I turn my basement heating unit to 76 degrees and the unit starts but the real heat doesn't starting flowinguntil the outside air conditioning unit comes on outside. The temp is 10 degrees outside, why do the air conditioner outside have to run for heat inside?

Is the system all-electric (no gas)? Sounds like a heat pump. Does the opposite job of an air conditioner in Winter. Search "heat pump" on Google... anything look familiar?