Boston HVAC Services

When it comes to heating and cooling terminology can get you lost easily. Here are some of the most commonly used terms and there meanings to help you through the process.

annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) the rating of the overall seasonal efficiency of a boiler or warm air furnace

air handler basically, a metal box with a fan or blower that is usually connected to the ductwork and moves air through the system; they also can house the evaporator coil for air conditioning and/or a heating coil

boiler (residential type) a piece of equipment used to heat water for use in residential or light commercial space heating applications

British thermal unit (BTU) the amount of heat needed to raise one pound of water one degree Fahrenheit

A carbon footprint is a "measure of the impact human activities have on the environment in terms of the amount of greenhouse gases produced, measured in units of carbon dioxide.It is meant to be useful for individuals, nations and organizations to conceptualize their personal (or organizational) impact in contributing to global warming.
Source:wikipedia - the free encyclopedia

cubic feet of air per minute (CFM) a measurement of the flow of air

compressor the main component of the outdoor condenser unit in an air conditioning or heat pump system used to compress the refrigerant gases; also refers to any pump that increases the pressure of a gas

ductwork a system of round, rectangular, or square metal or fiberglass tubes used to convey the flow of conditioned air from the furnace or air handler to the various rooms in the home or building

energy efficiency ratio (EER) a rating method for air conditioning units

furnace (warm air furnace) a home heating device that heats the air using gas, oil, or electric and then distributes the warm air through the house

Going Green Making your home earth-friendly and our responsibility to the environment.

heat exchanger any devise that transfers heat from one source to another

heat gain expressed in BTUs, it is the increase in heat per hour within a confined space from all heat producing sources

heat loss expressed in BTUs, it is the decrease in heat per hour from a confined area

heat pump a device that cools the home in the summer and, by reversing the refrigeration cycle, heats the home in the winter

heating seasonal performance factor (HSPF) a rating for the heating side of heat pumps

HVAC heating, ventilation, and air conditioning

kilowatt 1 kw = 1,000 watts

seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER) a way of rating air conditioning equipment

split system an air conditioning or heat pump system where the two major components are "split" with the outdoor unit placed outdoors and the indoor unit placed indoors

ton one ton of air conditioning = 12,000 BTUs