No. Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) is decidedly not the same as plumbing, which deals with delivery of potable water into and waste water and effluent away from a building or home, among other tasks. There is some overlapping of skills and equipment.

HVAC stands for heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems. This system is responsible for heating and cooling your home and includes products like furnaces, air conditioners, heat pumps as well as ductwork, thermostats and other home comfort controls.

What Does HVAC Stand For? HVAC stands for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. It refers to the systems that regulate and move heated and cooled air throughout residential and commercial buildings, from homes to offices to indoor stadiums.

In 1902, Willis Carrier, a 25-year-old engineer in New York, invented modern air conditioning that moved air through water-cooled coils. In 1922, he created the centrifugal chiller. The Buffalo Forge company created the first fan coil dehumidifying system as well as the first spray-style air conditioning.