Let Us Teach You: Heating & Air Conditioning Terms

AFUE - Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency. This is the rating that lets consumers know how much gas each furnace will use.

CAPACITY - The size of every system needed to heat or cool a space is known as its capacity. Since each ton of cooling is equal to 12,000 BTU's, then a 3 - ton system, for example, has the ability to remove 36,000 BTU's of heat, in a specific space, per hour.

CFM's - Cubic Feet per Minute. This is the rating for how much air a fan or blower will move.

CONDENSATE DRAIN LINE - Where the water that was collected from the cooling coil is routed to a drainage area or sink.

CONDENSER - The outdoor section of a split heating and cooling system. The condenser houses the condenser fan motor, the compressor and other electrical components.

CONDENSATION - This is water that is removed from the air that is being cooled, and collected from the cooling coil when the system in the air conditioning mode. The amount of water collected is dependant on the air temperature, the humidity and other factors.

DUCT TESTING - It is accepted that most duct systems leak some air. So, in an effort to save energy, in 2005 California lawmakers enacted a bill, to insure that duct systems are properly sealed. At random, property owners may be selected to have their ducts checked when any component of a heating or air conditioning system is replaced, or a new system is installed. Use the links below or call our office for more information.
Changes in California’s Energy Code for 2005
CA State License Board Release

DUCTS - The vessels that carry warm or cool air from the blower section into the various areas of a home or other building. Ducts come in a variety of shapes, sizes and materials.

FAN COIL - This is the indoor section of a split heat pump system. It consists of the blower and evaporator coil section.

FILTERS - Every system has some type of filter. The filter is designed to remove dust and dirt from the air inside of the conditioned space. It also keeps the dust and dirt from clogging the fins of the evaporator coil.

FREON - This is a generic name for the refrigerant used in air conditioning systems. Freon (R-22) which has been used for many years is gradually being phased out due to concerns that it may be harming our atmospheres ozone layer. A new "Freon" (R-410a) is the generally accepted replacement. Sometimes known as Puron.

FURNACE - The indoor section where natural gas (or Propane) is burned to provide heat for the conditioned space. The furnace houses the blower that moves air into the ducts.

GRILLES / REGISTERS - Commonly referred to as 'the vents'. The supply grilles, or registers, direct the incoming airflow into the space to be cooled or heated. Return grilles allow the air to be removed from the space to be re-circulated through the heating and air conditioning system.

HEAT PUMP - A heat pump is an air conditioning condenser that can reverse the refrigerant flow. It circulates warm refrigerant that was heated by the compressor, into a fan coil providing heat into a space without the need for a natural gas furnace.

MANUAL J LOAD CALCULATION - This is how to determine the correct equipment capacity of the heating and air conditioning system for each space. This calculation insures that system will not be too large or too small.

REFRIGERANT LINES - Made from copper, these lines carry the refrigerant from the condenser to the cooling coil and back to the condenser. The size of these lines is critical to proper equipment operation, efficiency, and longevity.

SEER - Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating. This is the rating that lets consumers know how much electricity each air conditioner will use.

THERMOSTAT - The thermostat is a control that turns your furnace or air conditioner on or off by temperature. It can be set at a specific temperature, or programmed to turn your system on and off at various times during the day and night to save energy.

TONS - A generic term that is used to characterize the cooling capacity of an air conditioning system. One ton equals 12,000 BTU's (British Thermal Units). This term has no relationship to the actual weight of any system or individual component.

VENT PIPE - The vent pipe takes the burned gas fumes from the furnace to the outside.