A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z
Air Handler – The portion of the central air conditioning or heat pump system that moves heated or cooled air throughout a home's ductwork. In some systems a furnace handles this function.
Alternating Current – an electric current that reverses direction at regular intervals, having a magnitude that varies continuously in sinusoidal manner.
Blower – a machine for supplying air at a moderate pressure, as to supply forced drafts or supercharge and scavenge diesel engines.
Bypass – a secondary pipe or other channel connected with a main passage, as for conducting a liquid or gas around a fixture, pipe, or appliance.
Carbon Filtering – is a method of filtering that uses a piece of activated carbon to remove contaminants and impurities, utilizing chemical adsorption. Each piece of carbon is designed to provide a large section of surface area, in order to allow contaminants the most possible exposure to the filter media. One pound (454g) of carbon contains a surface area of approximately 500.000 m² (125 acres). This carbon is generally activated with a positive charge and is designed to attract negatively charged water contaminants. Carbon filtering is commonly used for water purification, but is also used in air purifiers.
Circuit Breaker – a device for interrupting an electric circuit to prevent excessive current, as that caused by a short circuit, from damaging the apparatus in the circuit or from causing a fire.
Closed Circuit – a circuit without interruption, providing a continuous path through which a current can flow.
Condenser Coil – A series or network of tubes filled with refrigerant, normally located outside the home, that removes heat from the hot, gaseous refrigerant so that the refrigerant becomes liquid again.
Control System – A mechanical, optical, or electronic system that is used to maintain a desired output.
Control Valve – valves used within industrial plants and elsewhere to control operating conditions such as temperature, pressure, flow, and liquid level by fully or partially opening or closing in response to signals received from controllers that compare a "setpoint" to a "process variable" whose value is provided by sensors that monitor changes in such conditions.
Copper Plating – the process in which a layer of copper is deposited on the item to be plated by using an electric current. Three basic types of processes are commercially available based upon the complexing system utilized. They are alkaline-(several modifications of cyanide and non-cyanide); acid-(sulfate and fluoborate); and mildly alkaline-(pyro phosphate) complexed baths. With a higher current, hydrogen bubbles will form on the item to be plated, leaving surface imperfections. Often various other chemicals are added to improve plating uniformity and brightness. Without some form of additive, it is almost impossible to obtain anything close to reasonable plating. These additives can be anything from dish soap to proprietary compounds.
Cryogenic – of or pertaining to the production or use of very low temperatures.
Condensing Unit – Part of a refrigerating mechanism which pumps vaporized refrigerant from the evaporator, compresses it, liquefies it in the condenser and returns it to the refrigerant control. The outdoor portion of a split system air conditioner contains the compressor and outdoor coil ignoring the reverse cycle operation, also the outdoor in a heat pump system.
Conductivity – a measure of the ability of a given substance to conduct electric current, equal to the reciprocal of the resistance of the substance.
Conduction – the transfer of heat between two parts of a stationary system, caused by a temperature difference between the parts.
Dehumidifier – removes moisture from the air, as for lowering the humidity in a room.
Duct – any tube, canal, pipe, or conduit by which a fluid, air, or other substance is conducted or conveyed.
Efficiency – the ratio of the work done or energy developed by a machine, engine, etc., to the energy supplied to it, usually expressed as a percentage.
Energy Conservation – the careful utilization, in order to prevent depletion.
Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER) – a measure to assess heat pumps and air conditioners
Exhaust Valve – a valve through which burned gases from a cylinder escape into the exhaust manifold
Expansion Joint – a joint between two parts of a structure, machine, etc., permitting expansion, as from heat, without structural damage.
Fail Safe – pertaining to or noting a mechanism built into a system, as in an early warning system or a nuclear reactor, for insuring safety should the system fail to operate properly.
Fan – any device for producing a current of air by the movement of a broad surface or a number of such surfaces.
Flue – any duct or passage for air, gas, or the like
Geothermal Energy – a form of energy obtained from within the earth, originating in its core; also, energy produced by extracting the earth's internal heat.
Heat Capacity – The rate at which a specific device can add substantial heat to a substance, expressed in BTUh (British Thermal Units per hour).
Heat Exchanger – a device for transferring the heat of one substance to another, as from the exhaust gases to the incoming air in a regenerative furnace.
Hertz (Hz) – A unit of frequency equal to one cycle per second.
Humidifier – a device for increasing the amount of water vapor in the air of a room or building, consisting of a container for water and a vaporizer.
Humidistat – an instrument for measuring and controlling humidity.
HVAC – heating, ventilating, and air conditioning.
Hydrostatic Pressure – The pressure exerted by a fluid at equilibrium at a given point within the fluid, due to the force of gravity. Hydrostatic pressure increases in proportion to depth measured from the surface because of the increasing weight of fluid exerting downward force from above.
Infrared Lamp – electric heater consisting of a high-power incandescent lamp that emits infrared radiation.
Joint – the place at which two things, or separate parts of one thing, are joined or united, either rigidly or in such a way as to permit motion; juncture.
Kilowatt Hours (KWH) – the number of units of power per hour.
Leak Detector – A helium mass spectrometer (often called a leak detector or helium leak detector) or improperly sniffer, is a scientific instrument, used to detect, locate and measure very small leaks, typically using a vacuum and injecting helium around a chamber or cavity.
Matched System – A heating and cooling system comprised of products that have been certified to perform at promised comfort and efficiency when used together, and used according to design and engineering specifications.
Nonconductors (Insulators) – A material that conducts little or no electricity, heat, or sound.
Refrigerant – a liquid capable of vaporizing at a low temperature, as ammonia, used in mechanical refrigeration.
Reversing Valve – A device in a heat pump that reverses the flow of refrigerant as the system is switched from cooling to heating.
Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) – A rating that denotes the efficiency of air conditioning equipment. It is the amount of cooling your equipment delivers for every dollar spent on electricity. It is the ratio of cooling delivered by a system, measured in BTUs, to the dollar cost of the electricity to run the system, as measured in watt-hours. This ratio is determined using specified federal test procedures. The higher the SEER, the more efficient the unit. The more efficient the unit, the lower the operating cost.
Thermostat – A temperature sensitive device used to control HVAC systems.
Voltage – Is a term used to indicate the potential difference in a circuit, Voltage is also know as the pressure which causes current to flow.