Important HVAC Terms to Know if You Need Industrial Cooling

For most people, HVAC systems are mostly a mystery. They understand their purpose and what they do, but when it comes to the finer details and inner workings, it might as well be rocket science.

However because your HVAC system is so crucial for climate control in your office or warehouse, you can’t afford to remain ignorant about it. You should know what your HVAC technician is talking about when giving you a rundown of various service or repair options. Otherwise, how can you be better prepared for next time?

So, with that in mind, we want to share the most common HVAC terms and what they mean. This way, you can follow along when your technician or repairman is outlining what’s going on within your system.

HVAC

Let’s start with the most obvious one – do you know what HVAC stands for? As an acronym, HVAC means Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning. Essentially, this one term refers to any air movement or flow within your building.

ASHRAE

You may have seen this acronym pasted on the side of your air conditioning unit. While it’s not present on all machines, it can be a sign of quality and reliability. ASHRAE stands for the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers. This coalition is designed to help improve HVAC systems, specifically focusing on the quality of each build and providing sustainable performances.

Compressor

Chances are you’ve heard this term before in a few different situations. Compressors are not exclusive to HVAC systems – they are in refrigerators and cars as well. A compressor is a device that pumps refrigerant through an air conditioner to maintain comfortable temperatures. Essentially, it’s the part that allows you to control your indoor climate by blowing cold air.

Coils

There are two types of coils present in HVAC systems – condensers and evaporators. Condenser coils are outside, and they remove heat from the refrigerant moving through the system so that it can cool back down. Evaporator coils are on the inside of the building, and they remove heat from the air and pass it to the condenser.

Both coils work in tandem to help you control the temperature inside your building, and they are crucial for a functioning HVAC system.

CFM

As you’ve probably noticed, there are a few acronyms that get tossed around in the world of HVAC service and repair. CFM stands for cubic feet per minute, which relates to the flow of air through your system. The higher the CFM, the better the airflow, which can improve your climate control. Also, if your CFM is lower than usual, it means that there is either a blockage (i.e., dust and debris) or something within the system is broken.

Heat Pump

If you want your HVAC system to work well all year round, then you need to make sure that you can create cooler temperatures in the summer and warmer temperatures in the winter. A heat pump enables you to do this by circulating hot air in either direction. Heat pumps are usually more cost-efficient than standard air conditioners because you can use them during any season.

BTU

You’ll see BTUs come up a lot when looking at HVAC systems. This acronym stands for British Thermal Unit, and it’s the standard measurement used for both air conditioners and heating systems. One BTU describes the amount of heat necessary to raise the temperature of one pound of water by a single degree (in Fahrenheit). It can also refer to lowering the temperature as well, which is why it’s on A/C units as well.

Damper

When your HVAC technician starts talking about dampers, it can suddenly be hard to follow along. However, a damper is simply a piece of sheet metal that can control the flow of air from one duct to the next. Dampers are placed at junctions where two ducts meet.

EER

This acronym stands for Energy Efficient Ratio. The way that your system’s EER is calculated is to measure the cooling capacity in relation to your power output. The cooling capacity is reflected in BTUs per hour, while the power output is typically listed in watts. As you can imagine, the higher your EER number, the more energy-efficient your system is.

Filter

Your HVAC will use multiple filters to trap various particles from the air. Over time, these filters can get dusty and dirty, which means that they either have to be cleaned or replaced. Most air filters are disposable, but you can’t just toss them into the trash. They contain various contaminants, so you have to throw them away responsibly.

Your refrigeration system also comes with a filter, which acts as a drier, straining dirt and other debris from getting into the refrigerant.

Static Pressure

This term refers to any resistance within your HVAC system that can impact the flow of air. Obviously, the higher the static pressure, the harder that your HVAC has to work to get air to flow freely. If there is high static pressure, it typically refers to a blockage within the ducts.

Refrigerant Charge

As you should know, the refrigerant is the liquid that flows through your A/C unit to keep your interior spaces cool. The charge refers to how much of that liquid is present. If the charge is low, it’s time to refill it.

Split System

In some cases, your HVAC may be split into an outdoor and indoor unit. Typically, split systems operate more efficiently than central systems because they can adapt to both conditions much more rapidly.

Contact Preferred Climate Solutions Today

Now that you know a bit more about how your HVAC system works, give us a call or contact now and see how we can improve the quality of your climate today.