The heating capacity of an air-to-air heat pump does what as outdoor air gets colder?

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Multiple Choice

The heating capacity of an air-to-air heat pump does what as outdoor air gets colder?

Explanation:
Outdoor air acts as the heat source for an air-to-air heat pump. When the outside air cools, it contains less thermal energy to extract, so the system can deliver less heat to the indoor space at a given condition. This happens because the refrigerant loop must pull heat from colder air, which reduces the amount of heat that can be transferred inside and lowers the unit’s heating capacity. The efficiency, or COP, also drops in colder conditions, meaning more energy is needed for each unit of heat and, to maintain comfort, the system may rely on supplemental heat. So as outdoor air gets colder, heating capacity decreases.

Outdoor air acts as the heat source for an air-to-air heat pump. When the outside air cools, it contains less thermal energy to extract, so the system can deliver less heat to the indoor space at a given condition. This happens because the refrigerant loop must pull heat from colder air, which reduces the amount of heat that can be transferred inside and lowers the unit’s heating capacity. The efficiency, or COP, also drops in colder conditions, meaning more energy is needed for each unit of heat and, to maintain comfort, the system may rely on supplemental heat. So as outdoor air gets colder, heating capacity decreases.

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