When you want to know if your air ducts are going to be cleaned properly, you need to be able to discuss your system with your HVAC expert. Below are some terms that may help you be more comfortable with the conversation.
AFUE
A rating on a furnace that indicates how efficiently the furnace uses fuel to make heat. Reported as a percentage. An AFUE of 90% indicates that 90% of fuel is producing heat, while 10% is leaving as exhaust due to combustion.
Also known as: annual fuel utilization efficiency
advanced reciprocating compressor
Kind of compressor used for improved efficiency when compression refrigerant for cooling.
air handler
In the heating and cooling systems for your house, the part that sends the air through the ductwork.
BTU
Measure of heat. One BTU is roughly equivalent to the amount of heat that a wooden kitchen match gives off.
Also known as: British thermal unit
CFM
A measurement that shows the number of cubic feet of air that flow by a single point in sixty seconds. Higher numbers indicate greater air flow.
Also known as: cubic feet per minute
capacity
Refers to a system’s ability to affect a specified amount of space. Heating capacity is usually described in BTUs, while cooling capacity is usually described in tons.
carbon monoxide
A gas created by combusting carbon-based fuels when there is not sufficient air. It is highly dangerous, while being odorless.
compressor
A part of a heating or cooling system that determines how much pressure is put on the refrigerant. It is typically part of the outside unit.
condenser coil
The condenser coil is the part of a heating or cooling system that returns refrigerant from a gas to a liquid. Changing the state from gas to liquid extracts the heat. It is typically part of the outside unit.
DB
Unit of measurement for noise.
Also known as: dB, decibels
damper
A damper is part of duct work. It can open or shut to allow or cut off airflow.
downflow
Refers to a kind of furnace that moves cool air from the top and sends warm air to the bottom. Often used when a furnace is placed on the second floor.
ductwork
Pipes that send air from a system’s air handler to the vents located throughout the house.
Also known as: ducts
EER
A calculation that determines how efficient a device’s energy use is. The formula is to divide the device’s BTU by its wattage.
Also known as: energy efficiency ratings
electronic air cleaner
A kind of filter, it can remove large particles and contaminants from the air. For smaller particles, it magnetizes viruses, bacteria, and other tiny particles, then attracts them to a collection surface.
Also known as: EAC
energy saver switch
Makes an air conditioner’s fan and compressor switch on and off in sync, so that less energy is used.
Energy Star
A government program to label devices that offer better energy use than others in their category. This allows consumers to save on energy costs.
evaporator coil
Part of the indoor system for the heating or cooling system, it changes the state of the refrigerant from liquid to gas or vice versa, thus removing heat and humidity from the air.
Also known as: indoor coil
fan coil
A fan coil may be used instead of the furnace and evaporator coil. The fan coil is also an indoor part of the system, and it changes the state of the refrigerant from liquid to gas or vice versa to remove heat and humidity.
HEPA
A type of filter used to prevent particles from re-entering the surrounding space.
Also known as: high efficiency particle air
HSPF
Measurement used to describe how efficient a heat pump is. A higher number indicates more efficiency.
Also known as: heating seasonal performance factor
HVAC
The acronym for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning.
heat exchanger
A part of a furnace that moves heat to the surrounding air.
heat pump
A heat pump moves heat and cold in and out of the house. When used in cooling mode, it performs like an air conditioner to remove heat from the house. In heating mode, it uses heat from the outside to warm the house.
horizontal flow
A kind of furnace that takes air in one side and send it out warmer on the other side. Installed on its side, it is often the type used for attics or crawl spaces.
Also known as: horizontal heater
phantom load
The electricity that a device uses when it is plugged in and not turned on.
plenum
The plenum is sheet-metal box that allow more ductwork to connect to either the furnace outlet or the air handler outlet.
split system
When you want to know if your air ducts are going to be cleaned properly, you need to be able to discuss your system with your HVAC expert. Below are some terms that may help you be more comfortable with the conversation.
AFUE
A rating on a furnace that indicates how efficiently the furnace uses fuel to make heat. Reported as a percentage. An AFUE of 90% indicates that 90% of fuel is producing heat, while 10% is leaving as exhaust due to combustion.
Also known as: annual fuel utilization efficiency
advanced reciprocating compressor
Kind of compressor used for improved efficiency when compression refrigerant for cooling.
air handler
In the heating and cooling systems for your house, the part that sends the air through the ductwork.
BTU
Measure of heat. One BTU is roughly equivalent to the amount of heat that a wooden kitchen match gives off.
Also known as: British thermal unit
CFM
A measurement that shows the number of cubic feet of air that flow by a single point in sixty seconds. Higher numbers indicate greater air flow.
Also known as: cubic feet per minute
capacity
Refers to a system’s ability to affect a specified amount of space. Heating capacity is usually described in BTUs, while cooling capacity is usually described in tons.
carbon monoxide
A gas created by combusting carbon-based fuels when there is not sufficient air. It is highly dangerous, while being odorless.
compressor
A part of a heating or cooling system that determines how much pressure is put on the refrigerant. It is typically part of the outside unit.
condenser coil
The condenser coil is the part of a heating or cooling system that returns refrigerant from a gas to a liquid. Changing the state from gas to liquid extracts the heat. It is typically part of the outside unit.
DB
Unit of measurement for noise.
Also known as: dB, decibels
damper
A damper is part of duct work. It can open or shut to allow or cut off airflow.
downflow
Refers to a kind of furnace that moves cool air from the top and sends warm air to the bottom. Often used when a furnace is placed on the second floor.
ductwork
Pipes that send air from a system’s air handler to the vents located throughout the house.
Also known as: ducts
EER
A calculation that determines how efficient a device’s energy use is. The formula is to divide the device’s BTU by its wattage.
Also known as: energy efficiency ratings
electronic air cleaner
A kind of filter, it can remove large particles and contaminants from the air. For smaller particles, it magnetizes viruses, bacteria, and other tiny particles, then attracts them to a collection surface.
Also known as: EAC
energy saver switch
Makes an air conditioner’s fan and compressor switch on and off in sync, so that less energy is used.
Energy Star
A government program to label devices that offer better energy use than others in their category. This allows consumers to save on energy costs.
evaporator coil
Part of the indoor system for the heating or cooling system, it changes the state of the refrigerant from liquid to gas or vice versa, thus removing heat and humidity from the air.
Also known as: indoor coil
fan coil
A fan coil may be used instead of the furnace and evaporator coil. The fan coil is also an indoor part of the system, and it changes the state of the refrigerant from liquid to gas or vice versa to remove heat and humidity.
HEPA
A type of filter used to prevent particles from re-entering the surrounding space.
Also known as: high efficiency particle air
HSPF
Measurement used to describe how efficient a heat pump is. A higher number indicates more efficiency.
Also known as: heating seasonal performance factor
HVAC
The acronym for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning.
heat exchanger
A part of a furnace that moves heat to the surrounding air.
heat pump
A heat pump moves heat and cold in and out of the house. When used in cooling mode, it performs like an air conditioner to remove heat from the house. In heating mode, it uses heat from the outside to warm the house.
horizontal flow
A kind of furnace that takes air in one side and send it out warmer on the other side. Installed on its side, it is often the type used for attics or crawl spaces.
Also known as: horizontal heater
phantom load
The electricity that a device uses when it is plugged in and not turned on.
plenum
The plenum is sheet-metal box that allow more ductwork to connect to either the furnace outlet or the air handler outlet.
split system
A split system may be a heat pump or air conditioner. The components are installed in two locations, usually inside and outside.
two-stage compressor
A compressor that can operate at two different levels. When properly sized, the device operates 80% of the time at its low level, and 20% of its time at its high level. By operating at the lower level most of the time, the device improves efficiency and reduces humidity level and operational noise.
upflow
A furnace type. It pulls cool air in at the bottom and exhausts warmed air out the top. Often used in a basement installation.
ventilator
A device that gets heating or cooling energy from the indoors air and moves that energy to incoming air.
A split system may be a heat pump or air conditioner. The components are installed in two locations, usually inside and outside.
two-stage compressor
A compressor that can operate at two different levels. When properly sized, the device operates 80% of the time at its low level, and 20% of its time at its high level. By operating at the lower level most of the time, the device improves efficiency and reduces humidity level and operational noise.
upflow
A furnace type. It pulls cool air in at the bottom and exhausts warmed air out the top. Often used in a basement installation.
ventilator
A device that gets heating or cooling energy from the indoors air and moves that energy to incoming air.
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