HVAC

Question 1

AHRI Certificate

Answer 1

The Air Conditioning, Heating & Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) is a globally recognized organization that measures and tests equipment efficiencies. HVAC units that are AHRI Certified have been through rigorous, unbiased testing to verify their energy efficiency.

Question 2

Air Handler

Answer 2

An air handler, or air handling unit (often abbreviated to AHU), is a device used to regulate and circulate air as part of a heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system.[1] An air handler is usually a large metal box containing a blower, heating or cooling elements, filter racks or chambers, sound attenuators, and dampers.[2] Air handlers usually connect to a ductwork ventilation system that distributes the conditioned air through the building and returns it to the AHU. Sometimes AHUs discharge (supply) and admit (return) air directly to and from the space served without ductwork

Small air handlers, for local use, are called terminal units, and may only include an air filter, coil, and blower; these simple terminal units are called blower coils or fan coil units. A larger air handler that conditions 100% outside air, and no recirculated air, is known as a makeup air unit (MAU) or fresh air handling unit (FAHU). An air handler designed for outdoor use, typically on roofs, is known as a packaged unit (PU) or rooftop unit (RTU).

Question 3

Air Handling Unit

Answer 3

The indoor part of an air conditioner or heat pump that moves cooled or heated air throughout the ductwork of the home. Usually a large metal box containing important elements of an HVAC system that controls airflow and filtration

Question 4

Awl

Answer 4

Used to punch holes or scribe lines into sheet metal so that it can be cut straight

Question 5

Bioaerosols

Answer 5

Also known as biological aerosols, are tiny airborne particles that are biological in nature. High concentrations of them in indoor air can lead to respiratory problem/diagnosis and disease.

Question 6

Block Load / Room by Room For ?

Answer 6

Essentially “block load” calculates heating and cooling loads for the entire conditioned space whereas room-by-room provides heating and cooling load calculation for individual rooms. Both options should result in the exact same heat loss and heat gain totals.

Question 7

Blower

Answer 7

Component responsible for pushing air through the vents of your heating and air conditioning systems. Without it, the systems will not be able to circulate any heated or cooled air. It pulls hot air from the inside the home into the return and blows it across the evaporator coil

Question 8

British Thermal Unit (BTU)

Answer 8

A measurement of heat energy. One BTU is the amount of heat required to raise one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit. The higher the BTU rating, the greater the heating capacity of the system

Question 9

Caulking Gun

Answer 9

Used to seal work in ducts and fill holes where needed.

Question 10

Central Air-Conditioning

Answer 10

Central air conditioning is a system in which air is cooled at a central location and distributed to and from rooms by one or more fans and ductwork

Question 11

Coil Fin Straightener

Answer 11

Used to straighten and clean coils to improve heat exchange and air flow when the AC condenser coil gets dirty

Question 12

Comfort Consultants/Comfort Advisor/Estimators

Answer 12

Referred to as Selling Technicians in ServiceTitan. Comfort Advisors are typically those field employees that sell new HVAC systems

Question 13

Compressor

Answer 13

This is what “squeezes” the refrigerant gas resulting in a high pressure/high temperature gas.

Question 14

Condenser

Answer 14

A device or unit used to change a substance from its gaseous state to its liquid state by cooling it. This typically has a heat exchanger section that cools down and condenses incoming refrigerant vapor into liquid.

Question 15

Condenser Coil

Answer 15

Used within the condenser, it is where the heat is removed from the refrigerant

Question 16

Crack Heat Exchanger

Answer 16

A gas furnace’s heat exchanger is the furnace component that actually heats the air. It’s comprised of a set of tubes or coils that repeatedly loops through the airflow inside the furnace to heat the air. The shape of the coils depends on the type or model of your furnace. If there’s a possibility of your heat exchanger being cracked, don’t ignore it. A cracked heat exchanger is pretty serious

Question 17

Cut-Ins

Answer 17

The installation of a new HVAC system generally at an existing establishment and not at a new construction site.

Question 18

Delta T

Answer 18

Delta-T, often marked as ΔT (Δ – the Greek letter Delta), is a way of expressing temperature differences when conducting temperature tests and cooling performance comparison.

Question 19

Door Re-hang

Answer 19

Doors may be removed during HVAC installation and then a field employee will need to be sent out to take care of this.

Question 20

Door Re-set

Answer 20

Garage door is off it’s tracks.

Question 21

Dry Charged Unit

Answer 21

An air conditioner or heat pump that is shipped “dry” and charged with refrigerant at the place of installation.

Question 22

Dual Fuel

Answer 22

A comfort system that pairs an electric heat pump with a gas furnace and alternates between the two fuel sources to maximize comfort and efficiency

Question 23

Ductwork

Answer 23

Refers to the system of metal or synthetic tubes that are used to move the air throughout the home

Question 24

EER

Answer 24

A room air conditioner’s efficiency is measured by the energy efficiency ratio (EER). The EER is the ratio of the cooling capacity (in British thermal units [Btu] per hour) to the power input (in watts). The higher the EER rating, the more efficient the air conditioner.

Question 25

Electronic Air Cleaner

Answer 25

Sometimes referred to as ionizers or air purifiers, use electrically charged filters to reduce the number of airborne contaminants in the home. As the air passes through the system, the cleaner uses the charged filters to attract and collect harmful particles from circulating into rooms

Question 26

Electronic Air Cleaner

Answer 26

Sometimes referred to as ionizers or air purifiers, use electrically charged filters to reduce the number of airborne contaminants in the home. As the air passes through the system, the cleaner uses the charged filters to attract and collect harmful particles from circulating into rooms

Question 27

Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER)

Answer 27

The ratio of cooling capacity to the power input (in watts). The higher the EER rating the more efficient the air conditioner

Question 28

Energy Star®

Answer 28

A program of the U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) designed to help consumers and businesses save money by choosing the most energy efficient systems and technologies

Question 29

Evaporator Coil

Answer 29

Device that is used to absorb the heat from the air in your house by turning liquid refrigerant into a gaseous state (vapor) and then releasing it

Question 30

Fan

Answer 30

Located on the condenser outside, the fan blows out the hot air that was taken from inside the home

Question 31

Filter

Answer 31

Used to keep dust out of the house and provide, cool or hot, clean air

Question 32

Gauges

Answer 32

Refrigeration gauges identify pressure for different types of refrigerants and determine if there is a leak in the system

Question 33

Hand Seamers

Answer 33

Used to bend, shape, or flatten the sheet metal used in ductwork

Question 34

Heat Pump

Answer 34

A heat pump is a device that transfers heat energy from a source of heat to what is called a thermal reservoir. Heat pumps move thermal energy in the opposite direction of spontaneous heat transfer, by absorbing heat from a cold space and releasing it to a warmer one. A heat pump uses external power to accomplish the work of transferring energy from the heat source to the heat sink.[1] The most common design of a heat pump involves four main components – a condenser, an expansion valve, an evaporator and a compressor. The heat transfer medium circulated through these components is called refrigerant.

Question 35

HERS

Answer 35

Home Energy Rating System (HERS) testing examines a home’s energy efficiency and notes areas where energy efficiency can be improved

Question 36

HVAC(R)

Answer 36

Stands for “Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning” (sometimes referred to as HVACR where the R stands for “Refrigeration”), this is the most complex industry that we service if only because of the many ways companies handle the jobs themselves.

Typically, HVAC companies will sell the highest ticket jobs thanks to their sales being done in two parts: Salespeople (typically called something like “Comfort Advisors”) who go out to the home, build out an estimate based on the customers’ homes and needs, and provides multiple solutions via estimates. Once an estimate is sold, an install team will follow up and complete the installation. Typical pay structure for this industry is commission for sales reps, and hourly for their installers.

Also of note, memberships/service plans with recurring services (pre-paid visits such as a Heating tune up, AC refill, etc.) are a large revenue generator in this field simply because it gets a technician into a customer’s home and can generate a new job from a recurring services visit. This is one of the main revenue drivers for our HVAC customers.

Jobs include repair and installation of air conditioners, thermostats, etc. Waterproofing is another common job (the process of making an object or structure waterproof or water-resistant). Often, HVAC jobs require electrical work as well.

Large Customer Examples: Campbell & Company, Uptown, Tiger

Common Associations: Nexstar, SGI (Success Group International), ACCA (Air Conditioning Contractors of America), IHACI (Institute of Heating and Air Conditioning Industries)

Question 37

Install Coordinator

Answer 37

Install coordinator is like the dispatcher of the install crews. They may also take on additional duties such as payroll, permits, etc

Question 38

Manual J

Answer 38

Manual J is the protocol used for determining the amount of heating and cooling that a home requires to keep its occupants warm in the heating months and cool and dry in the cooling months

Question 39

MERV

Answer 39

This term is used when describing air filter performance levels. The MERV rating ranges from lowest to highest in terms of filtration levels. Different household needs such as asthma, allergies, and pet dander would require you to use higher MERV rated products

Question 40

Multimeter

Answer 40

Also known as a volt-ohm meter, is a handheld tester used to measure electrical voltage, current (amperage), and resistance. It is also used when working around the possibility of electrical hazards and live energy to test that a tool or an area is safe

Question 41

NATE

Answer 41

This is an organization that certifies hvac technicians - like an excellence organization

Question 42

NATE

Answer 42

This is an organization that certifies hvac technicians - like an excellence organization

Question 43

Nitrogen Regulator

Answer 43

Acts as a pressure control valve

Question 44

Over 10

Answer 44

Over 10 means that a system is over 10 years old. For a HVAC company “Over 10” is a short hand way to refer to an opportunity call.

Question 45

PSI

Answer 45

Measurement of pressure commonly used to measure refrigerant. Refrigerant pressure standards will vary depending on type of refrigerant used. The pressure reading is an important diagnostic informant to what may be wrong with a system.

Question 46

Psychrometer

Answer 46

A type of hydrometer that is used to measure the relative humidity or moisture content in the air

Question 47

Pumps

Answer 47

Vacuum pump used to suck any moisture out of lines

Question 48

Red Tagged

Answer 48

This term can have a few different meanings. The most common for our traditional ICP is that a furnace is cracked and has been redtagged due to risk of CO2 poisoning. Another common possibility is a gas leak. They “red tag” meaning that it can’t be used until repaired/replaced. In some states there may also be municipality reporting associated with red tagging something.

Question 49

Refrigerant

Answer 49

A chemical that is typically found in either a fluid or gaseous state that absorbs heat from the rooms in a house, which then produces a cooling effect.

Question 50

Refrigerant Tubing

Answer 50

Two lines that are connected to the outdoor air conditioner from the indoor evaporator coil. The two lines transfer refrigerant back and forth which is needed for the creation of cool A/C in the Summer or hot air in the Winter.

Question 51

Return

Answer 51

For an HVAC system air is circulated through out a building/home. The air is gathered up and RETURNed to the system to be cooled. The return refers to the grill and duct work where the air is gathered. Typically larger than supply vents, this is used to gather air from various locations throughout the house. It is also used to maintain the home’s air pressure and filter out debris.

Question 52

Roll Out (Gas Furnace)

Answer 52

Flame rollouts in gas furnaces and boilers are caused by a high concentration of combustion gases inside the combustion chamber.

Question 53

Rough-in

Answer 53

Demo work, installing ductwork, line sets etc.

Question 54

Sawzall

Answer 54

Also referred to as a reciprocating saw, is a machine-powered saw in which cutting is achieved through a push and pull method. It is used to cut through a variety of materials including old condensers, drywall, sheet metal pipes, wood, etc.

Question 55

SEER

Answer 55

The efficiency of air conditioners is often rated by the seasonal energy efficiency ratio which is defined by the Air Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute in its 2008 standard AHRI 210/240, Performance Rating of Unitary Air-Conditioning and Air-Source Heat Pump Equipment.

Question 56

Sheet Metal Worker

Answer 56

Some shops have a sheet metal worker who uses sheet metal to create duct work.

Question 57

Start Up

Answer 57

Firing up the system. Starting it up. Final check list complete

Question 58

Subcooling

Answer 58

Normally, a refrigeration system has a subcooling stage, allowing technicians to be certain that the quality, in which the refrigerant reaches the next step on the cycle, is the desired one

Question 59

Superheat

Answer 59

Superheat is critical in HVAC because it ensures the liquid refrigerant is boiled off before it leaves the evaporator and heads to the compressor

Question 60

Supply

Answer 60

For an HVAC system air is circulated through out a building/home. The air is SUPPLY-ed to the building via the supplies. The supply refers to the grill and duct work where the air is supplied. The opposite of return air ducts, this where where the air is blown out from and into the rooms which comes directly from the A/C or heating unit in the house.

Question 61

Thermostat

Answer 61

Device typically located on a wall inside the home that automatically regulates the temperature that has been set

Question 62

Trim and Set

Answer 62

installing equipment and major materials grilles thermostats

Question 63

TXV

Answer 63

The TXV is thermal expansion valve. The TXV can be expensive to replace for the homeowner. It can sometimes be a more difficult of complex repair for a HVAC technician. From wikipedia: “A thermal expansion valve or thermostatic expansion valve (often abbreviated as TEV, TXV, or TX valve) is a component in refrigeration and air conditioning systems that controls the amount of refrigerant released into the evaporator thereby keeping superheat, that is, the difference between the current refrigerant temperature at the evaporator outlet and its saturation temperature at the current pressure, at a stable value, ensuring that the only phase in which the refrigerant leaves the evaporator is vapor, and, at the same time, supplying the evaporator’s coils with the optimal amount of liquid refrigerant to achieve the optimal heat exchange rate allowed by that evaporator.”

Question 64

Unitary/Ductless

Answer 64

Unitary system means a system which combines heating, cooling, and fan sections all in one(Packaged) or a few assemblies(Split). Package Unit and Split systems can be used as unitary system and centralized system.

Question 65

VRF

Answer 65

Variable refrigerant flow (VRF), also known as variable refrigerant volume (VRV), is an HVAC technology invented by Daikin Industries, Ltd. in 1982.[1] Like ductless minisplits, VRFs use refrigerant as the cooling and heating medium. This refrigerant is conditioned by a single or multiple condensing units (which may be outdoors or indoors, water or air cooled), and is circulated within the building to multiple indoor units.[2] VRF systems, unlike conventional chiller-based systems, allow for varying degrees of cooling in only certain areas, reducing energy consumption.