The air conditioning jargon some people use can be very confusing at the best of times. Most air conditioning items can have 2 or 3 common names that people use. Below is a list of common air conditioning jargon and the definition of each word.
Acoustic Duct / Whispaflex duct - The ducting often used for a return air grille. The duct has tiny holes on the inside core that helps lessen the noise.
Air Conditioner - A unit that can change the temperature of it’s surrounds.
Balancing - The process of adjusting airflow so different rooms get the correct amount of airflow.
Box unit - A simple wall unit that air conditions the room it is in. It sticks in the wall with the the blower side in the room with the outer compressor outside the home.
Cavity Wall - Two walls separated by a cavity or space between.
Commissioning - The act of setting up an air conditioning system.
Condensing Unit / Compressor - The outdoor unit of a reverse cycle system where the gasses are exchanged and compressed to cool the air.
Constant - An outlet that is always on. This is a safety precaution that stops the ducts in the roof from blowing off if someone were to turn all the zones off. It ensures one grille is always blowing air and is usually found in a kitchen or hallway.
Controller - Sits on a wall (usually a cavity wall) and controls the air conditioning system.
Damper - Blades that open and close to effect the airflow. Can be operated by a controller (zoned) or manually adjusted.
Distribution Box / Y Piece - A y shaped device (plastic or metal) used to branch out the ducting into smaller ducts. (e.g. one 14 inch duct breaks off to become two 10 inch ducts).
Drain Tray / Drip Tray / Emergency Tray - The tray that sits underneath the reverse cycle air conditioning fancoil. This tray collects any condensation and drains it out off your roof. Most units have condensation pipes fitted directly into the unit so this tray acts as an emergency feature if the drain becomes blocked.
Drains - Pipes (usually plastic pvc) that run from the indoor (fancoil) unit to outside to remove any condensation from the unit.
Ducting / Duct - The pipework used to distribute the air. Can be flexible or metal.
Ducted Air Conditioner - An air conditioner that distributes the air using ducting. Different to box, ductless (wall splits) and wall units.
Evaporative Air conditioner - Air conditioning that utilizes air blowing across a water filled mesh. The air across this mesh cools the air. Evaporative units are a big box that sits on top of the roof.
Fancoil - An indoor unit for a reverse cycle air conditioner. It is basically a big fan that sits in the roof space.
Fixed Speed Unit - Opposite of an inverter. The air conditioning unit is not variable speed.
HVAC -Acronym for Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning. General term to describe air conditioning.
Inverter - An air conditioning unit that can continuously regulate the thermal power flow by altering the speed of the compressor in response to the amount of cooling required. It ensures cheaper running costs when sized and used correctly.
Isolation Switch - An electrical switch added to provide additional safety.
Linear - A long slender grille, usually used in Theaters or Lounges for decorative purposes.
Metal Ducting - No flexible metal ducting, usually found in commercial applications.
Mobile / Portable Cooler - Cheap mobile air conditioners, that can be moved from room to room.
Outlets / MDO / Grilles - The outlets that sit in the ceiling that blow the air out. Can be plastic or aluminum.
Pipe Cover - Covers that go up the wall that cover the the drains, electrical cables and pipes.
Refrigerant - The gas used within an air conditioning system.
Register Box - The metal box that fits onto the back of a wall grille.
Return Air Filter - The filter contained within the return air grille.
Return Air Grille - A large grille that sucks back the air expelled from a reverse cycle air conditioner. Usually found somewhere hidden such as a hallway passage.
Return Air Starter - A metal box that connects to the rear of an indoor unit in a reverse cycle system.
Reverse Cycle / Refrigerative - Air conditioner that uses gasses to heat/cool an area. It is a closed system (where doors and windows should be kept closed). Separate from Evaporative systems and gas heating systems.
Security Relief Vent - A vent that stops the pressure building up within a house that contains an evaporative air conditioner. It releases excess air into the roof space.
Supply Air Starter - A metal box that connects to the front of an indoor unit in a reverse cycle system.
VAV - Known as Variable Air Volume, it is a system of zone control that can increase or decrease airflow to maintain a certain temperature.
Wall Grilles - A grille (usually aluminum) that is installed in walls or bulkheads.
Wall Split / Ductless Unit - A unit that sits on a wall and usually can only cool/heat the room it is located in. A cheaper alternative than ducted air conditioning.
Zones - A series of damper blades that can open or close. These zones allow an individual to control where the airflow is directed.
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