Classic Air Care - Heating & Air Conditioning

Airflow:
The distribution or movement of air.

Air Change:
The amount of air required to completely replace the air in a room or building; not to be confused with recirculated air.

Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (ARI)
ARI standards establish rating criteria and procedures for measuring and certifying comfort product performance. Rheem is an active member of the ARI and complies fully with all ARI criteria.

Air Diffuser:
Air distribution outlet or grille designed to direct airflow into desired patterns.

Air Handler:
Fan blower, filter and housing parts of a system.

Add On Heat Pump:
Installing a heat pump in conjunction with an existing fossil fuel furnace. The result is a dual fuel system.

Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE)
Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency is a measurement of a furnace's operating efficiency.

Balance Point:
The lowest outdoor temperature at which the refrigeration cycle of a heat pump will supply the heating requirements without the aid of a supplementary heat source.

Blower (Fan):
An air handling device for moving air in a distribution system.

BTU (British Thermal Unit):
Quantity of heat required to raise the temperature of one pound of water one degree Fahrenheit.

Capacity
The output ability of cooling or heating equipment, typically measured in BTUs on Tons.

Cubic Feet per Minute (CFM)
A measurement of air flow. Air conditioners typically produce 400 CFM per ton.

Charge:
Amount of refrigerant placed in a refrigerating unit.

Comfort Zone:
The range of temperatures, humidities and air velocities at which the greatest percentage of people feel comfortable.

Compressor:
Pump of a refrigerating mechanism which draws a low pressure on cooling side of refrigerant cycle and squeezes or compresses the gas into the high pressure or condensing side of the cycle.

Condensing Unit:
Part of a refrigerating mechanism which pumps vaporized refrigerant from the evaporator, compresses it, liquifies it in the condenser and returns it to the refrigerant control. The outdoor portion of a split system air conditioner contains the compressor and outdoor coil ignoring the reverse cycle operation, also the outdoor in a heat pump system.

Decibel
The loudness of a sound. Usually denoted as "db." A human voice is typically 70 db.

Dehumidification:
The reduction of water vapor in the air by cooling the air below the dew point; removal of water vapor from the air by chemical means, refrigeration, etc.

Defrost Cycle:
The process of removing ice or frost buildup from the outdoor coil during the heating season.

Duct:
A pipe or closed conduit made of sheet metal, fiberglass board, or other suitable material used for conducting air to and from an air handling unit.

Department of Energy (DOE)
A federal regulatory agency that sets efficiency standards and monitors consumption of energy sources.

Emergency Heat (Supplementary Electric Heat):
The back up electric heat built into a heat pump system. The same as an auxiliary heater, except it is used exclusively as the heat source when the heat pump needs repair.

Energy Efficiency Ratio - EER
The ratio of the cooling capacity of the air conditioner in BTUs per hour to the total electrical input in watts according to ARI-specified test conditions.

Efficiency
A rating on comfort equipment. The higher the number, the the lower the energy consumption.

Filter:
A device for removing dust particles from air or unwanted elements from liquids.

Furnace:
That part of an environmental system which converts gas, oil, electricity or other fuel into heat for distribution within a structure.

Heat Exchanger
A device for transfering heat from the burners of a furnace to the blower.

Heat Gain:
The amount of heat gained, measured in BTU's, from a space to be conditioned, at the local summer outdoor design temperature and a specified indoor design condition.

Heat Loss:
The amount of heat lost, measured in BTU's from a space to be conditioned, at the local winter outdoor design temperature and a specified indoor design condition.

Heat Pump:
Compression cycle system used to supply heat to a temperature controlled space. Same system can also remove heat from the same space.

HSPF (Heating Seasonal Performance Factor):
The total heating output of a heat pump during its normal annual usage period for heating divided by the total electric power input in watt?hours during the same period.

Humidifier:
A device that adds moisture to warm air being circulated or directed into a space.

Humidistat:
A device designed to regulate humidity input by reacting to changes in the moisture content of the air.

Infiltration:
Air flow inward into a space through walls, leaks around doors and windows or through the building materials used in the structure.

Indoor Unit:
This is usually located inside the house and contains the indoor coil, fan, motor, and filtering device, sometimes called the air handler.

Indoor Coil:
Refrigerant containing portion of a fan coil unit similar to a car radiator, typically made of several rows of copper tubing with aluminum fins.

Kilowatt
1,000 watts, often denoted as "KW."

Outdoor Coil:
Refrigerant containing portion of a fan coil unit similar to a car radiator, typically made of several rows of copper tubing with aluminum fins.

Outdoor Unit:
This is usually located outside of the house and contains the outdoor coil, fan motor, and compressor.

Package Unit
Equipment in which all heating and cooling components are located in one cabinet. Installed either beside or on top of a home.

Refrigerant:
Substance used in refrigerating mechanism. It absorbs heat in evaporator by change of state from a liquid to a gas, and releases its heat in a condenser as the substance returns from the gaseous state back to a liquid state.

Refrigerant Lines
Copper lines connecting the outdoor unit and the indoor unit.

Register:
Combination grille and damper assembly covering an air opening or end of an air duct.

Return Air:
Air drawn into a heating unit after having been circulated from the heater's output supply to a room.

SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio):
The total cooling of a central unitary air conditioner or unitary heat pump in Btu's during its normal annual usage period for cooling divided by the total electric energy input in watt hours during the same period.

Setpoint:
The temperature to which a thermostat is set to result in a desired heated space temperature.

Split System:
Refrigeration or air conditioning installation, which places condensing unit outside or away from evaporator. Also applicable to heat pump installations.

Thermostat:
A temperature sensitive switch for controlling the operation of a heater or furnace.

Ton
Measurement for cooling system capacity, used to describe air conditioners and heat pumps. One ton of cooling capacity removes 12,000 BTUs of heat energy per hour.

Watt
A unit of electricity, often denoted as "W."