HVAC Terms & Definitions

Understand Your System with Confidence

At JBG Heating & Air Conditioning LLC, we believe that an informed customer is an empowered one. Whether you’re upgrading your system, troubleshooting an issue, or simply curious about how your heating and cooling systems work, having a solid grasp of HVAC terminology can help you make smarter decisions and feel more confident during service calls.

With years of hands-on experience and a dedication to continued education, our team has helped homeowners, business owners, and property managers navigate their HVAC needs with clarity and confidence. That’s why we’ve created this helpful HVAC Glossary—to break down the technical jargon into plain language you can actually use.

🔍 HVAC Glossary: Know the Lingo

Absolute Pressure

Pressure measured relative to a perfect vacuum (zero pressure). It’s often indicated with the subscript “abs” to distinguish it from gauge pressure.

Absolute Temperature

Measured on a scale starting from absolute zero—the lowest possible temperature. These scales include Kelvin (K) and Rankine (°R), commonly used in scientific and engineering settings.

Absolute Zero Temperature

The point at which all molecular motion theoretically stops. It equals -273.15°C or -459.67°F. No physical system or electronic device can operate at this temperature, but it’s an important reference in thermodynamics.

Absorbent

A material or substance that has the ability to take in and retain fluids. In HVAC systems, absorbents play a role in humidity control and refrigeration cycles.

Absorption Refrigerator

A cooling system powered by a heat source (such as gas, solar energy, or waste heat). Unlike standard electric compressors, absorption refrigerators use a chemical process to transfer heat, making them highly efficient in certain applications like off-grid homes or facilities that already produce waste heat.

We’re just getting started—this glossary is constantly evolving as new technologies emerge and HVAC solutions continue to advance. If you ever have questions about a term or system you’re unfamiliar with, our technicians are always happy to explain in a way that makes sense.

Have a question about your HVAC system or terminology?

Give us a call or reach out online—we’re here to help you stay comfortable, confident, and informed, every step of the way.