Raise your hand if this has happened to you: there’s something off with your heating or air conditioning, but when you try to describe the issue to your HVAC company, you don’t feel like you have the terminology to fully explain—or even understand—what’s happening. Frustrating, right? That’s why we’re sharing 15 of the most helpful HVAC terms to know, so you feel more familiar with your system, how it works, and how to talk about it.
HVAC System Equipment & Parts
Air Handler
This is the indoor portion of your central air conditioning or heating system that circulates heated or cooled air throughout your home via its ductwork.
Ductwork
The system of closed pipes and chambers that allow air to travel throughout your home.
Gas Burner & Blower Motor
The gas burner in your furnace uses a pilot light to heat up the air, which is then forced out by the blower motor, which distributes the heated air into the ductwork.
Furnace Filter
Your furnace pulls in outside air into its heating unit through the filter, which keeps dust and debris from entering the furnace.
Evaporator Coil
This is where your air gets cooled down in your air conditioner. A fan blows the warm and humid air from your home over a cold, refrigerant-filled coil, which absorbs the heat and removes the humidity.
Compressor
This pump takes cool refrigerant vapor from the evaporator and compresses it into a hot, high-pressure vapor to send to the condenser coil. The compressor moves the refrigerant back and forth between the evaporator and the condenser in a loop.
Condenser
The coil in your outdoor air conditioner that receives the heated refrigerant from the compressor and removes and releases the heat into the outdoor air.
Refrigerant
The chemical used in your air conditioner that absorbs heat from inside your home and ejects that heat outside. The gas used in most home cooling systems is Freon, which is actually the name of the company that originally made and traded it.
Measurements/Metrics
Air Changes per Hour (ACH)
The number of times the air volume in a space is exchanged, either by natural means (e.g., infiltration) or by mechanical means (e.g., with a blower).
British Thermal Units (BTU)
A measure of heat that is added or removed from a space to maintain a desired temp. It also refers to the capacity of your heating and cooling equipment.
Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE)
Measures how efficiently your furnace is converting energy into heat for your home. The higher the AFUE rating, the more efficient your furnace is heating your home.
Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER/SEER2*)
Used to show how efficient your air conditioner is by measuring how much energy your system uses to cool your home in a year. The higher the ratio, the more efficient your air conditioner is.
Certifications
EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) Certification
This certification is required by anyone who handles refrigerants. It proves that they passed the Refrigerant Transition and Recovery Certification, which is administered by ACCA (Air Conditioning Contractors of America). Fun fact, all of Appel’s field technicians, service/installation managers, and business representatives are EPA certified!
ENERGY STAR Certified
Products that are ENERGY STAR Certified meet the US EPA’s strict energy-efficiency guidelines and have received an ENERGY STAR rating showing how efficient they are.
And Maybe Most Importantly…
Appel Heating and Air Conditioning
A family-owned business since 1948, we’re who your neighbors trust with their heating and cooling systems. Our experienced employees always keep your best interests as the top priority and work to give you honest advice and exceptional service, whether for an HVAC check-up, repair, or installation. Reach out to us with your HVAC needs today!