Where’s the heat coming from?
My house heats and cools, mysteriously!
Ok, it may not be a mystery how a home heats and cools, but based on some of the installs I have seen, it’s a mystery that some homes actually do heat and cool!
Since some people are unaware that there are air filters to replace or check monthly, let alone complete Hvac comfort systems that need periodic preventative maintenance, let’s start with the basics.
The term HVAC stands for “heating, ventilation and air conditioning”. In a home, there is something that produces heat in the winter, proper ventilation of a home and cool air in the summer. There are a variety of methods, energy sources and equipment combinations used to provide comfort or “indoor climate control” in homes today. That being said, let’s just focus on the most common type, sometimes referred to as a conventional system. This type consists of a gas furnace, electric air conditioner and a series of air passages throughout the home called ducts.
A typical Home Comfort System has a furnace, air conditioner an air ducts.
Have you ever been asked (or asked yourself) how big a 2 Ton A/C is? Is it really 2 tons? In order to effectively, and comfortably, answer this ( and other questions) it might be nice to check out some common HVAC terminology.
We defined HVAC, but a basic understanding of some other related terms will be helpful too.
Ton or Tonnage is the unit of measure in air conditioning to describe the cooling capacity of an A/C system. It is the amount of heat needed to melt 1 Ton (2000 lbs) of ice in a 24 hour period and is equal to 12,000btu/hr of cooling.
SEER= Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. This is just an equipment efficiency rating that measures how much energy it takes to cool the air. The higher the SEER rating, the better it utilizes power. With SEER ratings of 13 or higher you will get the best value for your energy dollar.
80% Efficient Furnaces. I like to compare furnace efficiency percentages to your energy dollars. If you have an 80% furnace, .20 cents of each dollar goes up the chimney and is lost. With a 98% furnace, only .02 cents of each dollar spent on heating will be lost or wasted. Pretty simple math, really.
Ok, so I just touched on a few terms used in the Hvac industry that you may hear from time to time and may need to explain to your customers.
This is by no means an all inclusive dictionary for this industry. Many Hvac Pros will use other terminology that will be unfamiliar to you. If you come across any of these terms and need help, let me know. I am happy to post any answers needed.
In Part 2 of the series “The Heart if a Home”, I will discuss how design and duct layout play a vital role in home comfort.
Until next time, stay comfortable!