AC-Appliance Pros
Glossary
Know these terms to converse fluently with an air conditioning
dealer or service representative.
Efficiency Terms
In 1992, the Federal Government established minimum efficiency
requirements for all heating and air conditioning equipment.
If your present HVAC equipment - a furnace, heat pump, or air
conditioning system - was purchased and installed before that
date, it could be highly inefficient by today's standards.
Efficiency ratings are important to understand because installing
a new unit could achieve significant energy cost reductions.
And that could save you from the higher operating expenses of
some pre-1992 equipment.
AFUE%-Furnace Efficiency
"AFUE" is a measure of a furnace's heating efficiency.
It stands for Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency. The higher
the AFUE%, the more efficient the product. The government's established
minimum rating for furnaces is 78%.
HSPF-Heat Pump Heating Efficiency
It stands for Heating Seasonal Performance Factor, or HSPF. The
higher the HSPF rating, the more efficient a heat pump is at
heating your home. There is no legislated minimum rating.
SEER-Cooling Efficiency
"SEER" is a measure of cooling efficiency for air conditioning
products. SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. The
higher the SEER rating number, the more energy efficient the
unit. The government's established minimum rating for air conditioning
is 10.
Air Handler
The portion of a central air conditioning or heat pump system
that moves heated or cooled air throughout a home's ductwork.
In some systems, a furnace handles this function.
Heat Source
A body of air or liquid from which heat is collected. In an air
source heat pump, the air outside the house is used as the heat
source during the heating cycle.
Indoor Coil
The portion of a heat pump or central air conditioning system
that is located in the house and functions as the heat transfer
point for warming or cooling indoor air. A network of tubes filled
with refrigerant. A coil located inside the home takes heat and
moisture out of the air as liquid refrigerant evaporates. Sometimes
called the cooling or evaporator coil. (See also Condenser)
Outdoor Coil/Condensing Unit
The portion of a heat pump or central air conditioning
system that is located outside the home and functions as a heat
transfer point for collecting heat from or dispelling heat to
the outside air.
Single Package
A year round heating and air conditioning system that has all
the components completely encased in one unit outside the home
Split System
A heat pump or central air conditioning system with components
located both inside and outside of a building - the most common
types installed in homes.
Supplementary Heat
The auxiliary or emergency heat provided at temperatures below
a heat pump's balance point. It is usually electrical resistance
heat.
Balance Point
An outdoor temperature - usually between 30°F to 45°F
- at which a heat pump's output exactly equals the heating needs
of the house. Below the balance point, supplementary electric
resistance heat is needed to maintain indoor comfort.
British Thermal Unit (Btu)
The amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one pound
of water (about one pint) by one degree Fahrenheit. The heat
extracted from your home by an air conditioner is measured in
BTUs.
Coefficient Of Performance (COP)
A ratio calculated by dividing the total heating capacity provided
by the heat pump, including circulating fan heat but excluding
supplementary resistance heat (Btu's per hour), by the total
electrical input (watts) x 3.412.
Energy Efficiency Ration (EER)
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
rating conditions, expressed in Btuh per watt (Btuh/watt).
Air Flow Volume
The amount of air the system circulates through your home, expressed
in cubic feet per minute (cfm). Proper air flow depends on the
outdoor unit, the indoor unit, the ductwork and even whether
the filters are clean.
Compressor
The pump that circulates refrigerant from the indoor coil to
the outdoor condensing unit and back again. It's called the heart
of the system.
Condenser
A network of tubes located in your unit outside the home, that
removes the heat from the hot, gaseous refrigerant to make it
liquid again. A fan discharges the heat to the outdoors. Sometimes
called the condenser coil.
Refrigerant
The real name for what you might call "freon," it's
fluid that evaporates at relatively low temperature, sucking
heat and humidity out of the air as it does.
Ton
The unit of measure for an air conditioning system's capacity.
One ton of air conditioning removes 12,000 BTUs of heat energy
per hour from a home. Residential air conditioners usually range
from one to five tons.
If you don't know which firm to call, ask if the contractor
is a member of the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA).
consumers can call (972)247-5383 or 1-800-260-8041 to confirm
the contractor is a member or to locate a contractor who subscribes
to the organization's code or ethics.
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1701 North Greenville Ave. Suite 606
Richardson, Texas 75081
972-664-0055
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