Nov 06, 2025  
2025-2026 Catalog 
    
2025-2026 Catalog

HVAC 101 - Heating Fundamentals


PROGRAM: Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning
CREDIT HOURS MIN: 3
LECTURE HOURS MIN: 2
LAB HOURS MIN: 2
DATE OF LAST REVISION: Spring, 2019

Introduces fundamentals applicable to the heating phase of air conditioning. Includes types of units, parts, basic controls, functions, and applications. Emphasizes practices, tool and meter use, temperature measurement, heat flow, the combustion process and piping installation practices. Covers the basic sequence of operation for gas, oil and electric furnaces.

MAJOR COURSE LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Upon successful completion of this course the student will be expected to:

  1. Demonstrate safe practices and procedures.
  2. Define and properly use the terminology of the heating industry.
  3. Identify and explain the operation of safety devices and components used on heating equipment that were covered in the course.
  4. Explain the combustion and heating process of a fossil fuel furnace.
  5. Describe the sequence of operation for the furnace types covered in the course.
  6. Demonstrate the use of the tools, test equipment and materials used in heating equipment installation and service that were covered in this course.
  7. Explain the basic concepts of low voltage thermostatic control.
  8. Discuss the characteristics of fuels and the safety precautions for working with those fuels.
  9. Measure the temperature rise across a furnace’s heat exchanger.
  10. Identify common electrical schematic symbols used in furnace schematics.
  11. Identify the different ignition systems used on gas furnaces.
  12. Explain how to measure manifold gas pressure.
  13. Describe the various methods of proving flame used on gas and oil furnaces that were covered in the course.


COURSE CONTENT: Topical areas of study include -  

  • Basic principles of heat transfer
  • Furnace components
  • Combustion process
  • Furnace sequence of operation
  • Fuels and their properties
  • Low voltage control of heating equipment
  • Ignition systems
  • Heat exchangers and temperature rise
  • Proving flame

 
GRADING POLICY

A 90-100
B 80-89
C 70-79
D 60-69
F 0-59

 
Course Addendum - Syllabus (Click to expand)