AC, Heat Pumps, and Furnaces - What's the Difference?

In the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) world, there are many different types and pieces of equipment. All of these have specific names associated with them. Each piece of equipment is typically designed for a specific purpose: heating, cooling, or both.

This three-hour continuing education course covers the differences and similarities between the various types of air conditioning, heat pump, and furnace equipment and their respective components and operations. By building their knowledge base about HVAC system varieties, home inspectors can better serve the public interest through improved inspection report accuracy related to the equipment type installed.

Course highlights include:

• Recognizing various components, types, and operations of cooling and heating systems
• Determining the various efficiency ratings used for cooling systems and heat pumps
• Identifying the different types and components of mini-split systems
• Determining the various types of furnaces, their efficiencies, and testing procedures
• Pinpointing common duct deficiencies and register limitations
• Incorporating standard testing procedures based on equipment type