Annualized Fuel Utilization Efficiency is a measure of your furnace's heating efficiency. The higher the AFUE percentage, the more efficient the furnace. The minimum percentage established by the DOE for furnaces is 78.

The indoor part of an air conditioner or heat pump that moves cooled or heated air throughout the ductwork of your home. An air handler is usually a furnace or a blower coil.

The distribution or movement of air.

Microscopic living organisms that grow and multiply in warm, humid places.

British Thermal Units. The amount of heat it takes to raise one pound of water one degree Fahrenheit. The higher the BTU rating, the larger the heating capacity of the furnace or air conditioner.

British thermal units per hour.

The Combined Annual Efficiency is a measure of the amount of heat produced for every dollar of fuel consumed for both home and water heating.

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.

System in which air is treated at a central location and distributed to and from rooms by one or more fans and a series of ducts.

The part of the outdoor air conditioner or heat pump that compresses and pumps refrigerant to meet household cooling requirements.

The outdoor portion of an air conditioner or heat pump that either releases or collects heat, depending on the time of the year.

A valve or moveable plate used in ductwork that opens and closes to control airflow. They are used to direct air to specific areas of the home.

A decibel is a unit used to measure the relative intensity of sound.

The Department of Energy is a federal agency responsible for setting industry efficiency standards and monitoring the consumption of energy sources.

A type of furnace that takes cool air from the top and blows warm air to the bottom.

The method by which air is channeled from the furnace or the blower coil throughout your home.

An electronic device that filters out particles and contaminants in indoor air.

A label attached to HVAC systems that meet or exceed the EPA guidelines for energy efficiency.

The Environmental Protection Agency develops and enforces federal environmental regulations. The EPA oversees the nationwide Energy Star program.

Part of the heating or cooling system located indoors, that cools and dehumidifies the air by converting liquid refrigerant into gas. Also referred to as an indoor coil.

An outdoor unit that houses both the blower and coil components to provide whole-home electric cooling and gas heating in one single system.

Located in the furnace, the heat exchanger transfers heat to the surrounding air, which is then pumped throughout the home.

A heat pump is an HVAC unit that heats or cools by moving heat. During the winter, a heat pump draws heat from outdoor air and circulates it through your home's air ducts. In the summer, it reverses the process and removes heat from your house and releases it outdoors.

A type of furnace, installed on its side, which draws in air from one side, heats it and sends the warm air out the other side. Ideal for attic and crawl space installations.

The Heating Seasonal Performance Factor is the heating efficiency rating for heat pumps. The higher the rating, the more efficient the heat pump. There is no legislated minimum HSPF rating.

An indoor air quality device that introduces moisture to heated air as it passes from the furnace into the ductwork for distribution throughout the home.

An automatic device used to maintain humidity at a fixed or adjustable set point.

Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning.

Indoor coils are the indoor section requried in a split system application. Together the outdoor section and indoor section combine to meet efficiency ratings. Homeowners should replace this if replacing the outdoor section, otherwise they could damage their new equipment, get poor effiency, and void the system warranty. The coil maybe a cased or uncased, depending on the application need. Typically, you will find the coil on top of the furnace, but not always.

A family of international standards for quality management and assurance.

The MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value) rating of a filter describes the size of the holes in the filter that allow air to pass through. The higher the MERV rating, the smaller the holes in the filter, the higher the efficiency.

A unit of measure equal to one millionth of a meter, or one thousandth of a millimeter.

Air contaminants in the form of gases.

An outdoor unit that houses both the blower and coil components to provide whole-home heating and/or cooling. The three main types of packaged products all provide electric cooling, but heating could be electric or gas.

Any substances measuring less than 100 microns in diameter. The EPA has found that small particles (less than 2.5 microns) are responsible for the health effects of greatest concern.

A thermostat with the ability to record different temperature/time settings for your heating and/or cooling equipment.

A chlorine-free refrigerant that meets the EPA's newest, most stringent environmental guidelines.

A chemical that produces a cooling effect while expanding or vaporizing. Most residential air conditioning units contain the standard R-22 refrigerant, or Freon.

Two copper lines that connect the outdoor air conditioner or heat pump to the indoor evaporator coil.

A specially designed compressor that works in a circular motion, as opposed to up-and-down piston action.

The Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio is an energy efficiency rating for air conditioners. The higher the SEER, the better the energy performance, the more you save. The DOE's established minimum SEER rating for cooling is 10.00.

A heating and cooling system contained in one outdoor unit.

Refers to an air conditioner or heat pump that is combined with indoor components, such as an evaporator coil inside and a condenser coil outside your home. Split systems should be matched for optimal efficiency.

Monitors temperature and humidity and adjusts heating or cooling system to maintain desired levels.

Usually found on an inside wall, this device operates as a control to regulate your heating and cooling equipment, allowing you to adjust your home comfort at the touch of a switch.

Unit of measurement for determining cooling capacity. One ton equals 12,000 BTUh.

Provides two levels of heat output for greater temperature control.

A type of furnace that draws cool air from the bottom and blows the warm air out the top into the ductwork. Designed for basement or closet installations.

Automatically adjusts the control of heat airflow for ultimate comfort.

A ventilator captures heating or cooling energy from stale indoor air and transfers it to fresh incoming air.

Zoning allows you to control the heating and cooling delivered to specific areas of your house for a custom solution. Zoning can increase efficiency and comfort in the areas of the house you use most often.

Select Topic Air Quality Cooling Heating Installation Service