First of all, if you’re not a new homeowner, you’re still welcome to read this blog! We’d like to welcome everyone to our informative blog where we talk about the industry-specific terms that we think everyone should be aware of.
For all you new homeowners out there, congratulations! It’s an amazing feat for anyone to purchase a home in this economy, and we want to help you save money down the line. You can always call our team to repair your HVAC system in Hammond, LA, but we’re going to start with a glossary of handy terms to keep in mind.
The more you know about your heating system, the more likely you’ll know exactly when to call a professional for repairs. Knowledge is power, and we think it’s time we handed you a bit more power now that you’re in charge of your own HVAC system.
Common Terms in the HVAC Industry
Before we get into the nitty-gritty, we want to tell you how we came up with this list of terms. We get calls pretty often from homeowners who need our help, and these are just terms that we hear used a lot. We want to make sure that everyone knows what we’re talking about when we use these words, so that you and your next prospective HVAC provider are on the same page!
- Ductless. Some HVAC systems don’t require the use of ducts at all, and these systems are called ductless units. They’re all heat pumps, and they work via air handlers that are mounted on your floor, wall, or ceiling. So, if you were wondering why people have all the sudden started using the term “ductless” a lot, it’s because these new high efficiency systems are becoming more and more common in homes across the country!
- Furnace. When we say furnace, we’re not just talking about one model. Furnaces can be powered by gas or electricity. The important thing to know about the term “furnace” is that it’s a forced air heating system that creates heat through electric resistance or the burning of fuel.
- Heat pump. Heat pumps function similarly to central air conditioners, except with the added ability to heat a home as well. Heat pumps can be ductless, but they can also run as a centralized unit that utilizes your ductwork.
- AFUE rating. The AFUE rating of a furnace stands for the “annual fuel utilization efficiency” and it’s a number that tells you how much fuel is being turned into heat you can feel. The higher the number, the more efficient your furnace is.
- HSPF rating. Similarly to the AFUE, the HSPF rating of a heat pump stands for the “heating seasonal performance factor” and it’s a number that tells you how efficient a heat pump is!
- Temperature differential. The colder it is outside, the harder it is for your heating system to keep your home warm. Similarly, when temperatures are 100 degrees outdoors, an air conditioner can only reasonably heat a home to 80 degrees. The temperature differential refers to the difference between indoor and outdoor temperatures.