Here at Extreme Climates, we are dedicated to providing top-tier, honest service to our customers. Part of doing so includes helping our clients understand exactly what’s going on with their HVAC equipment, and how we plan to go about fixing it!
As we assess your home’s heating, cooling, and ventilating system, you may hear some industry jargon and technical terms mentioned. Rest assured, we will explain everything clearly and ensure you fully understand even the most complicated air conditioning and heating system issues!
Glossary of HVAC Industry Acronyms and Jargon
AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency) – The percentage of fuel a furnace or boiler converts into usable heat over a typical year, which is calculated to measure efficiency. Higher AFUE means better efficiency.
Air Handler – The indoor component of an HVAC system that holds the fan and distributes heated and cooled air through ductwork and a home’s ventilation system.
Blower Fan – The element of an HVAC system that moves the warm and cool air throughout the home, distributing it to maintain the established thermostat temperature.
Blower Motor – An electrical component of an HVAC system responsible for driving the fan that circulates warm and cool air throughout the home’s ventilation.
BTU (British Thermal Unit) – A standard unit of heat, used to measure the heating or cooling capacity of an HVAC system. One BTU is the energy needed to raise the temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit. The higher the BTU rating, the more powerful the heating or cooling system.
Condenser Coil – An outdoor coil that’s part of the condenser unit. This transfers heat from inside the home and releases it outdoors.
Contactor – An electromechanical switch that controls the flow of electricity to various components of an HVAC system.
Capacitor – An electrical HVAC system component that stores energy and provides a burst of power to help the compressor and fan motors start and run smoothly.
CFM (Cubic Feet per Minute) – A unit of measurement to explain the volume of air an HVAC system moves each minute. This metric is helpful for sizing ductwork and equipment.
Compressor – The “heart” of an air conditioner or heat pump, responsible for pumping refrigerant through the system and enabling heat transfer.
Dampers – Movable plates or valves in the ductwork that can be used with zoned HVAC systems to direct airflow to specific areas of the home.
Drain Line – A pipe that drains condensation from the evaporator coil within an HVAC system. When they become clogged, they can cause HVAC issues.
Ductwork – The network of tubes that delivers hot or cool air throughout a home.
EER (Energy Efficiency Rating) – A ratio of an AC system’s cooling capacity to the power input in watts. The higher the EER rating, the more efficient the air conditioner.
ERV (Energy Recovery Ventilator) – A ventilation system that exchanges stale indoor air with fresh outdoor air while transferring both heat and moisture to increase energy efficiency.
Evaporator Coil – A component of an air handler within an AC system that removes heat from the air using a refrigerant.
Expansion Valve – An AC system component that works to expand or contract refrigerant as it moves from the condenser coil to the evaporator coil, starting the cooling process.
Filter – Typically refers to an air filter, which is responsible for removing dust, allergens, and particles from the air.
Flue – A vent or exhaust pipe used to safely remove gases from your furnace and send them outdoors.
HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) – A type of air filter designed to remove smaller particles from the air than a standard filter can. These are especially important for those who suffer from allergies.
HSPF (Heating Seasonal Performance Factor) – A measure of heat pump heating efficiency across a typical season. The higher the HSPF rating, the more efficient a unit is.
IAQ (Indoor Air Quality) – An assessment of the condition of the air in a home, specifically as related to health or comfort. IAQ equipment can include air cleaners, air purifiers, dehumidifiers, and humidifiers.
MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value) – A rating for air filters. The higher the MERV score, the finer the particle filtration.
Refrigerant – The chemical compound that absorbs and releases heat to provide cooling in an AC system.
SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating) – A measure of how efficiently a HVAC system cools a home over a typical cooling season, calculated by dividing the unit’s cooling output by the total energy used. A higher SEER rating indicates that a unit will use less energy.
Split System – An HVAC system setup with separate indoor and outdoor units, commonly used for central air conditioning.
Thermostat – Where you control the temperature settings for your HVAC system. The thermostat also monitors the ambient temperature in order to trigger the heating or cooling system to turn on when necessary.
Zoning System – A component of an HVAC system that divides a building into separate areas with individual temperature controls, often intended to increase comfort and energy savings.
Understand Your HVAC System with Help from Extreme Climates
Refer to this glossary anytime to better understand your heating and cooling system components and what’s going on with them. You may find it especially helpful as you’re trying to explain an HVAC issue to us – or as we’re working with you to identify and fix a problem you’re having.
We want all of our communication about your HVAC system to be clear and transparent, no matter how technical the issue is! Have additional questions or need more help understanding what we’re working on? Don’t hesitate to
reach out to us!
