There’s nothing like a technician using acronyms to confuse the average homeowner. If you have heating and cooling in your home, or HVAC, which stands for Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning, you’ve probably been a little confused over the sheer number of acronyms that professionals throw around. In this post, we’ll go over some of the most common acronyms for HVAC ratings (SEER, BTUs, AFUE, HSPF) so Simpsonville residents can have a better understanding of what their technician is talking about.
SEER, BTUs, AFUE, HSPF: Understanding HVAC Ratings
System Capability
BTU: Standing for British Thermal Unit, a BTU is the amount of energy it takes to raise a pound of water one degree at one atmosphere of pressure. More simply, it’s a rating of how much heating or cooling a system is capable of producing.
Tons: Used more often in air conditioning, this refers to the capability of an HVAC system to change the temperature of the air. It’s important to size your system’s capability to the work it will have to do so that it can run most efficiently, without working too long or short to get the job done.
Efficiency
SEER: Standing for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio, SEER measures cooling efficiency over a normal cooling season. The higher the SEER rating, the more efficient the unit is, reducing operational cost and environmental impact.
EER: Relating to Energy Efficiency Ratio, EER looks at cooling efficiency of air conditioners or heat pumps when the outdoor temperature is at 95 degrees, making it a better measurement for sizzling summer days that are common to South Carolina.
AFUE: Representing Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency measures furnace heating efficiency, or the percentage of the fuel that is changed into heat. As with SEER, the higher the rating, the more efficient the unit will be to heat your home.
HSPF: By comparison, HSPF, or Heating Seasonal Performance Factor, measure heat pump efficiency in heating mode. As with SEER and AFUE, a higher HSPF rating means that the unit has higher levels of energy efficiency.
What’s with the 2?
In 2003, minimum efficiency ratings were updated across much of the HVAC industry. SEER2, EER2, AFUE2 and HSPF2 all still measure the same basic metrics but using updated energy efficiency regulations.
By having a better understanding of the acronyms that are used with regards to HVAC ratings, Simpsonville residents will have a better understanding of the benefits and drawbacks of specific systems or recommendations. If you’re confused about HVAC system terminology, the experienced professionals at One Call Maintenance Solutions are happy to discuss your concerns in plain, simple English. Why not give us a call today to see how we speak your language?
