HVAC Terms That Will Help You Understand Your System Better

If your HVAC system is in need of repair or if you are in the market to buy a new heating or cooling system, you may feel a bit like those you are talking to are speaking a foreign language. The HVAC terms used by those who install and service these systems may be unknown to you. In order to make an informed decision, you need to understand these terms. Here is a listing of some of the more important HVAC terms and lingo, and their definitions, so you can be a wiser consumer.

• AFUE – stands for Annualized Fuel Utilization Efficiency and is a measurement of how efficiently your furnace burns energy to create heat. Any score below 78% is considered a very poor rating.
• Btu – stands for British thermal unit and is used to measure the total heating capacity of your furnace. The higher the Btu of your system the more heating it can generate.
• CFM – stands for cubic feet per minute. It is a measure of how much air is passing through your duct work.
• DOE – stands for Department of Energy. This government agency has set minimum standards of efficiency for both heating and cooling units. They are also a great resource for fuel saving tips.
• ENERGY STAR – you have likely seen this logo on home appliances but it also applies to HVAC systems. It is a standard set by the Environmental Protection Agency. Any product bearing this logo has met or exceeded the EPA’s efficiency standards.
• HVAC – stands for heating, ventilation and air conditioning.
• MERV Rating – stands for minimum efficiency reporting value and is used to rate the size of particles an air filter can remove. The higher the MERV rating, the more particles will be removed as the air passes through the filter.

If you have more questions about these or any other HVAC terms, or if you are in need of heating or air conditioning services and you live in the Coastal Bend or surrounding area, contact us at Mathews CCAC Inc. We are Constantly Concerned About our Customers staying safe and warm in their homes.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Corpus Christi, Texas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about HVAC terms and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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