2,400+ Definitions
HVAC GLOSSARY
Every HVAC term, acronym, and industry phrase — defined in plain English.
Condensate Drain Cleaning
Condensate drain cleaning removes blockages from the small pipe that…
Condensate Load
The volume or mass rate of liquid water that must…
Condensate Neutralizer
A condensate neutralizer is a chemical filtering device that treats…
Condensate Pan Cleaning
Condensate pan cleaning involves removing sediment, algae, and bacterial growth…
Condensate Pump
A small electric pump integrated into or added to a…
Condensation
Condensation is the phase change process where water vapor converts…
Condensation Resistance Factor
An NFRC index rated from 1 to 100 indicating a…
Condenser
The condenser is the outdoor unit of a split air…
Condenser Coil Cleaning
Condenser Coil Cleaning is the removal of dirt, pollen, debris,…
Condenser Fan
A condenser fan is an axial fan housed within the…
Condenser Fan Motor
A condenser fan motor is an electric motor mounted in…
Condenser Fouling Factor
A numerical resistance value representing the thermal insulating effect of…
Condenser Unit
A condenser unit is the outdoor component of a split-system…
Condenser Water Delta-T
The temperature rise of condenser water across a water-cooled chiller…
Condenser Water Supply Temperature Reset
A strategy that lowers condenser water setpoint toward the ambient…
Condensing Boiler
A high-efficiency boiler designed to extract latent heat from flue…
Condensing Furnace
A condensing furnace is a high-efficiency heating system that extracts…
Condensing Heat Exchanger
A secondary heat exchanger in a high-efficiency condensing furnace or…
Condensing Temperature
The saturation temperature of the refrigerant in the condenser at…
Condensing Unit
A self-contained outdoor or remote assembly consisting of a compressor,…
Conditioned Space
Conditioned space refers to building areas served by active heating…
Conduction
Conduction is the transfer of thermal energy through a material…
Conduction Time Series
A set of coefficients used in the radiant time series…
Conical Diffuser
A duct section that gradually expands in diameter to decelerate…
Connected HVAC
Connected HVAC refers to heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems…
Conservation Voltage Reduction
Conservation Voltage Reduction (CVR) is a utility strategy that lowers…
Consortium for Energy Efficiency
The Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE) is a nonprofit organization…
Constant Air Volume
A Constant Air Volume (CAV) system is a type of…
Constant Torque Load
A constant torque load maintains consistent resistance regardless of motor…
Construction Documents
Construction Documents are comprehensive, final-phase drawings and specifications that contain…
Contact Factor
The complement of bypass factor, representing the fraction of air…
Contact Weld
A failure condition in which the main contacts of a…
Contactor
A contactor is an electromagnetic switching device that controls power…
Contactor Arc Chute
A set of metal plates or other arc-extinguishing materials mounted…
Contactor Auxiliary Contact
A supplementary low-current contact block mechanically linked to a contactor’s…
Contactor Failure
Contactor failure occurs when the electromagnetic switch fails to close…
Contaminant Source Control
The practice of eliminating or reducing indoor air pollutant sources…
Continuity Test
A continuity test measures whether electrical current can flow unobstructed…
Continuous Commissioning
Continuous commissioning is the sustained verification and optimization of building…
Continuous Insulation
Continuous insulation is a thermal barrier applied across the entire…
Continuous Monitoring
Continuous monitoring refers to real-time, 24/7 measurement of indoor air…
Control Board
A control board is the central electronic component that manages…
Control Calibration
Control calibration involves adjusting thermostat and building management system settings…
Control Damper
A control damper is an automatic or modulating damper controlled…
Control Diagram
A Control Diagram is a detailed schematic illustrating all sensors,…
Control Loop
A closed feedback system consisting of a sensor, controller, and…
Control Narrative
A Control Narrative is a written description of how a…
Control Point
The actual value of the controlled variable at which a…