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Wray's
Corner
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1999, 2000. All rights reserved. |
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Common
HVAC Terms
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- AFUE
- Stands for Annual Fuel
Utilization Efficiency. This number represents how
efficiently a furnace converts fuel to energy. The higher
the rating, the more fuel-efficient the furnace is.
Percentage of fuel used for heating.
- Air
Handler
- The portion of your air
conditioner or heating system that forces air through your
home's ductwork.
- BTU
- Stands for British Thermal
Units. This number indicates the amount of heat it takes to
raise one pound of water one degree Fahrenheit. The higher
the BTU rating, the larger the heating capacity of the
furnace or air conditioner. Homes are measured to determine
the number of BTUs required from a heating or cooling
system.
- Capacity
- Heating and cooling equipment
capacities are measured in BTUs. How much heat can the air
conditioning unit remove.
- Carbon
Monoxide
- A colorless, odorless, highly
poisonous gas produced when carbon burns without sufficient
air nearby.
- CFM
- Stands for Cubic Feet per
Minute. A measurement of airflow that indicates how many
cubic feet of air pass by a stationary point in one minute.
The higher the number, the more air is being forced through
the system.
- Compressor
- The Compressor is the most
important piece of a heating or cooling system. Located in
the outdoor unit, the compressor is responsible for pumping
refrigerant throughout the system.
- Condenser
Coil
- The outdoor portion of a
heating or cooling system that either releases or collects
heat from the outside air, depending on the time of year.
The Condenser Coil is connected directly to the home's Air
Handler and is also known as the Outdoor Coil.
- Damper
- A movable plate that controls
airflow through a ductwork system. Dampers are used to
direct air to the areas of the home that need it most.
- Ductwork
- Hollow pipes used to transfer
air from the Air Handler to the air vents throughout your
home. Ductwork is one of the most important components of a
home heating and cooling system.
- Evaporator
Coil
- This is where refrigerant
evaporates as it removes heat from the air that is passed
over it. The Evaporator Coil is located in the indoor unit
and is also referred to as the Indoor Coil.
- Heat
Exchanger
- The part of a furnace that
transfers heat to nearby air. That air is then distributed
through the Ductwork throughout your home.
- Heat
Pump
- A heating and air conditioning
unit that heats or cools by moving heat.
- HSPF
- Stands for Heating Seasonal
Performance Factor. Indicates how efficiently a Heat Pump is
working. A higher number means the unit works more
efficiently. Most new units have ratings from 7.0 to 9.4.
- Humidifier
- A component that adds moisture
to the air before it is distributed by the Ductwork
throughout the house.
- HVAC
- Stands for Heating,
Ventilation, and Air Conditioning.
- Indoor
Coil
- See: Evaporator Coil
- Outdoor
Coil
- See: Condenser Coil
- Refrigerant
- A chemical that cools air as
it evaporates. Air conditioning systems use Refrigerant in
the Evaporator Coil to cool air as it passes by.
- Refrigerant
Lines
- Two copper lines that connect
the Condenser (Outdoor) Coil to the Evaporator (Indoor)
Coil.
- SEER
- Stands for Seasonal Energy
Efficiency Ratio. An efficiency measurement that is similar
to Miles Per Gallon for cars. The higher this number, the
more energy efficient they system is. New units have SEER
ratings from 10 to 17 BTUs per watt.
- Single
Package
- One outdoor unit that contains
both a heating and a cooling system.
- Split
System
- A combination heat pump or air
conditioner with indoor components such as a furnace or
blower coil. To maximize effectiveness, Split Systems should
be matched.
- Thermostat
- A device that allows you to
control the temperature inside your home by telling the
heating or cooling system how much air to produce.
- Zoning
- The dividing of a home into
different areas each with their own heating and cooling
properties. For example, you might prefer to have the
kitchen area of your home be slightly cool, while at the
same time keeping the temperature in the bedrooms warmer.
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