Practice Test Geeks(BPI) Building Performance Institute Certified Practice Test
← All BPI Flashcard Decks

Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning (HVAC) Flashcards

7 cards from real BPI practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning (HVAC) flashcards as text

  1. What is the primary purpose of a heat exchanger in a forced-air furnace?

    Answer: To transfer heat from combustion gases to supply air without mixing them

    The heat exchanger separates combustion gases from the air supply while transferring heat, preventing CO and other combustion byproducts from entering living spaces.

  2. A homeowner reports that their condensing furnace drains are backing up. What is the MOST likely cause?

    Answer: Blocked or kinked condensate drain line

    Condensing furnaces produce acidic condensate that must drain freely; a blocked or kinked drain line is the most common cause of backup.

  3. Which BPI diagnostic tool is used to measure airflow at supply and return registers?

    Answer: Flow hood (capture hood)

    A flow hood (capture hood) is placed over registers to measure the volume of air flowing through them in CFM.

  4. What does a high CO2 reading in flue gas analysis typically indicate?

    Answer: Efficient combustion with proper air-fuel ratio

    Higher CO2 in flue gases (up to the stoichiometric maximum) generally indicates more complete combustion and a better air-fuel mixture.

  5. What is the standard minimum ventilation rate prescribed by ASHRAE 62.2 for a 1,500 sq ft home with 3 occupants?

    Answer: 45 CFM

    ASHRAE 62.2 calculates minimum ventilation as 0.03 CFM/sq ft × floor area + 7.5 CFM × (bedrooms + 1); for a 1,500 sq ft, 3-bedroom home this equals approximately 45 CFM.

  6. When performing a combustion safety test, what condition defines a worst-case depressurization scenario?

    Answer: All exhaust fans on, fireplace damper open, and largest return air pathway closed

    Worst-case depressurization combines all exhaust devices operating simultaneously with interior pathways that maximize negative pressure near combustion appliances.

  7. A heat pump's Heating Season Performance Factor (HSPF) measures:

    Answer: The ratio of total heating output to total electricity consumed over a heating season

    HSPF is a seasonal metric that represents total Btu of heat delivered divided by total watt-hours of electricity consumed over an entire heating season.