Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency. Indicated as a percentage, your furnace’s AFUE tells you how much energy is being converted to heat. For example, an AFUE of 90 means that 90% of the fuel is being used to warm your home, while the other 10% escapes as exhaust with the combustion gases. The higher the AFUE, the higher the efficiency of your furnace.
Type of compressor that uses a more efficient process for compressing refrigerant for better cooling efficiency.
The portion of your air conditioner or heating system that forces air through your home’s ductwork.
Air purifiers treat 100% of the air flowing through your HVAC system before it even circulates, removing particulates, bacteria and viruses from the air.
British Thermal Unit. Used for both heating and cooling, BTU is a measure of the heat given off when fuel is combusted. Or for cooling, it’s a measure of heat extracted from your home. (One BTU is approximately equal to the heat given off by a wooden kitchen match.)
A British Thermal Unit (BTU) is the unit of heat required to raise 1 pound of water by 1 degree Fahrenheit. BTUH is British Thermal Units per Hour.
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.
The ability of a heating or cooling system to heat or cool a given amount of space. For heating, this is usually expressed in BTUs. For cooling, it is usually given in tons.
A colorless, odorless, highly poisonous gas produced when carbon-based fuels, such as natural gas, burn without sufficient air.
A device that reads and detects levels of carbon monoxide in your home. When unsafe levels of CO are present, a loud, high-pitched alarm will sound to alert you.
Part of the heat pump or air conditioner unit that controls the pressure applied to the refrigerant, necessary for taking in heat to warm your home or getting rid of heat to keep your home cool.
Part of the outdoor portion of a split-system air conditioner or heat pump. By converting refrigerant that is in a gas form back to a liquid, the coil sends heat carried by the refrigerant to the outside. Also referred to as an outdoor coil.
A feature on an oil furnace allowing the furnace’s fan to blow continuously to improve system efficiency and maintain even temperatures.
Decibels (dB) are a unit measuring the intensity of noise.
A type of “valve” used in ductwork that opens or closes to control airflow. Used in zoning to control the amount of warm or cool air entering certain areas of your home.
A type of furnace that takes cool air from the top and blows warm air to the bottom – common where your furnace must be located in a second-floor closet or utility area.
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.
Energy Efficiency Ratings (EER) measure the efficiency with which a product uses energy to function. It is calculated by dividing a product’s BTU output by its wattage.
An electronic device that filters out large particles and contaminants in indoor air. It then electronically pulls out tiny particles that have been magnetized, such as viruses and bacteria, drawing them to a collector plate.
An energy saver switch causes the air conditioner’s fan and compressor to cycle on and off together, reducing energy use.
ENERGY STAR® is a government-backed program helping businesses and individuals protect the environment through superior energy efficiency. Products with the ENERGY STAR rating are both efficient and help save on energy bills.
Part of a split-system air conditioner or heat pump located indoors. The evaporator coil cools and dehumidifies the air by converting liquid refrigerant into a gas, which absorbs the heat from the air. The warmed refrigerant is then carried through a tube to the outdoor unit (condenser coil). Also referred to as an indoor coil.
An indoor component of a heat pump system, used in place of a furnace, to provide additional heating on cold days when the heat pump does not provide adequate heating.
The trade name Freon™ is a registered trademark belonging to E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company (DuPont). Production of Freon will cease in 2015 per the Montreal Protocol.
Carrier geothermal heat pumps tap into the earth’s surface to use the energy and consistent heat found in the ground, instead of using outside air like traditional heat pumps.
Term used for Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning.
The part of a furnace that transfers heat to nearby air. That air is then distributed through the ductwork throughout your home.
A heating and air conditioning unit that heats or cools by moving heat.
A type of furnace, installed on its “side,” that draws in air from one side, heats it and sends the warm air out the other side. Most often used for installations in attics or crawl spaces.
A piece of equipment that adds water vapor to heated air as it moves out of the furnace. This adds necessary moisture to protect your furnishings and reduce static electricity.
Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) refers to the cleanliness of the air in a home. IAQ factors include particulate count (pollen, mold), humidity and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) found in a home’s air – all of which can aggravate allergy and asthma symptoms.
A series of studies performed to determine the heating or cooling requirements of your home. An energy load analysis uses information such as the square footage of your home, window or door areas, insulation quality and local climate to determine the heating and cooling capacity needed by your furnace, heat pump or air conditioner. When referring to heating, this is often known as a Heat Loss Analysis, since a home’s heating requirements are determined by the amount of heat lost through the roof, entryways and walls.
Low Boy is a type of furnace configuration in which the furnace is lower in height and occupies more floor space.
The Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value is the standard comparison of the efficiency of an air filter. The MERV scale ranges from 1 (least efficient) to 16 (most efficient) and measures a filter’s ability to remove particles from 3 to 10 microns in size.
A heating and cooling system comprised of products that have been certified to perform at promised comfort and efficiency levels when used together and used according to design and engineering specifications.
A multi-direction configuration that allows for both upflow and downflow installations.
The day-to-day cost of running your home comfort equipment, based on energy use.
Overall measure of the efficiency and value of your home comfort system. By combining your purchase price and ongoing operating costs, a payback analysis determines the number of years required before monthly energy savings offset the purchase price.
Puron® Refrigerant is an environmentally sound refrigerant designed not to harm the earth’s ozone layer. Federal law requires all manufacturers phase out ozone-depleting refrigerants in the next few years. Puron Refrigerant is approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as a replacement for R-22.
R-22 is a single-component HCFC refrigerant with low ozone depletion potential. It has long been used in a variety of air conditioning and refrigeration applications in a variety of markets. Production of R-22 will cease in 2015 per the Montreal Protocol. Also commonly known as Freon.
A type of compressor used in air conditioners that compresses refrigerants by using a type of “piston” action.
Involves returning used refrigerant to the manufacturer for disposal or reuse.
Removing, cleaning and reusing refrigerant.
Two copper lines that connect the Condenser (Outdoor) Coil to the Evaporator (Indoor) Coil.
Requires Wi-Fi® enabled model connected to a Wi-Fi network. Some models require a dedicated Wi-Fi router.
When the most convenient location for the main thermostat or control is not best for assessing the average conditions of the home (such as when it’s located near an exterior door), you can apply a remote sensor to feed information about the comfort conditions to the main unit.
The Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio is a measure of the cooling efficiency of your air conditioner or heat pump. The higher the SEER number, the more efficient the system is at converting electricity into cooling power.
A specially designed compressor that works in a circular motion instead of an up-and-down piston action.
A state-of-the-art electronic thermostat with a built-in memory that can be programmed for different temperature settings at different times of the day.
Actively manages system ramp-up during “away” periods to meet homeowner comfort needs while saving money.
Uses information about indoor and outdoor conditions and the specifics of the system’s capabilities to determine the best temperature setback during “away” periods and when to ramp up to save energy while staying within homeowner min/max temperature preferences.
Refers to an air conditioner or heat pump that has components in two locations. Usually, one part of the system is located inside (evaporator coil) and the other is located outside your home (condenser coil).
Unit that monitors and controls your HVAC system products.
A thermostatic expansion valve (TXV) is a precision device used to meter the flow of liquid refrigerant entering the evaporator at a rate that matches the amount of refrigerant being boiled off in the evaporator.
A unit of measure for cooling capacity. One ton = 12,000 BTUs per hour.
The ultimate solution to providing you with consistent, customized home comfort, despite the ever-changing weather.
UL is an objective, nonprofit organization that tests, rates and certifies electrical products for public safety.
Ultraviolet lamps attack and kill mold and bacteria that can grow on the cooling coil of many HVAC systems, preventing them from circulating through the home.
A type of furnace that draws cool air from the bottom and blows the warmed air out the top into the ductwork. This type of furnace is usually installed in a basement or an out-of-the-way closet.
Technology that allows your system to operate quietly and efficiently at longer, lower speed cycles throughout the day – meaning your system and comfort stay consistent.
A ventilator captures heating or cooling energy from stale indoor air and transfers it to fresh incoming air.
A way to increase your home comfort and energy efficiency by controlling when and where heating and cooling occurs in a home. Programmable thermostats are used to control operating times of the equipment. Dampers are used to direct airflow to certain areas or “zones” of the home.
