Heating, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Definitions:
Being an informed HVAC buyer begins with understanding the industry
language. Your YORK Dealer will use terms such as the following:
Efficiency Terms:
In 1992, the Federal Government established minimum efficiency
requirements for all heating and air conditioning equipment. If your
present HVAC equipment -- a furnace, heat pump, or air conditioning system
-- was purchased and installed before that date, it could be highly
inefficient by today's standards.
Efficiency ratings are important to understand because installing a new
unit could achieve significant energy cost reductions. And that could save
you from the higher operating expenses of some pre-1992 equipment.
AFUE% = Furnace Efficiency. "AFUE" is a measure of a
furnace's heating efficiency. It stands for Annual Fuel Utilization
Efficiency. The higher the AFUE%, the more efficient the product.
The government's established minimum rating for furnaces is 78%.
HSPF = Heat Pump Heating Efficiency. It stands for
Heating
Seasonal Performance Factor, or HSPF. The higher the HSPF rating,
the more efficient a heat pump is at heating your home. There is no
legislated minimum rating.
SEER = Cooling Efficiency. "SEER" is a measure of
cooling efficiency for air conditioning products. SEER stands for Seasonal
Energy Efficiency Ratio. The higher the SEER rating number, the more
energy efficient the unit. The government's established minimum rating
for air conditioning is 13.
Basic Heating And Air Conditioning Definitions:
Air Handler.
The portion of a central air conditioning or heat
pump system that moves heated or cooled air throughout a home's
ductwork. In some systems, a furnace handles this function.
Heat Source. A body of air or liquid from which heat is collected.
In an air source heat pump, the air outside the house is used as the heat
source during the heating cycle.
Indoor Coil. The portion of a heat pump or central air conditioning
system that is located in the house and functions as the heat transfer
point for warming or cooling indoor air.
Outdoor Coil/Condensing Unit.
The portion of a heat pump or central
air conditioning system that is located outside the home and functions as
a heat transfer point for collecting heat from or dispelling heat to the
outside air.
Single Package. A year 'round heating and air conditioning system
that has all the components completely encased in one unit outside the
home.
Split System. A heat pump or central air conditioning system with
components located both inside and outside of a building -- the most
common types installed in homes.
Supplementary Heat. The auxiliary or emergency heat provided at
temperatures below a heat pump's balance point. It is usually electrical
resistance heat.
Technical Heating And Air Conditioning Definitions:
Balance Point.
An outdoor temperature -- usually between 30°F to
45°F -- at which a heat pump's output exactly equals the heating needs
of the house. Below the balance point, supplementary electric resistance
heat is needed to maintain indoor comfort.
British Thermal Unit (Btu).
The amount of heat required to raise
the temperature of one pound of water (about one pint) by one degree
Fahrenheit.
Coefficient of Performance (COP).
A ratio calculated by dividing
the total heating capacity provided by the heat pump, including
circulating fan heat but excluding supplementary resistance heat (Btu's
per hour), by the total electrical input (watts) x 3.412. (See Heating
Seasonal Performance Factor, above.)
Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER).
A ratio calculated by dividing the
cooling capacity in Btu's per hour (Btuh) by the power input in watts at a
given set of rating conditions, expressed in Btuh per watt (Btuh/watt).
(See Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio, above.)
Some definitions supplied courtesy of
ARI, the
Air-Conditioning & Refrigeration Institute.
