Back to school is not just for the kids. Let’s learn some important HVAC definitions to help you understand the language spoken by your heating and cooling professional.
- ACCA: ACCA stands for Air Conditioning Contractors of America. This national trade organization represents heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration contractors.
- AHRI: The Air-Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute is a non-profit organization composed of heating, air conditioning and refrigeration manufacturers.
- BTU: A British thermal unit measures heating and air conditioning capacity.
- CFC: CFC stands for chlorofluorocarbon, an A/C and heat pump refrigerant linked to the depletion of the ozone layer.
- ERV: Energy Recovery Ventilators draw fresh air into the home and exhaust stale air from the home. ERVs also preheat or precool (as applicable) to reduce energy costs associated with conditioning the air.
- HCFC: HCFC stands for hydrochlorofluorocarbon, an A/C and heat pump refrigerant thought to contribute to the depletion of the earth’s ozone layer.
- HRV: Heat Recovery Ventilators provide preheated, fresh air to your home, improving indoor air quality while reducing utility bills.
- HFC: HFC stands for hydrofluorocarbon, an A/C and heat pump refrigerant that has little to no effect on the ozone layer.
- HSPF: Heating seasonal performance factor is an equipment efficiency rating that indicates how efficiently a heat pump uses energy to heat your home.
- HVAC: HVAC stands for heating, ventilation and air conditioning.
- IAQ: This is short for indoor air quality.
- NATE: North American Technician Excellence is a nonprofit organization that tests and certifies HVACR technicians. NATE is recognized industry wide.
- R-22: Better known as Freon, this refrigerant containing chlorine is used in air conditioning systems and has been linked to the depletion of the ozone layer and global warming.
- R-410A: This refrigerant is replacing R-22, contains no chlorine and is not hazardous to the environment.
- SEER: Seasonal energy efficiency ratio is an equipment efficiency rating that measures how efficiently your A/C or heat pump uses energy to cool your space over the course of the season.
At Around The Clock Heating & Air Conditioning, we pride ourselves on helping you become a better-informed customer (but we won’t test you). If you need help with HVAC definitions, or expert home comfort advice, contact us today!
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Los Angeles, North Hollywood and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about HVAC terms and definitions and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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