If you’re confused about all the lingo your heating and cooling contractor uses, now is the time to get familiar with HVAC terms. Here are just a few to get you started:
- ACCA: Air Conditioning Contractors of America, a national trade association that HVAC contractors can become affiliated with. Look for the ACCA logo to know you’re working with a reputable company.
- AHRI: Air-Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute, a nonprofit organization comprised of HVAC equipment manufacturers. AHRI publishes testing and rating standards for heat pumps and air conditioners.
- Btu: British thermal unit, the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one pound of water by one degree. The cooling capacity of a heat pump or air conditioner is given in Btu/hour.
- COP: Coefficient of performance, an efficiency rating given to heat pump equipment. The higher the rating, the more efficient the equipment is.
- ERV: Energy recovery ventilator, equipment that circulates fresh air into the home and exhausts stale air out. It can preheat or pre-cool air as it enters to decrease its impact on energy bills.
- HRV: Heat recovery ventilator, equipment that circulates fresh air into the home while preheating it at the same time to decrease its impact on energy bills.
- HSPF: Heating seasonal performance factor, the efficiency rating given to heat pumps indicating their heating efficiency. The higher the rating, the more efficient the equipment is.
- HVAC: Heating, ventilation and air conditioning, a term used to describe heating and cooling contractors and equipment.
- IAQ: Indoor air quality, which is usually worse than outdoor air.
- NATE: North American Technician Excellence, a nationally-recognized organization that tests and certifies HVAC technicians.
- R-22 vs. R-410A: Two refrigerant types. R-22 is commonly called Freon, its trademarked name; this went out of production in 2010. R-410A refrigerant is taking its place, since it doesn’t contain chlorine and other harmful chemicals that lead to ozone depletion.
- SEER: Seasonal energy efficiency ratio, a rating given to cooling equipment indicating how efficiently it can remove heat from a space. The higher the rating, the more efficient the equipment is.
To learn more about these HVAC terms, please contact Blanton’s Heating & A/C in Fayetteville today.
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