What You Need To Know About HVAC
Knowledge is power, and Jewell Mechanical doesn’t want to keep its customers or prospective customers in the dark. More information leads to more informed decisions, and unless you are an HVAC contractor yourself or in the home renovation business, language used in HVAC system specifications and descriptions can be pretty confusing at first.
We’ve compiled resources that will help you understand HVAC basics whether you are ready to upgrade your system, need HVAC repairs, or are simply planning ahead.
Common HVAC Acronyms*
Like any industry, the heating, cooling and air control sector has many acronyms. Recognizing them will help you better understand system specifications and descriptions. HVAC, not surprisingly, stands for Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning.
In reading about heating and cooling, you will come across some others:
AFUE: Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency is a rating for a gas furnace that reflects how efficiently it converts fuel to energy. An AFUE of 90, for example, means about 90 percent of fuel warms your home and 10 percent escapes as exhaust.
BTU: British Thermal Unit in scientific terms is the amount of energy needed to raise one pound of water 1 degree Fahrenheit. BTUh is British Thermal Units per hour refer to heating and cooling capacities. 12,000 BTUh is equal to 1 ton of cooling.
CFM: Cubic Feet per Minute is a standard measurement of airflow. A typical AC system, for example, produces 400 CFM per ton of air conditioning.
EER: Energy Efficiency Ratio is calculated by a set outside air temperature, a set inside air temperature and 50 percent relative humidity.
HEPA: High Efficiency Particulate Arrestor (or High Efficiency Particulate Air) filters remove particles from the air by trapping them.
HSPF: The Heating Seasonal Performance Factor measures heat pump efficiency. The higher the HSPF, the greater the energy efficiency.
NATE: North American Technical Excellence, a nationwide certification program for home heating and cooling technicians.
SEER: Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio measures system efficiency by calculating the cooling output of a typical cooling season divided by the total electrical energy input during the same time. Unlike EER, SEER calculations involve a range of outdoor air temperatures. The higher the SEER rating, the greater the energy efficiency. 11 EER is roughly 12 SEER.
Tips and Tricks For Your HVAC:
Heating
Furnaces
Air Conditioning
Filters
Thermostats
Energy Savings
Learn even more tips and tricks from our helpful HVAC blog.
*SOURCES: U.S. Department of Energy, American Standard