What is HVAC?

Definition

HVAC is an acronym for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. It is sometimes written as HVACR to include refrigeration.

Why it Matters

HVAC systems provide thermal comfort and acceptable indoor air quality. HVAC is an important part of most building such as apartment and office buildings where safe and healthy building conditions are regulated with respect to temperature and humidity, using fresh air from outdoors.

Ventilating or ventilation (the V in HVAC) is the process of exchanging or replacing air in any space to provide high indoor air quality which involves temperature control, oxygen replenishment, and removal of moisture, odors, smoke, heat, dust, airborne bacteria, carbon dioxide, and other gases. Ventilation removes unpleasant smells and excessive moisture, introduces outside air, keeps interior building air circulating, and prevents stagnation of the interior air.

Ventilation includes both the exchange of air to the outside as well as circulation of air within the building. It is one of the most important factors for maintaining acceptable indoor air quality in buildings. Methods for ventilating a building may be divided into mechanical/forced and natural types.

In addition, the motors and pumps that run HVAC systems are generally the largest energy consumers in buildings, making them usual targets for operating cost reductions. Fault detection can help determine if HVAC systems are running optimally to produce the desired effects without wasting energy.