Don’t Be Fooled! Let’s Decode HVAC Terminology.
Have you ever had an HVAC technician in your home and they use terms you don’t understand at all? Or you call an HVAC company to describe a problem you’re having and their response includes confusing words? What are they talking about?!
You’re not an experienced HVAC technician and you don’t have the background knowledge to understand these advanced terms. But it’s important to know what your technician is talking about when it comes to YOUR heating and cooling systems.
We are committed to making sure our customers are well-informed about HVAC systems. That’s why we wrote this blog post!
Let’s decode some HVAC terminology you hear but might not recognize or understand…
Airflow volume: the amount of air circulated in a space measured by cubic feet per minute.
Condenser: the hot side of an air conditioner or heat pump that can transfer heat to air.
Coil: performs heat transfer to air when mounted inside an air unit or ductwork.
Damper: sheet metal plates that can be opened or closed to control the flow of air into a zone.
Compressor: A pump that increases the pressure of refrigerant gas.
Drip pan: a container for catching material that drips from above.
Freon: the cooling agent used in most air conditioning systems that actually creates cool air.
Gas heater: space heater used to heat by burning natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, propane or butane.
Electric heater: electrical energy is converted to heat.
Heating coil: part of system that allows electricity to act as fire.
Intermediate fluid: a liquid or gas used to transfer heat between two heat exchangers.
SEER: Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio; the rating of a unit for the cooling output during a typical cooling-season divided by the total electric energy input during the same period. The higher the unit’s SEER rating the more energy efficient it is.
Congrats, you’re an expert on everything HVAC now! Ok, not really, but you know more than you did before! Now that you are familiar with these terms, you are one step closer to understanding your HVAC technician and your HVAC issues.
Share this article to keep your friends well-versed in HVAC terms!