HVAC Terminology Guide for Homeowners in Birmingham AL

Programmable Thermostat

A programmable thermostat is a device that allows you to automatically control your heating and cooling systems based on a schedule that you set. It enables you to set specific temperatures for different times of the day and night, helping to improve energy efficiency and comfort. For example, you can program it to keep your...

PSC

PSC stands for "Permanent Split Capacitor," which is a type of motor commonly used in HVAC systems for fans and pumps. These motors run on AC voltage and operate at a fixed speed, sometimes offering two or three preset speed options. However, they are generally less energy-efficient compared to newer motor technologies, as they lack...

PSI

PSI refers to "Pounds Per Square Inch," which is a unit of pressure measurement. It describes the amount of force applied over one square inch of area. In HVAC systems, PSI is commonly used to measure the pressure of refrigerants in different parts of the system, as well as the pressure in compressed air systems...

PSIA

PSIA stands for pounds per square inch absolute. It is a unit of pressure measurement that includes atmospheric pressure in its calculation. Unlike PSIG (pounds per square inch gauge), which measures pressure relative to atmospheric pressure, PSIA measures the total pressure, including the atmospheric pressure at sea level (14.7 psi at standard atmospheric conditions). For...

PSIG

PSIG stands for "pounds per square inch gauge," which is a measurement of pressure. It represents the pressure of a system relative to atmospheric pressure. In HVAC systems, PSIG is often used to measure the pressure inside refrigerant lines or tanks. If the pressure reading is zero PSIG, it means the pressure inside the system...

Pulse With Modulation

Pulse Width Modulation (PWM): A technology used to control the speed of motors, such as those in HVAC systems, by rapidly switching the power on and off. In HVAC systems, PWM is often associated with ECM (Electronically Commutated Motors). This method allows for precise control of fan speeds, enabling the system to adjust airflow as...

Purge Unit

A purge unit is a device used in chiller systems to remove non-condensable gases, such as air or other impurities, that can accumulate within the refrigeration system. These gases can impair system efficiency by reducing heat transfer and increasing pressure. The purge unit captures and expels these unwanted gases from the system, ensuring the chiller...

PVC

PVC, or polyvinyl chloride, is a durable and versatile plastic commonly used in HVAC systems for various purposes, such as drain lines, vent pipes, and ductwork. It is lightweight, resistant to corrosion, and cost-effective, making it a practical choice for safely transporting air, water, or condensate without degrading over time.

PWM

PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) is a technique used in HVAC systems to control the speed of devices like fans or compressors by adjusting the power supplied to them. Instead of running at full power all the time, the motor receives a series of rapid on/off pulses, with the duration of the "on" time determining the...

R-22 Refrigerant

R-22 Refrigerant: A chemical compound (also known as Freon) that was commonly used as the refrigerant in residential and commercial air conditioning systems for several decades. However, due to its harmful effects on the ozone layer, its production and use have been gradually phased out under the Montreal Protocol and U.S. EPA regulations. Systems using...

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Polly Norris

I honestly cannot tell you just how highly I recommend these folks. Five stars are not enough! They are friendly, professional, very competitively priced and a real pleasure to work with. I've had them out twice, once for a split unit in my sunroom and then today for my main unit and both times they did an exceptional job.

Pam Cain

Great, fast and professional service always!!

Misty Hughes

I had my new unit installed about a week ago. Johnathan was the best. It was effortless , perfect workmanship , on time. Explained everything! Thank you Paradise !! FIRST RATE. TOOK CARE OF ME ASAP. WILL USE IN FUTURE FOR NEW UNIT

Melanie Zumm

Charles Reynolds

Jonathon, as always, provided great service! He is very efficient and honest. Thanks Jonathon, Charles

Nichole Pompey

Johnathan and his son came out quickly and repaired my air conditioner. He explained very clearly what the issue was and temporarily fixed my air while we waited on the warranty part from the manufacturer. Service and hospitality was excellent!

Melanie Authement

Honest and kind. Gave incredible price for work completed. Called and was able to come earlier than expected! Cannot recommend enough

Rory Chrane

Update: May 2026 Paradise came and serviced my business and home this week per the service agreement I asked them to sign me up for. Excellent trustworthy people and processes yields a top level result. You can trust them too. Call them and see what I mean. From the first phone call, I was impressed, I spoke to Jennifer and on a follow up call, I spoke to Gracie. Both are related to the owner Jonathan who came out today and gave me a breakdown and an idea of what is needed and proposed how to go about doing a mini split, which I’m excited to get done, so much so that I wanted to give a review, even before the work begins which I’m sure will be excellent. He recommended a good brand Mitsubishi and explained why he chooses them, giving a very detailed explanation. Jonathan was very personable and efficient and I look forward to the job being completed and future business with this company.

Karen

Johnathan was great! We had a moisture problem in our kitchen cabinets that were on an interior wall. He spent a good amount of time figuring out what was going on, gave us a solution and answered all of our questions. A very good experience!

samuel wilson

Tech was on time, very professional, courteous, knowledgeable addressed my concerns about the system. Will definitely be recommending Paradise Heating and Air.

Jessica VanLandingham

He was on time and got the insulation job done quickly. I had contracted with another company who no-showed twice, so being able to call Paradise and get it done within a short time was great.

Sandy Hicks

Being a first time customer I was extremely impressed with how punctual and professional the technicians are. I highly recommend Paradise Heating and Air

DIONDRA ROBINSON

If you are having any HVAC issues please do not hesitate to call Paradise Heating and Air. Mr. Jonathan and his team were quick and provided answers to all my questions. I appreciate how quick they came out and fixed my issue being that we have had some extremely hot temperatures lately. I look forward to working with them in the future. I will be recommending them to anyone who has an issue. Thanks again to Paradise Heating and Air.

Nancy Hollaway

Most honest, knowledgeable and affordable HAVC company I've ever dealt with.

Christine Wilcox

They were great. Came out on a Thursday and looked at my system. Went over all of my options of repairs or replacements. Explained both the advantages and disadvantages of both options in detail so I could make an informed decision. Came back out the following Monday to do the work. Very friendly and knowledgeable staff.

Sam Sharples

Very prompt, respectful, thorough, and didn’t break the bank.

KenH

Great service with very neat job. Highly recommend.

Amy Graham

Has spring service. Right on time, got it in good shape. Professional. Highly recommend!

James Coco

Jonathan to the rescue! A quick response saved us from a miserable night. Jonathan had us fixed in a matter of minutes! Highly recommend!

Steve S

I had paradise come out to get me started with their paradise maintenance package, and had them take a look at my attic because we had concerns with our insulation not being adequate. They didn’t try to over sell work I didn’t need, and were honest with what exactly was needed to get us back on track. Techs Jonathan and Matthew came out for the initial inspection and service and came back to do the attic insulation. They were patient and knowledgeable (I ask a lot of questions) and took their time. They found all the places that my system was leaking (out and in) air, fixed them, and then filled the attic. They kept the house clean and were respectful and had great attitudes the entire time. They have definitely earned my business, and I would recommend them to anyone looking for HVAC work. They are AWESOME!

PARTHA GHOSAL

Very professional and knowledgeable. No need to look over their shoulder. Very satisfied with their work.

Dana Gaudet

I recently had this company come out to my home because my unit wasn’t working, they had someone out the same day. Jonathan was extremely professional and knowledgeable, definitely recommend this company!!

Laurie Dunn

Always knowledgeable, respectful, and right on time!

Michael Semon

Great service, very professional! Highly recommend.

Lauren E Means

Paradise Heating and Air was great to work with—professional, on time, and very thorough. They communicated clearly throughout the entire process and were upfront about pricing and exactly what they discovered was wrong. I’m very pleased with their service and will definitely use them again. Being on time was a huge plus as well!

Chris Holland

Jonathan and the whole Paradise staff are professional, courteous, and fast. I had a system failure, and they were able to get to me quickly and diagnose the problem. Through Jonathan's research he discovered my system had a warrantied part needing replacement and saved me $1600. I would HIGHLY recommend Jonathan and the Paradise crew and will be using again!

David Brainerd

Jonathan did a great job. Highly recommended.

B. Keith Putt

Excellent company! Jonathan and Matt were professional, friendly, and extremely efficient. They had my HVAC system replaced in 4 hours! If my other unit ever bites the dust, they will be the ones I call for a new one!! I highly recommend them.

akash ahmed

Good service.

Edna Cumbee-Montieth

We had Jonathan out to service our unit today. The service was quick and efficient! Jonathan’s experience speaks for itself! We highly recommend Paradise Heating and Air for all your HVAC needs. Trevor and Edna Cumbee-Montieth Hoover, AL

Byron Archibald

Johnathan and Christian did and amazing job and were well versed and knowledgeable about the unit. They fixed it in a timely manner and my house was cool again within an hour

Robin O.

Jonathan and his staff were very communicative! Would highly recommend.

Naseem Akhtar

Paradise company is very reliable and trusted. Jonathan is very knowledgeable and understanding. He replaced A C Unit in my home and since then it's working efficiently. I want to recommend this company for everyone

Monti Pres

Wonderful

Mark Hamblen

Did a very thorough job of servicing my system. Will use again.

Brian Motley

My unit for upstairs had a major leak in the evaporation coils. Jonathan and Matthew came over and spent an hour here investigating and giving me my options. I decided to replace the whole unit and they were here on a Saturday replacing the unit. The knowledge that Jonathan possessed was second to none. The experience was excellent I will be using them again and I highly recommend them.

Blake

We recently bought a home and right away one of the AC units failed. Of course it was after hours (do AC units ever fail not after hours?). I called Paradise Heating and Air and they dispatched quickly, diagnosed the problem, and had us cool and running again before the kids were even in bed. Jonathan figured out the issue fast, and the quality of work and the cleanup afterward were truly noticeable. They've become our go-to HVAC company, always a notch above on service and workmanship. If you need emergency AC repair or any HVAC work in Vestavia Hills or anywhere in the Birmingham area, don't hesitate to reach out to this team. Love working with them!

D. C. Smith

Replaced a furnace vent pipe and roof cap, Jonathan and Matt were competent technicians and explained everything to me clearly and the quote and the final price were the same. comparing quotes, they were very competitive and provided a high degree of professionalism on the job. Thank you very much.!

Eileen Gibbs

Professional, on time, fair prices, great job!

Marianne Herman

Jonathan is highly technical, knowledgable, and efficient. I wish I had known his company years ago. I highly recommend Paradise for all heating and air needs.

Ken Little

Awesome Work! Great Experience with Jonathan and Paradise Heating and Cooling Great experience from Jonathan and Christian! Job: Disassemble and remove old attic ductwork and install new ductwork and runs. Install Accuclean air filter in both attic and main floor systems. Install new smart thermostat and attic insulation infill. 1. Honest assessment of what is needed and more importantly, what is not needed. And not just trying to sell the most expensive option. 2. Competitive and reasonable quote. 3. I asked about radiant heat treatment as an add on, but he said while they could do it, it would not have efficient results and not worth the investment since I had a high hip roof and large attic area. 4. Great work ethic and work product. Duct system, filtering system and thermostat expertly installed, set up and running effectively. 5. All interactions cordial, efficient and polite. 6. Punctual in accordance with automated notices about arrival and appointment reminders 7. Clean work - brought coverings to reduce tracking of insulation through house areas traversed. Cleaned any evidence of insulation. 8. Works relatively quietly. No loud talk or music. 9. Small footprint on street. One van. I expected van and trailer. New materials brought in, unloaded and installed while old duct system all loaded up and removed. Very efficient. Overall, fantastic experience and is highly recommended.

Zac Goozee

Jonathan and team are hands down the best folks I have ever worked with in the home services industry. Reasonable prices, high quality work, great communication and responsiveness, 5 stars all around. Highly recommend.

Hector Orozco

Perry Koonce

Jonathan provided another on-time, courteous and professional annual maintenance service call. Paradise Heating and Air provides great service at a great value.

J. Chapman

Jonathan was great to work with. He came within a couple of hours after I called at around 4pm. and had us operational around 12 the next day (because he didn’t have a motor for my condensor and had to get one the next day). Will definitely use him again.

Amanda Horsley

I had to leave another review for this company because we continue to be very impressed. Jonathan is an absolute pleasure to work with.

Danna Jones

Great service - always on time and very professional.

chip nieder

Always on time, easy to communicate, finest quality of workmanship and character, affordable pricing. Highly recommended.

mohannad azzam

Great service, assessed the issue in no time. Discussed all available options, extremely professional and friendly . Appreciated the help. Provided the best price .

Andrea Martin

5 stars! Look nowhere else for all of heating and cooling needs. Jonathan is amazing - experienced, reasonable and reliable. Look nowhere else!

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