Glossary of HVAC Terms

A

• Air Conditioner: A device that takes warm air and conditions it to cold through a process which uses either mechanical or chemical energy.
• Air Handler: The main unit of a heating or cooling system which contains the blowing, heating, or cooling elements to create warm or cool air. The unit is connected to ductwork and ventilation system to carry the conditioned air throughout the area.

D

• Dual-Fuel Systems: A heating unit that uses both gas – for extremely cold weather – and electrical for milder weather, allowing for greater efficiency throughout the year.

E

• Electric Air Cleaners: A device that improves indoor air quality by filtering and purifying air through mechanical energy that is powered by electricity.
• Electric Unit Heaters: An electrical appliance that converts electrical energy into heat by using a heating element.

G

• Gas Furnace: A heating unit that burns gas fuel to create heat that is ventilated through a specified home or business building.
• Gas Unit Heater: A self-contained heating unit that contains all of the mechanics of the unit, but does not necessarily include a vent system or ductwork.

H

• Heat Pump: An HVAC unit component that is responsible for delivering warm air from where it is created in the unit to the ductwork or ventilation system.

M

• Media Air Cleaner: An air cleaning or purifying device that cleans intake air using a dense mesh filter or screen.

P

• Programmable Thermostat: A control unit for the heating or cooling unit that can be programmed to run the system at certain times. This device can also actively monitor indoor temperature and program the unit for maximum efficiency.

R

• Roof-top Units: Heating or cooling units that are placed on top of the roof. They may still contain a heat pump or run on gas/electric dual fuel systems or electric systems.

S

• Split Systems: Heating or cooling systems that heat or cool rooms by circulating refrigerant to a small coil and fan unit. These are not connected to any ductwork for circulation through a specified area.

T

• Two-Staged Cooling Units: An air conditioning unit that utilizes a compressor with two levels of operation.

U

• UV Lights: These devices improve indoor air quality by using ultraviolet light (a powerful waveform of light) to kill organisms and other pollutants within an HVAC system.

V

• Variable Speed Blowers: An HVAC component that allows for running capacities at various levels to increase efficiency and lower operating costs.
• Variable Speed Compressors: This HVAC air compressor component uses variable-speed technology to increase efficiency.
• Ventilation: The movement of conditioned warm or cool air in a specified space through ductwork.

W

• Wi-Fi Thermostat: An HVAC system control panel that allows the user to change or program settings remotely from a Wi-Fi enabled device.

Z

• Zoning: Planning the movement of cool or heated air through a ventilation system into different areas or zones in order to create optimal home comfort.