
When you go to the dentist and the hygienist throws around words like molars, incisors, or canines (a word which suddenly makes you think of a therapy dog for what’s coming next), you get nervous but you don’t panic. You know those are simple words that might be used for anything, even inexpensive procedures like an exam where the dentist swats you on the behind afterwards and says, “Good job, dear squire. Keep up the good work.” But when the dental team starts spitting out root canal, extraction, and asks you about your insurance, it’s about to get really real real fast. Well, HVAC terms can be the same way.
In HVAC terms, furnace is not a scary word, replacement might feel like it is. When the heating and cooling professional comes in and essentially tells you he recommends putting your system on hospice care - sorry we meant buying time - you may think you need to prepare to go through the 5 Stages of Grief. But replacement, for example, can be a great word if you understand other words like Return on Investment or HERS or IAQ. Then you may see replacement as an opportunity for taking out the trash, which is a term your ex-girlfriend’s evil sister used to describe the act of dumping you. Schnelle Heating & Air can help sort those out, except the ex-girlfriend. You don’t want her anyway, right? Right?
So, let’s go through some basic HVAC terms you will want to know to keep you from unnecessary confusion and worry.
AFUE (Annualized Fuel Utilization Efficiency) is a rating which tells how much of the energy consumed is being converted into heat effectively. So an AFUE of 90 percent means 90 percent of the fuel is being used directly, and there is 10 percent waste.
AIR EXCHANGE RATE measures how quickly your system replaces the inside air with conditioned outside air in one hour.
AIR HANDLER is the portion of the air conditioning system that is indoors and transitions the compressed air from the outside unit into forced air into the ducts and then the house.
BTU (British Thermal Unit) is a measure of how much heat is required to raise a pound of water one degree. Therefore, the more heating power (BTU output) a system has the better, in most situations.
COILS are the metal, fin-like tubes that the outside air that is being blown through in order to cool or heat them. In other blogs we’ve stressed how important it is to keep these clean.
COMPRESSOR is one of the HVAC terms for the component that squeezes the refrigerant to lower the temperature of the air, cooling the house. It also regulates heated air.
DRAFT is the force or motion of air. In the HVAC world, a draft is usually a bad thing because it means untreated air is invading a space we are trying to treat.
DUCTWORK consists of the channels (ducts) by which the air flows into or out of (return duct) the heating or cooling units.
ENERGY STAR RATING is similar to the AFUE, but it carries an official designation by the EPA and doesn’t take into account variables specific to each home.
FLUES are heat-resistant ducts that guide the exhaust from the combustion up and safely out of the house. You may have heard of them in the context of fireplaces, but they refer to combustion waste in many applications.
FREON is the trademarked product that is a refrigerant. The term is often erroneously used to title any refrigerant, though there are many others. A refrigerant is the chemical inside the coils that the condenser squeezes to change the temperature of the air.
HEAT LOSS is the rate at which heated air escapes, usually through leaks in ductwork, windows, doors, or the ceiling.
HEAT PUMPS are efficient heaters that pull air from the inside or outside, run it over the coils of compressed air, and transfer the desired temperature of that air into or out of the home. This is different than a furnace, which generates heat through combustion. In the extreme heat and cold of the four-state area of Schnelle Heating & Air, heat pumps generally require an additional heat or cooling source.
HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Arrestance) is a type of air filter designed to greatly improve the air quality of a home by removing particulates from the air (mold spores, smoke, dangerous chemicals, pollen, and more).
HERS (Home Energy Rating System) scores the overall energy efficiency of the home. It takes into account many factors, not just the performance of the heating or cooling systems.
HSPF (Heating Seasonal Performance Factor) is a rating given to the efficiency of a heat pump. It measures the amount of BTUs created, minus the amount of electricity used.
HVAC stands for Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning
IAQ (Indoor Air Quality) is the overall condition of the house in regards to the purity and safety of the air inside. It typically includes, dust, humidity, mold, pollen, and VOCs (volatile organic components), as well as other harmful substances.
MERV Rating (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value) measures the ability of an air filter to keep out particles. Filters are scored on a scale of 1 to 16. Talk to your HVAC service provider about which filter may be best for your situation. There are more variables to consider than the MERV rating.
ROI (Return on Investment), sometimes expanded to be a “payback analysis,” calculates the amount of time needed to recoup the investment made in buying the new system.
R-VALUE is a rating for insulation. The higher the R-Value the better it insulates. Upgrading this score is one of the most cost effective ways to save money on heating and cooling.
SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) scores mark the efficiency of the HVAC system. This SEER rating is how terms like High Efficiency and Energy Star Rating are established.
THERMOSTAT is the controlling device for the heating or cooling system. Make sure you have a great, well-placed, well-configured, programmable thermostat. This device can save you lots and lots of money and significantly improve the air quality and comfort of your home.
ZONE CONTROL is one of the newer HVAC terms. That’s because many of the newer systems have technology that allows people to control where the treated air is going. No sense in heating all the rooms if you only use one or two throughout much of the day.
Knowing some HVAC terminology could save you a lot of panicked moments and unnecessary worry. We also hope that knowing a little more can help you enjoy your home more, live more safely, reduce energy consumption, prolong the life of your system, and save you money. So, change those filters, stop those leaks, program your thermostat, teach the other people in your home to shut the stinkin’ doors, and schedule with Schnelle Heating & Air for regular maintenance and any service you need. We have the experience, training, equipment, and customer care to give you something to write home about.
Wait. You would be writing to yourself of course. That’s not ideal. Well, just address the envelope to your secret online name, like Thrill Nye the Silence Guy or Kale Sea Grammar. Otherwise, you would confuse the post office. Anyway, contact us.