HVAC TERMS EXPLAINED

Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency- The minimum efficiency standard for furnaces is 78% AFUE. The minimum for gas-fired water boilers is 80% AFUE and the minimum for gas-fired steam boilers is 78% AFUE. The standard is set by the U.S. Department of Energy under the National Appliance Energy Conservation Act of 1987, which became effective January 1,1992.

Found in ductwork, this movable plate opens and closes to control airflow. Dampers are used effectively in zoning to regulate airflow to certain rooms.

A furnace that pulls in return air from the top and expels warm air at the bottom.

Pipes or channels that carry air throughout your home.

The coil that is inside your house in a split system. In the evaporator, refrigerant evaporates and absorbs heat from air passed over the coil.

A device for the transfer of heat energy from the source to the conveying medium.

A furnace that lies on its side, pulling in return air from one side and expelling warm air from the other.

A device that injects water vapor into heated air as the air is expelled from the furnace.

The amount of moisture in the air. Air conditioners remove moisture for added comfort.

Heating Seasonal Performance Factor. Refers to the efficiency of the heating mode of heat pumps over an entire heating season. The higher the number, the more efficient the unit.

Heating, ventilation and air conditioning.

Integrally Controlled Motor. A specially engineered, variable-speed motor used in American Standard's top-of-the-line indoor units. ICM motors are more than 90 percent efficient versus 60 percent efficient for conventional motors. Continuous comfort, quiet operation and ultimate system efficiency are the benefits of the indoor products graced with the ICM motor.

A piece of air conditioning and heating equipment in which all components are located in one cabinet. Used occasionally in residential applications, the packaged unit is installed either beside or on top of the home.

A substance that produces a refrigerating effect while expanding or vaporizing.

Set of two copper lines connecting the outdoor unit and the indoor unit.

Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio, a rating that measures the cooling efficiency of a heat pump or air conditioner. The higher the number, the more efficient the unit.

The newest version of the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio, a rating that measures the cooling efficiency of a heat pump or air conditioner. The higher the number, the more efficient the unit. The SEER2 scale of measurement was adopted in 2023.

Seasonal Extreme Environmental Test. It's the American Standard torture chamber for heating and air conditioning systems, where five years of service are condensed into 16 torturous weeks.

Refers to a comfort system configuration consisting of components in two locations. Common examples include an outside unit, such as an air conditioner, and an indoor unit, such as a furnace and coil.

A device in a heat pump that reverses the flow of refrigerant as the system is switched from cooling to heating. Also called a reversing valve or four-way valve.

A temperature control device, typically found on a wall inside the home. It consists of a series of sensors and relays that monitor and control the functions of a heating and cooling system. American Standard's programmable thermostats allow you to program different levels of comfort for different times of the day.

A unit of measurement used for determining cooling.



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