| AFUE - Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency. A measure of a gas furnace's efficiency in converting fuel to energy - the higher the rating, the more efficient the unit. For example: A rating of 90 means that approximately 90 percent of the fuel is used to provide warmth to your home, while the remaining 10 percent escapes as exhaust. Federal law has required that all new residential furnaces built after January 1992 operate with an AFUE of 78% or higher. If your furnace was built before 1992, chances are it is operating with an average efficiency of around 60%. Most of the heat is lost up the chimney or out the exhaust vent - devices used by older furnaces to expel dangerous fumes created by the furnace, such as carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, aldehydes, and even soot. Air Handler - The portion of your heating and cooling system that forces air through your home's ductwork. Air Infiltration - The unwanted entrance of air due to suck things as leakage, temperature difference or wind. BTU - British Thermal Unit. This is the amount of heat it takes to raise one pound of water one degree Fahrenheit. For your home, it represents the measure of heat given off when fuel is burned for heating or the measure of heat extracted from your home for cooling. Back Pressure - This is the refrigerant pressure in the low side of the system also called low side pressure or suction pressure. Balanced Pressure - when the both the inside and outside pressure of a container equal each other. Barometer- is used to measure atmospheric pressure. Barometric Damper - Also called draft damper, is a device installed in a chimney to allow for the adjustment of dilution air. Blower - similar to a fan used to push air. Boiler - device for heating water or generating steam above atmospheric pressure. Capacity - The ability of a heating or cooling system to heat or cool a given amount of space. Heating is usually expressed in BTUs; cooling is expressed in tons. CFM - Cubic Feet Per Minute. A standard measurement of airflow. A typical system requires 400 CFM per ton of air conditioning. Calorie - the amount of heat ( by weight) that is required to raise the temperature of water 1 degree Celsius. Capacity - The output or producing ability of a piece of cooling or heating equipment. Cooling and heating capacities are referred to in BTUs. Certified matched system - The Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) puts heating and cooling equipment through rigorous certification processes to ensure systems deliver the promised performance at certain test conditions. Charge - The amount of refrigerant in a system. Charging - to add a charge of refrigerant to a system. Compressor - The heart of an air conditioning or heat pump system. It is part of the outdoor unit and pumps refrigerant in order to meet the cooling requirements of the system. Condenser Coil -The coil responsible for dissipating heat to the surrounding, outside air. Also called the condenser coil, or outdoor coil, its role is reversed when a heat pump is used in heating mode. Cycle - Series of events or operations which have tendency to repeat in the same order. Damper - Found in ductwork, this movable plate opens and closes to control airflow. Dampers can be used to balance airflow in a duct system. They are also used in zoning to regulate airflow to certain rooms. Downflow - A type of furnace that takes cool air from the top and blows warm air to the bottom. Ductwork - Pipes or channels that carry air throughout your home. In a home comfort system, ductwork is critical to performance - in fact, it's as critical as the equipment. EcoLogic - Maytag's designation of green heating and cooling equipment. Electronic Air Cleaner - An electronic device that filters out particles and contaminants in indoor air. Evaporator Coil or Indoor Coil - The other half of your air conditioning system located inside your home in the indoor unit. This is where the refrigerant evaporates as it absorbs heat from the air that passes over the coil. Gas Furnace Heat Exchanger - Located in the furnace, the heat exchanger transfers heat to the surrounding air, which is then pumped throughout your home. Heat Exchanger - The major part of the furnace that transfers heat into your home. Heat Pump - A unit that handles both heating and cooling. In some climates, a heat pump may handle your heating and cooling needs more efficiently than a furnace and air conditioner. HSPF. Heating Seasonal Performance Factor - This rating is used in measuring the heating efficiency of a heat pump. The higher the number, the more efficient the unit. Humidifier - A piece of equipment that adds moisture to the air as it comes out of the furnace. HVAC - Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Package Unit - A heating and cooling system contained in one outdoor unit. A package unit is typically installed either beside, on top of the home, or sometimes in the attic. Refrigerant - A chemical that produces a refrigerating effect while expanding and vaporizing. Most residential air conditioning systems contain R-22 refrigerant. R-22 is regulated by international controls under the Montreal Protocol and in the United States by the Environmental Protection Agency. It has a long life ahead of it as it is scheduled to be in production until the year 2020. It's used in approximately 95 percent of air conditioning equipment manufactured in the U.S. today. SEER - Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. A measure of cooling efficiency for air conditioners and heat pumps. the higher the SEER, the more energy efficient the unit. The government's minimum SEER rating is 1. (It's similar to comparing miles per gallon in automobiles.) Split System - The combination of an outdoor unit (air conditioner or heat pump) with an indoor unit (furnace or air handler). Split systems must be matched for optimum efficiency. Thermostat - A thermostat consists of a series of sensors and relays that monitor and control the functions of a heating and cooling system. Ton - A unit of measurement used for determining cooling capacity. One ton is the equivalent of 12,000 BTUs per hour. Ventilator - A ventilator captures heating or cooling energy from stale indoor air and transfers it to fresh incoming air. Zoning - A method of dividing a home into different comfort zones so each zone can be independently controlled depending on use and need. |
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