10 Common HVAC Terms to Know

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Do you want to be more knowledgeable when it comes to your HVAC system? While you may perform countless Google searches to educate yourself, we’ve provided a list here of the 10 most common HVAC terms to know!

  1. Air Handler: This part is paired with either a split system A/C or a heat pump. It is located inside the house and circulates air through the ductwork and is also the box that contains the blower.
  2. Compressor: This is the part responsible for circulating and raising the pressure of the refrigerant in your system. You can find it sitting inside of the condenser and is a good place to check out if you are experiencing a lot of noise coming from your system.
  3. Heat Pump: A heat pump is a type of system that uses electricity to efficiently heat as well as cool your home for the current season. This type of unit may be incorrectly identified as a normal A/C unit.
  4. Line Set: You can find two lines of refrigerant connecting the evaporator coil and condensing unit. There will be a small copper tube in the liquid line as well as a large and more insulated tube.
  5. Load Calculation: This calculation is used by your salesman to determine how much heating or cooling your home needs. A calculation is found to learn how much heat is gained/lost in order to choose the properly sized system for the home or business.
  6. MERV: Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value. This is in correlation to the rating of your furnace. The higher the rating, the more efficient the filter is. 16 is the highest MERV rating and is a type of filter commonly used in hospitals in order to trap the smallest particles.
  7. Plenum: This is a part that is attached to the air handler where the other ducts are attached. The plenum is usually made of insulated sheet metal, but could be made of other materials as well. The heart of the HVAC system ductwork is the plenum!
  8. Register: This is the part that covers the ductwork outlet and return so that the owner can control the amount of airflow desired.
  9. SEER: Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. This ratio measures the efficiency of an air conditioner by taking the BTU/hour of cooling divided by the watts of electricity over an entire cooling season. 13 is the minimum SEER rating allowed under guidelines and the higher the rating, the more efficient of a system and more money saved on utility bills.
  10. Tonnage: This is used to measure the cooling capacity of the A/C. This measurement will show you how much heat the A/C can remove. If you are not sure of the tonnage needed, a trusted HVAC professional will be able to better assist!

These are ten of a very long list of HVAC terms that may pop up when dealing with your HVAC system. For any HVAC or plumbing repairs, installations, or pest solutions give us a call.  Like always, the #BELOMAN is here to help!  For all of your HVAC & plumbing needs give us a call at (618) BEL-OMAN or visit our website here! BELIEVE IN THE BELOMAN WAY! We’re the only HVAC and plumbing company in the Metro East to receive the Better Business Bureau TORCH Award for ethics.  The award honors excellent commitment to customer service through exceptional standards for ethical business practices.