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Glossary of Air Conditioning and Heating Terms |
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Air
Handler
-
The portion of your air
conditioner or heating
system that forces air
through your home's
ductwork. |
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Carbon Monoxide
- A
colorless, odorless,
highly poisonous gas
produced when carbon burns
without sufficient air
nearby. |
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CFM
-
Stands for Cubic Feet per
Minute. A measurement of
airflow that indicates how
many cubic feet of air
pass by a stationary point
in one minute. The higher
the number, the more air
is being forced through
the system. |
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Compressor
-
The Compressor is the most
important piece of a
heating or cooling system.
Located in the outdoor
unit, the compressor is
responsible for pumping
refrigerant throughout the
system. |
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Condenser Coil
-
The outdoor portion of a
heating or cooling system
that either releases or
collects heat from the
outside air, depending on
the time of year. The
Condenser Coil is
connected directly to the
home's Air Handler and is
also known as the Outdoor
Coil. |
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Damper
- A
movable plate that
controls airflow through a
ductwork system. Dampers
are used to direct air to
the areas of the home that
need it most. |
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Ductwork
-
Hollow pipes used to
transfer air from the Air
Handler to the air vents
throughout your home.
Ductwork is one of the
most important components
of a home heating and
cooling system. |
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Evaporator Coil
-
This is where refrigerant
evaporates as it removes
heat from the air that is
passed over it. The
Evaporator Coil is located
in the indoor unit and is
also referred to as the
Indoor Coil. |
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FAQ
-
Stands for Frequently
Asked Question. Also
refers to a list of
Frequently Asked
Questions. |
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Heat Exchanger-
The part of a furnace that
transfers heat to nearby
air. That air is then
distributed through the
Ductwork throughout your
home. |
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Heat Pump-
A heating and air
conditioning unit that
heats or cools by moving
heat. |
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HSPF-
Stands for Heating
Seasonal Performance
Factor. Indicates how
efficiently a Heat Pump is
working. A higher number
means the unit works more
efficiently. Most new
units have ratings from
7.0 to 9.4. |
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HumidifierA
component that adds
moisture to the air before
it is distributed by the
Ductwork throughout the
house. |
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HVAC-
Stands for Heating,
Ventilation, and Air
Conditioning. |
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Indoor Coil
-
See: Evaporator Coil |
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Outdoor Coil
-
See: Condenser Coil |
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Refrigerant-
A chemical that cools air
as it evaporates. Air
conditioning systems use
Refrigerant in the
Evaporator Coil to cool
air as it passes by. |
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Refrigerant Lines-
Two copper lines that
connect the Condenser
(Outdoor) Coil to the
Evaporator (Indoor) Coil. |
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SEER-
Stands for Seasonal Energy
Efficiency Ratio. An
efficiency measurement
that is similar to Miles
Per Gallon for cars. The
higher this number, the
more energy efficient they
system is. New units have
SEER ratings from 10 to 17
BTUs per watt. |
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Single Package-
One outdoor unit that
contains both a heating
and a cooling system. |
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Split System-
A combination heat pump or
air conditioner with
indoor components such as
a furnace or blower coil.
To maximize effectiveness,
Split Systems should be
matched. |
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Thermostat
- A
device that allows you to
control the temperature
inside your home by
telling the heating or
cooling system how much
air to produce. |
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Zoning
-
The dividing of a home
into different areas each
with their own heating and
cooling properties. For
example, you might prefer
to have the kitchen area
of your home be slightly
cool, while at the same
time keeping the
temperature in the
bedrooms warmer. |
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