Keyword Definitions
What is the basic terminology that I should know?
HVAC
Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning
HVACR
Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning and Refrigeration
EER
Energy Efficiency Ratio – an efficiency rating for a room air conditioner
SEER
Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio – an efficiency rating for central air conditioners
CFM
Cubic Feet per Minute – a measure of volume of air flow
Condenser Coil
Air conditioners release the heat collected inside the building to the outside through the condenser, which is a hot coil surrounded by aluminum fins.
Evaporator Coil
Air conditioners cool your home with a cold indoor coil called the evaporator, which consists of serpentine tubing surrounded by aluminum fins.
Compressor
A pump, called the compressor, moves a heat transfer fluid (or refrigerant) between the evaporator and the condenser.
Fins
Aluminum fins on both the evaporator and condenser coils that expedite the heat transfer process via increased surface area.
Air Handler
The air handler is a cabinet that contains a fan that circulates air through the air duct system.
Air Duct Supply
A network of tubes or plenums that deliver the conditioned air throughout a building.
Air Duct Return
A network tubes or plenums that return air from specified locations in a building back to the unit for re-conditioning.
Plenum
A Large supply or return duct that acts as a distribution duct for smaller supply or return ducts
Grilles and Registers
The visible covers of the air duct supplies or returns
Central Air Conditioner
Central air conditioners circulate cool air through a system of supply and return ducts. A central air conditioner is either a split-system unit or a packaged unit.
Split-System
In a split-system central air conditioner, an outdoor metal cabinet contains the condenser and compressor, and an indoor cabinet contains the evaporator.
Package System
In a packaged central air conditioner, the evaporator, condenser, and compressor are all located in one cabinet, which usually is placed on a roof or on a concrete slab next to the house's foundation.
Refrigerant
A heat transfer fluid that moves between the evaporator and the condenser evaporating in the indoor evaporator coil, pulling heat out of indoor air and thereby cooling the home.
Freon
A common refrigerant
Air Filter
A screen made of specialized filter media that keeps dirt and dust from accumulating on the parts inside of the HVAC system.
MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value)
A rating system for air filters
Humidifier
An accessory that adds moisture content to the air
De-Humidifier
An accessory that removes moisture content from the air
Air Purifier
An accessory that removes particulates from the air
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