NATE Air Conditioning Specialty
Certification Exam Practice Questions
And Correct Answers (Verified Answers)
Plus Rationales 2026 Q&A | Instant
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1. What is the primary purpose of a thermostat in an air conditioning
system?
A. To increase refrigerant pressure
B. To control the temperature of the space
C. To circulate air through the system
D. To remove humidity from the air
B. To control the temperature of the space
The thermostat senses the temperature in the conditioned space and cycles
the system on or off to maintain the desired temperature.
2. Which type of refrigerant is commonly used in residential air
conditioning systems today?
, A. R-22
B. R-134a
C. R-410A
D. R-12
C. R-410A
R-410A is a non-ozone-depleting refrigerant commonly used in modern
residential AC systems, replacing R-22.
3. What is the function of the evaporator coil in an air conditioning
system?
A. To compress the refrigerant
B. To remove heat from the indoor air
C. To expel heat to the outdoors
D. To filter the air
B. To remove heat from the indoor air
The evaporator coil absorbs heat from the indoor air, causing the
refrigerant to evaporate and cool the space.
4. Which component raises the pressure and temperature of the
refrigerant in an air conditioning system?
A. Expansion valve
B. Compressor
C. Evaporator coil
D. Condenser coil
,B. Compressor
The compressor pumps refrigerant through the system and increases its
pressure and temperature so heat can be released in the condenser.
5. What type of expansion device is commonly used in residential air
conditioning systems?
A. Capillary tube
B. Thermostatic expansion valve (TXV)
C. Both A and B
D. Solenoid valve
C. Both A and B
Capillary tubes and thermostatic expansion valves are both used to
regulate refrigerant flow into the evaporator coil.
6. What is the primary function of the condenser coil?
A. To absorb heat from indoor air
B. To reject heat to the outside air
C. To compress the refrigerant
D. To control system airflow
B. To reject heat to the outside air
The condenser coil transfers heat from the refrigerant to the outdoor
environment, allowing the refrigerant to condense to a liquid.
7. Which airflow pattern is typical in a split system air conditioner?
A. Air flows through the condenser first
, B. Air flows across the evaporator first, then is distributed indoors
C. Air bypasses the evaporator coil
D. Air flows only through the ductwork
B. Air flows across the evaporator first, then is distributed indoors
Indoor air passes over the evaporator coil to remove heat before being
supplied back to the conditioned space.
8. What is superheat in an air conditioning system?
A. Heat added to refrigerant in the condenser
B. Temperature rise of refrigerant vapor above its saturation
temperature at a given pressure
C. Excess heat in the indoor space
D. Heat removed from the evaporator
B. Temperature rise of refrigerant vapor above its saturation temperature
at a given pressure
Superheat measures how much the refrigerant vapor is heated above its
boiling point, ensuring no liquid enters the compressor.
9. What is subcooling in a refrigeration system?
A. Heat added to refrigerant in the evaporator
B. Cooling of liquid refrigerant below its condensation temperature
C. The process of compression
D. Heat transfer in the ductwork
Certification Exam Practice Questions
And Correct Answers (Verified Answers)
Plus Rationales 2026 Q&A | Instant
Download Pdf
1. What is the primary purpose of a thermostat in an air conditioning
system?
A. To increase refrigerant pressure
B. To control the temperature of the space
C. To circulate air through the system
D. To remove humidity from the air
B. To control the temperature of the space
The thermostat senses the temperature in the conditioned space and cycles
the system on or off to maintain the desired temperature.
2. Which type of refrigerant is commonly used in residential air
conditioning systems today?
, A. R-22
B. R-134a
C. R-410A
D. R-12
C. R-410A
R-410A is a non-ozone-depleting refrigerant commonly used in modern
residential AC systems, replacing R-22.
3. What is the function of the evaporator coil in an air conditioning
system?
A. To compress the refrigerant
B. To remove heat from the indoor air
C. To expel heat to the outdoors
D. To filter the air
B. To remove heat from the indoor air
The evaporator coil absorbs heat from the indoor air, causing the
refrigerant to evaporate and cool the space.
4. Which component raises the pressure and temperature of the
refrigerant in an air conditioning system?
A. Expansion valve
B. Compressor
C. Evaporator coil
D. Condenser coil
,B. Compressor
The compressor pumps refrigerant through the system and increases its
pressure and temperature so heat can be released in the condenser.
5. What type of expansion device is commonly used in residential air
conditioning systems?
A. Capillary tube
B. Thermostatic expansion valve (TXV)
C. Both A and B
D. Solenoid valve
C. Both A and B
Capillary tubes and thermostatic expansion valves are both used to
regulate refrigerant flow into the evaporator coil.
6. What is the primary function of the condenser coil?
A. To absorb heat from indoor air
B. To reject heat to the outside air
C. To compress the refrigerant
D. To control system airflow
B. To reject heat to the outside air
The condenser coil transfers heat from the refrigerant to the outdoor
environment, allowing the refrigerant to condense to a liquid.
7. Which airflow pattern is typical in a split system air conditioner?
A. Air flows through the condenser first
, B. Air flows across the evaporator first, then is distributed indoors
C. Air bypasses the evaporator coil
D. Air flows only through the ductwork
B. Air flows across the evaporator first, then is distributed indoors
Indoor air passes over the evaporator coil to remove heat before being
supplied back to the conditioned space.
8. What is superheat in an air conditioning system?
A. Heat added to refrigerant in the condenser
B. Temperature rise of refrigerant vapor above its saturation
temperature at a given pressure
C. Excess heat in the indoor space
D. Heat removed from the evaporator
B. Temperature rise of refrigerant vapor above its saturation temperature
at a given pressure
Superheat measures how much the refrigerant vapor is heated above its
boiling point, ensuring no liquid enters the compressor.
9. What is subcooling in a refrigeration system?
A. Heat added to refrigerant in the evaporator
B. Cooling of liquid refrigerant below its condensation temperature
C. The process of compression
D. Heat transfer in the ductwork
