HVAC
Description
An acronym for heating, ventilating, and air conditioning. HVAC systems are installed in most homes and building to provide a controlled air flow and temperature. Some HVAC systems also control humidity and minimize airborne pollutants. The central systems depends on one or more monitoring devices (e.g. thermostat) to sense the current conditions in each area. The central system, which consists of at least a furnace, fan, and cooler, are used to adjust the room's temperature to a preset level. The system may be equipped with a humidifier/dehumidifier to adjust moisture levels. The fans generally have replaceable filters to control particulate levels.
Synonyms and Related Terms
heating, venting and air conditioning; air-conditioning; central heating; humidifier; dehumidifier; furnace; installation de conditionnement de l'air (Fr.)
Hazards and Safety
Air ducts may accumulate dust and pathogenic bacteria.
Sources Checked for Data in Record
- Dictionary of Building Preservation, Ward Bucher, ed., John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York City, 1996
- Random House, Webster's Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language, Grammercy Book, New York, 1997
- The American Heritage Dictionary or Encarta, via Microsoft Bookshelf 98, Microsoft Corp., 1998
- Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, at http://www.wikipedia.com Comment: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HVAC (accessed Nov. 30, 2004)