HVAC terms you should know.
Do you know any HVAC terms? When it comes to your air conditioning system, understanding basic terminology will go a long way in helping you communicate effectively with your HVAC contractor. You certainly don’t need to be an expert, but knowing these basics will yield great benefits when it comes time to repair and diagnose your HVAC system.
- Condenser: This is the large unit located outside you home. It takes high-pressure gas from the compressor (see below) and converts it into liquid.
- Compressor: The compressor is a unit located inside the condenser, and controls the overall pressure of the air conditioning system. This is accomplished by compressing low-pressure gas from the evaporator.
- Evaporator/Evaporator Coil: Located within the air handler (which is located inside your home), this component is responsible for absorbing your home’s heat.
- Expansion valve: The expansion valve is usually located close to the evaporator, and regulates the amount of refrigerant in the evaporator coil.
- Air Flow: The amount of air that your HVAC system can move. This is measured in CFM, or cubic feet per minute.
- MERV Rating: The Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value, or MERV measures the effectiveness of the air filter in your system to catch particles before they enter the duct system. The higher the number, the greater the ability to catch more and smaller particles.
- SEER RATING: The efficiency rating used for central AC systems as an average over the entire cooling season. See our post about SEER Ratings.
While we haven’t delved into extreme detail with the terms above, we do hope that it gives you the basic knowledge needed to communicate more effectively with your HVAC professional, and increase your scope of knowledge about air conditioning systems.
Receive Our FREE BROCHURE by Text or Email, Simply Fill Out the Form Below:
[formodex formid=”2970d31f-b495-4dd3-a96b-4b45380c04a3″]
