Sometimes it seems that HVAC professionals speak a different language. That’s understandable; most industries have their own technical terms. However, becoming familiar with some basic HVAC terms can help you better understand your utility bills, become a better shopper for HVAC products and help you better communicate with the technicians that come to service your heating and cooling equipment.

Common HVAC terms
What words and phrases should you know? Below are a few key HVAC terms and phrases every homeowner should be familiar with:

• BTU – This stands for British thermal unit, a measure of heat capacity. One BTU is the heat necessary to increase the heat of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit.
• Coil – The heating or cooling element of a furnace or air conditioning system.
• Condenser – The outside unit of an air conditioning or heat pump system.
• DOE – An abbreviation for the U.S. Department of Energy, the agency that sets efficiency standards for HVAC equipment in the United States.
• Ducts – The system of pipes or conduits that connect your furnace and air conditioning system to your living spaces.
• Energy Star – The label promoted by the U.S. Department of Energy to identify energy-efficient HVAC products.
• Heat exchanger – The part of your furnace that transforms fuel combustion into heated air for your living space.
• HVAC – Stands for heating, ventilation and air conditioning. Many HVAC contractors also deal with insulation and plumbing issues.
• IAQ – This is short for indoor air quality, one of the most important HVAC-related topics homeowners should know about.
• NATE – The acronym refers to the North American Technician Excellence, a non-profit organization that certifies and tests HVAC technicians.
• SEER – This acronym stands for seasonal energy efficiency ratio, a measure of the energy needed to cool the air in your home. A high number indicates an efficient system. New air conditioning systems or heat pumps in the U.S. must have a SEER rating of at least 13.

For more information about important HVAC terms, or any other home comfort issues, contact the experts at Smoky Mountain Heating & Air. Serving Asheville area homeowners with all their HVAC needs.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Asheville, North Carolina and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).

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