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Let’s face it — people in technical fields tend to use jargon that may or may not make sense to the average Joe, but when it comes to your HVAC system, there are a few terms that will help you better understand any issues with your system, or how efficiently it’s running. Here is a quick selection of HVAC terms that everyone needs to know:

HVAC Terminology 101

• Air Exchange Rate: This is how quickly the indoor air is exchanged with outdoor air.
• Blower: This is the fan that blows the air through your ductwork into your home to keep the temperature comfortable.
• BTU: Short for British Thermal Units, this is a measurement of heat energy required to heat one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit.
• CFM: Short for cubit feet per minute, this measures how many cubic feet of air moves through a space in one minute’s time.
• Condenser Coil: This component either picks up heat to move into your home in the case of a heat pump or moves it out of your home in the case of an air conditioner.
• Flue: This is where combustion air passes before being either moved outside or inside.
• Fuel Efficiency: This refers to how much heat you can get out of a particular type of fuel.
• Heat Exchanger: A heat exchanger transfers the heat into the forced air from the furnace system into the home ductwork.
• HEPA: Short for High Efficiency Particulate Arrestance, this is a high-quality air filter that removes allergens from the air.
• MERV: Short for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value, this is a numeric value assigned to the particulate size a filter can remove from your air, with a higher number indicating a smaller particle capture.
• Refrigerant: A substance that goes between liquid and gas states to transfer heat into or out of a structure.
• Return: The part of your ductwork where air returns to the HVAC air handler.

By paying attention to the terminology your HVAC technician is using, it’s much easier to stay in the know about what the potential problem is and how it should be repaired. At Cox Air Conditioning & Heating, we’ve been helping homeowners in the area make wise decisions about their systems for almost six decades and want to help you. Contact our knowledgeable staff today to get the straight answers to your home comfort questions.