The Meaning of HVAC: What It Is and How To Use It

Do you know the definition of HVAC? This article will provide you with all of the information you need on the abbreviation HVAC, including its definition, usage, and more!

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What does the acronym HVAC stand for?

According to Brennan Heating, HVAC stands for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. This is a type of technology for indoor and vehicular comfort. An HVAC system or HVAC unit utilizes the principles of mechanical engineering, thermodynamics, heat transfer, and fluid mechanics. Examples of HVAC systems can include air conditioning, a furnace, a refrigerant, a boiler, and many other devices that either heat or cool a space. This can either be an indoor unit or an outdoor unit. 

Many different vehicles and residential structures will utilize HVAC units. These can include apartments, single family homes, office buildings, cars, trains, planes, ships, and even submarines. In the process of ventilation, which is what the V in HVAC stands for, air is exchanged or replaced in a certain space to provide higher indoor air quality. This can involve oxygen replenishment, temperature control, removal of excessive moisture or humidity, removal of odors, smoke, dust, heat, carbon dioxide, or airborne bacteria. The process of ventilation introduces outside air and keeps the air inside the building circulating, preventing stagnation. People can usually adjust their HVAC systems with a thermostat or by pressing a button on a fan. Sometimes, someone will have to turn on a radiator.

There are nine different parts to HVAC mechanical systems. These include the air return, filter, ductwork, exhaust outlets, and outdoor unit, electrical elements, coils, a compressor and the blower. The air return starts the ventilation cycle. This segment sucks in the air supply through the air ducts, and passes it into the main system. People should be sure to dust the air return frequently so debris does not build up. 

Next, the air is drawn through an air filter which improves air quality, removes dirt, and can improve energy efficiency. Next, the air goes through an exhaust Outlet where any exhaust that is created by the heating system gets expelled. Next, the heated or cooled air passes through ducts. Next, the heat and air will pass through the electrical element. These are very tricky if there is a problem with them. Make sure that you hire a qualified group of HVAC technicians, especially if you need work on the electrical elements of the system. 

The air then goes through an outdoor unit, which houses the fan that provides the air flow. As a part of the outdoor unit, a compressor converts refrigerant from a gas to a liquid to send to the coils. This is often finicky and can cause system failures. Another part of the outdoor unit is the coils. These cool the air with help from the refrigerant. Finally, the blower draws in the warm air through the unit. 

The heating element of an HVAC system usually refers to a furnace or boiler. This will include a type of pipe system for fluid or duct work if it is a forced air system. The ventilation element that is used in an HVAC system is also either natural or forced. When an HVAC system uses forced ventilation, it is usually used to clean the air as well. The last element of the HVAC system is air conditioning, which focuses on removing existing heat from the interior of the home or vehicle. 

There are also some things you can do in your home to cool it down that are not HVAC systems. This could include a ceiling fan or portable fan. These increase the airflow, but do not directly provide cold air. There are also things you can do to heat up a home. This could include a portable heater, which gets plugged into an electrical socket and does not use an HVAC system or heat pumps. 

Becoming an HVAC technician requires intense training, it can also lead to a very lucrative salary. Below is a list of average salaries and hourly rates for an HVAC technician in every state in the United States of America. If you are not interested in attending college and would rather have Technical Training, consider becoming an HVAC technician. This list of salaries is provided by House Call Pro.

  •  New York – HVAC Technician Salary $23.41 $48,693
  •  Alaska – HVAC Technician Salary $39.48 $82,118
  •  Ohio – HVAC Technician Salary $22.40 $46,592
  •  North Dakota – HVAC Technician Salary $28.50 $59,280
  •  Colorado – HVAC Technician Salary $29.33 $61,006
  •  California – HVAC Technician Salary $35.36 $73,549
  •  Nebraska – HVAC Technician Salary $22.02 $45,802
  •  Missouri – HVAC Technician Salary $20.09 $41,787
  •  Pennsylvania – HVAC Technician Salary $22.22 $46,218
  •  North Carolina – HVAC Technician Salary$20.29 $42,203
  •  Delaware – HVAC Technician Salary $22.83 $47,486
  •  Mississippi – HVAC Technician Salary $20.38 $42,390
  •  Alabama – HVAC Technician Salary $18.77 $39,042
  •  Virginia – HVAC Technician Salary $22.28 $46,342
  •  Wisconsin – HVAC Technician Salary $23.08 $48,006
  •  Minnesota – HVAC Technician Salary $24.47 $50,898
  •  Wyoming – HVAC Technician Salary $26.22 $54,538
  •  New Mexico – HVAC Technician Salary $22.22 $46,218
  •  Oregon – HVAC Technician Salary $21.68 $45,094
  •  Louisiana – HVAC Technician Salary $27.11 $56,389
  •  Texas – HVAC Technician Salary $21.37 $44,450
  •  Illinois – HVAC Technician Salary $25.26 $52,541
  •  Michigan – HVAC Technician Salary $23.10 $48,048
  •  Hawaii – HVAC Technician Salary $21.73 $45,198
  •  West Virginia – HVAC Technician Salary $19.57 $40,706
  •  Washington – HVAC Technician Salary $27.74 $57,699
  •  Vermont – HVAC Technician Salary $21.68 $45,094
  •  New Hampshire – HVAC Technician Salary$25.37 $52,770
  •  Kentucky – HVAC Technician Salary $21.75 $45,240
  •  Arizona – HVAC Technician Salary $22.83 $47,486
  •  Tennessee – HVAC Technician Salary $20.86 $43,389
  •  Oklahoma – HVAC Technician Salary $20.82 $43,306
  •  Florida – HVAC Technician Salary $19.84 $41,267
  •  Maryland – HVAC Technician Salary $32.09 $66,747
  •  Kansas – HVAC Technician Salary $19.13 $39,790
  •  Idaho – HVAC Technician Salary $20.42 $42,474
  •  New Jersey – HVAC Technician Salary $33.93 $70,574
  •  South Carolina – HVAC Technician Salary$20.45 $42,536
  •  Rhode Island – HVAC Technician Salary $35.94 $74,755
  •  Georgia – HVAC Technician Salary $20.18 $41,974
  •  Massachusetts – HVAC Technician Salary$39.27 $81,682
  •  Indiana – HVAC Technician Salary $21.29 $44,283
  •  Connecticut – HVAC Technician Salary $36.72 $76,378
  •  Iowa – HVAC Technician Salary $22.86 $47,549
  •  Utah – HVAC Technician Salary $19.03 $39,582
  •  Arkansas – HVAC Technician Salary $18.23 $37,918
  •  Montana – HVAC Technician Salary $24.73 $51,438
  •  Maine – HVAC Technician Salary $22.30 $46,384
  •  Nevada – HVAC Technician Salary $23.95 $49,816
  •  South Dakota – HVAC Technician Salary$23.89 $49,691

According to The Free Dictionary, the acronym HVAC also has a couple of other potential definitions. However, these are less common than Heating, Ventilation, & Air Conditioning and should therefore be used sparingly. If you do plan to use HVAC to stand for one of these other definitions, make sure that you provide the reader or listener with the proper context so that they can infer the correct meaning.

  •   High Velocity Air Conditioning
  • High Vacuum
  •   High Volume Air Conditioning
  •   Hunter Valley Aboriginal Corporation (Muswellbrook, Australia)
  •   High Voltage Alternating Current

Overall, the abbreviation HVAC stands for heating, ventilation and air conditioning. Central air conditioners, central air conditioning, and other heating and cooling components utilize HVAC systems to create comfortable environments. 

Sources:

  1. HVAC – What does HVAC stand for? | The Free Dictionary 
  2. What is HVAC System and How Does it Work? | Brennan Heating 
  3. HVAC Tech Salary In All 50 States [2021 Update] | House Call ProÂ