10 HVAC Terms to Know While Shopping Around.

First time buyer or looking to upgrade? It's a substantial investment and you're going to want to know the terminology to better communicate with the professionals and get the right system for your home. Here's our top 10:

HVAC: This stands for "Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning". Sometimes refrigeration will be thrown in as well (HVAC/R). This is a catch-all term for all matters pertaining to the words in the acronym.

BTU: The "British Thermal Unit" measures the needed heat to raise the temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit. It sounds a little convoluted, but it's a commonly used unit to measure energy needed or used for heating.

Heat Pump: A heat pump is an appliance that uses the principle of refrigeration to provide both heating and cooling for a home. It's usually installed as a central split system, similar to a standard central A/C, with one component outside and the other inside. Air-source heat pumps are the most common type of heat pump.

Load Calculation: This mathematical formula determines how much heating or cooling is needed to bring your home to a comfortable level. It takes into consideration factors like climate, square footage and room sizes, air leakage and the amount and types of doors, windows and insulation.

NATE: This stands for "North American Technician Excellence", a non-profit organization that testes and certifies HVAC technicians.

SEER: This stands for "Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio". It's an efficiency rating for air conditioners and the cooling function of heat pumps.

Zoning Systems: This refers to different parts of the home being served by a single heating or cooling system with a separate thermostat for temperature control in each area or 'zone'.

Ductwork: These are the large, usually square, 'pipes' that transport air from the central heating and cooling equipment throughout the home.

Energy Star: A U.S. Environmental Protection Agency label on HVAC systems, products, and appliances that meet or exceed EPA standards of performance. Homeowners who purchase Energy Star qualified appliances and equipment may qualify for federal tax credits.

MERV: This stands for the "Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value"; it rates the efficiency of air filters based on the smallest airborne particles and pollutants that the filter can capture. For residential filters the rating goes from MERV-1 to MERV-16.

If you're looking for a new system or an upgrade, give us a call today!