Heat pumps provide heat by ________.

• A. Using a larger compressor
• B. Reversing the cooling cycle
• C. Activating an auxiliary heater
• D. Increasing refrigerant pressure

Answer: (B)

Heat pumps heat by moving heat rather than creating it, accomplished by reversing the direction of the refrigerant cycle. In heating mode, the outdoor coil becomes the evaporator and absorbs heat from the outdoor air (even when it’s cold), while the indoor coil becomes the condenser and releases that heat inside the home. A reversing valve switches the cycle so heat moves from outdoors to indoors, with the compressor raising the refrigerant’s pressure to drive the heat transfer. The idea isn’t about a bigger compressor or a backup heater; those may affect capacity or provide additional warmth, but the fundamental heating action comes from reversing the cycle.