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HVC 120
Term 3
3 credits

Heating Systems: Furnaces, Heat Pumps & Boilers

Gas-fired and electric furnace operation and sequence of operation, ignition and flame-proving systems, combustion analysis and venting, heat pumps including reversing valves and defrost control, and hydronic boiler fundamentals.

Prerequisites

Course outline

Lectures, virtual labs, and graded assignments — completed in your browser.

01Introduction to heating systems and safety protocolslecture
02Gas furnaces: Components, operation, and fuel supplylecture
03Electric furnaces: Elements, sequencing, and control circuitslecture
04Ignition and flame proving systemslecture
05Furnace component identification and electrical diagnostics lablab
06Combustion analysis and venting safetylecture
07Heat pumps: Principles, components, and refrigeration cyclelecture
08Reversing valves and defrost control for heat pumpslecture
09Heat pump system analysis and fault diagnosisassignment
10Hydronic boilers: Types, components, and piping basicslecture
11Boiler controls, safety devices, and maintenancelecture
12Heat pump and boiler system troubleshooting lablab
13Midterm review: Furnaces, combustion, and basic heat pumpslecture
14Final exam review: Advanced heat pumps, boilers, and system integrationlecture

Syllabus

# HVC 120 — Heating Systems: Furnaces, Heat Pumps & Boilers

Gas-fired and electric furnace operation and sequence of operation, ignition and flame-proving systems, combustion analysis and venting, heat pumps including reversing valves and defrost control, and hydronic boiler fundamentals.

## Topics
1. Introduction to heating systems and safety protocols
2. Gas furnaces: Components, operation, and fuel supply
3. Electric furnaces: Elements, sequencing, and control circuits
4. Ignition and flame proving systems
5. Furnace component identification and electrical diagnostics lab
6. Combustion analysis and venting safety
7. Heat pumps: Principles, components, and refrigeration cycle
8. Reversing valves and defrost control for heat pumps
9. Heat pump system analysis and fault diagnosis
10. Hydronic boilers: Types, components, and piping basics
11. Boiler controls, safety devices, and maintenance
12. Heat pump and boiler system troubleshooting lab
13. Midterm review: Furnaces, combustion, and basic heat pumps
14. Final exam review: Advanced heat pumps, boilers, and system integration

## Grading
- Knowledge checks 10%
- Assignments and labs 30%
- Quizzes 25%
- Final exam 35%

A passing grade of 70% or better is required.