Mar 29, 2024  
2021 - 2022 Catalog 
    
2021 - 2022 Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

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HVAC 135 - Heating System Fundamentals

Credits: 3
Instructional Contact Hours: 3

Focuses on the principles of heating systems, types of fuels, electric heating, venting for combustion furnaces, and the methods of correct duct design through lecture and demonstration. Develops skills and basic knowledge of furnace components, testing, and operations. Reviews indoor air quality enhancements and basic mechanical codes for heating and gas piping installations. Credit may be earned in one of the following: HVAC 135, RHA 135 or SKPT 126 .

Prerequisite(s): None
Corequisite(s): None
Lecture Hours: 35 Lab Hours: 10
Meets MTA Requirement: None
Pass/NoCredit: Yes

Outcomes and Objectives
  1. Identify controls on residential heating systems.
    1. Understand the use of the gas valve, orifices, limit switches, pressure switches, thermostats, computer control boards, air delivery system and heat exchangers.
    2. Know how to set gas pressures on all gas pressures of all gases utilized for heating systems today.
    3. Set temperature rises for safe furnace operations.
    4. Understand the difference between line voltage and pilot duty voltage controls.
    5. Identify the differences between all efficiencies of furnaces manufactured today (High/Medium/Low efficiency, Category I furnaces, Category II furnaces, Category III furnaces and Category IV furnaces.
    6. Study the types of fuels and their individual characteristics.
    7. Identify the combustion triangle characteristics for Natural Gas and Propane fuels.
  2. Identify proper furnace vent sizing methods, venting materials, and develop skills in sizing and designing furnace vents.
    1. Understand gas furnace ratings and efficiencies.
    2. Understand venting categories, material types, and sizing.
    3. Understand types of materials used in vents and their temperature range and rating.
    4. Understand methods for installing different vent types.
    5. Size and safely install different types of furnace vents.
    6. Demonstrate how vent heights can change vent size.
    7. Identify how misapplications can cause venting failure.
    8. Understand differences between dilution air and combustion air.
    9. Identify BTUH inputs of all heating equipment.
  3. Understand the air filter process.
    1. Identify filter efficiencies and how they are rated.
    2. Identify different types of filters utilized in a heating/cooling system.
    3. Understand the importance of filtration to maintain the system efficiency.
    4. Understand how air filters are sized and installed.
  4. Calculate heat loss/heat gain for a residential structure.
    1. Utilize Manual J to calculate heat loss and heat gain of building materials.
    2. Understand solar significance to a building structure.
    3. Understand geographical uses for solar products and efficiencies.
    4. Know what items can increase the load of a residential structure.
    5. Demonstrate knowledge of solar radiation ratings and the effects of changing seasons on their outputs.
  5. Identify the tools needed to do proper installations of heating systems.
    1. Demonstrate with examples the tools needed to install and service heating systems.
    2. Show proper use of each tool.
    3. Demonstrate tools for proper technique and handling.
    4. Identify special meters and instruments used for testing combustion efficiency, carbon monoxide, electrical components, and gas components.
  6. Understand the humidification process.
    1. Identify the term “Relative Humidity,” “Dry Bulb Temperature,” “Wet Bulb Temperature,” “Saturation,” “Saturation Point,” and “Saturation Temperature.”
    2. Identify the difference between by-pass and power type systems.
    3. Identify how humidity affects the home.
    4. Identify the proper settings for a humidistat and how it operates.
    5. Demonstrate how to wire a humidifier to a furnace.
    6. Understand duct sizing and air balancing.
    7. Understand ductwork construction, fiberglass, and metal installations.
    8. Understand conditioning air, static pressures, air velocity, and duct design.
    9. Understand zoning forced air controls or HVAC equipment.



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