5 HVAC Terms You Should Be Familiar With

by Kevin Smith Author

Ahhh, the comforts of modern day life. It's truly remarkable how technological advancements have changed the world for the better. Perhaps one of the biggest benefits of 21st century living is heating, ventilation and air conditioning. Oftentimes, these three fabulous functions are seamlessly integrated into one modern system for residential and commercial buildings. Due to the popularity and ever-increasing demand of these systems, there's so much to be said for HVAC installation in Stockbridge, GA. Homeowners much like yourself can benefit greatly from doing a bit of research and becoming more familiar with some of the most commonly used terms in the industry! This way, you'll know what the professional HVAC contractors are talking about when they come to your property! Here are five essential examples.

Air Flow

This is a measurement of how much air your duct system can move. Generally speaking, air conditioning units are carefully designed to move around 400 cubic feet per minute (cfm) for each ton of the unit’s capacity. You have to keep in mind that this measurement depends greatly on the climate of where you live. For example, if you make your home in a humid climate, you can anticipate your air flow figure to be lower (at around 350 cfm/ton), and in drier conditions the number will increase to fall somewhere around 500 cfm/ton. If you ever have questions about your air flow, you can feel free to ask your professional HVAC contractors in your area, as they will know everything there is to know about air flow. It helps to have an expert who can explain this to you easily!

Air Handler

If you're one of the millions of people who have a split system air conditioner, then you should recognize where the air handler is and what it does. This is the box that contains all the most important bits and pieces of the interior component. Not only is the blower inside this box, but also heating and cooling parts like the furnace and evaporator coil. Outside of the air handler would be the compressor or condensing unit, which increases the refrigerant's temperature and pressure. If you have problems with your air handler, you will need maintenance and repairs quickly to keep your system up and running smoothly. It's always better to call the experts in sooner rather than later if you can help it.

EER

If you're concerned about the environment and your energy bills, then you're going to want to know what EER stands for. The ‘energy efficiency ratio’ is the formula that calculates how efficient a given ground source heat pump or window unit AC is. This is the ratio of the cooling capacity, which is measured in British thermal units (Btu) per hour to the power input in watts. The higher the EER ratting, the better, as this means your air conditioner is more efficient. If you're shopping for a new air conditioner or furnace, then you want to put EER up at the top of your list along with price and warranty. Paying attention to EER now could save you heaps in the long run down the track!

Heat Pump

Have you heard of the heat pump? This is a pretty neat air conditioning system that can run in reverse when need be. That means it transports heat from inside to outside in the sweltering summer months, and moves heat from outside to inside in the cooler winter season. This is an ideal solution for people who live in moderate climates without crazy extremes. If you have moderate heating and cooling needs, heat pumps may be perfect for you as an energy-efficient and eco-friendly alternative to more traditional style air conditioners and heaters. Similarly to the air handler, if you're experiencing any issues with your heat pump, then it's time to call in the experts as soon as you can.

Load Calculation

Lastly, you should make sure you understand what load calculation is, too! This is the determination of how much heat a building gains or loses from people, appliances and duct losses. Load calculation accounts for the additional heat transfer caused by sunlight hitting outside roofs, walls and windows, as well as the building's capacity to store heat. Load calculation is a huge part of the HVAC design process, which you can see firsthand with trusted and professional HVAC installation in Stockbridge, GA.