Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency. A measure of a furnace’s heating efficiency. The higher the AFUE percentage, the more efficient the product. The US government’s established minimum AFUE rating for furnaces is 78%.

The indoor part of a central air conditioning or heat pump system that moves cooled or heated air throughout the ductwork of your home. An air handler is usually a furnace or a blower coil.

That’s the amount of heat required to raise one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit. What that means is the higher the Btu rating, the more heating capacity of the equipment.

British Thermal Units per Hour – The amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one pound of water one degree Farenheit.

Combined Annual Efficiency is a measure of the amount of heat produced for every dollar of fuel consumed for both home heating and water heating.

Cubic feet per minute. A standard measurement of airflow.

Carbon monoxide is an odorless, poisonous, flammable gas produced when carbon burns with insufficient air and is deadly to humans.

The part of the outdoor air conditioner or heat pump that compresses and pumps refrigerant throughout the system.

The outdoor portion of an air conditioning or heat pump system that serves as a heat transfer point for dispelling heat to the outside air, as in an air conditioner or heat pump in the summer; or for collecting heat from the outside air, as in a heat pump in the winter.

Located in ductwork, this regulates airflow. Effective in controlling airflow for zoning.

Decibel, a unit of intensity of sound.

The method by which air is channeled from the furnace or the blower coil throughout your home.

The part of a heat pump or air conditioning system that is located inside the house in the air handler. It is here that the refrigerant evaporates as it absorbs heat from the air that passes over the coil.

Located in the furnace, the heat exchanger transfers heat to the surrounding air, which is then pumped throughout the home.

An HVAC unit that heats or cools by moving heat.

Heating Seasonal Performance Factor. A measure of heat pump heating efficiency. The higher the rating, the more efficient the heat pump. The US government’s established minimum HSPF rating for furnaces is 6.8%.

Equipment that injects moisture into heated air as it passes from the furnace into the ductwork to be distributed throughout the home.

Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning.

A family of international standards for quality management and assurance.

Cost for purchasing second unit is $117.

Two copper lines that connect the outdoor air conditioner or heat pump to the indoor evaporator coil.

Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. A measure of cooling efficiency for air conditioners. The higher the SEER, the more energy efficient the unit. The government’s minimum SEER rating is 10.

A heating and cooling system contained in one outdoor unit.

A combination heat pump or air conditioner with indoor components such as a furnace or blower coil. Split systems should be matched for optimum efficiency.

Usually found on an inside wall, this device operates as a control to regulate your heating and cooling equipment so that you can adjust your home comfort at the touch of a switch.

Unit of measurement for determining cooling capacity. One ton equals 12,000 Btuh.

The ability of partitioning a home into various zones, thereby providing the opportunity to control comfort levels in each zone.