HVAC services is a extremely specialized field as this kind of there are a handful of phrases, acronyms, and terms that only air conditioning and heating contractors or the HVAC educated understand. Even though this can seem a little scary at very first, basically acquiring a keep of some of the essential phrases and labels connected with HVAC can make you a lot more experienced and ready for creating choices concerning your HVAC solutions, and specially which method will be most effective.
The following is our short, idea-of-the-iceberg glossary of common HVAC services acronyms that distinguish amongst the attributes of models.
BTU – British Thermal Unit is traditionally a unit of vitality output. BTU is employed for measuring heat, but in conditions of HVAC, the BTU is employed as an indicator of how considerably power an HVAC device is creating. This can be in phrases of cooling, heating, or air purifying.
SEER – Seasonal Energy Performance Ratio has grow to be a normal rating of effectiveness for HVAC techniques. Mathematically, SEER is calculated by dividing the BTU of a typical cooling period by the total electrical vitality enter for the same time period. The greater the SEER, the much more successful the device is. In the United States, all new residential methods are necessary to have a SEER rating of at minimum thirteen, with a rating of 14 becoming qualification for an Power STAR label. Presently Air Filters can reach a SEER of 27.two, with even stronger models on the horizon when certain technological barriers are crossed.
HSPF – Heating Seasonal Performance Factor is strongly correlated with SEER, but focuses upon the heat output of a device relatively than its cooling performance. Mathematically, HSPF is the BTU of heat produce in a year divided by the watt-hrs of strength used. If the resulting determine is more than or equivalent to 8 HSPF, the system is regarded being hugely productive and could be eligible for a US tax credit history.
AFUE – Annual Gasoline Utilization Effectiveness is a thermal efficiency measurement for combustion models this kind of as furnaces and boilers. Furnace restore and substitute is expensive, that is why a very AFUE rated unit will make the greatest out of the modify, when required. The number itself is a dimensionless ratio to categorical the efficiency of the output when compared to the enter of the method e.g., if a system has a 100 BTU input with a ninety BTU warmth output, than the AFUE would be ninety%. For boiler fix, AFUE is an effortless, go-to score to distinguish amongst systems for a closing selection.