Happy 2021! A new year and a fresh start are upon us. Some of us make resolutions or create goals this time of year. Here at Service Plus, we think an easily fulfilled resolution is to gain new knowledge and insight! That is why we’ve compiled a list of the most common HVAC acronyms and their definitions. Try your hand at learning them and then see if you can speak our HVAC lingo! (But we promise next time we visit your Indy or Hamilton County home for a service call, we won’t give you a pop quiz).
There are so many acronyms floating around in the HVAC industry. Our goal isn’t to overwhelm you, rather to help you understand the most common terms you may encounter on your next service call.
HVAC: Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning … we’re the experts in Indy and Hamilton County!
ACH: Air Changes per Hour describes the rate at which air will enter and exit a room within a one-hour time frame.
BTU: British Thermal Unit measures the amount of heat an HVAC unit can add or remove from the air within an hour.
VAV: Variable Air Volume systems allow varying airflow but constant temperature.
CAV: Constant Air Volume systems allow a constant airflow that varies in temperature.
FAF: Fresh Air Fraction is the ratio of outdoor air intake to total indoor air supply rate.
HSPF: Heating Seasonal Performance Factor is a term used to note a heat pump’s efficiency over the length of a heating season.
SEER: Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio is the rating used to simply describe the efficiency of an air conditioner.
CFC: Chlorofluorocarbons, refrigerants and other substances that can be linked to health and environmental issues, are no longer used in the HVAC industry.
IAQ: Indoor Air Quality is a phrase used to note how pure the air is you breathe in your home.
Take a stab at these common HVAC acronyms and see if you can speak our language next time one of the professionals at Service Plus comes for a servicing or repair. At the very least, knowing the jargon and these acronyms will make purchasing or caring for your appliance easier in the long run.
Happy New Year from our team to your family!