Heating and Cooling Terms
Though your definitions of "comfort" may be different than your neighbor's, knowing these terms can help make your search for improved comfort and efficiency much less confusing and much more effective
Advanced Reciprocating
Compressor - Type of compressor that uses a more efficient
process for compressing refrigerant for better cooling efficiency.
AFUE - Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency.
Indicated as a percentage, your furnaces AFUE tells you how much
energy is being converted to heat. For example, an AFUE of 90 means
that 90% of the fuel is being used to warm you home, while the other
10% escapes as exhaust with the combustion gases.
BTU - British Thermal Unit. Used for both
heating and cooling, BTU is a measure of the heat given off when
fuel is combusted. One BTU is equal to the heat given off by a wooden
kitchen match.
Capacity - The ability of a heating or cooling
system to heat or cool a given amount of space. For heating, this
is usually expressed in BTUs. For cooling, it is usually given
in tons.
Comfort Zone II TM - Our exclusive zoning
system, designed to work in conjunction with properly matched HVAC
products to enhance energy efficiency by as much as 30%.
Compressor - Part of a split system heat pump or
air conditioners outdoor unit that controls the pressure applied
to the refrigerant, necessary for taking in heat to warm your home
or getting rid of heat to keep your home cool.
Condenser Coil - Part of a split-system air conditioner
or heat pump. By converting refrigerant that is in a gas form back
to a liquid, the coil sends heat carried by the refrigerant to the
outside.
Damper - A type of "valve" used in ductwork
that opens or closes to control airflow. Used in zoning to control
the amount of warm or cold air entering certain areas of your home.
Downflow - A type of furnace that takes cool air
from the top and blows warm air to the bottom - common when your
furnace must be located in a second-floor closet or utility area.
Electronic Air Cleaner (EAC) - An electronic device
that filters out large particles and contaminants in indoor air.
It then electronically pulls out tiny particles that have been magnetized,
such as viruses and bacteria, drawing them to a collector plate.
Load Estimate - A series of studies performed to
determine the heating or cooling requirements of your home. An energy
load analysis uses information such as the square footage of your
home, window and door areas, insulation quality and local climate
to determine the heating and cooling capacity needed by your furnace,
heat pump or air conditioner.
Evaporator Coil - Part of a split system air conditioner
or heat pump located indoors. The evaporator coil cools and dehumidifies
the air by converting liquid refrigerant into a gas, which absorbs
the heat from the air. The warmest refrigerant is then carried through
a tube to the outdoor unit (condenser coil).
Fan Coil - An indoor component of a heat pump system,
used in place of a furnace, to provide additional heating on cold
days when the heat pump does not provide adequate heating.
HSPF - The Heating Seasonal Performance Factor
is a measure of the heating efficiency of a heat pump. The higher
the HSPF number, the more efficiently the heat pump heats your home.
Horizontal Flow - A type of furnace, installed
on its "side," that draws in air from one side, heats
it and sends the warm air out the other side. Most often used for
installations in attics or crawl spaces.
Humidifier - A piece of equipment that adds water
vapor to heated air as it moves out of the furnace. This adds necessary
moisture to protect your furnishings and reduce static electricity.
Matched System - A heating and cooling system comprised
of products that have been certified to perform at promised comfort
and efficiency levels when used together, and used according to
design and engineering specifications.
Operating Cost - The day-to-day cost of running
your home comfort equipment, based on energy use.
Payback Analysis - Overall measure of the efficiency
and value of your home comfort system. By combining your purchase
price and ongoing operating costs, a payback analysis determines
the number of years required before monthly energy savings offset
the purchase price.
Reclaiming - Returning used refrigerant to the
manufacturer for disposal or reuse.
Reciprocating Compressor - A type of compressor used in
air conditioners that compress refrigerant by using a type of "piston"
action.
Recycling - Removing, cleaning and reusing refrigerant.
SEER - The Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio
is a measure of the cooling efficiency of your air conditioner or
heat pump. The higher the SEER number, the more efficient the system
is at converting electricity into cooling power.
Scroll Compressor - A specially designed compressor
that works in a circular motion versus an up and down piston action.
Setback Thermostat - A state-of-the-art electronic
thermostat with a built-in memory that can be programmed for different
temperature settings at different times of the day.
Split System - Refers to an air conditioner or
heat pump that has components in two locations. Usually, one part
of the system is located inside (evaporator coil) and the other
is located outside your home (condenser coil).
Thermostat - Unit that monitors and controls your
HVAC system products.
Ton - A unit of measure for cooling capacity. One
ton=12,000 BTUs per hour.
Total Home Comfort System - The ultimate solution
to providing you with consistent, customized home comfort, despite
the ever-changing weather.
Upflow - A type of furnace that draws cool air
from the bottom and blows the warmed air out the top into the duct
work. This type of furnace is usually installed in a basement or
an out-of-the-way closet.
Ventilator - A ventilator captures heating or cooling
energy from stale indoor air and transfers it to fresh incoming
air.
Zoning - A way to increase your home comfort and
energy efficiency by controlling when and where heating and cooling
occurs in a home. Programmable thermostats are used to control operating
times of the equipment. Dampers are used to direct airflow to certain
parts or "zones" of the home.
At Wade Heating & Cooling we're proud of our years of service to the Pittsburgh area and look forward to helping you with your air conditioning and heating needs. We're pleased to serve both residential and commercial customers; our team is prepared to help you with the sales, service, and installation of the comfort system that is ideal for your home or business. And be sure to ask Wade for a free estimate. Whether it's a new installation or routine service, our factory-trained technicians provide the expertise your comfort depends on. And at Wade Heating and Air Conditioning, we repair all makes and models.
For over twenty five years, Wade Heating & Cooling has provided its customers with a variety of practical solutions backed up by high service standards and exceptional warranty programs.
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