Are you interested in learning more about becoming an HVAC technician? If so, here are some of the common HVAC terminology that you should know before you start an HVAC program and become an HVAC apprentice. These will soon become common as a part of your vocabulary, but first you’ll need to understand their ins and outs before you can work with these huge appliances.
What Common HVAC Terminology Should You Know?
Heating System Terminology
There are many terms that you should know about heating systems. They include:
Burner – the creation of heating energy through combustion. Includes a combustion chamber, fuel supply system, and ignition system.
Celsius – a temperature scale in which water freezes at 0°C and boils at 100°C. The Celsius scale is used in countries that have adopted the metric system.
Fahrenheit – a measure of temperature used in the United States. Water freezes at 32oF and boils at 212oF.
Compressor – part of an air conditioner or heat pump that compresses and pumps refrigerants to cool the inside of a home or building.
Heat Pump – uses electricity to transfer heat from a cool area to a warm area.
Furnace – heats air and distribute the heated air through the ventilation of a home or building.
Boilers – heats water and provide hot steam for heating. The steam is distributed by pipes to a steam radiator.
Heat Exchanger – allows heat to be exchanged between two substances without letting the substances mix together. For example, water or gas.
Heating Coil – works as a resistor and heats up as electric current passes through it.
Heat Transfer – the transfer of heat from one location to another by conduction, convection, or radiation.
Ventilation System Terminology
There are many terms that you should know about ventilation systems. They include:
Damper – can be opened or closed to control the flow of air within ventilation.
Duct Work – the systems of metal or synthetic tubes that transport air from HVAC systems throughout a home or building.
Humidity – dampness in the air caused by water vapor.
PVC – polyvinyl chloride, one of the most common thermoplastic materials.
Grille – a vent cover that allows air to blow in or out of a room for circulation.
Air Diffuser – allows the dispersion of heated or cooled air flow more effectively.
Air Conditioning (AC) Terminology
There are many terms that you should know about air conditioning. They include:
Air Handler – the indoor part of an air conditioner or heat pump that moves air throughout the ventilation in a home or building.
BTU – British thermal unit, a measurement of heat energy. The higher the BTU rating, the greater the heating capacity of the heater.
Evaporator Coil – absorbs the heat from the air in the home or building.
Chiller – a refrigeration system used to lower the temperature by removing heat from the system and transferring it outside.
Condenser Coil – removes heat from the refrigerant to cool down the inside of a room, allowing the refrigerant to be converted from vapor to liquid and complete the refrigeration process.
Condenser Fan – accelerates the movement of air over the condenser coil, facilitating the removal of heat from the refrigerant.
Expansion Valve – meters the level of refrigerant through a temperature or pressure control.
Particulates – fine liquid or solid particles contained in combustion gases. Emission of particulates is measure by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Reciprocating Compressor – used in cooling systems to compress refrigerant by using a piston action.
Freon – a non-combustible gas used as a refrigerant in air conditioning systems.
HEPA – high efficiency particulate air filter, can remove 99/9% of the particles from the air.
General HVAC Terminology
There are many terms that you should know about HVAC. They include:
AC (Alternating Current) – an electric current that reverses its direction at regular intervals.
DC (Direct Current) – an electric current that flows in one direction.
Energy Star® – a government backed symbol for energy efficiency.
HVAC Filter – filters dust, pollen, dander, and other small particles out of the air.
Fuse – an electrical safety device that helps prevent overcurrent of an electrical circuit.
Kilowatt (kW) – the measure of how much power an electric device uses.
NATE – North American Technician Excellence, certification for excellence and grasp of real-world working knowledge in HVAC/R.
Smart Thermostat – a Wi-Fi enabled device that can automatically adjust heating and cooling settings for optimal performance.
Refrigerant – a heat transfer medium.
SEER – Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio, a representation of how much energy and money an HVAC unit will require to operate over one year.
Department of Energy (DOE) – ensures the security and prosperity of U.S. energy usage, environmental and nuclear challenges using science and technology solutions.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) – responsible for the protection of human health and the environment.
EER – Energy Efficiency Ratio, a measure of how well an HVAC device uses energy.
MERV Rating – Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value, reports a filter’s ability to capture larger particles.
Relative Humidity – a ratio of the amount of atmospheric moisture present to the total saturation of the air.
Final Thoughts
Did learning about these HVAC terms interest you? If so, then consider becoming an HVAC technician. At Interactive College of Technology, we not only understand the importance of learning terms in classroom lectures but also have hands-on training on real HVAC technology and equipment. We also work with companies to provide our students with real-world externships that teach some of the soft skills other schools never cover. The best way to become an HVAC technician is to complete an HVAC/R program, and Interactive College of Technology can help.
Want to Learn More?
ICT’s heating, ventilation, air conditioning residential program offers training in all phases of repair and maintenance of residential heating, ventilation, and air conditioning, systems. The HVAC technician program also includes the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Certifications in the management of refrigerants and North American Technicians Excellence (NATE) Certifications.
An externship is a part of the heating, ventilation, air conditioning residential training program, and provides 135 hours of on-the-job training, giving you the confidence to put your new skills to use for real consumers and gain real-life career training experience. Plus, after you graduate, our Lifetime Career Placement Support program will be there to help you find work whenever you need it.
Let’s take the first step together! Contact us now to learn more.
