first?
A. Condenser fan rotation only
B. Evaporator feed, airflow, sensing-bulb installation, and possible restriction
C. Building insulation only
D. Thermostat display color
Answer: Evaporator feed, airflow, sensing-bulb installation, and possible
restriction
Kansas HVAC Contractor Examination
— Local Jurisdiction Practice Exam 2026
| 100 Questions & Answers with
Detailed Rationales | Complete Exam
Prep & Study Guide
1. A gas-fired furnace is installed in a mechanical room with combustion air
openings communicating with the outdoors. What is the primary purpose
of the combustion-air openings?
A. Increase return-air velocity
B. Provide sufficient air for complete combustion and proper venting
C. Reduce refrigerant pressure
D. Prevent condensate from freezing
Answer: Provide sufficient air for complete combustion and proper venting
Rationale: Fuel-burning appliances require adequate combustion and dilution
air. Insufficient air can cause incomplete combustion, carbon-monoxide
production, unstable burner operation, and improper venting.
, 2. An HVAC contractor calculates a residential cooling load of 31,000 Btu/h.
Which nominal equipment capacity is generally the most appropriate
starting point, assuming available equipment and design conditions permit?
A. 1.5 tons
B. 2 tons
C. 2.5 tons
D. 4 tons
Answer: 2.5 tons
Rationale: One ton of refrigeration equals approximately 12,000 Btu/h. A
31,000-Btu/h load is about 2.58 tons, so equipment selection should be based on
the actual load and manufacturer performance data rather than simply
oversizing.
3. A contractor installs a furnace vent connector that is substantially larger
than required by the appliance manufacturer. What is a potential problem?
A. Excessive refrigerant migration
B. Reduced flue-gas velocity and possible condensation or draft problems
C. Increased evaporator superheat
D. Excessive compressor amperage
Answer: Reduced flue-gas velocity and possible condensation or draft problems
Rationale: Vent sizing must be compatible with the appliance, vent system,
connector configuration, and applicable venting requirements. An improperly
oversized vent can adversely affect draft and flue-gas condensation.
4. A split-system evaporator coil is operating with a very low suction pressure
and high superheat. Which condition is most likely?
A. Overcharged system
B. Undercharged system or restricted refrigerant flow
C. Excessive condenser airflow
D. Flooded evaporator
,Answer: Undercharged system or restricted refrigerant flow
Rationale: Low suction pressure combined with high superheat commonly
indicates insufficient refrigerant reaching the evaporator. A restriction can
produce similar symptoms, so temperature and pressure measurements must be
evaluated together.
5. What is the primary purpose of a Manual J-type residential load
calculation?
A. Determine duct leakage
B. Determine refrigerant charge
C. Calculate heating and cooling loads for equipment sizing
D. Calculate electrical service capacity
Answer: Calculate heating and cooling loads for equipment sizing
Rationale: Residential load calculations account for building envelope
characteristics, orientation, infiltration, internal gains, occupancy, and design
conditions to establish heating and cooling requirements.
6. A duct system has excessive external static pressure. Which condition can
result?
A. Increased blower efficiency in every operating condition
B. Reduced airflow and increased blower energy consumption
C. Increased evaporator temperature regardless of load
D. Automatic correction of duct leakage
Answer: Reduced airflow and increased blower energy consumption
Rationale: Excessive static pressure forces the blower to operate against greater
resistance. Airflow may fall below design requirements while motor energy
consumption and operating stress increase.
7. A contractor is commissioning a gas furnace. Which measurement is
particularly important for verifying safe combustion?
, A. Refrigerant subcooling
B. Condenser approach temperature
C. Flue-gas combustion analysis, when required by the appliance/system and
commissioning procedure
D. Evaporator superheat only
Answer: Flue-gas combustion analysis, when required by the appliance/system
and commissioning procedure
Rationale: Combustion analysis can identify improper excess air, carbon
monoxide, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and other combustion conditions that visual
inspection alone cannot reliably establish.
8. What is the primary function of an evaporator in a comfort-cooling system?
A. Reject heat outdoors
B. Compress refrigerant vapor
C. Absorb heat from the conditioned space or air stream
D. Meter electrical current
Answer: Absorb heat from the conditioned space or air stream
Rationale: The evaporator operates at low refrigerant pressure and
temperature, allowing refrigerant to absorb heat from indoor air as it changes
state.
9. A TXV-equipped system has normal subcooling but unusually high
evaporator superheat. What should the technician investigate first?
A. Condenser fan rotation only
B. Evaporator feed, airflow, sensing-bulb installation, and possible restriction
C. Building insulation only
D. Thermostat display color
Answer: Evaporator feed, airflow, sensing-bulb installation, and possible
restriction
