When purchasing a heat pump or air conditioner, consumers are often overwhelmed by the array of efficiency ratings, abbreviations and acronyms used to describe or explain the products. Read on to help lessen the mystery of purchasing a system.
General Terms
HVAC - Heating, ventilating and air conditioning refers to the indoor comfort industry.
ARI - Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute is a non-profit, voluntary organization comprised of heating, air conditioning and refrigeration manufacturers. ARI publishes standards for testing and rating heat pumps and air conditioners to provide you with a standardized measure of comparison. So, ARI ensures a level of quality within the industry.
DOE - The Department of Energy is a federal agency in charge of setting industry efficiency standards and monitoring the consumption of energy sources.
BTU - British thermal unit is the amount of heat that will raise or
lower one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit.
A Btuh is how many Btus are used per hour.
Ton - Heat pumps and air conditioners are generally sized in tons.
Typical sizes for single family residences are between two and
five tons. Each ton equals 12,000 Btuh.
Equipment terminology - Air conditioning or heat pump systems
consist of two main components: the outdoor unit (condenser) and
the indoor unit (evaporator coil). Combinations of various units will result
in vastly different efficiency ratings.
Scroll Compressor - a newer technology that has fewer moving parts which equals higher reliability.
Filter Dryer - a component that helps keep the refrigerant system clean & dry which equals higher reliability
Condenser pad - A level support for the condensing unit outside on the ground - helps to keep the condenser raised & dry
Expansion valve - A device that greatly improves the systems efficiency under variable heat loads
Variable speed - A newer high efficiency motor that provides approximately 1/5 the electrical usage of a standard motor. Other added benefits are lower operating noise levels, more even temperatures and greater dehumidification in the cooling mode.
Two stage - An option that will lower operating noise and help lower temperature differences between different rooms and floors.
Asbestos - A insulating material that was banned due to potential problems it caused to the respiratory system when inhaled.
Flue Vent - The vent that usually starts at the gas heater and goes up thru the roof. Its main purpose is to get rid of the burned air/natural gas mixture.
Transite - A flue vent containing asbestos that was used before asbestos was banned. Must be abated or relined with any new heater or equipment damage will occur.
Service disconnect - A box usually mounted on the wall by the condensing unit outside that allows a service technician to disconnect power. Should contain fuses for added protection for the condenser and electrical circuit.
Plenum - Typically a insulated sheetmetal box that is attached to the furnace or air handler. Designed to distribute the air to multiple duct runs.
Subcooling or Superheat - Critical methods performed by a technician to determine correct refrigerant levels. Often not performed as a shortcut or an overlooked step. All of or technicians carry precise digital diagnostic tools that allow us to fine tune the refrigerant levels for optimum efficiency. In a recent study, for Arizona Public Service, air conditioner systems were tested for their refrigerant level. The study results were that 82% of the systems tested were incorrectly charged causing discomfort, premature equipment failures and increased operating costs.
Efficiency
A rating on comfort equipment is similar to the miles per gallon rating on your car.
The higher the rating number, the more efficient the system and the lower your fuel consumption will be.
High efficiency equipment depending on your local climate, lifestyle and utility rates, can result in significant savings over the life of the equipment. Not to mention the added benefits to the environment and reduced operating noise.
SEER - Seasonal energy efficiency ratio is the amount of cooling your equipment delivers per every dollar spent on electricity. SEER applies to air conditioners and heat pumps.
In the past, a unit with a SEER of 10.00 was considered standard efficiency, and a unit with a 12.00 SEER was considered high efficiency. After January 2006, the minimum SEER required by the Department of Energy is now 13.00.
Sound Ratings
Although sound does not affect the efficiency of a unit, it will certainly affect your comfort. If your unit has a low sound level, you will hardly notice it is operating. But if it has a higher sound level, it may mean your good night's sleep is disturbed every time it runs!
The loudness of sound is measured in units called decibels (dB.). For example, usual conversation is approximately 60 decibels, the humming of a refrigerator is 40 decibels and city traffic noise can reach 80 decibels.
The Price of Quality
There is more to buying a heat pump or air conditioner than ratings. The quality of construction and materials used as well as the reliability of the manufacturer and installing contractor can all affect your long-term satisfaction and comfort. Top quality, high efficiency equipment will cost more initially, but it will save you money on utility bills and service calls for years to come. Be sure to weigh all the factors before choosing your new system.
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