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 conditioning |
The treatment of air (temperature, humidity,
cleanliness and circulation) to produce specific standards. |
|
|
Air Diffuser
|
Outlet or grille designed to direct air
flow in specific patterns. |
|
|
Airflow
|
The distribution or movement of air. |
|
|
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 blower coil. |
|
|
| ARI |
Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute. |
|
|
| ASHRAE |
American Society of Heating Refrigeration
and Air Conditioning Engineers. |
|
|
Balance Point
|
An outdoor temperature, usually between
30 degrees F and 45 degrees F at which a heat pump’s
output exactly equals the heating needs of the house.
Below the balance point, supplementary heat is required
to maintain indoor comfort. |
|
|
Blower
|
Fan or air handling device for moving air. |
|
|
Btu
|
British Thermal Units. The amount of heat
required to raise one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit.
What that means is the higher the Btu rating, 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 Fahrenheit in one hour. |
|
|
Carbon Monoxide
|
An odorless, poisonous, flammable gas produced
when carbon burns with insufficient air. Deadly to humans. |
|
|
CFM
|
Cubic feet per minute. A standard measurement
of airflow. |
|
|
Charge
|
Amount of refrigerant put in an refrigerating
unit. |
|
|
| Coil |
See Condensing Coil. |
|
|
Compressor
|
The part of the outdoor air conditioner
or heat pump that compresses and pumps refrigerant throughout
the system. |
|
|
| Condensation |
The product (usually water) that results
from moisture laden air being exposed to a cooler temperature. |
|
|
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 |
|
|
Condenser Unit
|
The condenser unit, often called the outside
unit, handles the refrigerant providing the cooling (and
heating in a heat pump). It consists of a condensing coil,
compressor, fan motor, and control valves. |
|
|
| Cooling Load |
Amount of heat which must be removed from
a specific area under specific design conditions. |
|
|
COP
|
Coefficient of Performance. A ratio calculated
by dividing the total heating capacity provided by the
heat pump by the total electrical input |
|
|
Damper
|
Located in ductwork to regulate airflow.
Effective in controlling airflow for zoning. |
|
|
Decibel (db)
|
The measurement of the intensity of sound. |
|
|
Defrost Cycle
|
During the heating cycle of a heat pump,
frost may build up on the outside coil. To remove the
frost and to maintain efficiency, the system will automatically
defrost itself. It is normal to see steam rising from
the outdoor unit when this happens. |
|
|
Downflow furnace
|
A furnace that takes return air from the
top and discharges the warm air from the bottom. |
|
|
Ductwork
|
The method by which air is channeled from
the furnace or the blower coil throughout your home. |
|
|
Efficiency
|
Similar to miles per gallon of an automobile.
The rated performance. |
|
|
EER
|
Energy Efficiency Ratio. A ratio calculated
by dividing the cooling capacity in Btu’s per hour
(Btuh) by the power input (in watts) at a given set of
conditions, expressed in Btuh per watt. |
|
|
Emergency Heat
|
The backup heat built into a heat pump. |
| |
|
| Energy Star |
A voluntary partnership between the U.S.
Department of Energy, the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, product manufacturers, local utilities and retailers.
When properly installed, Energy Star-labeled
products can save consumers 10-40% on heating and cooling
bills each year. |
|
|
| Evacuation |
The process of removing moisture and other
gases from a refrigeration system. |
|
|
Evaporator Coil
|
The part of a heat pump or air conditioner
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 Questions. |
|
|
| Fan Coil |
A combination of a blower and a coil |
|
|
Filter
|
A device for removing particles from air. |
|
|
| Forced Air |
A type of heating system that uses a blower
to distribute heat. |
|
|
Furnace
|
A type of heating system that uses gas,
oil, or electricity to heat air that is then distributed
by ductwork. |
|
|
Grille
|
Same as Air Diffuser. May also be called
a register. |
|
|
Heat Exchanger
|
Located in the furnace, the heat exchanger
transfers heat to the surrounding air, which is then distributed
throughout the home. |
|
|
Heat Gain
|
Measured in BTU’s, the amount of
heat that a structure gains using specific indoor and
outdoor design temperatures for a specific geographical
location. |
|
|
Heat Loss
|
Measured in BTU’s, the amount of
heat that a structure loses using specific indoor and
outdoor design temperatures for a specific geographical
location. |
|
|
Heat Pump
|
A HVAC unit that heats or cools by extracting
heat (via refrigeration or reverse refrigeration) using
either air or water as a source. In summer it extracts
heat from within the area to be conditioned and discharges
it outside. In winter, the procedure is reversed. |
|
|
| Heating Capacity |
The rate at which a device produces heat
rated in BTUH. |
|
|
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. |
|
|
Humidistat
|
A control that measures and regulates moisture
in the air similar to a the way a thermostat measures
and regulates heat in the air. |
|
|
HVAC
|
Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning. |
|
|
Indoor Coil
|
Same as evaporator coil. |
|
|
Kilowatt (KW)
|
A measurement of electricity. 1000 watts. |
|
|
Kilowatt Hour
(KWH)
|
The amount of kilowatts consumed in one
hour. |
|
|
| Matched System |
A HVAC system with components designed
to be used together to provide specified results. |
|
|
| Outdoor Unit |
See Condenser Unit. |
|
|
| Plenum |
A sealed chamber, located at the inlet
or outlet of an air handler, where conditioned air collects
before being distributed (or returned) through ductwork. |
|
|
| Refrigerant |
A fluid (liquid or gas) used in HVAC systems. |
|
|
Refrigerant Lines
|
Two copper lines that connect the outdoor
air conditioner or heat pump to the indoor evaporator
coil. |
|
|
| Register |
Device, that when installed at the end
of a ductwork, regulates amount of air and the pattern
of the air entering or leaving a given area. |
|
|
| Relative Humidity |
The ratio (expressed in %) of the amount
of moisture actually in the air compared to the amount
the air could hold. |
|
|
| Return |
The ductwork through which air is returned
to the source for re-conditioning. |
|
|
| Return Air |
The air being returned to the source for
reconditioning. |
|
|
| Reversing Valve |
A valve that reverses flow direction of
refrigerant in a heat pump. |
|
|
| Roof Top Unit |
A HVAC unit located on the roof. |
|
|
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 13. |
|
|
| Short-Cycling |
Term used to define a HVAC unit that restarts
immediately after shutting off. |
|
|
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. |
|
|
Supplementary
Heat
|
The auxiliary or emergency heat provided
at temperatures below the heat pump’s balancing
point. |
|
|
| Supply |
The ductwork through which air leaves
the source after being conditioned... |
|
|
| Supply Air |
The air that has been conditioned. |
|
|
| Temperature |
The measurement of heat. |
|
|
Thermostat
|
A device, usually found on an inside wall
to regulate heating and cooling equipment. |
|
|
Ton
|
Unit of measurement for determining cooling
capacity. One ton equals 12,000 Btuh. |
|
|
UL
|
Underwriters Laboratories |
|
|
| Upflow furnace |
A furnace that takes return air in from
the bottom and discharges the warm air from the top. |
|
|
| Vapor Barrier |
A moisture proof covering to prevent condensation. |
|
|
| Watt |
A measurement of electricity. |
|
|
Zoning
|
The ability of partitioning a home into
various zones, thereby providing the opportunity to control
comfort levels in each zone. |
| |
|
|
