It's important to keep in mind certain HVAC parts & accessories basics when installing an HVAC unit. Without the proper parts, an HVAC unit won't function efficiently and can cost your company hundreds of dollars in wasted energy.

HVAC is an acronym for heating, ventilation and air conditioning. Although a heater serves the opposite purpose of an air conditioner, they use several of the same methods for distributing air, including the same basic parts and accessories. When learning the basics of HVAC parts & accessories, keep the following in mind:

1. Know that ducts and vents are the nuts and bolts of an HVAC system.

2. Consider air filters to be inexpensive HVAC parts that greatly improve air quality.

3. Use a thermostat to adjust the temperature of air distributed through the building and to save energy costs.

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Know that ducts are important HVAC accessories

HVAC ductwork is available in both rectangular and circular ducts. The ducts typically run through a building's attic, crawlspaces and garage. Newer construction sometimes has an air-sealed shell called the conditioning space where HVAC equipment can be. A heating or air conditioning unit is useless without ducts to carry the air throughout the building.

I recommend: Read more about rectangular and circular HVAC ducts at The Engineering ToolBox. Use the table to compare the amount of air loss due to friction in various sizes of ducts. To learn more about HVAC ducts in confined spaces, visit ToolBase Services.

Include air filters in an HVAC parts supply

Air filters trap dust and other irritating particles in the air that has traveled through the ductwork before the air is released into a room. Typical HVAC filters include electrostatic filters, fiberglass filters and polyester filter media pads. HVAC accessory manufacturers often offer HEPA filters that remove mold, dust mites, pollen and other allergens from the air.

I recommend: Read more about air filters and how they work at Engineers Edge. To see photographs and specifications of different types of air filters, visit Troy Filters.

Learn the different types of thermostats HVAC parts suppliers offer

Thermostats provide control over the HVAC unit. A thermostat can be either programmable or manual. Programmable thermostats allow the user to designate specific times of the day when the air will be either warmer or cooler. A manual thermostat must be set every time customers want a temperature change. Programmable thermostats are more environmentally friendly because they typically allow the HVAC unit to consume less energy.

I recommend: Learn more about programmable thermostats at Energy Star. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click on the links to read more about choosing the right programmable thermostat, having a thermostat properly installed, properly set up and use a programmable thermostat and saving money with a manual thermostat. Read about various types of thermostats and how they function at the U.S. Department of Energy website.

Consider the visual appeal of decorative vents offered by HVAC parts distributors

HVAC vents, also called registers, distribute the air into a room after it's traveled through the ductwork and air filter. Because you see these vents, they are aesthetically pleasing. Some vents, called gooseneck vents, are for ventilating a building and are outside. While gooseneck vents have an industrial look, indoor registers are often exquisitely decorative and HVAC parts manufacturers offer a selection of different styles.

I recommend: To learn how to keep HVAC vents operating quietly, visit HGTVpro.com. To see an example of a goose neck vent, visit bobvila.com. Find different styles of decorative vents at Décor Grates. Click on the various styles to see more examples.

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Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  You can purchase HVAC parts and accessories through a local dealer, but there is also an excellent selection of HVAC parts online.

HVAC parts and accessories are a common purchase for those in real estate and construction business. Furnaces break. Air conditioners stop pumping out cool air. Ductwork needs to be rerouted. Even if your company can handle the heating or air conditioning installation or repair, you’ll need HVAC parts and supplies in order to get the job done right.

HVAC parts and accessories typically used to be purchased through a representative of one of the HVAC parts suppliers servicing your area. Today, however, there are other ways to buy HVAC parts. Here are the most common ways to get the HVAC parts you need for the job:

1. Purchase HVAC parts from HVAC parts distributors, either online or with a “live” representative.

2. Buy wholesale HVAC parts from a discount supplier.

3. Find what you need at an HVAC parts store.

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Explore HVAC parts suppliers

Finding the exact HVAC parts and supplies you need for a repair or installation has become almost a no-brainer thanks to the search functions featured on leading HVAC parts suppliers' websites. Just type in the model number, and presto - your part appears, ready to be purchased with a credit card. You can also go the old-fashioned route and call a HVAC supplier representative to get your needs handled and HVAC accessories ordered over the phone.

I recommend: Grainger has HVAC parts and accessories from a wide range of manufacturers. To make finding HVAC parts even easier, search by model number at Grainger’s Repair Parts Center. HVAC Plus offers customers an inventory of more than 500,000 HVAC repair parts.

Look into wholesale HVAC parts

Some HVAC parts suppliers offer wholesale prices to commercial customers. Establish a relationship with one wholesaler for even deeper discounts.

I recommend: Request HVAC parts from U.S Heating and Air Conditioning to receive wholesale prices. WholesaleAC is a wholesale HVAC parts supply company with a wide range of HVAC accessories, such as filters and thermostats, to choose from.

Check out an HVAC parts store

While the Internet is a convenient source, it's not your only option for purchasing HVAC parts. Some brick-and-mortar HVAC parts supply stores exist, with the option to buy HVAC parts online also available, of course.

I recommend: Find a parts store on Trane’s website. Because Trane is also a manufacturer, the company’s parts experts have a wide range of knowledge on HVAC parts and supplies. Find a Sears near you to buy HVAC parts. Or order HVAC parts online at Sears PartsDirect.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Understand the warranty and return policy of an item before purchasing any HVAC parts. You don't want to be stuck with a part that doesn't fit or doesn't work, no matter how expensive the item is.

There are too many HVAC parts and HVAC accessories to count. This is probably because a thorough knowledge of HVAC parts supply involves understanding distinct systems — heating, ventilation and air conditioning.

While it is easy to search and even purchase HVAC parts online from HVAC parts suppliers, costly mistakes can occur when you don't have a proper understanding of what you are buying. Consider the following to receive HVAC parts & accessories education and training, to make sure you know exactly what to buy from an HVAC parts store or HVAC parts distributors.

1. Take advantage of training offered by HVAC accessory manufacturers.

2. Educate yourself online with manufacturer-specific videos or CDs about HVAC parts and accessories.

3. Read product literature offered by HVAC parts manufacturers.

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Take advantage of training offered by HVAC parts supply manufacturers

As technology advances, so do changes in the HVAC industry. Keep abreast of new products, parts and accessories by taking advantage of training offered by HVAC manufacturers and their distributors.

I recommend: Trane, a manufacturer of commercial HVAC parts and systems, has a Trane College of Building Automation. Technicians can take many technical courses on the operation, installation and programming of Trane systems. Broudy Precision is a Honeywell Diamond distributor that provides a yearly average of 1,500 man-hours of Honeywell HVAC training.

Look for manufacturer-specific offerings to learn about HVAC parts and supplies online

HVAC manufacturers sometimes offer online courses to allow technicians to educate themselves about a specific brand's system, as well as the parts and accessories that accompany it. Online courses can save you time and money, since they are self-paced and do not require you travel to receive training.

I recommend: Wallace Eannace Associates offers manufacturer and system-specific training videos, articles and CDs that will allow you to become an expert without ever leaving your desk. Scroll down to the bottom of Carrier's training website to view online classes available to train on Carrier-made HVAC systems, parts and accessories.

Read manufacturer product literature about HVAC parts and accessories

Many HVAC stores and websites offer product literature online. Reading this literature is a great way to become knowledgeable about the HVAC parts and accessories that come with each system.

I recommend: Bay Furnace's website allows you to download the product literature of HVAC Controls and Thermostats manufactured by Carrier. The HVAC Parts Shop site contains detailed product literature about a Lennox gas furnace.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Provided you have the time and funds, it may be worthwhile to get HVAC parts & accessories education and training at an HVAC distributor center. These distributors often offer courses on site, which allows you the benefit of seeing, touching and working with the actual parts and supplies as part of your training.

HVAC systems incorporate many electrical, electronic and mechanical components. These may at some point require attention in the form of maintenance, repair or replacement. If you're thinking of becoming an HVAC contractor or starting a repair service business that sells parts and accessories, make sure you and your staff are comfortable with the definitions for different HVAC parts and accessories.

This guide includes definitions for six terms used frequently throughout the HVAC industry. Terms include: accumulator, condenser coil, chiller, compressor, acrolein and Freon.

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Accumulator

An accumulator is a shell device that fits in the suction line of a HVAC system and is used to keep liquids out of the compressor.

I recommend: Read the article at High Performance HVAC to learn more about how accumulators are one of the primary reasons for Freon leaks in HVAC systems. Scroll down to No. 2 for the discussion on accumulators.

Condenser coil

A condenser coil is the outdoor component of either a heat pump or air conditioner used to circulate refrigerant and either collects or releases heat when air is blown over the coils.

I recommend: Get more information on the importance of maintaining clean HVAC condenser coils and a recommended cleaning schedule for the coils set by the National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA) at the Buildings.com website, an information source for the building industry.

Chiller

With regard to an HVAC system, a chiller is either a water-cooled or air-cooled device. A chiller is used to rid a liquid of heat through an absorption or vapor-compression refrigeration cycle. Once cooled, the liquid then travels through a building's pipes, passing through fan-coil units, air handler coils or some other system in order to cool and often dehumidify the building's air.

I recommend: Learn more about HVAC chillers at the GlobalSpec website.

Compressor

In HVAC systems, a compressor is the part that pressurizes or compresses refrigerant in air conditioners, heat pumps and refrigerators, enabling it to flow freely throughout the system. Three primary types of compressors are centrifugal, reciprocating and rotary.

I recommend: The Air Conditioning Filter website has information about HVAC compressors and their function.

Acrolein

Acrolein is an agent that's added to methyl chloride. It produces a disagreeable and acrid odor that alerts people to refrigerant leaks.

I recommend: Visit the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry to learn more about acrolein.

Freon

Freon is the trade name given by DuPont to a highly stable cholorfluorocarbon (CFC) that's often used as a refrigerant. It's nonflammable, colorless, odorless and noncorrosive and can cause serious health problems or even death, depending on the concentration inhaled. Freon is also referred to as Freon 22 and R-22.

I recommend: Learn more about the phaseout of Freon, or R-22, at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency website.