Certified HVAC Design: Adhering to Building Code Requirements & HRAI Guidelines for HVAC Design in Ontario
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Glossary of: The Most Common HVAC Terms
Welcome to Saltzberry Design's comprehensive glossary of the 50 most common HVAC terms. This resource is designed to provide clear, concise definitions of the most important terms used in the field of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. Whether you are a homeowner seeking to understand your HVAC system, or a professional looking to expand your knowledge, our glossary is an invaluable resource. We invite you to browse our alphabetized list of terms, and learn about HVAC.
Air conditioning: The process of conditioning and dehumidifying the air in a building to provide thermal comfort.
Air distribution system: The system of ducts, registers, and diffusers used to distribute conditioned air throughout a building.
Air filter: A device that removes particles from the air, such as dust, pollen, or bacteria, to improve indoor air quality.
Air handler: A device that conditions and circulates air as part of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system.
Balancing: The process of adjusting the flow of air or water in an HVAC system to ensure proper distribution and performance.
Boiler: A device that heats water or other fluids to produce steam or hot water for heating or industrial processes.
Btu (British Thermal Unit): A common unit of energy used to measure heating and cooling capacities.
Carbon monoxide detector: A device that senses the presence of carbon monoxide gas and sounds and signals an alarm to warn of potential danger.
CFM (Cubic Feet per Minute): A unit measuring airflow, important for calculating ventilation and proper duct sizing.
Chiller: A device that removes heat from a liquid, such as water or refrigerant, to cool a building or process.
Comfort zone: The range of indoor temperature and humidity that is considered comfortable for most people.
Commissioning: The process of testing and verifying HVAC systems are installed and operating as designed.
Condenser: A device that releases heat from a refrigerant to the outside air in an air conditioning or refrigeration system.
Condenser coil: A coil of tubing in an air conditioning or refrigeration system where the refrigerant releases heat to the outside air.
Control system: The hardware and software used to monitor, regulate, and control the operation of an HVAC system.
Design Temperature: Refers to the set point that the HVAC equipment is needed to maintain to meet the prescribed inside temperature for the home. The most common settings being 72F for Heating and 75F for Cooling.
Duct: A tube or channel used to distribute air in an HVAC system.
Duct insulation: Material used to reduce heat transfer and prevent air leakage in the ducts of an HVAC system.
Duct liner: A material used on the inside of the ducts in an HVAC system to reduce noise and improve air flow.
Ductwork: A network of tubes or channels used to distribute heated or cooled air throughout a building.
Economizer: A cooling mode using outdoor air instead of mechanical refrigeration to save energy.
Energy efficiency: The ratio of useful output from an HVAC system to the input of energy, typically measured in units of energy per unit of time.
Energy recovery ventilation: A system that uses heat exchangers to transfer energy from exhausted air to incoming air, improving the efficiency of the HVAC system.
Evaporator coil: A coil of tubing in an air conditioning or refrigeration system where the refrigerant absorbs heat from the air.
Fan: A device that uses blades to move air or other gases, such as in an HVAC system or a ventilation system.
Fan coil unit: A device that uses a fan and a heating or cooling coil to condition air in a small space, such as a single room.
Filtration: Removing particles from air to improve indoor air quality using filters of various MERV ratings.
Filter: A device that removes particles from air or other fluids, such as dust, pollen, or bacteria.
Furnace: A device that uses a heat source, such as natural gas or electricity, to heat air or water for a building.
Gas valve: A device that controls the flow of gas in a furnace or other gas-fired heating system.
Heat exchanger: A device that transfers heat from one fluid to another, such as from air to water or from water to air.
Heat load: The amount of heat that must be added or removed from a space to maintain a comfortable temperature.
Heat pump: A device that uses a small amount of energy to move heat from one location to another, providing heating or cooling.
Heat recovery ventilation: A system that uses heat exchangers to transfer heat from exhausted air to incoming air, improving the efficiency of the HVAC system.
HSPF (Heating Seasonal Performance Factor): Similar to SEER but measures efficiency of heat pumps in heating mode.
Humidifier: A device that adds moisture to the air to increase humidity levels.
Humidity control: The process of maintaining the relative humidity in a space within a comfortable range.
Humidity sensor: A device that measures the moisture content of the air.
Indoor air quality: The quality of the air inside a building or vehicle, including factors such as temperature, humidity, and the concentration of pollutants.
Insulation: The material used to reduce heat transfer and prevent air leakage in a building.
Load calculation: The process of determining the heat load on a building or space to properly size an HVAC system.
Mixed-air temperature: The temperature of the air after it has been mixed from various sources, such as return air and outside air, in an HVAC system.
OBC: Ontario Building Code
Outdoor air: The air from outside a building that is used for ventilation and to improve indoor air quality.
Packaged unit: A self-contained HVAC system that houses all components, such as the compressor, condenser, evaporator, and fan, in a single unit.
R-value: measures the resistance of a material to heat transfer through conduction. It quantifies the thermal resistance of insulation in buildings. Higher R-values indicate better insulation and improved energy efficiency.
Refrigerant: A substance used in air conditioning and refrigeration systems to absorb and release heat as it changes state from a gas to a liquid and back.
Register: A grille or vent cover used to control the flow of air into or out of a room.
Return air: The air that is pulled back into an HVAC system to be conditioned and recirculated.
SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio): A measure of the cooling efficiency of an air conditioning system over an entire cooling season.
Split system: An HVAC system in which the components, such as the condenser and evaporator, are located in separate units, typically one outside and one inside.
Thermostat: A device that senses and regulates the temperature of a system, such as an HVAC system.
Ton: A unit of cooling capacity equal to the amount of heat required to melt one ton (2,000 pounds) of ice in 24 hours.
Ventilation: The process of bringing fresh air into a space and removing stale air to improve indoor air quality.
Zoning: The division of a building into separate zones that can be individually controlled for heating, cooling, and ventilation.