Every term we use on an inspection report, explained without jargon. It's the same vocabulary your HVAC contractor and home inspector will use — so you can hold all three of us to it.
The distribution box connected to your air handler — supply plenum on the leaving side, return plenum on the entering side.
The distribution box connected to your air handler — supply plenum on the leaving side, return plenum on the entering side. Every cubic foot of conditioned air passes through both, making them the system's highest-traffic surfaces.
Open full pageThe ductwork that carries filtered, conditioned air from the air handler out to the rooms.
The ductwork that carries filtered, conditioned air from the air handler out to the rooms. Supplies run downstream of the filter, so they generally stay cleaner than returns — but they deliver whatever the system carries.
Open full pageThe ductwork that pulls room air back to the air handler for conditioning.
The ductwork that pulls room air back to the air handler for conditioning. Returns run upstream of the filter, ingesting raw household dust, hair, and fibers — which is why they're usually the dirtiest part of the system.
Open full pageThe cleaning method the ACR standard calls for: mechanically dislodge debris inside the duct, then capture it in a vacuum collector outside the living space.
The cleaning method the ACR standard calls for: mechanically dislodge debris inside the duct, then capture it in a vacuum collector outside the living space. The opposite of blowing dust around and calling it cleaning.
Open full pageThe vacuum state created when a high-volume collection machine is connected to a sealed duct system.
The vacuum state created when a high-volume collection machine is connected to a sealed duct system. Air can only flow inward and toward the collector, so dislodged debris exits the system instead of escaping into rooms.
Open full pageMinimum Efficiency Reporting Value — the filter-efficiency scale from ASHRAE's test standard.
Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value — the filter-efficiency scale from ASHRAE's test standard. Higher numbers capture finer particles; the catch is airflow resistance, which is why the right MERV depends on what your blower can support.
Open full pageVolatile organic compound — vapors off-gassed by paints, adhesives, new materials, and cleaning products.
Volatile organic compound — vapors off-gassed by paints, adhesives, new materials, and cleaning products. VOCs are gases, so filters and duct cleaning don't remove them; ventilation does. Knowing the difference prevents buying the wrong fix.
Open full pageFlexible ducting made of a wire helix, inner plastic liner, and insulation sleeve — the workhorse of Texas attic installations.
Flexible ducting made of a wire helix, inner plastic liner, and insulation sleeve — the workhorse of Texas attic installations. Light and cheap, but prone to sagging, kinks, tears, and crushing, all of which show up on camera.
Open full pageThe indoor unit that moves air through the system — blower, coil, and filter rack.
The indoor unit that moves air through the system — blower, coil, and filter rack. The duct system attaches to it through the supply and return plenums; it's the crossroads every particle in your air eventually visits.
Open full pageThe resistance the blower pushes against to move air through filters and ducts.
The resistance the blower pushes against to move air through filters and ducts. Overly dense filters and crushed runs raise it, cutting airflow and stressing equipment — the hidden cost of buying the highest MERV on the shelf.
Open full pageUltraviolet germicidal irradiation — using UV-C light to keep surfaces microbially clean.
Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation — using UV-C light to keep surfaces microbially clean. In residential HVAC its honest value is continuous exposure of wet components like the coil area, not zapping air as it rushes past.
Open full pageThe short metal fitting that connects a duct run to its register opening in the ceiling, wall, or floor.
The short metal fitting that connects a duct run to its register opening in the ceiling, wall, or floor. Boots collect the most visible buildup in the system and are the first thing cleaned in boundary-level maintenance.
Open full pageThis is a starter set, not a finished dictionary. Send us the word you got stuck on and we’ll add it.
Submit a termFlat fee confirmed when you book. Same-week scheduling. A pass/fail verdict within 48 hours.
Water intrusion in the ducts, a musty smell that won't quit, or vermin in the system? We answer 7 AM to midnight and every visit ends with camera photos and a written verdict — including a straight "your ducts are fine" when that's what we find. After-hours dispatch runs subject to crew availability.
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