A burner is a crucial component in heating systems, such as furnaces or boilers, that facilitates the controlled combustion of fuel (e.g., natural gas, propane, or oil). Its primary function is to mix the appropriate amount of fuel and air, igniting this mixture to produce a stable flame. This flame generates heat, which is then...

The burner orifice is a small, precisely-sized opening or nozzle in a gas-fired HVAC system, such as a furnace or boiler. Its primary purpose is to control the flow of natural gas or propane as it passes from the gas supply line into the burner assembly. Once the gas flows through the orifice, it combines...

A burner used in heating systems that draws all of the air needed for combustion from outside the building, rather than using indoor air. This design helps improve energy efficiency and safety by preventing the use of indoor air for combustion and reducing the risk of backdrafting or carbon monoxide entering the indoor space. Sealed...

A bypass damper is a specialized component used in HVAC systems to regulate and redirect excess airflow within the ductwork. It is typically found in systems with zone control, where certain areas of a home or building may not need conditioned air at a given time. When zones reach their desired temperature and dampers to...

CADR is a measurement used to evaluate how effectively an air purifier can clean the air in a specific space. It stands for Clean Air Delivery Rate and indicates the volume of clean air (measured in cubic feet) the purifier can deliver per minute. Higher CADR numbers mean the unit can filter out pollutants, like...

A capacitor is an electrical component used in HVAC systems to store and release energy as needed. It helps in starting and maintaining the operation of certain electrical motors, such as those in compressors, fans, or blower motors. By providing an initial surge of electricity and then balancing power flow, a capacitor ensures the motor...

The amount of heating or cooling an HVAC system can produce to maintain comfortable temperatures inside a building. It's typically measured in BTUs per hour (British Thermal Units per hour), which is a standard unit of energy used in HVAC systems. For instance, in cooling mode, capacity indicates how much heat the system can remove...

A capillary tube system is a simple type of refrigerant control device used in HVAC systems, typically in small cooling appliances like window air conditioners or refrigerators. It consists of a long, thin tube with a very small internal diameter, through which the refrigerant flows. The tube's narrowness and length create a resistance to the...

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a dangerous gas that is invisible, has no smell, and can be deadly. It is created when carbon-based fuels like natural gas, propane, oil, wood, or coal are burned, but there isn’t enough oxygen for the fuel to burn completely. This is often caused by a malfunction in heating equipment, poor...

A type of HVAC system designed to supply a consistent amount of airflow at all times. The temperature of the air is adjusted by heating or cooling it to meet the desired indoor comfort level, but the airflow rate doesn’t change. CAV systems are typically simpler and more affordable than other systems, like VAV (Variable...