HVAC Acronyms - What Do They Mean?

What do all those HVAC terms mean? How do we use them? They can be tough to remember since there are so many, HVAC is even an acronym! Let's break it down, shall we?

HVAC - Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning. Hopefully this one sticks in your head!

AFUE - Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency. This is a standard measurement of how effectively a furnace converts energy from the fuel it uses to warm the air for your home. Usually you'll see percentages like 80% and 95% to 98%. The higher the number, the more fuel efficient the system is.

MERV - Minimum Efficiency Reporting Values. These ratings indicate a filter's efficiency in capturing airborne particles and contaminants. Some examples are lint, carpet fibers, dust, allergens like pollen and mold, and even bacteria and viruses.

IAQ - Indoor Air Quality. This is referring to the air quality inside your home or business. Take into account the dust, debris, dander, etc!

SEER - Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. SEER measures and rates the efficiency of air conditioners and heat pump to effectively cool a home. This is the measure of the electrical input vs the amount of it can cool in a season.

VRF - Variable Refrigerant Flow. An all-electric HVAC technology that uses a singlet outdoor unit connected to multiple indoor units to provide customizable heating and cooling - dividing a building into zones for premium comfort and energy efficiency!

HPSF - Heating Seasonal Performance Factor. This measures the heating efficiency of a heat pump. Similar to SEER, but for winter use. Heating mode.

EER - Energy Efficiency Ratio. Similar to SEER!

BTU - British Thermal Unit. This is the base for all our work. This represents the heating and cooling capacity that our equipment can produce. We also measure your home when needed so we can match up the equipment to the homes needs.

Have more questions about any of these terms? Call Steinhardt Heating and Air Conditioning today at 800-648-3027 to learn more, or ask your Comfort technician when they pop by for your Comfort Shield Maintenance!