Frequently Ask Questions
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.
Carbon Footprint:
The
measure of impact that human activities have on the environment. It
is described by the amount of
Greenhouse gases that are produced and is measured in tons of Carbon
Dioxide released into the atmosphere.
Coil:
Are Combination
metal coils with copper tubing and aluminum fins. Homeowners
sometime have problems with this
combination because of chemical reactions between the two different
metals causing corrosion.
Compressor:
The single most
important component in an Air Conditioner, the heart of the system.
The Compressor is the
pump that circulates the refrigerant through the system.
Energy Star:
An Air
Conditioner that meets or exceeds the minimum efficiency level of
13.00 SEER designed by the EPA for
Energy Star recognition.
HSPF:
Heating Seasonal
Performance Factor. The rating used in measuring the heating
efficiency of a heat pump. The
higher the number, the more efficient the unit.
Humidity:
The amount of
moisture in the air, a key factor in home comfort. High humidity can
cause the air to feel sticky and
moist. When the humidity is low the air feels dry. Most people are
comfortable when the humidity is between 30 and 60
percent. Mold can grow if the humidity is to high.
HVAC: An industry acronym that stands for "heating, ventilation and air conditioning."
NATE:
This stands for
North American Technician Excellence. NATE is the nationwide
certification program for HVAC
technicians working in the residential and commercial market.
SEER:
Seasonal Energy
Efficiency Ratio. A measure of cooling efficiency for air
conditioners and heat pumps.
The higher the SEER rating, the more efficient the Air Conditioner.
The SEER rating is the total cooling output provided by the
unit during its normal annual usage period, divided by its total
energy consumption during the same period. The SEER rating
is similar to the Miles Per Gallon rating for cars.
SEET:
Seasonal Extreme
Environmental Test lab. Trane's torture chamber for heating and
cooling systems, where five years
of service are condensed into 16 weeks of grueling tests. If a
product can't live through the SEET lab, it's not manufactured.
Split System:
Most
residential air conditioners are split systems meaning the coil is
located indoors in an air handler and the
condenser unit is located outdoors. Two copper lines called
refrigerant lines connect the indoor air handler and outdoor
condenser. These lines are filled with a refrigerant that travel in
a closed loop between the coil and condenser.