- AFUE
- Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency. A measure of a furnace's heating
efficiency. The higher the AFUE percentage, the more efficient the product. The US
government's established minimum AFUE rating for furnaces is 78%.
- Air Handler
- The indoor part of a central air conditioning or heat pump system that
moves cooled or heated air throughout the ductwork of your home. An air handler is usually
a furnace or a blower coil.
- BTU
- That's the amount of heat required to raise one pound of water by one
degree Fahrenheit. What that means is the higher the BTUs, the more heating capacity of
the equipment.
- Btuh
- British Thermal Units per Hour - The amount of heat required to raise the
temperature of one pound of water one degree Farenheit.
- CAE
- Combined Annual Efficiency is a measure of the amount of heat produced
for every dollar of fuel consumed for both home heating and water heating.
- Carbon Monoxide
- An odorless, poisonous, flammable gas produced when carbon burns with
insufficient air. Deadly to humans.
- Carboxyhemogoblin Saturation
- Carbon monoxide poisoning.
- CFM
- Cubic feet per minute. A standard measurement of airflow.
- Compressor
- The part of the outdoor air conditioner or heat pump that compresses and
pumps refrigerant throughout the system.
- Condenser Coil
- The outdoor portion of an air conditioning or heat pump system that
serves as a heat transfer point for dispelling heat to the outside air, as in an air
conditioner or heat pump in the summer; or for collecting heat from the outside air, as in
a heat pump in the winter.
- Damper
- Located in ductwork, this regulates airflow. Effective in controlling
airflow for zoning.
- db
- Decibel, a unit of intesity of sound.
- Ductwork
- The method by which air is channeled from the furnace or the blower coil
throughout your home.
- Evaporator Coil
- The part of a heat pump or air conditioning system that is located inside
the house in the air handler. It is here that the refrigerant evaporates as it absorbs
heat from the air that passes over the coil.
- FAQ
- Frequently Asked Question, also used to mean a list of frequently asked
questions.
- Heat Exchanger
- Located in the furnace, the heat exchanger transfers heat to the
surrounding air, which is then pumped throughout the home.
- Heat Pump
- An HVAC unit that heats or cools by moving heat.
- HSPF
- Heating Seasonal Performance Factor. A measure of heat pump heating
efficiency. The higher the rating, the more efficient the heat pump. The US government's
established minimum HSPF rating for furnaces is 6.8%.
- Humidifier
- Equipment that injects moisture into heated air as it passes from the
furnace into the ductwork to be distributed throughout the home.
- HVAC
- Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning.
- ISO 9000
- A family of international standards for quality management and assurance.
- Refrigerant Lines
- Two cooper lines that connect the outdoor air conditioner or heat pump to
the indoor evaporator coil.
- SEER
- Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. A measure of cooling efficiency for air
conditioners. The higher the SEER, the more energy efficient the unit. The government's
minimum SEER rating is 10.
- Single Package
- A heating and cooling system contained in one outdoor unit.
- Split System
- A combination heat pump or air conditioner with indoor components such as
a furnace or blower coil. Split systems should be matched for optimum efficiency.
- Thermostat
- Usually found on an inside wall, this device operates as a control to
regulate your heating and cooling equipment so that you can adjust your home comfort at
the touch of a switch.
- Ton
- Unit of measurement for determining cooling capacity. One ton equals
12,000 Btuh.
- Zoning
- The ability of partitioning a home into various zones, thereby providing
the opportunity to control comfort levels in each zone.